1. < Autoimmune Diseases

Is there any immunity boosting meds?

Posted by fdixon63 @fdixon63, Aug 2, 2022

I've had a second squamous cell cancer come back quickly in the same location. They said it could be due to an immuniosuppressive med (Budesonide) that I took for three months before the first one appeared. I'm now facing a second surgery. My thought is, will another one come behind that? Is there such a thing as an immune booster, i.e. infusion? Having a hard time dealing with the possiblity. This will be #6 total--others were in a different location and did not return there--thank God.

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lloydje1 | @lloydje1 | Aug 7, 2022
In reply to @raye "Depending on where you live, there may be more than one Moh’s surgeon available. My appointment..." + (show)
@raye

Depending on where you live, there may be more than one
Moh’s surgeon available. My appointment took about a month to schedule, as I recall. In April I had what felt like a miniature horn in a squamous CC on the back of my 82 year old thin-skinned hand removed by Moh’s. Unfortunately that guy did the removal one day and stitched up the wound he made from it the following day. That’s what he demanded of all his patients! Not in the patient’s best interest! Perhaps more profitable for him? Have since learned of two other Moh’s surgeons in the area. Both complete their work in the same day. In case of future need I’ll try one of them.

I’m not taking any fancy meds which might cause SCC. In my youth I “worked on my tan.”
Remember that expression? Some work! Suggest looking to see if other Moh’s surgeons are available. Good luck!

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I learned just before a MOHS procedure that you can schedule the stitches to be performed by the plastic surgeon of your choosing. I had a plastic surgeon who only did faces and there wasn’t time to get scheduled same day because it was day before surgery when I learned it could be done this way. The facial plastic surgeon would have done a much better job than what the MOHS surgeon did to my nose.

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1 reply
lenchiksf | @lenchiksf | Aug 7, 2022
In reply to @becsbuddy "@fdixon63 you also asked about immune boosting drugs. I found this article on Google Scholar which..." + (show)

Nice article ! My immune system doesnt have robust response to vaccines and doesnt mount enough antibodies. I am looking into diets and happy to see that the article supports the fact of diets that will strengthen immune system. Mushrooms is one of interesting ones.

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Aug 7, 2022

@fdixon63 -
I also have had a few skin cancers removed- basal cell and squamous cell. All done using Moh’s surgery. With Moh’s there should not be much risk of recurrence-assuming the surgeon is well trained.
I have the same history- as a kid we did not have sunscreens and we spent all summers in the sun. Since moving south and being outdoors a lot the cancers have appeared on the already damaged skin.
I go on frequent body skin exams because they keep popping up! No melanoma thank goodness.
I have also taken busesonide in the past- also for microscopic colitis- in addition to immunosuppressive drugs. I don’t think the treatments have made me more prone to the cancers.
I hope you will do well this time!

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1 reply
fdixon63 | @fdixon63 | Aug 7, 2022
In reply to @lloydje1 "I learned just before a MOHS procedure that you can schedule the stitches to be performed..." + (show)
@lloydje1

I learned just before a MOHS procedure that you can schedule the stitches to be performed by the plastic surgeon of your choosing. I had a plastic surgeon who only did faces and there wasn’t time to get scheduled same day because it was day before surgery when I learned it could be done this way. The facial plastic surgeon would have done a much better job than what the MOHS surgeon did to my nose.

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@lloydje1
Wish I had known this earlier. I have the surgery in 2 days.
Faye

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1 reply
fdixon63 | @fdixon63 | Aug 7, 2022
In reply to @astaingegerdm "@fdixon63 - I also have had a few skin cancers removed- basal cell and squamous cell...." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

@fdixon63 -
I also have had a few skin cancers removed- basal cell and squamous cell. All done using Moh’s surgery. With Moh’s there should not be much risk of recurrence-assuming the surgeon is well trained.
I have the same history- as a kid we did not have sunscreens and we spent all summers in the sun. Since moving south and being outdoors a lot the cancers have appeared on the already damaged skin.
I go on frequent body skin exams because they keep popping up! No melanoma thank goodness.
I have also taken busesonide in the past- also for microscopic colitis- in addition to immunosuppressive drugs. I don’t think the treatments have made me more prone to the cancers.
I hope you will do well this time!

