I had a biopsy come back as squamous cell carcinoma( on face) and could not find a mohs surgeon near by to take my insurance so I traveled and got to visit a surgeon who agreed to do it but it was so many months away I had more skin cancer screenings at home and they used liquid nitrogen on many spots plus the scc and it healed and never came back. ??? I was amazed! A few years after that I was diagnosed with lung cancer and I’m always wondering if the skin cancer on my face went to my lungs…. It was the squamous cell cancer also. ???🤷♀️I wish you the best of luck and it’s good your doing the mohs.
I am in the same place. Have an SCC on my nose, and a few BCC on my face. I am genuinely worried….mainly about whether is has metastasised or not. I will have a neck lymph scan tomorrow and the MOHs surgery in a month
I had a biopsy come back as squamous cell carcinoma( on face) and could not find a mohs surgeon near by to take my insurance so I traveled and got to visit a surgeon who agreed to do it but it was so many months away I had more skin cancer screenings at home and they used liquid nitrogen on many spots plus the scc and it healed and never came back. ??? I was amazed! A few years after that I was diagnosed with lung cancer and I’m always wondering if the skin cancer on my face went to my lungs…. It was the squamous cell cancer also. ???🤷♀️I wish you the best of luck and it’s good your doing the mohs.
I'm sorry to hear you're going through this, @vandeb, and have had to travel so far to get it treated.
It's not unusual for looking for cause and effect when dealing with these situations. Have you discussed your concerns with your providers? With SCC in the lungs, there are other potential contibuting factors that might be explored.
Personally, I find when I ruminate about what led from there to here, I think of a quote I read by Michal J. Fox: "Acceptance doesn't mean resignation. It means that something is what it is and there's got to be a way through it". Knowledge is certainly power, and we're all gaining a lot of that here, while also are hopefully learning to go easy of ourselves. Perhaps that's an equally important component of the healing process.
I am in the same place. Have an SCC on my nose, and a few BCC on my face. I am genuinely worried….mainly about whether is has metastasised or not. I will have a neck lymph scan tomorrow and the MOHs surgery in a month
I am not a medical professional, so I only pass on what my medical doctors advise.
Basal cell and Squamous are common cancers. They are usually slow growing and not common to metastasis. My dermatologist said this cancer if not treated can grow into bones, muscles, etc. So treatment then is quite extensive.
It does not many basal cell and squamous metastasis but is not known as a common occurrence. Again, not me speaking as a medical professional but what my dermatologist has told me after 6 MOHS surgeries.
I was a sun worshipper in my teens (lived in Florida) surfing, skiing, tennis all getting sun burned. Back then the darker your tan showed the most fun you had. Now paying for all those sunburns.
I think the most important thing with skin is anything that looks suspicious get it checked. Catching skin cancer is just like any cancer the successful treatments are so much better when caught early.
I am in the same place. Have an SCC on my nose, and a few BCC on my face. I am genuinely worried….mainly about whether is has metastasised or not. I will have a neck lymph scan tomorrow and the MOHs surgery in a month
I also just received SCC diagnosis for an area on my upper arm. It extended to all margins so Derm is having me come back in for further excision. Derm tells me this is “no big deal” and kind of laughed when I asked about any testing for mets. Am I overreacting?
I also just received SCC diagnosis for an area on my upper arm. It extended to all margins so Derm is having me come back in for further excision. Derm tells me this is “no big deal” and kind of laughed when I asked about any testing for mets. Am I overreacting?
@jojo61
Any type of cancer can be stressful to those who have it.
Skin cancer basal cell (BCC), and SCC are very common. They are highly treatable and have excellent cure rates if caught early. Malanoma (spell) is a total different type of cancer and has increased risk of metastasizing where BCC and SCC is very low. But BCC and SCC will grow and can grow into muscles, bones, organs if not removed. That is the highest risk with those type cancer not metasazing. This comes from my Mayo Jacksonville dermatologist not from me as I am not even close to being a medical expert or to give medical advice.
