Ironically, I recently started a thread about my health anxiety where I got some great advice and empathy, which is just as helpful. Like many of my fellow 50+ CC posters, I do believe much of my anxiety is due to menopause. Now, as of yesterday, this is my latest worry. I did do a little bit of internet research but decided that wasn’t a good idea. I know, I know —stay off google! I am trying very hard to keep this in perspective, but admittedly, it isn’t easy for me.
I had a lesion (looked like a wart) removed from the back of my hand 3 weeks ago and the biopsy came back confirming a wart - nothing to worry about. I went back this past Monday because it grew back and got a call yesterday that it is skin cancer - squamous cell. Needless, to say, I was VERY surprised. The doctor explained that this is a common skin cancer but a bit “worse” than basal cell. He did say my biopsy did not show any aggressive cells which I did read can be bad. I am going to have Moh’s surgery and am currently in the process of getting that scheduled. Unfortunately the surgeon in my derm’s office is away for several weeks so I can’t see her until March. My doctor thinks that is fine but I don’t feel comfortable waiting another month.
I do know several people who have had basal cell removed but I don’t know anyone with experience with squamous cell. I did love the sun as a young person and because I am not fair (dark hair, somewhat olive skin) I always tanned very easy.
I know this is the result of that!
A co-worker of mine (extremely fair skin, grew up in Tennessee, played outside shirtless in the summer for his entire childhood) has had Mohs surgery several times. He says to bring a really, really long book with you. You’re going to be there for hours, and you will be more bored than you have probably ever been in your life.
I am 50 and had 3 Mohs surgeries before turning 45, one for squamous and two for basal. Unfortunately, all 3 were on the face. In fact, I am bandaged up again today for some cosmetic clean up of a scar left over from Mohs a few years back. I think back of hand will not be bad for you. Pain won’t be much and bandage will not be as annoying as on the face. And of course no one will notice any scarring on the hand. The great thing about Mohs is any scars typically will just fold into our wrinkles as we age, LOL. There was no difference in the surgeries and recoveries for squamous v basal. Good luck!
I had a squamous cell lesion on the top of my forearm a couple of years ago but it was removed by curettage and electrosurgery. There was a scar for a while but it has faded so much that I can’t even find it anymore.
I too had Mohs surgery for squamous. Mine was on my back. It wasn’t painful, but it was a bit disconcerting because tI had to lie face down while I was nude from the waist up for a couple of hours. They’d take a slice, put it on a slide, check to see if it was still cancerous. If it was, they’d take another slice, check, and keep slicing until the slides were clear. It wasn’t painful. The stitches after it was removed were probably the most painfu part of the procedure.
It was awful because I couldn’t change the bandage myself because of its location. You won’t have that problem. If IIRC, it has to stay dry for a few days.
The good news is that if they are doing Mohs it is virtually certain that the cancer hasn’t grown in very deep.
I had Mohs on the top of my hand for a basal lesion. I wasn’t concerned about scarring but my doctor wanted Mohs surgery to preserve mobility of my thumb. She was concerned that taking a big cut near the base of my thumb could cause me to lose some range of motion. The Mohs surgery was very easy.
Squamous cell on my forearm three years ago. Cut out with a knife. Small scar.
Somewhat funny story: I’m sitting there, the youngish dermatologist is working on me, we’re chatting, and she starts talking about how she was incompetent at surgery and was to glad to have a non-surgical specialty. I finally said, “Excuse me, but you are holding a scalpel and cutting into my arm. To me, that makes you a surgeon. Please don’t tell me you’re bad at it.”
I had a squamous cell lesion removed from my leg several years ago…It was scaly and rough, so I knew to have it checked out. Mohs wasn’t necessary. Basically, the derm just scraped it off and sent it in for a path study…
No problems and no regrowth. As a woman of a certain age, I am very conscientious about getting an annual derm checkup.
A sidebar: I have a surgeon family member who says, during the days before the Mohs procedure, the rule of thumb was never let a dermatologist do surgery on you! They just didn’t have enough training in surgery. Advanced training in Mohs surgery has changed that.
