<p>I noticed a new (small) spot on my neck which contained some tiny black dots. I made an appt with a dermatologist who assured me that it was very unlikely to be cancerous. She removed it and they called last week to let me know it was cancerous “the best kind”. They will be cutting out a larger section to make sure they got it all.</p>
<p>Has anyone here has this experience? I’m curious how aggressively you had other spots investigated after finding the first malignant one. I’m 51 and have been adding age spots over the last 5-10 years, but now I’m viewing each one nervously.</p>
<p>There’s a couple of dark for on my cheek which I’ll show the dr this week, but S1 is graduating college on two weeks and I prefer not to have my face carved up before that. Just looking for others insight and experiences. </p>
<p>First, I will address your surgery options in case you want to hear my experience with my skin cancer. </p>
<p>I had a spot on my nose that the Doc said “probably is cancer” and one each on my arm and cheek that “probably aren’t”. Well, the nose was ok but the cheek and arm were cancer (sounds familiar doesn’t it). I had the option of taking it all at once which he said he was successful at usually 95% of the time. The other 5% he said he had to go back in and take out more. Or, I could have Mohs surgery where they analyze the cells at that time to see if they are taking enough. It is much more costly and a longer procedure (and sometimes requires the area (in my case, face) to be left open until the next day. As it turned out he didn’t get it all and both incisions needed to be expanded in a second surgery. Looking back I probably should have gone with the Mohs. </p>
<p>As for how aggressively I monitored new spots: uh…I hate to admit it, but I went two years before going back and then went another 2 years before going again since my cancer was the “best kind” too, and very slow growing. </p>
<p>BTW- I had clear stitches put in and it was hardly even noticeable until they came out. </p>
<p>My husband and mother have both experienced versions of this and it is not fun, but very doable. You might want to google Moh’s surgery to see more about the procedure. Part of the regime for each of them is a full body scan annually looking for any suspicious spots that they might not be aware of - back, scalp, etc. My mother did have one removed from her face and it was unsightly for a few weeks, but not noticeable now. </p>
<p>I’ve had both the bad kind and the good kind of skin cancer. For the bad kind (melanoma - just barely bigger than a pencil eraser) they did a 7 mm incision all around. I have a pretty huge scar from it, but they got everything. I now get checked out by the dermatologist every six months. I’ve had several carcinomas removed with Mohs surgery. The one on my nose (same doctor as the big melanoma scar) is hardly noticable, while one on my inner arm has a small but distinct scar. I spent much of my childhood getting sunburned in the tropics - and I’ve stopped worrying about this. I figure every few years, I’m getting something removed. I just need to be diligent about going to the dermatologist so it all gets caught early.</p>
<p>Fair-skinned redhead here. I’ve had 3 Moh’s treatments on my face for basal cell. One on my nose: scab that didn’t heal. From when I first noticed it to having the surgery–8 months. Dermo said most people wait 3 years and I would have lost a side of my nose. I wear glasses so it doesn’t show; he did a great job, but I had to have a flap from my face to cover the hole (size of a pencil eraser). 2nd on my lip I found. He didn’t think it was anything, but it was. Tried a cream to inflame the area, but it ate a hole in my lip so I only lasted 10 of the 30 days on this medication and opted for surgery. Not a great cosmetic result; I look like I have a minor cleft repair, but very few people notice. 3rd one–just under my eye, beautiful result. I found that one, too. </p>
<p>I have had so many spots removed by scalpel or liquid nitrogen that I have lost count. I go for an annual check or when I don’t like the looks of something. Best to be proactive! I highly recommend Moh’s. One visit, though you are there awhile while they section and stain the tissue to map the lesion, but then you don’t go back for a second surgery.</p>
<p>You need to tell us exactly what kind of cancer. I assume it’s basal cell because of your mention of “The best kind” but there’s a chance the doc meant melanoma in situ. </p>
<p>MOHs is only good for basal not melanoma. If it’s basal get a surgeon who specializes in MOHs. The procedure takes longer but they remove the least amount of tissue. </p>
<p>If it’s melanoma they have to remove a certain margin of clean tissue so you’ll have a bigger excision. </p>
<p>My father had melanoma a couple of times, and since I’m fair-skinned, redhead and grew up in the south experiencing lots of sunburns, I get checked every six months, and have done so since my late 20s. So far, I’ve had no diagnosis other than dysplastic nevus syndrome and have had LOTS of growths removed over the years. I almost feel doomed as if I’m going to get it sooner or later, so I figure if I go every six months for check ups, I’d be catching anything early. My insurance also pays for visits every six months. </p>
<p>As another blue eyed strawberry blonde, you all are inspiring me to find a new dermatologist.
