MOHS Surgery.....

[lillygator]

anyone have it?

DH is having it next Tuesday, just wanting to know more about it. I read online and it seems to ahve a high success rate.....

 

[librarygal]

I had it about a year ago. It was painless but you do have to wear a bandage for awhile then come back and have the stitches taken out. It is time consuming since the surgery is done one layer at a time and between each layer they have to look at the cells under a microscope. I was in the office for about five hours. Most of the time is in the waiting room so have him bring a book.

Is he having it done by a MOHS surgeon?

 

[Otimon]

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly is MOHS surgery?

 

[tnmt]

I had it done about a year ago on my face and leg and it was definitely not painless. They gave me a bunch of shots around my eye, both below and above, to anesthetize it and into my hairline. After you are good and numb then there is hardly any pain at all. I hate the cauterization they have to do to stop the bleeding also. You can smell your skin burning. Yuck. Other than that, a piece of cake. I was there about 2 hours. It all depends on how many slices they have to do. I also didn't have to go into the waiting room between each one because of where mine was located and was bleeding quite a bit.

MOHS is a procedure used for skin cancer that is on delicate areas like the face, neck, lips, ears, etc.

 

[karenos]

I had a MOHS procedure done around 2 years ago. I had it on my face, right next to my nose. Any questions please PM me. I am extra vigilant about sunscreen now as I am fairly young - 41 tomorrow!

karenos

 

[Pugsley]

I had it a year ago on my nose (beside the nostril). I don't remember having any pain, but it was really scary when I removed the bandage for the first time and saw how big the wound was. It was about the diameter of a pencil and if they had had to go any deeper it would have gone all the way through my nose. I have a pretty bad scar, but that's OK as long as they got it all. I think it has a very high success rate - it's just a matter of how deep they have to go to get it all.

 

[sbell111]

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly is MOHS surgery?

It's a type of surgery to remove skin cancer.

 

[lillygator]

well know DH is wondering IF he should have it done. I don't think it relates to vanity, I think he is a bit scared. He goes next Tuesday and the DR was MOHS trained and did a year fellowship (also a GATOR grad!!) He is questioning, WHY to get it done....

 

[lillygator]

well DH had his surgery today. Luckily, he only had two layers scraped off. Some stitches and he has to go back next Tuesday for the stitches out and a check up. So far things look ok. He has to take it easy this week as to not disturb the stitches. Hopefully he is done for now.

 

[Belle0101]

Glad to hear it went so well for your husband! I had my MOHS in April of 2008. I had one layer scraped and there were no skin cancer cells present. She took a second scrape just to be safe and the same, no skin cancer cells. We tend to think that my family doctor got all the cancer with the biopsy.

A year and some odd months later, unless you remember where the MOHS site is you cannot even see the scar! And even if you do know, you have to get really close to see it. Way closer than most people should be getting to my face!

Just remind your DH to keep using sunscreen - a min. of 15 SPF in the winter and a min of 30 SPF in the summer. I also wore a silicone based patch at night to lessen the possible scar.

Again, glad to hear it went so well!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

My mom is on her 11th or 12th one at this point- only one really bothered her and that was because it was a very large on on her leg but for the most part they are bearable.

 

[lillygator]

thanks for the info guys....I had not heard of it until now....the dr did say he will probably have more pop up in the next years....he is the olive skinned and I am the red head - although he is 10 yrs older than me, so I am sure I will see some on me in the future as well.