W grew up in So Cal, spent youth worshipping the sun and beach. As a result of the follies of her youth, I think her dermatologist is on her phone’s speed dial. She’s had numerous precancerous, basal, and squamous cell cancers treated on her face, forehead, arms, neck, shoulders, back, and various procedures (eg freezing, surgical (including Mohs), topical chemical agents (eg Aldara). Surgical post ops (eg Mohs) were no big thing. The most discomfort W experienced was after Aldara treatments. I’d describe Aldara as getting a chemical burn. Good luck.
H had Mohs for squamous on his neck maybe 10 years ago? Minimal pain, just time-consuming. I had outpatient surgery for melanoma a couple of years later and my procedure took about 20 minutes whereas his was about 3 hours – but of course they are very different processes.
Re scarring: Wound care after the procedure is very important. Follow your dermatologist’s recommendations about how long to keep the site bandaged, how often to use Neosporin, etc. I’ve had success with Mederma after healing to reduce scarring. I used it, and I put it on my son for a small scar he had after stitches around age 4, and neither of us has visible scars. H does have some scarring, which could be due to his skin, complexion, etc. – but he was also a bit of a slacker in terms of follow-up care.
My mom had squamous on her nose and ended up quite disfigured. I’m not sure if they figured that an 80 year old didn’t need to be attractive anymore if or if my mom was referred to a plastic surgeon later but chose not to pursue it.
Hand is a good location!
My husband has had a few Mohls on his bald head. The actual surgery is very long and they keep cutting until it comes back clean. The wound care is also tedious and I guess you will have a problem doing it yourself on your hand just using your other hand? The initial wound is ugly (my husband would not show me his head right after the surgery as I am squeamish)
He doesn’t have scarring but the new skin growth is definitely different from the old skin so it shows. They typically do Mohls on places where the skin is not flashy - so head, face, and I guess hand. It is definitely a specialty and you want a surgeon who does Mohls every day to do yours. They do sometimes follow up with plastic surgery (particularly when it is on the face.)
The success rate is great and it is the best way to make sure they get all the cancer. I honestly don’t remember which type of skin cancer my husband had each time they did Mohls. He has very fair Scottish skin like his mother did (who also had Mohls on her nose when she was older) and every trip to the dermatologist usually involves them snipping or scraping off something.
I had Mohs surgery on my nose. It took four passes to get the margins needed. The dermatologist made such a mess of it I went to a plastic surgeon, who did a bilobed flap first. Those results were so poor that I had rhinoplasty to make my nose smaller so there would be enough skin to cover the hole. A hand sounds like a piece of cake. Best of luck to OP, I hope it’s all fine.
I had a basal cell removed from the side of my nose with Mohs. It took four passes to get clean margins and I went home bandaged, with an appointment with a plastic surgeon the next day. He punched cartilage from my ear and took a skin graft from my hairline and rebuilt the round part of my nose. I went home looking like something from Frankenstein since he stitched the dressing to my face. However, unless I tell people they don’t know and to my eye the only remaining issue is that those wrinkles from the nose to the mouth seem more prominent on that side. Now, I also had Mohs on my calf and that was a piece of cake. I assume the top of the hand would be more similar to my leg. Good luck, it’s really not a big deal and so much better than letting it grow.
Thank you all for the replies. Unfortunately, lots of us have had to deal with this!
The doctor did say the only reason why they are doing Moh’s on mine (he said it’s very small) is because the first biopsy came back as a benign wart - a bit odd. I have an appointment 2/26. Not too worried about scarring. As someone upthread said, my hand wrinkles will cover that up!
OP here with a little update: I had the Moh’s yesterday and it was quick - I was a one and done so that was good. I will now get checked every 6 months rather than yearly, which I know is prudent for a squamous skin cancer. But, I will admit that being at an increased risk, is a bit unnerving fro me with my recent health anxiety issues - Arrrg!
Thank you @Marian - upset is exactly how I feel. Hoping time does make this feel routine and I will eventually stop focusing and fretting about every single thing on my skin.