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Thanks for your remarks and for the well wishes. We just have to tackle these health situations as they present themselves. Did busesonide help your colitis?

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1 reply
lloydje1 | @lloydje1 | Aug 7, 2022
In reply to @fdixon63 "@lloydje1 Wish I had known this earlier. I have the surgery in 2 days. Faye" + (show)
@fdixon63

@lloydje1
Wish I had known this earlier. I have the surgery in 2 days.
Faye

Jump to this post

Call your plastic surgeon if you have one and they may accommodate. I had the eyelid surgery and that doctor in Fairfax, VA was very flexible because most of their work is not covered by insurance. Although, MOHS would be

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raye | @raye | Aug 7, 2022

So many things to consider.
My Moh’s surgeon also did plastic surgery. (Faces and breasts) None of the other patients in his waiting room could see any benefit to returning to get their wounds stitched together the following day. For some of us that meant waiting over night with a pressure dressing on a large open wound, (the size of a quarter on the back of my hand) and an extra two hours in transit.

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1 reply
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Aug 7, 2022
In reply to @fdixon63 "Thanks for your remarks and for the well wishes. We just have to tackle these health..." + (show)
@fdixon63

Thanks for your remarks and for the well wishes. We just have to tackle these health situations as they present themselves. Did busesonide help your colitis?

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@fdixon63 - Budesonide helped me a lot. I have a relapse now I think and hope to get a prescription soon.

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lloydje1 | @lloydje1 | Aug 8, 2022
In reply to @raye "So many things to consider. My Moh’s surgeon also did plastic surgery. (Faces and breasts) None..." + (show)
@raye

So many things to consider.
My Moh’s surgeon also did plastic surgery. (Faces and breasts) None of the other patients in his waiting room could see any benefit to returning to get their wounds stitched together the following day. For some of us that meant waiting over night with a pressure dressing on a large open wound, (the size of a quarter on the back of my hand) and an extra two hours in transit.

Jump to this post

Although it can be done the next day, my MOHS surgeon and my plastic surgeon advised against it for that reason of having an open wound all that time. Plus, they both said the scar wouldn’t be as clean if the wound wasn’t closed right away. I’d find another plastic surgeon and schedule the MOHS and other plastic surgeon on the same day to get it closed on the same day. The MOHS surgeon I used was so busy performing specifically cancer removal he wouldn’t have time to do any other type of surgery. The cosmetic plastic surgeon specialized in face and neck only. I think its best to stick with surgeons who specialize when it comes to these types of procedures.

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2 replies
raye | @raye | Aug 8, 2022
In reply to @lloydje1 "Although it can be done the next day, my MOHS surgeon and my plastic surgeon advised..." + (show)
@lloydje1

Although it can be done the next day, my MOHS surgeon and my plastic surgeon advised against it for that reason of having an open wound all that time. Plus, they both said the scar wouldn’t be as clean if the wound wasn’t closed right away. I’d find another plastic surgeon and schedule the MOHS and other plastic surgeon on the same day to get it closed on the same day. The MOHS surgeon I used was so busy performing specifically cancer removal he wouldn’t have time to do any other type of surgery. The cosmetic plastic surgeon specialized in face and neck only. I think its best to stick with surgeons who specialize when it comes to these types of procedures.

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Thanks for kindly taking the time to reply. Two friends had melanomas removed from their scalps by Dr. Ralph Massey in Santa Monica and they liked their results. I did not appreciate that Wednesday that week was Moh’s day and Thursday for wound closures. Felt vulnerable to have an open wound, overnight, even with a pressure dressing covering. Seems to be healing okay. So your surgeons worked in tandem. Interesting. I’m wondering if they are in the greater LA area. Subsequently learned of two other Moh’s specialists. Next time I’ll go elsewhere. Isn’t aging fun?

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