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Mohs surgery and reconstruction: What timeline to expect?
Cancer | Last Active: Jun 16 6:54pm | Replies (20)Comment receiving replies
Update. I saw the Moh's surgeon last week and the reconstruction surgeon this week. While waiting for the surgeon on Monday I asked how far out they were scheduling surgeries (I am planning on heading to my Hilton Head house from Mid Aug to mid Nov) and she told me to figure on Aug-Sept (bummer). However, when the doctor came in and drew a roadmap on my head he said that the cancer could double in size in a few months and was checking my lymph nodes. He left and then the nurse took me to the scheduler. I was surprised when she said that she was trying to get my surgery scheduled for next week but couldn't get me in until 6/26.
Also surprising was he was talking about possibly having to do a skin graft and showed me on my side what he would use as a donor site, and that it wouldn't match the area around it.. He also told me not to discontinue blood thinners since he can handle the bleeding and didn't want to risk a heart attack or stroke, and also didn't want to use general anesthesia for the same reason. Kind of freaked me out. So it looks like local plus valium.
Anyone have any similar experience that can provide any input?
TIA Keith
Replies to "Update. I saw the Moh's surgeon last week and the reconstruction surgeon this week. While waiting..."
@keithl56 I like the way your surgeon prioritized your procedure. Some of them have a way of seeing that things get taken care of when needed. He also sounds like he is on top of your other issues to make this procedure as safe as possible for you. My aunt did not take blood thinners, but any bleeding was quickly contained by ample cautery. Not a pleasant odor, but very effective at controlling bleeding. Her 3 cm circular lesion is filling in with granulation tissue 3 weeks postop with another month or more to completely heal. No graft done and she will have a hairless area that size on top of her head. Better than cancer. I have been forced to learn that appearance isn't everything after surgery resulting in facial paralysis and synkinesis where facial muscle control is permanently changed. It can be hard to accept, but over time you learn to laugh and live with it. Maybe you will learn a good makeup technique to help? And Halloween offers so many opportunities! I carved a right sided facial paralysis pumpkin the first year!
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@keithl56 Not exactly sure where the surgery site will be, but I myself wouldn't worry if the skin graft doesn't match surrounding area.
Because I am on a chemotherapy medication that carries increased chance of stroke, I am told to not take off any doses of my baby aspirin each day, for minor procedures. All of my skin cancer surgeries have been done with a local anesthetic.
It sounds like your surgeon is proactive to get the procedure done as soon as possible, and that's a good thing! Do you have access to a dermatologist while at your house on Hilton Head, if needed?
Ginger