@wisco50
Per my dermatologist, both can grow into tissues, organs, bones it left untreated. Metasising is not common but can occur. It is the growing into other tissues, organs, bones that is the major problem (again per dermatologist).
It is why dermatologists alwasy say check skin and address any signs of skin issues with a dermatologist. I know I try to get my PCP to look at something but he always referrs me to dermatology.
I am 74 and have had multiple episodes of basal cell cancer and even more and larger squamous cell cancer.
I grew up on Long Island Sound and down the street from the beach. There was NO good sunscreen then! My dad also had it - he had very fair freckled skin. He was also on a ship in Pacific during WW2 so was exposed to sun.
I am a retired nurse. I have always understood that skin cancers often are from too much sun exposure. They are more common in people who work outdoors - think farmers, construction, golfers, etc.
I learned some of the highest rates are found in Australia (intense sun). I had one area on my L forearm - in Australia it’s usually on the R arm - they drive on the right. Ditto for facial cancers.
I have personally never heard of a relationship between HPV and skin cancers?
Use sunscreen and protective clothing! It works!
@wisco50
I had never heard of of the relationship either. My SCC was not in an area exposed to sun at all. I was told them by dermatologist that an injury site outside of the sun can develop SCC mainly due to HPV.
I asked my PCP about this and said nothing they could do once you have it and almost all do. There is a new HPV vaccine to prevent it but nothing after you get it.
I then read one poster some time back that got SCC and had just gone through radiation like I did. His R/O and dermatologist said his immune fuction could have dimished because of the radiation and thus could have led to SCC.
I then though (and my own opinion) if the radiation can reduce and affect your immune system maybe mine was lowered by the radiation and thus the HPV acted up and surfaced in a non sun area I got it but I did have a scraping injury there.
I know about the decades about driving and left side affected by sun. I get those pre-cancerous growths all the time and can never get out of dermatology vist without having those places frozen off and most times have to have a biopsy in one area.
I also just received SCC diagnosis for an area on my upper arm. It extended to all margins so Derm is having me come back in for further excision. Derm tells me this is “no big deal” and kind of laughed when I asked about any testing for mets. Am I overreacting?
I visit the dermatologist every six months and several times discovered skin cancer that was removed with a simple incision of the skin and nothing more.
You will be OK ,, let this forum know what type and those with same or similar will support you with their own experiences . I just finished treatment at Mayo for SCC anal cancer These folks who contribute ideas and encouragement are great.. you will be part of the group. Take Care of yourself . Breathe , write . hugs to you
Hi there new to the group I had biopsy of mole removal on my arm before Christmas and found out it was saqmous cell carcinoma I had biopsied cause of pinching feeling sensation and still feeling pinching sensation even after biopsied. Does anyone know more about this and why I have this sensation? I am going down to an dermatologist on 19th of February 2025 They are not sure if the biopsy got it all out
Hi there new to the group I had biopsy of mole removal on my arm before Christmas and found out it was saqmous cell carcinoma I had biopsied cause of pinching feeling sensation and still feeling pinching sensation even after biopsied. Does anyone know more about this and why I have this sensation? I am going down to an dermatologist on 19th of February 2025 They are not sure if the biopsy got it all out
@dar2loves
I can pass on my experience with biopsies for both SCC and BCC.
A biopsy only shows whether cancer or not. Usually they do not try to remove all the areas around a biopsy until they confirm cancer.
Once confirmed as cancer dermatologist usually gives you options to treat.
I had MOHS surgery on all of my 10 skin cancers. What they do there is take the biopsy results and then go out around the margins to remove all cancer until none is shown in pathology. What that means is the surgically remove the area below and around the biopsy. Then they send to pathology and if there is no signs of cancer in margins taken then your done.
If there is still signs of cancer in margins then they take more tissue and then back to pathology to see if all cancer is removed from the margins.
I am not sure how they could know if all cancer would be removed from biopsy without more tissue taken around margins. Maybe they did this in begining but not normal procedures at Mayo Jacksonville Dermatology.
Hi there new to the group I had biopsy of mole removal on my arm before Christmas and found out it was saqmous cell carcinoma I had biopsied cause of pinching feeling sensation and still feeling pinching sensation even after biopsied. Does anyone know more about this and why I have this sensation? I am going down to an dermatologist on 19th of February 2025 They are not sure if the biopsy got it all out
@dar2loves Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I echo the thoughts from @jc76. A biopsy is a procedure to confirm or deny a skin cancer diagnosis only, in my experience.
Hopefully your dermatologist on the 19th will be able to give you treatment options. Will you let us know?
Ginger
@dar2loves Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I echo the thoughts from @jc76. A biopsy is a procedure to confirm or deny a skin cancer diagnosis only, in my experience.
Hopefully your dermatologist on the 19th will be able to give you treatment options. Will you let us know?
Ginger
@kenc
Did your dermatologist do a pathology test after removal of your skin cancers? There is no way to know if all the cancer has been removed unless the margins are tested to see if no more cancer cells are left.
I am not a medical professional but I have had about 20 biopsies. 10 of those I had BCC cell and one was SCC. Each time biopsy came back as cancer I had MOHS. There are many treatment options but with MOHS they removed skin then check pathology to see if all removed in margins and if not more removed until all gone.
