Moles - any experiences with basal cell carcinoma?

[nkereina]

My mom (over 60) noticed a new growth/mole in the middle of her back. It popped up about two months ago and has seemingly grown in size since then. It's scaly, raised, and flesh colored/pinkish, about the size of a pencil eraser. She has no history of skin cancer in her family, but was a sun worshipper in her teenage years which led to freckles and wrinkles, etc. She showed the growth to her primary doctor last week. He glanced at it and made an appointment for her to come back today to have it removed and biopsied. He removed it today and made no comment about it, except to say that it bled a lot which meant there were a lot of blood vessels going to it. He put three stitches in it and she'll go back next week to have the stitches out and get the results.

After doing some research, it seems to share many of the symptoms of basal cell carcinoma. Does anyone here have experiences with basal cell carcinoma - good or bad? We'll stay positive that it's benign but looking to learn more about this to prepare ourselves.

Thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

Don't worry, if you are fair and sun worshipped back in the day, you will most likely get this. My grandmother had many removed, my mom did, and the last time I had something removed and biopsied, I was shocked to learn it wasn't this, but I did get body scanned by my dermatologist, because I know I'll get some in the future.

 

[nkereina]

Don't worry, if you are fair and sun worshipped back in the day, you will most likely get this. My grandmother had many removed, my mom did, and the last time I had something removed and biopsied, I was shocked to learn it wasn't this, but I did get body scanned by my dermatologist, because I know I'll get some in the future.

So in other words, it's pretty common? I've heard the term "basal cell carcinoma" before but know nothing about it otherwise.

 

[asta]

A basal cell is the least serious of the types of skin cancer. I had a basal cell removed with MOHS surgery where they continue to remove tissue and send it to to the lab until it does not show any cancer. It was explained to me that a basal cell will continue to grow if not removed but will not invade other organs.

As I have aged I have many seborrheic keratosis come up on my back. These are not cancers but are annoying and unsightly. They seem to be occurring in areas exposed to sun. The dermatologist either cuts them off or freezes them but this is considered cosmetic

 

[lorimay]

Very common, I have lost count of how many my husband has had removed in the last 12 years He was a huge sun worshipper in his younger years.
He has had many that are pre-cancerous and can be burned or scraped off.
Thankfully the worst part is a small scar.

 

[nkereina]

Thanks for the replies! Its putting my mind at ease!

 

[LisaR]

Disclaimer: This is what I've learned over the past couple years dealing with basal cell and my mom. This is the word of one doctor. I'm sure every doctor has their own way so take from it what you want.

My mom lives with me half the year. She went to her primary doctor when she was living on her own for a regular checkup. That doctor noticed a spot on her nose, removed it, and stitched it up. It came back positive for basal cell carcinoma. They gave her some cream to put on it for a few weeks (chemo in a bottle) and that was that.

The following year she was down here and her nose looked horrible. I found a dermatologist to take her to. They biopsied it and it was basal cell. Again? No, still. According to that dermatologist (and this is where the disclaimer above comes in) if a spot is big enough that it needs stitches once it is removed, it should never be removed that way. She should have had MOHS originally. While it is a slow growing cancer, all that did was basically stir the beast and her spot was now huge. It took many, many tissue removals to get it all. She also needed a skin graft when done.

I make sure she only goes to a dermatologist now for suspicious spots. She has had two more since, but the MOHS was quite easy on both of those since they were caught in time. No skin graft needed, either. It does seem like once one pops up, a few more aren't far behind based on things I've read and people I know with the same problem.

Anyway, relax in knowing that it is the least serious of all of them and not a huge deal, but maybe consider a dermatologist for her instead.

 

[Geoff_M]

If you're diagnosed with skin cancer, "It's basal cell carcinoma" is the next thing you want to hear come out of the doctor's mouth. What you don't want to hear is "melanoma." Five years ago I had a "pimple" on my chin that wouldn't heal. I thought part of the problem was that I'd keep "catching it" with my razor. After a couple of months, was in the doctor's office for a routine physical and he looked at my chin and said "That looks like classic basal cell carcinoma." I was referred to a Dermatologist who then confirmed it. They did a Mohs procedure on my chin and took out a hunk of skin like you'd get if you cleaved a quarter-sized chunk off a golf ball. They pinched the opening shut vertically and closed it up. Except for a vertical line that runs down my chin and only seen when the light hits me from the side, that the only remaining sign. My FIL just had the procedure done on his eyebrow/eyelid region and you cannot see a mark on him at all.

 

[DisneyOma]

My father was covered with large (gumball sized) basil cell carcinomas before he decided to do anything about them. Plastic surgeon removed them all, and he was fine. It was the lung cancer that got him.

 

[DVC-Don]

I've had lots of basil cell carcinomas removed. I've also had melanoma cancer removed, that one took two surgeries.

 

[cvjw]

Lots of experience with skin cancers. Grandparents, parents and myself have all dealt with this.

Pp is correct. You need MOHS surgery to make sure all of the cancer is removed. Just going in and taking the spot out and stitching it back up can leave cancer cells. These cancer cells will continue to grow and then you have a mess on your hands.

