Skin cancer treated on face: How do you deal with going out in public?

@jultan Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Like you, I have used fluorouracil on my face many times. Yes, there is a certain amount of irritation or redness that appears as the medication starts to find problem places to work on. I had to resign myself to the fact that it was working, and to be happy about that. After about a week, I will use a very light moisturizer over top of the cream, to ease some of the visible reaction. Some people will use a light makeup. And some, like my family member, simply hibernates away from people during the worst of it!

Another way to think of it is educating people who might comment. Talk to them about the importance of taking care of your skin, and watching for skin cancers. Explain you are taking a proactive approach to catch precancer situations. Let them know it's never too early to do that. Who knows? You might be really helping someone along their own skin health journey! What do you think about this?
Ginger

I had significant MOHS surgery on my nose and MOHS with 4 inch scar on my cheek. I went back to work 13 days later. I know people were surprised at how I looked, but I work in healthcare and took it as a ‘teaching moment’ reminding people that skin cancer is common and to wear sunscreen and SPF clothing.

It is hard to accept how different your face can look. My nose is still misshaped-will have to have plastic surgery at some point.

Hang in there.

@jultan I've personally never used fluorouracil but I found @gingerw's comments very helpful as were @marem60's. Like @marem60, after I had a melanoma surgery on my face, I had a large scar for quite some time and was rather self-conscious of it but I had to remember: we're often our own hardest critics. Sometimes I drew more attention to it then others as a result, particularly as it was fading. But sometimes, to be proactive, I'd simply be honest in the earlier days of healing when the scar was rather raw and red by simply stating: "I'm a a little self-conscious right now as I recently underwent treatement for skin cancer and I know the scar on my face can be a bit jarring to look at". I honestly didn't mind when that opened up the conversation about skin cancer - because, as Ginger stated, it turned into a teachable moment.

Is that approach something you'd feel comfortable with?

Hello

I recently treated my forehead and wore a bandanna to cover it. Helps to keep it out of the sun to.
I would try and talk to your boss and see if you can take it according to your reaction. You’re probably fine for the 1st 7 days.
Maybe more.
On my last treatment I found the two days after completely the worse. But got to day 16 and Derm said I could stop. Affects me in many ways. Not only the side effects they list. So listen to your body and be kind to yourself.
Good luck

@beneah77 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! That's a great suggestion, to wear a covering if you can. And once again, your story shows many of us have different types of reactions.

Are you feeling better now?
Ginger

I have had multiple surgeries on my face for skin cancer including a graft from my cheek put on my nose which was greatly cut away. During 2020 I wore a mask due to covid and no one noticed. I am now immuno compromised and still wear a mask to avoid cold, flu and covid. No one looks at me strangely with a mask in our society today. I am now facing a second surgery on my upper lip.

@gingerw Hi Ginger yes thank you I am. Just had a lesson removed two weeks ago but. Came up so fast!
SCC 🤦‍♀️

@queenie2030
I've had plenty of Moh's and other skin surgeries, The last one was over a year ago and on part of my upper lip. I still am bothered by it---- it is very pinched and tight.
About 1/4 of my upper lip is pulled into my mouth, but it doesn't look too bad, but it feels bad. Good luck, I know how you feel about the cancers, a mask is an excellent cover up, Please let me know how you are doing.

You certainly understand, I am sorry for all you have been through. I am still angry with the dermatologist I was seeing each year I asked about a spot near my lip then finally I felt a lump on the inside of my lip. He said it was a swollen gland! I insisted he do a biopsy and it was basal cell. I never saw him again and found a good MOHS surgeon. I still dont look forward to another lip surgery. I had bandages on my nose and lip at the same time, done two weeks apart. I came home once and told my husband I could not breathe or eat. He reapplied my bandages so I could breathe but eating was a chore for a while. I had an uncle who died from face cancer so I know it is worth it. I tell myself to be thankful it is an easily diagnosed cancer and removed compared to many other types.

@queenie2030
Glad to hear that you found another dermatologist, and even even happier to hear your husband is somewhat of a "surgical nurse!" I had a friend who actually is a nurse & changed my bandages every other day for me. The Moh's doctor who did my surgeries practices in another town, I live in the country, and there are only 2 dermatologists nearby. Both of which are not so great.
Good luck Queenie to both of us!