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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 20 hours ago | Replies (7049)Comment receiving replies
Hi!
Did the doctor know what kind of cancer it was before the surgery and how deep it was?
I had literally a brown dot on my big toe. It was not oddly shaped or raised. It did not bleed and it did not hurt. If I didn't have regular pedicures, I wouldn't have known it was there. As a matter of fact, the dermatologist missed it during my exam. I pointed it out.
Anyway, I had it removed because the biopsy showed it was melanoma. It was hard to believe! This tiny dot (literally the size of the top of sharp pencil) got a 1-1/2 inch long by 3/4 in deep incision. Now I know with melanoma they have to find a clear margin. The margin is usually down under, not on top. Don't get me wrong, I am glad I found it and it was so small, but an incision of 1-1/2 inches on a toe is a lot.
To top it off, it was June and I was leaving for a week long vaca with my entire family at the beach. Oh well!!
Good luck and good health!
Ronnie
(GRANDMAr)
Replies to "Hi! Did the doctor know what kind of cancer it was before the surgery and how..."
Yes, the doctor did know it was squmous cell cancer before the removal. Usually the creases on a humans forehead are horizontal which is why I question why the incision is vertical. I had a tiny round dot about the size of 1/8 of an inch.
From Grandma @peggyella to @grandmar
My husband has had cancer 5 times... 2 of them, melanoma. You wouldn’t believe the size of his scars! The first time, tubular melanoma, very aggressive. In 12/2018, they found a spot on his back the size of a dime. It took 60 stitches to remove it bc it was deep and wide UNDER the skin. It’s always better large and a lot, than too little too late.
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Thank you. The Mohs technique was used. The surgeon removes a layer and the remains go under a microscope to see if there is any more cancer there. If yes, then they remove more each time until it comes out clear. Then another plastic surgeon sews up the site. I was luck my squamos cell cancer was not to deep. It only took one time and then closure. Yes, my spot was also also but would not heal and then it started to hurt which is when I went to the dermatologist. This is usually done with a group of patients. A good way to handle en masse.