But the good news is that if you have MOHS surgery on a skin cancer, then all the cancer is gone and you don't have to worry about that spot anymore.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I'm actually having MOHS surgery tomorrow for a basel cell carcinoma on my chin. The dermatologist and the surgeon both stated this is the "best" type of skin cancer to have since it is slow growing and doesn't spread and said that MOHS is the most effective and least invasive way of taking care of it.

 

[Shellsbutt]

Well,my first experience with basal cell carcinoma has not been fun. I noticed a small pink spot under my right eyelid about six months ago. I went to my regular doctor who referred me to a dermatologist. They did a biopsy and gave me the results a few weeks later. They referred me to a doctor who specializes in MOHS. Fast forward to July 14th and day of my procedure. I was there from 7:45 am to approx 6pm. You go in, they take off a layer, cauterize the wound and send you back out to the waiting room with a bandage over the area. They need to look at results to see if more needs to be taken off. I had to go back in there three more times before they said they had gotten it all. And because of the width of the wound, I needed to have a skin graft done to cover the area. I actually thought I would be able to go back to work the next day! They didn't want to stitch it up because it would pull down on my lower lid. So here we are about 40 days later and I'm still having problems with the area. My lower eyelid has pulled down anyway and looks horrible. I've been back in to see the doctor and was given a shot to soften up the skin graft plus I've been putting aquaphor on it and rubbing it daily like they told me. Looks like I might need plastic surgery to correct it. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy! Both my dad and my aunt have had numerous spots removed so there is a history in my family. But I'm only 45 and I would say the majority of the people I've seen in the doctor's office are at least twenty years older! I am not a sun worshipper nor have ever set foot in a tanning bed. Sorry for the rant, I'm just having a pity party right now.

 

[nkereina]

@Shellsbutt so sorry to hear about your experience! Best wishes with everything!

 

[kohlby]

I've had a couple basal cell carcinomas removed. I was never a sun worshipper and grew up in the northeast - but I'm freckled and pale skinned and did spend a lot of time doing activities outdoors. I had the first one removed before I was 40.

 

[Shellsbutt]

@nkereina thanks for the kind words. I'm hanging in there! @kohlby Have you changed your lifestyle at all since having those carcinomas removed? I now wear sunblock daily and don't go outside without wearing a hat and sunglasses. I did spend a lot of time outdoors just puttering around in my garden pulling weeds. I never thought of myself as being fair skinned though. Anybody have any recommendations for some serious sunglasses?

 

[tnmt]

@Shellsbutt This is like my story EXCEPT they did a flap incision going from under my eye and over to my temple. Doc said if he just sutured it then my lower lid would hang down so he had to do this so it wouldn't do that. I looked like frankenstein at first because my incision was so big for such a little spot. That was about 8 years ago and now you can barely see the scar. It does sound like a plastic surgeon is going to be in your future though. I was depressed when I first saw how big the scar was going to be but it all turned out fine after everything healed up.

 

[Pembo]

I have had 2 basal cells removed with Mohs. I found a doctor that does Mohs who is also licensed in plastic surgery. My scar on my neck is almost invisible after 3 years and the one on my nose, from January is barely visible to others. My suggestion find a dermatologist that is also a licensed plastic surgeon.

I am fair and wear sunscreen religiously when I'm outside. Both of my basals were on the left side of my neck and face....the side that faces the car window. Now I wear sunscreen EVERY day, rain or shine, snow or sun.

 

[firecracker725]

My mom (over 60) noticed a new growth/mole in the middle of her back. It popped up about two months ago and has seemingly grown in size since then. It's scaly, raised, and flesh colored/pinkish, about the size of a pencil eraser. She has no history of skin cancer in her family, but was a sun worshipper in her teenage years which led to freckles and wrinkles, etc. She showed the growth to her primary doctor last week. He glanced at it and made an appointment for her to come back today to have it removed and biopsied. He removed it today and made no comment about it, except to say that it bled a lot which meant there were a lot of blood vessels going to it. He put three stitches in it and she'll go back next week to have the stitches out and get the results.

After doing some research, it seems to share many of the symptoms of basal cell carcinoma. Does anyone here have experiences with basal cell carcinoma - good or bad? We'll stay positive that it's benign but looking to learn more about this to prepare ourselves.

Thanks!

The worst case scenario with basal cell carcinomas is that they become plastics cases. They don't metastasize, but they can cause major scarring depending on how deep they go. My FIL has had several removed.

 

[kohlby]

@nkereina thanks for the kind words. I'm hanging in there! @kohlby Have you changed your lifestyle at all since having those carcinomas removed? I now wear sunblock daily and don't go outside without wearing a hat and sunglasses. I did spend a lot of time outdoors just puttering around in my garden pulling weeds. I never thought of myself as being fair skinned though. Anybody have any recommendations for some serious sunglasses?

Due to bad knees, I no longer marathon train so that helped quite a bit! I grew up in the northeast so we didn't think about sun exposure as much - using sunscreen just when we were at the beach. (Though, in those days, SPF 4 was the most I remember. Others were putting on their tanning lotion while I was putting on sunscreen). I live in the southeast now so we spend a lot money of sunscreen down here but we've been doing that for a while. There's really not much more I could lifestyle-wise comparing adult-before to adult-after. I've never used a tanning bed, I've been good with sunscreen when living in the southeast, which has been for most of my adult life.