Skin Cancer

Don M.

Don M.

SF VIP
Location
central Missouri
A couple of months ago, I noticed a big black spot on the side of my nose...it came on almost overnight. At first, I thought it was a blackhead, but nothing came out, so I left it alone. Then, in early June, during my annual Medicare exam, I had my doctor look at it...and she set me up with an appt. at a dermatologist. They took a biopsy, and the lab tests came back positive...something called Basal Cell Carcinoma. This past week, I went to the huge University of Missouri Hospital complex, where they have a major Cancer center, and the doctor did a procedure called a "Mohs" surgery. He cut out a patch of the nose, and sent it to the lab to quickly see if he got it all.

An hour later, they had the results, and said they got it all, and bandaged me up and sent me home. The Only pain and discomfort in this whole episode was the shots they gave my nose...one for the biopsy, and another for the surgery.

I've been looking kind of funny the past few days with a big bandage on the side of my nose, but the "wound" has stopped seeping, so a few more days with keeping it bandaged, and I should be good to go. Right now, I have a recessed circle about 1/4" inch in diameter that looks kind of nasty, but keeping it clean and covered should allow it to heal with perhaps only a minor scar. They offered to do a skin graft, but I figured that would just be a 2nd spot I've have to keep bandaged, so if I'm left with just a small scar...no big deal.

Bottom Line....if you notice any change in your body, have it checked at your first opportunity. The doctor said that what I had is no big deal...IF it is quickly corrected. Had I let it go a year, or two, he said I might have faced some major surgery, and then reconstructive surgery to get my nose back. This must be fairly common for older folks, as the hospital waiting room was filled with a dozen Seniors with similar bandages on various parts of their faces and heads, when I got ready to leave.

I guess I'll have to increase my use of Sun Screen from now on.
 

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Sorry to hear about your skin cancer Don, I hope they did get it all and you don't have any further trouble with it. Ike had terrible problems with his cancer. https://www.seniorforums.com/showth...a-fun-morning-more-skin-cancer?highlight=nose

Good advice about the sunscreen and even wearing hats is good to protect the head and neck areas, both things I'm bad about doing and need to make some changes. I don't spend too much time in the sun though, not like when I was younger.
 
So far, so good. The "wound" seeped a bit for the first couple of days, but the bandage has been clear since Sunday, and it looks like things are healing properly. I intend to keep the nose bandaged for at least until the end of the month, so no dirt, etc., can get to that area. The doctor said to swab the area with vaseline before rebandaging it...and that makes sense...helps keep the bandage from sticking to the wound, and helps form a barrier while things heal. I'm not a real big fan of doctors, but I must say that both the dermatologist and the surgeon that I was referred to did a good professional job.

Until this thing heals, I'm staying out of the sun...especially with this current heat wave....and I bought a couple of tubes of SPF 50 sunscreen since a hat may not be sufficient.
 

I had a small spot of basal cell on the top of one of my ears removed about 20 years back. Left a little notch. Ears can be left out in the sun when wearing ball caps so they can be a problem area too if you don't have a lot of hair protecting it from sun exposure, just like a nose sticking out catches more sun if you don't wear a cap or brimmed hat. So if you are wearing a ball cap for sun protection and you ears are not protected by a lot of hair, you might want to use a little sunscreen on the tops of your ears or wear a full breamed hat.
 
I have had basil removed by the same method from my left cheek..Doc said it was common for truck drivers having that side exposed to sun and mirror reflection..

When I took the bandage off, it looked like I have a centipede on my cheek!! 23 stitches!!
 
Normally, I put some sunscreen on my arms, and wear a wide brimmed straw hat when out mowing, etc., in the sun....I had a sunburned ear once while wearing a baseball cap, and that was No fun. I guess I'll just have to start dabbing a bit of sunscreen on my nose and cheeks from now on. When it's all healed, if I just have a "divot" on my nose, no big deal...it will just add some "personality" to my otherwise mundane face.
 
My brother is blond and blue eyed,fair skinned,of course,and a lifelong golfer (since age 12.) At age 20,he had a Basal Cell carcinoma removed from the side of his nose and has had a round scar there ever since. He will turn 80 in a couple of months and has never had a recurrence.
 
I had a MOHS done a few weeks ago on the side of my nose and on my right upper arm. Simple prodecures that did not take long at all. Worth it to be rid of the cancer cells.
 
Good Luck. Follow through as well. I know people whose doctors are more worried about the skin cancers than something like colon or prostrate cancer. Most of their 'routine' doctor visits are with the dermatologists.

Besides sun screens, hats, long sleeves etc I'd pursue the usual vitamins especially C and believe it or not vitamin D. I know someone so paranoid about sun exposure after they were diagnosed with/developed a vitiman D deficiency which is critical for the immune system and absorption of calcium.

Best Wishes
 
Don M. said:
A couple of months ago, I noticed a big black spot on the side of my nose...it came on almost overnight. At first, I thought it was a blackhead, but nothing came out, so I left it alone. Then, in early June, during my annual Medicare exam, I had my doctor look at it...and she set me up with an appt. at a dermatologist. They took a biopsy, and the lab tests came back positive...something called Basal Cell Carcinoma. This past week, I went to the huge University of Missouri Hospital complex, where they have a major Cancer center, and the doctor did a procedure called a "Mohs" surgery. He cut out a patch of the nose, and sent it to the lab to quickly see if he got it all.

An hour later, they had the results, and said they got it all, and bandaged me up and sent me home. The Only pain and discomfort in this whole episode was the shots they gave my nose...one for the biopsy, and another for the surgery.

I've been looking kind of funny the past few days with a big bandage on the side of my nose, but the "wound" has stopped seeping, so a few more days with keeping it bandaged, and I should be good to go. Right now, I have a recessed circle about 1/4" inch in diameter that looks kind of nasty, but keeping it clean and covered should allow it to heal with perhaps only a minor scar. They offered to do a skin graft, but I figured that would just be a 2nd spot I've have to keep bandaged, so if I'm left with just a small scar...no big deal.

Bottom Line....if you notice any change in your body, have it checked at your first opportunity. The doctor said that what I had is no big deal...IF it is quickly corrected. Had I let it go a year, or two, he said I might have faced some major surgery, and then reconstructive surgery to get my nose back. This must be fairly common for older folks, as the hospital waiting room was filled with a dozen Seniors with similar bandages on various parts of their faces and heads, when I got ready to leave.

I guess I'll have to increase my use of Sun Screen from now on.
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It's strange that I'm reading this now. My Husband is scheduled for MOHS surgery next week Carcinoma . He also has something on his chin and right shoulder. It will be the second time he had to have MOHS surgery. I also had the surgery for something on my earlobe. I was surprised when I was diagnosed with skin cancer since because I was soo fair skinned my Mother never let me be in the sun. I think in all my life I only got sunburn one time in my 20's. My Husband is also fair skinned and would always get sunburn. Thankfully they have MOHS surgery now.
 

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