( haven’t gone for about six years, cause while he was good, he reminded me of an old boyfriend & it was weird).</p>
<p>My H had melanoma on his back. The dermatologist pretty much knew looking at it. it was classic. He had a biopsy which confirmed, surgery on his back a week later and then a further surgery to remove lymph nodes under each arm pit. - the melanoma was deeper than the initial biopsy showed. </p>
<p>He visits the dermatologist every 6 months. ( Initially it was 3 months) She constantly cuts/ scrapes/ biopsies moles off him. Everything has come back basal cell, pre cancerous.</p>
<p>Be proactive, check your self for new spots and visit your dermatologist regular.</p>
<p>My husbands melanoma was fast growing that had I not nagged him to go , I don’t think he would be with us today.</p>
<p>Fair skinned and Irish. I have had basal cell removed using Mohrs surgery on one side of my face near an eye. Very easy procedure, but man was the healing process ugly. Huge compression bandage. Still have what appears to be a Harry Potter scar from veins which I could pay to have cosmetically removed but I don’t really have the money right now. I go once a year for a regular skin check or m ore often if I see anything unusual. Dermatologist has frozen off some precancerous stuff but again no big deal. </p>
<p>Had Mohr’s surgery on basal on nose right at crease of nostril 18 months ago. Surgeon used skin graft from behind ear. Virtually no scar. But looked very ugly for 2-3 weeks after surgery. I was convinced graft had failed and I would be permanently disfigured. But surgeon’s P A kept telling me that it would be fine. She was right.</p>
<p>Find a dermatologist who’s willing to do a full-body skin check on you (or to have the PA or NP do it) at least once a year. (Mine wants it done every six months.)</p>
<p>With all the changes in your skin due to age spots, you’ll go crazy trying to find problem spots yourself. Let them do it for you. That’s their job.</p>
<p>I’ve had one basal cell carcinoma (which is probably what you have) removed, and I’ve had precancerous spots treated with liquid nitrogen, and I’ve had at least 25 spots biopsied over the years. Can you guess that I’m Irish? And that I’m old enough (59) so that there was no effective sunscreen when I was a child?</p>
<p>Also, yes, it’s cancer, but it’s not the kind of cancer you panic about. You can wait a few weeks before having a biopsy or treatment if you’re going to an important event. Really, you can. Just don’t wait months or years. The bigger they are, the ickier the scar.</p>
<p>Another fair person who baked in the sun in California/Florida too many times to count. I’ve had basal type removed two times. I also had my dermatologist tell me something else was a suspicious looking (I think she said changing color, but I can’t remember) so we should remove it. I was a little suspicious, so I decided to get a second opinion. They said it was nothing/perfectly normal skin. </p>
<p>Another irish freckled, fair and blonde. I grew up on the beach in the time before spf. I too get things removed from time to time. Anything on the face always takes a long time to heal. I had something big removed on my back, doc made me look like I had a gun shot wound, but at the time she had said it was way deeper than she initially thought. One reason to be happy to be married - hubby will look me over and also let me know if anything looks suspicious - he’s the one who brought up the mole on my back. </p>
<p>The ones on my face will get scaly that don’t go away. </p>
<p>I now am like a monk in the sun - hats, cover ups, swim shirts when snorkeling on vacation and a small investment in high caliber suntan lotion. It may be like locking the barn door after the horse escaped but I hope to slow down any further incidences.</p>
<p>I had Mohs surgery this past May. The basal cell carcinoma looked like a tiny pearl cut in half . It was pinkish in color. It was in a really awkward place, right between the side of my nose and my inner eyelid. I was pretty nervous knowing I’d be cut so close to my eye. Did the first cut and I was sent out to a waiting area to wait for the results. Didn’t quite get it all so had to cut more. Since there’s no soft tissue between nose and eyelid, they did a skin graft from behind my ear. </p>
