Basal cell carcinoma

[java]

I went to have a mole removed and this is what I have. Didn't expect to hear that. So now I am going to google and try to learn what I can. They are saying I need deeper surgery(this is on my face) Saying perhaps I would want to see a plastic surgeon or they could do it.I'm kind of in shock and want to hear anyone's successful removal of this.

 

[PrincessDana]

Did they recommend having Mohs procedure/surgery?

You should find a dermatologist/plastic surgeon that specializes in this procedure. Extremely high success rate of treatment, plus it's supposed to take minimum of tissue.

I had to have a "extremely large and aggressive" basal cell removed from my forehead two years ago. Unfortunately mine resulted in needing a large skin graft.

The next year I had a very small bump come up above my upper lip (in approximately the area of the line that runs from your nose to your mouth). I was sent to see my Mohs surgeon for even that tiny bump because, according to my local dermatologist, it was probably much deeper than it looked. He was right....

So far, the small area has healed VERY well, you almost can't see it. My forehead is another story, but it was a pretty rare occurrence.

Good luck!!!

I'm still currently on every-6-month rechecks with my dermatologist (for at least another 3 years) and then will have to have a checkup every year forever.

BTW, I was 32 when first diagnosed, had NEVER been in a tanning bed, and was not even a "sun worship" kind of gal. Simple fair-skinned, easy to freckle, and had some fairly bad sunburns as a child.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'll get this someday (I'm fair and got many sunburns as a child). My mom just had her first one removed (but not her last), and my grandmother had many. Don't worry - it's common and completey curable.

 

[tnmt]

I had basal cell underneath my lower eyelid. They had to do a flap procedure so my eye would still look right after they removed the lesion. I have a pretty big scar but nothing to really fret about. I had a MOHS procedure which is what they do for face, nose, ear, etc. Then I had basal cell on my leg but they just cut it out and sent it off to make sure margins were clear. MOHS procedure they have pathologist there to make sure margins are clear before they close the wound up. The procedure was not really that bad if it hadn't been so close to my lower eyelid. I looked like frankenstein for a while until it healed up. This is a good kind of cancer to have if you have to have skin cancer. Now melanoma is a completely different story, very dangerous.

 

[MiniGirl]

I had one on my chest, and I have a nasty scar from it. The dermatolgist did it. The scar doesn't bother me, but I know a plastic surgeon would've done a better job. If I ever had one on my face I would definitely seek one who was well versed in the MOHS procedure.

 

[Pixiedust34]

My dh has had basal cells removed a few times. Once with with Mohs (done by a Mohs specialist) and the other times it was with a cutting of the area by the dermatologist in her office.

If you can find a good Mohs surgeon, the scarring should be minimal. Dh's Mohs surgery was along his jawline and you can't even tell that he had surgery there.

All the best to you!

 

[kacaju]

I agree with finding a Dr who does the Mohs procedure/surgery. I had basal cell under my eye, the Dr had to go back 3-4 times to get it all with the Mohs and you can't even see the scar. DH had basal on the tip of his nose, went to the same Dr. and you can't tell he had anything done!!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I need to go back to my dermatologist for a mole check and have her look at a small thing on my forehead. I have had two basal cells, one 25 years ago, another about 2 years ago. (Sun worshipper for the first half of my life-stupid. )The first one was a hard bump next to my nose and was taken off by a scalpel-only one stitch, done by the dermatologist. The other was on my upper chest, same procedure. So I have had small ones, I guess.

My question since Mohs surgery is something I never heard of. Is the Mohs surgeon also your dermatologist? Or did your dermatologist diagnosis and then send you to the surgeon.

Both times when I had mine removed, they confirmed basal cell with the removed part, no further surgery. Did your dermatologist take a biopsy and then refer you to the surgeon for more surgery? Would love some info because although she is very good, I don't care that much for my dermatologist.

 

[HeWhoMustNotBeNamed]

MOHS is very good but was glad that I had someone tell me about the whole proceedure before I had it done. Mine was on my forehead and the shot that they give you makes it swell like a golf ball before the do the proceedure (at least for mine and the person who forewarned me). All in all very happy with the way that it turned out.

Best of luck to you!

 

[HeWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I need to go back to my dermatologist for a mole check and have her look at a small thing on my forehead. I have had two basal cells, one 25 years ago, another about 2 years ago. (Sun worshipper for the first half of my life-stupid. )The first one was a hard bump next to my nose and was taken off by a scalpel-only one stitch, done by the dermatologist. The other was on my upper chest, same procedure. So I have had small ones, I guess.

My question since Mohs surgery is something I never heard of. Is the Mohs surgeon also your dermatologist? Or did your dermatologist diagnosis and then send you to the surgeon.

Both times when I had mine removed, they confirmed basal cell with the removed part, no further surgery. Did your dermatologist take a biopsy and then refer you to the surgeon for more surgery? Would love some info because although she is very good, I don't care that much for my dermatologist.