There are great treatments for removing BCC and SCC. It appears you got surgery to remove it. Was this MOHS surgery. That is where they remove the cancer area and then pathologist determines if all cancer has been removed and the margins are clear.
I have had at least 10 BCC and 1 SCC done by MOHS at Mayo Jacksonville. If a biopsy shows a new cancer I would go with it again. Others have had problem with MOHS but my experience has been excellent.
I think your medical providers should be more sensititive to those with cancer. But I sense they see this so much and the cure rate is so high with BCC and SCC that is why you get the feedback you did.
@ahappymomoffive
First I am not a medical professional so what I post is just my experience and knowledge I have learned from my dermatologist.
Basal cell and SCC are common skin cancers. They (and from my dermatiologist) are easily treated with great outcomes if caught early. The biggest danger is not getting it diagnosed and treated as can spread into muscles, tissues, and bones which require much more extensive treatments.
I think I have had 10 basal cells and one (SCC). I was told the SCC was most likely from HPV. Don't mistaken from HIV. HPV is a very common virus that almost all have but usually remains dormant. I had an injury to an area and that is where the SCC formed.
I had MOHS survery on all the basal cells and SCC. I chose MOHS as what they do is remove the area around skin cancer then review via pathologist to see if any sign of cancer has not been removed. If some still present will come back in an do more removal and keep doing that until no signs of cancer remain.
I only had one (1) surgery that required more removal of skin. A MOHS surgeon is specialty trained. The area was injected with a pain medication and you feel nothing. You should decide what surgery or treatment you want just posting what I had. There are many options for type treatments. Asked questions of all pros and cons of each and then do best for you.
I see Lorin the MCC monitor has already reached out to you for more information on your SCC diagnosis.
Good luck!
I am 74 and have had multiple episodes of basal cell cancer and even more and larger squamous cell cancer.
I grew up on Long Island Sound and down the street from the beach. There was NO good sunscreen then! My dad also had it - he had very fair freckled skin. He was also on a ship in Pacific during WW2 so was exposed to sun.
I am a retired nurse. I have always understood that skin cancers often are from too much sun exposure. They are more common in people who work outdoors - think farmers, construction, golfers, etc.
I learned some of the highest rates are found in Australia (intense sun). I had one area on my L forearm - in Australia it’s usually on the R arm - they drive on the right. Ditto for facial cancers.
I have personally never heard of a relationship between HPV and skin cancers?
Use sunscreen and protective clothing! It works!
@jojo61
Any type of cancer can be stressful to those who have it.
Skin cancer basal cell (BCC), and SCC are very common. They are highly treatable and have excellent cure rates if caught early. Malanoma (spell) is a total different type of cancer and has increased risk of metastasizing where BCC and SCC is very low. But BCC and SCC will grow and can grow into muscles, bones, organs if not removed. That is the highest risk with those type cancer not metasazing. This comes from my Mayo Jacksonville dermatologist not from me as I am not even close to being a medical expert or to give medical advice.
There are great treatments for removing BCC and SCC. It appears you got surgery to remove it. Was this MOHS surgery. That is where they remove the cancer area and then pathologist determines if all cancer has been removed and the margins are clear.
I have had at least 10 BCC and 1 SCC done by MOHS at Mayo Jacksonville. If a biopsy shows a new cancer I would go with it again. Others have had problem with MOHS but my experience has been excellent.
I think your medical providers should be more sensititive to those with cancer. But I sense they see this so much and the cure rate is so high with BCC and SCC that is why you get the feedback you did.
Interesting. I know SCC can spread (it moved down my nose in a relatively rapid fashion!). However I haven’t heard that basal CC can spread to all sorts of places/tissues/organs?
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I had a biopsy come back as squamous cell carcinoma( on face) and could not find a mohs surgeon near by to take my insurance so I traveled and got to visit a surgeon who agreed to do it but it was so many months away I had more skin cancer screenings at home and they used liquid nitrogen on many spots plus the scc and it healed and never came back. ??? I was amazed! A few years after that I was diagnosed with lung cancer and I’m always wondering if the skin cancer on my face went to my lungs…. It was the squamous cell cancer also. ???🤷♀️I wish you the best of luck and it’s good your doing the mohs.
