Skin cancer

[Freyja]

Have you ever been diagnosed with skin cancer? If yes, what type was it, how was it diagnosed and what happened from there on?

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have had two basal cells, about 20 years apart. (I was a sun worshipper in my youth, never listened to my mom..) I found the first one myself on the side of my nose. It was a little bump with a dimple in it that wouldn't go away. I had it removed in the office, not fun, but it didn't come back. (This one involved one stitch.) The second one was found when I went in for my yearly mole check at the dermatologist. I didn't even know it was there. It was a little tiny rough spot on my upper chest, didn't look at all like the first one. She removed it in her office, again, not fun. (No stitches this time) This time this doctor gave me a cream to put on it for a couple of weeks to fully remove it? Anyway, this is the "best" cancer to have, doesn't spread, highly treatable. My dad grew up in Mississippi before sunscreen and he used to go in and have several removed at a time.

Hope everything works out for you.

 

[Pixiedust34]

My dh has had basal, squamous, melanoma, and pre-cancer cells. For the past several years of our lives, every few months have revolved around some sort of skin cancer diagnosis/removal/body screening/another diagnosis, etc....

He's had Mohs surgery for the basal and squamous cancers and general surgery for the melanoma. He currently has basal cell cancer again which is being cut out of his skin next week.

For the pre-cancer cells, he used carac (sp?) cream, which was pretty brutal to his skin.

If you catch skin cancer early, it's easy to treat. However, once you know the skin cancer has been there then it's extremely important to get regular screenings.

I hope all goes well for you!

 

[lillygator]

DH had basal cell carcinoma and had Moh's surgery to remove it.

 

[monkey68]

My dad had melanoma, fortunately they caught it early, so they just had to remove a chunk of skin and the surrounding lymph nodes, just in case, even though it hadn't spread to the lymph nodes yet. He's fine now, just has to get yearly checks.

 

[NC State]

My 23 year old daughter had melanoma in May, surgery in June. They removed lymph nodes and had a skin graph. It was a mole on her shin. We caught it early and she's now going monthly for check ups.

 

[LaraK]

I've had two basal cells.

 

[disneydreamer1970]

I had melanoma removed from the back of my knee. I had a complete excision along with the removal of some lymph nodes. The melanoma was in each layer of my skin, however, had not travelled to the lymph nodes. I have check ups every 6 months with my oncologist and if she sees anythink suspicious, she removes it.

Good luck to you!!

Trish