The great thing about MOHS is that they take layers off (slice at a time) ... and then test right then to make sure all removed. They had to take a second round on mine, but was way better than waiting months to have it all done again.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

My father had one removed on his back. Technically it is skin cancer, but we don't even consider him a cancer survivor. He had it cut out and that was that. This was years ago. I put sun lotion on his back when we go swimming and I can't say that I've ever noticed the place where they cut it out.

 

[mohstek]

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It’s also the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Every year, millions of people learn that they have BCC.

This skin cancer usually develops on skin that gets sun exposure, such as on the head, neck, or back of the hands. BCC is especially common on the face, often forming on the nose. While BCC often develops on skin that has had the most sun, BCC can appear on any part of the body, including the trunk, legs, and arms.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Did they recommend having Mohs procedure/surgery?

You should find a dermatologist/plastic surgeon that specializes in this procedure. Extremely high success rate of treatment, plus it's supposed to take minimum of tissue.

I had to have a "extremely large and aggressive" basal cell removed from my forehead two years ago. Unfortunately mine resulted in needing a large skin graft.

The next year I had a very small bump come up above my upper lip (in approximately the area of the line that runs from your nose to your mouth). I was sent to see my Mohs surgeon for even that tiny bump because, according to my local dermatologist, it was probably much deeper than it looked. He was right....

So far, the small area has healed VERY well, you almost can't see it. My forehead is another story, but it was a pretty rare occurrence.

Good luck!!!

I'm still currently on every-6-month rechecks with my dermatologist (for at least another 3 years) and then will have to have a checkup every year forever.

BTW, I was 32 when first diagnosed, had NEVER been in a tanning bed, and was not even a "sun worship" kind of gal. Simple fair-skinned, easy to freckle, and had some fairly bad sunburns as a child.

I had mohs surgery on my forehead too in 2016 which needed a skin graft. So far so good though.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I've never been through this specific procedure so I really can't offer advice, but I agree with others that you should find a plastic surgeon to do the surgery, especially since it is on your face. I have some experience with letting a doctor who was not a plastic surgeon stitch me up and I regret it.

 

[mrsstats]

I have it on my nose. they will be doing radiation instead of mohs.

 

[Lehuaann]

DH had Moh’s surgery several years ago on his forehead, 3 levels. The area (BCC) would bleed and scab over again...and did so for quite a while. However, the surgery went very well.

 

[pampam]

I had it between my eye and the bridge of my nose. When I asked the surgeon for MOHS he was surprised that I knew about it. He told me it wasn't available (which I knew already) because it was only done at 7 hospitals in Canada at that time. However, I was in luck because the pathologist had practiced in a hospital where they practiced it, so a modified form of MOHS was done by the surgeon. With Mohs, the cancer is removed a layer of skin at a time. My surgeon removed a piece of the cancer a tiny bit at a time, had it assessed, and more was removed if necessary. I knew this was done because I woke up during the operation. (It was only a twilight sleep, not general anesthetic). I looked up, realized I was still in the operating room, but I couldn't hear anything. I wondered if I should sit up or say something. Then the door opened and someone said "It's all clear toward the eye but more needs to be removed toward the nose" The doctor said he was going to remove some more and I said for him to give me some more of this, pointing to my IV which he of course did. While all of this was happening, it didn't really bother me because they had given me something to relax me. I was however, annoyed that I hadn't been given enough anesthetic for the procedure without waking up, and complained to the surgeon and anesthesiologist. The scar is minimal. Since it is in a place that never gets sunburned, it was felt that the cancer was caused by older x ray dental equipment.

 

[beanjean]

I'm not a doctor, but I don't believe it would hinder treatment. Best to ask your doctor

 

[beanjean]

I had it between my eye and the bridge of my nose. When I asked the surgeon for MOHS he was surprised that I knew about it. He told me it wasn't available (which I knew already) because it was only done at 7 hospitals in Canada at that time. However, I was in luck because the pathologist had practiced in a hospital where they practiced it, so a modified form of MOHS was done by the surgeon. With Mohs, the cancer is removed a layer of skin at a time. My surgeon removed a piece of the cancer a tiny bit at a time, had it assessed, and more was removed if necessary. I knew this was done because I woke up during the operation. (It was only a twilight sleep, not general anesthetic). I looked up, realized I was still in the operating room, but I couldn't hear anything. I wondered if I should sit up or say something. Then the door opened and someone said "It's all clear toward the eye but more needs to be removed toward the nose" The doctor said he was going to remove some more and I said for him to give me some more of this, pointing to my IV which he of course did. While all of this was happening, it didn't really bother me because they had given me something to relax me. I was however, annoyed that I hadn't been given enough anesthetic for the procedure without waking up, and complained to the surgeon and anesthesiologist. The scar is minimal. Since it is in a place that never gets sunburned, it was felt that the cancer was caused by older x ray dental equipment.

I've never had anesthesia for Mohs other than them injecting the area around where they are going to be taking the slices, and I have had several done. I actually had to go sit back out in the waiting area in between each slice until they said all clear

 

[chickapin parterre]

I've never had anesthesia for Mohs other than them injecting the area around where they are going to be taking the slices, and I have had several done. I actually had to go sit back out in the waiting area in between each slice until they said all clear

you have had several done....in the same area?