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3 ReactionsI am in the same place. Have an SCC on my nose, and a few BCC on my face. I am genuinely worried….mainly about whether is has metastasised or not. I will have a neck lymph scan tomorrow and the MOHs surgery in a month
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI'm sorry to hear you're going through this, @vandeb, and have had to travel so far to get it treated.
It's not unusual for looking for cause and effect when dealing with these situations. Have you discussed your concerns with your providers? With SCC in the lungs, there are other potential contibuting factors that might be explored.
Personally, I find when I ruminate about what led from there to here, I think of a quote I read by Michal J. Fox: "Acceptance doesn't mean resignation. It means that something is what it is and there's got to be a way through it". Knowledge is certainly power, and we're all gaining a lot of that here, while also are hopefully learning to go easy of ourselves. Perhaps that's an equally important component of the healing process.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI am not a medical professional, so I only pass on what my medical doctors advise.
Basal cell and Squamous are common cancers. They are usually slow growing and not common to metastasis. My dermatologist said this cancer if not treated can grow into bones, muscles, etc. So treatment then is quite extensive.
It does not many basal cell and squamous metastasis but is not known as a common occurrence. Again, not me speaking as a medical professional but what my dermatologist has told me after 6 MOHS surgeries.
I was a sun worshipper in my teens (lived in Florida) surfing, skiing, tennis all getting sun burned. Back then the darker your tan showed the most fun you had. Now paying for all those sunburns.
I think the most important thing with skin is anything that looks suspicious get it checked. Catching skin cancer is just like any cancer the successful treatments are so much better when caught early.
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Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsWhere is it located?
@avslondon, how did the scan go? Any updates? How are you doing?
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1 ReactionI also just received SCC diagnosis for an area on my upper arm. It extended to all margins so Derm is having me come back in for further excision. Derm tells me this is “no big deal” and kind of laughed when I asked about any testing for mets. Am I overreacting?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@jojo61
Any type of cancer can be stressful to those who have it.
Skin cancer basal cell (BCC), and SCC are very common. They are highly treatable and have excellent cure rates if caught early. Malanoma (spell) is a total different type of cancer and has increased risk of metastasizing where BCC and SCC is very low. But BCC and SCC will grow and can grow into muscles, bones, organs if not removed. That is the highest risk with those type cancer not metasazing. This comes from my Mayo Jacksonville dermatologist not from me as I am not even close to being a medical expert or to give medical advice.
There are great treatments for removing BCC and SCC. It appears you got surgery to remove it. Was this MOHS surgery. That is where they remove the cancer area and then pathologist determines if all cancer has been removed and the margins are clear.
I have had at least 10 BCC and 1 SCC done by MOHS at Mayo Jacksonville. If a biopsy shows a new cancer I would go with it again. Others have had problem with MOHS but my experience has been excellent.
I think your medical providers should be more sensititive to those with cancer. But I sense they see this so much and the cure rate is so high with BCC and SCC that is why you get the feedback you did.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI am 74 and have had multiple episodes of basal cell cancer and even more and larger squamous cell cancer.
I grew up on Long Island Sound and down the street from the beach. There was NO good sunscreen then! My dad also had it - he had very fair freckled skin. He was also on a ship in Pacific during WW2 so was exposed to sun.
I am a retired nurse. I have always understood that skin cancers often are from too much sun exposure. They are more common in people who work outdoors - think farmers, construction, golfers, etc.
I learned some of the highest rates are found in Australia (intense sun). I had one area on my L forearm - in Australia it’s usually on the R arm - they drive on the right. Ditto for facial cancers.
I have personally never heard of a relationship between HPV and skin cancers?
Use sunscreen and protective clothing! It works!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsInteresting. I know SCC can spread (it moved down my nose in a relatively rapid fashion!). However I haven’t heard that basal CC can spread to all sorts of places/tissues/organs?