Spinoff: possible skin cancer & losing health insurance

[It'sWDW4me]

I did a bit of researching over the weekend and I think I've self-diagnosed a basal cell carcinoma under my eye & close to my nose. It's still rather small. At first I honestly thought it was a painless zit or maybe a new mole. But after seeing pics of BCC online, I'm pretty sure that's what it is. It's been quite a few months since I first noticed the reddish dot but now it's starting to get "pearly" colored. It's about the size of dot made with a sharpie marker. From what I've read, BCC isn't malignant or immediately life-threatening but I obviously want to get it taken care of fairly soon.

Problem is... I'm losing my job at the end of June. My health insurance will continue through the end of August but that's it. If I don't find a job relatively quickly, I'll have to buy health insurance through other channels - there is absolutely no way that I'll be able to afford COBRA.

SO.... if I go to get this taken care of now, will it be all done and over (with exception of follow-up visits, of course) before the end of August? Even if so, will I have a very hard time finding an affordable health insurance with the C word in my health assessment? When I do find a new job, will I have any issues with a "pre-existing" condition if I DON'T go through this right now?


sigh So darned many "what-ifs" right now. I just must not have enough stress so as it is - heap BCC on top of it all.

 

[brymolmom]

I had Basal Cell on the tip of my nose almost 2 years ago. IMO - you should call tomorrow at 9:00am and make an appointment with a Dermatologist. No matter what happens with your insurance - you need to move on this and the fact that you have insurance thru August means to waste NO TIME and react quickly. If your own doc with do it - you might be able to convince him/her to do it quickly, but if, like me, you get sent to a MOHS specialist - I had to wait a few months to even get it for it to be done. Once it was done - I had to go back for follow-ups every month for a couple months. But those were very quick visits and even if you had to pay for them - you might be able to make due with one follow-up and with your own doc.

The recovery did take a good 2 months - maybe 3. But I think I only went back twice in the first 2 months...then I did go back one more time to see if he could 'tweak' it at all (it is still not smooth - but mine is on the tip of the nose which is difficult) - so that last visit wasn't really necessary.

Good idea to start looking for a new job ASAP (sorry - I know this is obvious) for the main purpose that for a year after the surgery - I had check-ups with my Derm. every 3 months - to make sure no more appeared. Now I have them every 6 months. Not sure if that's 100% necessary - but you don't want to take a chance. It might be the 'best' kind to have - but it IS still cancer.

Good luck.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I agree - get in to your derm to do the biopsy to confirm then if needed set up the appt with the MOHS surgeon, ASAP. The longer you wait the more the BCC can spread which means potentially more rounds during the MOHS surgery and therefore more money.

In my most recent MOHS surgery, I went back about 4 different times for follow-ups since they were watching a spot that was slower in healing since this one required a skin graft. Surprised my doctor did not charge me for any of the follow up appts. My first MOHS surgery wasn't as complex and only required one follow up but again I don't remember being charged?

Don't be afraid - I was and its not an easy feeling but the MOHS doctors/surgeons are amazing! You can barely see the two I've had and one was done only in October.

I've never heard because someone had a BCC they needed to qualify for pre-existing conditions, like other major cancers and diseases. Unfortunately BCC's are fairly common. I'm not sure so hopefully someone else can advise you.

Good luck and keep us posted
Heather

 

[cvjw]

OP, I had the exact situation that you are describing a couple of years ago. It turned into a small white raised bump under my left eye. I already saw my dermatologist every year, but they always dismissed my spot as nothing. At my urging, they biopsied it after 2 years, and it was indeed cancer. My dermatologist is also a MOHS doctor, and took it off the next month. I did not have all the follow up appts like the PP - just surgery follow up (had to have a skin graft), and then regular yearly appts like normal.

I would be finding a dermatologist who is a MOHS doctor ASAP. Once you get the initial appt, the surgery will be very quick if they deem it cancer. Once the spot is taken off with MOHS surgery, they know before you leave the office that the cancer is indeed taken care of. MOHS surgery is quick and painless - they just numb the spot they are working on. Recovery is very easy, even if a skin graft is involved. I would have the MOHS surgery done before your insurance runs out - it was about $3500 a few years back. I would then worry about getting new insurance, after I knew the cancer was removed from my face!

Just FYI, even though this type of cancer is very, very slow growing, it can have disasterous results. My Dr. was telling me of another patient who waited too late to come in, and lost an eye to the cancer.

 

[disneymom2003]

Don't discount Cobra. That's what I thought and it was much more affordable than I thought. Check with your HR department

 

[HM]

It does sound a bit like the spot I had near my eye that was a basel cell carcinoma. I also thought it was a long-lived zit or clear mole. Silly me. At a dermalogist appointment to look at another spot on my arm that looked completely different (unhealing sore) that was also a basel cell carcinoma, he pointed it out. He excised both for me that day and sent in for labs. He did a really good job with the stitches on the face and you can't see where it was. Once the labs were back and they were found not to be malignant. That was that. I was done with those spots. That was 20 years ago and I haven't had anything else since. (knock on wood).

Just go and take care of the spot now.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm not sure why you would hesitate for any reason to get this looked at! Good luck.

 

[holycow]

I would stop all the speculating and make an appointment.

I may truly be nothing! or if it is something you can at least have it taken care of ASAP.

Then I would look into Cobra. Don't discount it before you know the facts.

 

[momxx5]

Use all your emotions to get appointments as soon as you can. "You cannot sleep with worry over cancer" "It is affecting your job/family" etc.
Do NOT let them put you off.

1. GET an appt with a dermatologist. Do not let them make the "first available" which could take months. Cry, scream, and cry some more so you can get this appt. In most cases you will need a referral to see a MOHS surgeon.

2. If it confirmed to be BCC then have them get you in to the surgeon ASAP. Again beg, plead, cry, and of course explain your insurance issues.

3. If they say it is NOT BCC, then get a second opinion ASAP. I was seen and told that is was NOT cancer. Then a few years later I go see different Dr. for an acme problem and the Dr. Derm says "you have cancer".

4. The special surgery happens all within 1 day. It takes the whole or most of a full day. The Dr. will mark how much he is going to cut out. You are numbed. The Dr then takes out the area. The Dr. analyzes the cells of the removed area and checks under microscope to see if the edges are clear of any cancer/pre-cancer cells. If any are remaining you will be numbed again. The Dr. will remove a larger area. Once again the Dr. will check to make sure that all edges are clean.
This process is repeated until any signs of problem cells are removed.
After each time you will be bandaged up and remain in waiting room.
Once the Dr. is confident that all is good then you will be stitched up and go on your merry way. Since I had small babies at home and no one to watch them I had to go alone (1+hr away) but if you can please have someone go with you.
By the end of the day I was exhausted but free of cancer!!!! The Dr. takes great care to get it all so there are no return appts or having to reopen the area and closes the area to have minimal scarring.

Please do not hesitate to get this taken care of ASAP. Not only because of the insurance but also because there is NO reason to fool with cancer.

I will be praying that you are self mis-diagnosed yourself. It happens. However if you do have BCC please update us so we can offer support and prayers.