Atypical Fibroxanthoma

Hi Wally,
I'm sorry to hear that you've been recently diagnosed with Atypical Fibroxanthoma (AFx) in addition to lung cancer. Here is a short video of Mayo Clinic dermatologic surgeon, Dr. Jerry Brewer discussing AFx. He tells us about the risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of this rare form of skin cancer.

Colleen, Thanks for your reply. I am having my AFX surgery next week. And, of course, I hope I won't need additional treatment. I'll keep you posted.

All the best with surgery this week, Wally. Please let us know how it goes.

Thanks so much! It ended up that I had my surgery on Friday. The tumor has(d) a lot of spindly legs coming off of it so that MOHS would not work. I now have a 2+" incision (closed) on my right forearm and am waiting for the pathology report. As we all know, the waiting is the worst. The pain from surgery subsides but the agony of not-know doesn't until one knows. Again, that you for your caring and thoughtfulness.

Any news to share, Wally? How are you?

Thanks so much Colleen. You are such a good director. And, yes, the pathology report came back with clean margins and no additional treatment recommended. My surgeon's Fellow explained why it took so long to get the report back. It seems AFX is mostly a cancer of exclusions. If it isn't Melanoma, Sarcoma etc. and it has a stain that says it could be AFX, then it is AFX.

I have not had lung cancer, but in 2022 I had Mohs surgery for aytypical fibroxanthoma on my cheek.
It started as sort of a small red nodule. Now in my 80s, as child I had freckles. So each year the dermatologist zaps multiple spots on my face and nose that are pre cancer. My mother, brother, and sister all had skin cancer. So I was not surprised with the diagnosis.

My Dad had atypical fibroxanthoma removed from his back as a small mole which after many years started bleeding. Roll forward a year he then has lung metastases which were biopsied as sarcoma. They refer to Sarcoma primary as of unknown origin yet I question the initial diagnosis of AFX and if this was always a Sarcoma...

@brita, did you have to have any further treatment after Mohs surgery? How are you doing now?

I’m doing fine, thank you. I used that cream they suggested for 90 days, so that long scar with 12+ stitches on the outside is barely visible.
No further treatment needed after my Mohs surgery.