I am not familiar with other methods of treatments buty my concern would be if not doing a pathology test how is your dermatologist ensuring all cancer has been removed. In many cases it is cells we are talking about.
Almost all BCC and SCC are slow growing and unlike melanonmia which commonly metasisis (per my dermatologist) SCC and BCC will grow into other tissues, muscles and bones it not treated. It is why so imporant to catch early.
@kenc
Did your dermatologist do a pathology test after removal of your skin cancers? There is no way to know if all the cancer has been removed unless the margins are tested to see if no more cancer cells are left.
I am not a medical professional but I have had about 20 biopsies. 10 of those I had BCC cell and one was SCC. Each time biopsy came back as cancer I had MOHS. There are many treatment options but with MOHS they removed skin then check pathology to see if all removed in margins and if not more removed until all gone.
I am not familiar with other methods of treatments buty my concern would be if not doing a pathology test how is your dermatologist ensuring all cancer has been removed. In many cases it is cells we are talking about.
Almost all BCC and SCC are slow growing and unlike melanonmia which commonly metasisis (per my dermatologist) SCC and BCC will grow into other tissues, muscles and bones it not treated. It is why so imporant to catch early.
Yes she did. I visit the Dermatologist every 6 mos. It is my understanding that many GP's do not have the skill set to ID skin cancers, so it is advisable to have an annual appoint with the Dermatologist.
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@wisco50
Per my dermatologist, both can grow into tissues, organs, bones it left untreated. Metasising is not common but can occur. It is the growing into other tissues, organs, bones that is the major problem (again per dermatologist).
It is why dermatologists alwasy say check skin and address any signs of skin issues with a dermatologist. I know I try to get my PCP to look at something but he always referrs me to dermatology.
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1 Reaction@wisco50
I had never heard of of the relationship either. My SCC was not in an area exposed to sun at all. I was told them by dermatologist that an injury site outside of the sun can develop SCC mainly due to HPV.
I asked my PCP about this and said nothing they could do once you have it and almost all do. There is a new HPV vaccine to prevent it but nothing after you get it.
I then read one poster some time back that got SCC and had just gone through radiation like I did. His R/O and dermatologist said his immune fuction could have dimished because of the radiation and thus could have led to SCC.
I then though (and my own opinion) if the radiation can reduce and affect your immune system maybe mine was lowered by the radiation and thus the HPV acted up and surfaced in a non sun area I got it but I did have a scraping injury there.
I know about the decades about driving and left side affected by sun. I get those pre-cancerous growths all the time and can never get out of dermatology vist without having those places frozen off and most times have to have a biopsy in one area.
-
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1 ReactionHi @jojo61, have you had the further excision? How are you doing?
I visit the dermatologist every six months and several times discovered skin cancer that was removed with a simple incision of the skin and nothing more.
Hi there new to the group I had biopsy of mole removal on my arm before Christmas and found out it was saqmous cell carcinoma I had biopsied cause of pinching feeling sensation and still feeling pinching sensation even after biopsied. Does anyone know more about this and why I have this sensation? I am going down to an dermatologist on 19th of February 2025 They are not sure if the biopsy got it all out
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1 Reaction@dar2loves
I can pass on my experience with biopsies for both SCC and BCC.
A biopsy only shows whether cancer or not. Usually they do not try to remove all the areas around a biopsy until they confirm cancer.
Once confirmed as cancer dermatologist usually gives you options to treat.
I had MOHS surgery on all of my 10 skin cancers. What they do there is take the biopsy results and then go out around the margins to remove all cancer until none is shown in pathology. What that means is the surgically remove the area below and around the biopsy. Then they send to pathology and if there is no signs of cancer in margins taken then your done.
If there is still signs of cancer in margins then they take more tissue and then back to pathology to see if all cancer is removed from the margins.
I am not sure how they could know if all cancer would be removed from biopsy without more tissue taken around margins. Maybe they did this in begining but not normal procedures at Mayo Jacksonville Dermatology.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@dar2loves Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I echo the thoughts from @jc76. A biopsy is a procedure to confirm or deny a skin cancer diagnosis only, in my experience.
Hopefully your dermatologist on the 19th will be able to give you treatment options. Will you let us know?
Ginger
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4 ReactionsThe Dermatologist just pretty much scrapped the cancer off my skin. I had Basal cell on my scalp, which required a bit more surgery to remove.
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1 Reaction@kenc
Did your dermatologist do a pathology test after removal of your skin cancers? There is no way to know if all the cancer has been removed unless the margins are tested to see if no more cancer cells are left.
I am not a medical professional but I have had about 20 biopsies. 10 of those I had BCC cell and one was SCC. Each time biopsy came back as cancer I had MOHS. There are many treatment options but with MOHS they removed skin then check pathology to see if all removed in margins and if not more removed until all gone.
I am not familiar with other methods of treatments buty my concern would be if not doing a pathology test how is your dermatologist ensuring all cancer has been removed. In many cases it is cells we are talking about.
Almost all BCC and SCC are slow growing and unlike melanonmia which commonly metasisis (per my dermatologist) SCC and BCC will grow into other tissues, muscles and bones it not treated. It is why so imporant to catch early.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsYes she did. I visit the Dermatologist every 6 mos. It is my understanding that many GP's do not have the skill set to ID skin cancers, so it is advisable to have an annual appoint with the Dermatologist.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction