Thanks for responding. I've had a basal cell and one teeny malignant melanoma (2019) which was excised at my neck - no further treatment but have had frequent skin checks since (4-6/yr) My Dr is a UPENN grad in practice 30+yrs but is essentially a highly skilled boarded plastic surgeon and dermatologist. A cutting edge guy, he still publishes; definitely not on auto-pilot. He's done many I-grafts and told me they are the brainchild of Steve Badylak.
When my large SCC was found he gave me the choice of a typical skin graft or pig placenta. With typical graft, I'd have 2 wounds, obviously, and recovery would require 3wks in a wheelchair with the leg up. Then, all done. The placenta patch was placed a wk after excision and I'll get 4-6 more eventually, on a wkly basis -they essentially dissolve after 4 days. But no wheelchair or other restrictions beyond the necessity of staying out of water. Of course an infection has been a great inconvenience and has us somewhat off balance, but our daughter is being married next month and if all had gone well from the start I'd be good to go. Tomorrow he is hoping to get back on track and though he hasn't said, I'm sure the timeline is moving out. It truly was my choice and he did little to sway me one way or another, though when asked by my veterinarian husband, freely said the I-graft should be textbook considering the location of the SCC and the poor circulation, etc. at the lower leg. He felt it would heal better than a normal graft. The placenta will supposedly leave a better appearance though at 75, on my ankle, do I care? Nah. But it's not turning out quite as 'textbook' as I'd hoped. I'm just anticipating a new patch to be steri-stripped in tomm and bandaged. The following week will tell the tale. My medically-thoughtful hubby fears rejection of the placenta, though Dr is operating on the theory that an immune response has caused the inflammation that's caused my setback. Time will tell and I'll surely check back in.
If I could ask, do you see a dermatologist or an oncologist? At what point does one know it's time to seek an oncologist? I live in a rapidly-growing part of the country (southern DE) and the nationwide shortage of physicians is even worse here. It can take 6-8 months to get in as a new patient in most practices. Though both Penn and Johns Hopkins are 2.5hrs away, they're not exactly convenient for routine care. My Primary Doc is lovely, but he's young and doesn't have stock answers.
@bluelizard Let me add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! @tomrennie is very knowledgeable in this area.
Honestly, I cringed reading about the SCC and procedure you had done. I have had many SCC and BCC procedures done using Mohs. In fact 2 more Mohs surgeries are coming in about 5 weeks, one on each eyebrow. My melanoma surgery in 2008 was a flap procedure on right forearm. Have you noticed any healing in the area of the excision?
Ginger
@bluelizard Let me add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! @tomrennie is very knowledgeable in this area.
Honestly, I cringed reading about the SCC and procedure you had done. I have had many SCC and BCC procedures done using Mohs. In fact 2 more Mohs surgeries are coming in about 5 weeks, one on each eyebrow. My melanoma surgery in 2008 was a flap procedure on right forearm. Have you noticed any healing in the area of the excision?
Ginger
Actually I was making good initial progress with my first piggy-patch...before all went south a week later. I have confidence in my physician, however, and am still in it to win it. Nevertheless, when I signed on for the placenta patch, I think my rose-colored glasses might've obscured my view.
@bluelizard Let me add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! @tomrennie is very knowledgeable in this area.
Honestly, I cringed reading about the SCC and procedure you had done. I have had many SCC and BCC procedures done using Mohs. In fact 2 more Mohs surgeries are coming in about 5 weeks, one on each eyebrow. My melanoma surgery in 2008 was a flap procedure on right forearm. Have you noticed any healing in the area of the excision?
Ginger
I will be thinking of you Ginger in the weeks ahead. As an old farm kid from the long ago prior to UV protective creams, clothing, etc. I imagine I'm just starting my real education in skin cancer, despite a Mal melanoma excision in 2019 which was a piece of cake.
Actually I was making good initial progress with my first piggy-patch...before all went south a week later. I have confidence in my physician, however, and am still in it to win it. Nevertheless, when I signed on for the placenta patch, I think my rose-colored glasses might've obscured my view.
@bluelizard I love your calling it a "piggy patch" LOL I am a veteran of skin cancers starting all the way back to the mid-80s. Yep, we just never did anything with sunscreen growing up, did we? I have had all sorts of them, from simple to complicated basal cell, to squamous to melanoma. One really cool scar near my collarbone that created a lightning strike looking scar from the surgery! I am also thinking of you as you get the debridement and the piggy patch changed out. I wonder if there was something about that second patch that wasn't quite right, that cost the infection?