<p>The site was pretty ugly at first. I had to put Vaseline on the skin graft twice a day for several weeks. The graft was kinda bumpy/red looking. I was a little worried but the Dr. said it would smooth out in 6-9 months. It’s been 7 months since the surgery. The graft has smoothed out pretty well. I still notice but I don’t think others do. </p>
<p>I have dark hair and eyes and no moles. Spent a lot of time on the water my whole life. DH has blue eyes and fair skin…tons of moles. His Dad had multiple basals removed. I keep begging DH to have the moles looked at but even after my experience, he ignores me…ugh. He has at least been better about wearing sunscreen since my surgery.</p>
<p>I had MOHS for a basal cell on the side of my nose at the end of October. I am quite pale, very blond, and definitely had sunburns in my youth (though none that blistered thankfully). I am also perhaps lucky that while I have freckles, I don’t have any moles.</p>
<p>I have been seeing a dermatologist for sun-related damage for about 15 years now. Up until this fall, they were all Actinic Keratoses which I had frozen off (mostly face, one or two on arms). Occasionally one would be biopsied, but it was never anything serious. I am near obsessive about checking and monitoring myself and have no problem making an appointment in between my standing 6 month exam if I suspect something is off.</p>
<p>That’s what I did this fall–I was supposed to be seen in Dec, but I had this patch on my nose that would scab, go away, and then come back again, I waited 2.5 months for it to resolve and finally called to be looked at. Sure enough it was basal cell, thankfully extremely small, and MOHS was recommended.</p>
<p>They numbed my nose with a bunch of shots and did a first pass. Waited about 45 minutes and they told me I needed another go for one tiny area with a “root”. Second pass was clear. I was numbed up again for closure–she cut a diamond shape to make the wound close in a nice line. Some stitches inside, some out, all dissolving. I think one of the inner ones is still there! Pressure bandage one day, then a smaller bandage for 7 more days. Nose is still a bit red but I think in a few months it won’t even be noticed.</p>
<p>The dr did mention that she thinks I have the AKs on my lower lip, and those have a higher likelihood of turning to squamous cell. Because of that, and also because of the BCC, this January I will be doing a course of Effudex to bring all this crap to the surface and slough it off. It is supposed to be painful and quite unsightly for 4-6 weeks, but it will hopefully buy me a few years before I have to do surgery again (and your skin is supposed to be soft and less wrinkled after, so there is that benefit too).</p>
<p>I went today and she cut out a larger spot to make sure “all the edges come back clear”. The spot was 1.8 cm. She was great and worked hard to make sure that any scar lines up with normal neck creases. I’m not too worried about it. She confirmed it was basal as most of you thought. </p>
<p>I told her about the spot on my face. She didn’t really seem to see what I meant (I had makeup on), but I’m 98% sure it’s the same tiny black dot as the ones I saw on my neck. Though on my neck there was a roundish tan place with the black dots inside - this is JUST 1 (possibly 2) black dot. I told her I would wait until S1’s college graduation to have her test my face. It’s really a tiny, tiny dot. Like the size of touching an ink pen to a pad. </p>
<p>I didn’t ask about the MOHS, but when I go back for a recheck in 12 days I’ll ask then.</p>
<p>Did you guys who had facial spots removed use dermatologists? Or should a plastic surgeon do the tricky ones? The tiny dot a few inches below the center of my eye - not somewhere I want a scar if there’s a way to avoid it!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info! I just started a new job and this was NOT in my plan , but I know all things considered it’s not a huge deal. Just inconvenient and hard on my vanity!!!</p>
<p>I have had a Moh’s surgeon remove a basal cell lesion from my lower leg and I had a small pearl-color bump removed from the side of my nose yesterday for biopsy. My dermatologist is pretty sure it’s a basal cell, and recommended the Moh’s surgeon in her office. Given the location, like AllThisIsNewToMe, I’m thinking I want a plastic surgeon or at least a Moh’s surgeon affiliated with a plastic surgeon. Has anyone used a plastic surgeon for this kind of surgery? </p>