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Melanoma & Skin Cancer support: Introduce yourself and connect
Melanoma & Skin Cancer | Last Active: 22 minutes ago | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
I am 82 years old and have multiple health problems. One that has developed over the last year is Basal Cell. They are multiplying. I have one just under my eye that needs further removal. I have to see a surgeon to get this done because my dermatologist isn’t comfortable doing it. I am worried it will be a deforming result. What would happen if i didn’t do anything further. It was cut off but dermatologist thinks it needs further removal
Replies to "I am 82 years old and have multiple health problems. One that has developed over the..."
@delia2250yahoocom
At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville most of our dermatologists are trained as surgeons. Only a couple area trained to do MOHS surgeries.
I am going to comment on MOHS as I have had around 10 of them. MOHS requires a specially trained surgeon. The procedure happens after a biopsy reveals skin cancer. The surgeon removes the known area of cancer and then margins to make sure it gets all cancer. The removed tissues go to pathology to determine if the margins are clear of any sign of cancer.
If margins are clear surgery is over, and surgeon will come back and close area with either stitches or pressure bandages. All mine got pressure bandage. If the pathology review shows and sign of cancer is left the surgeon will return and take more tissues and the same pathology review goes on until the areas around your skin cancer are clear of any skin cancer.
If you had had this type surgery you would not be coming back for more surgery as you can see. It is why I prefer MOHS. What I see from your post is your dermatologist may not be an experienced and trained surgeon. I would seek out one that is and go over all the types of treatments that can be done for skin cancer.
If you don't do anything per your question what my dermatologist tell me that most skin cancers (not all now) are slow growing and low incidence (not all including melanoma) of metastasis. However, BCC, SCC, will continue to grow and grow and can grow into bones, muscles, etc. which requires more in depth and serious surgery.
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@delia2250yahoocom For me, I would rather have the skin cancer removed than worry about a deformity. You can ask your dermatologist what would happen if you do not have the basal cell spot addressed, as they know you and your history.
As an aside, two days ago I had biopsies taken of two suspicious spots, contained within each eyebrow. The area on my left eyebrow previously had a Mohs procedure for squamous cell. The right eyebrow has an area we have been trying to freeze off, but it will not go away. Am I concerned about losing more than half of each eyebrow? Not really. At 72, each scar, wrinkle, and gray hair has been earned!
Ginger