Ginger
I've wondered the same about my second piggy patch. I have labored to take only bird baths, keep completely out of water, have kept bandage in place, so at least I have no guilt it might've been something I did.
A collar bone lightning strike? I heartily approve! My original melanoma at my clavicle was removed, tho my original dermatologist intended to leave it with no further excision, despite margins that were not ideal. (A retired oncological nurse neighbor reviewed my labs and thought I'd benefit from a second opinion...how I came to know my terrific Doc.) It was subsequently suggested that I have an additional excision. He said in consult that he'd "marry the scars of both surgeries to give me a Big Dipper," which he achieved. I mean, why have a simple scar when one can be meteorological or celestial, right?
I've wondered the same about my second piggy patch. I have labored to take only bird baths, keep completely out of water, have kept bandage in place, so at least I have no guilt it might've been something I did.
A collar bone lightning strike? I heartily approve! My original melanoma at my clavicle was removed, tho my original dermatologist intended to leave it with no further excision, despite margins that were not ideal. (A retired oncological nurse neighbor reviewed my labs and thought I'd benefit from a second opinion...how I came to know my terrific Doc.) It was subsequently suggested that I have an additional excision. He said in consult that he'd "marry the scars of both surgeries to give me a Big Dipper," which he achieved. I mean, why have a simple scar when one can be meteorological or celestial, right?
I had a large squamous cell removed from my forehead above my right eyebrow. Prior to closing the incision, the doctor gave me these options. "If I close you with vertical sutures, your will have a permanent inquisitive eyebrow. Are you a fan of the Pink Panther? Or, we could use a hockey stick suture, but that would be boring." I apparently like boring.
Susan, volunteer Mentor | @grammato3 | May 30 7:37pm
We all learn such interesting things when we go through our skin cancer procedures ! Even I as a nurse (and past Pink Panther aficionado!) I had to look up what a hockey stick suture was. I learned it's actually more of an incision/closure, specifically in this case to " align the eyebrow edges and reduce tension on the wound. This approach can help minimize scarring and improve the overall aesthetic outcome of the repair. I'm wondering if the doctor was using some levity to the situation, but I have to ask you, Mr. T - are you pleased with the outcome?
As for @bluelizard, I admire your skill in writing and sense of humor. I've read that humor can help reduce stress and anxiety. Have you found that to be the case in your experience going through this, and perhaps in different trying circumstances?
We all learn such interesting things when we go through our skin cancer procedures ! Even I as a nurse (and past Pink Panther aficionado!) I had to look up what a hockey stick suture was. I learned it's actually more of an incision/closure, specifically in this case to " align the eyebrow edges and reduce tension on the wound. This approach can help minimize scarring and improve the overall aesthetic outcome of the repair. I'm wondering if the doctor was using some levity to the situation, but I have to ask you, Mr. T - are you pleased with the outcome?
As for @bluelizard, I admire your skill in writing and sense of humor. I've read that humor can help reduce stress and anxiety. Have you found that to be the case in your experience going through this, and perhaps in different trying circumstances?
@grammato3 I am very pleased with the outcome. Thank you. As a hockey person, I understood that suture. Vertical needed a little help from my favorite little black marker. I love when the doctor pulls that out. Anyone else? But, as a Pink Panther cartoon fan, there is a little part of me that thinks Hmmmm.
I've wondered the same about my second piggy patch. I have labored to take only bird baths, keep completely out of water, have kept bandage in place, so at least I have no guilt it might've been something I did.
A collar bone lightning strike? I heartily approve! My original melanoma at my clavicle was removed, tho my original dermatologist intended to leave it with no further excision, despite margins that were not ideal. (A retired oncological nurse neighbor reviewed my labs and thought I'd benefit from a second opinion...how I came to know my terrific Doc.) It was subsequently suggested that I have an additional excision. He said in consult that he'd "marry the scars of both surgeries to give me a Big Dipper," which he achieved. I mean, why have a simple scar when one can be meteorological or celestial, right?
@bluelizard The healing biopsy site on my right upper arm is itching like crazy, and unfortunately I feel a similar symptom above it under the skin. Not trying to assume there is a growing issue there, and will be most anxious to get that result back.
Almost centered in my forehead about 1/2" above eyebrows, is a squamous cell scar. When it was done, and pressure bandage put in place, I covered it all in smiley stickers. Next day at work in the courtroom, it was the topic for some funny conversations! Basically my response was my brain had reached maximum capacity so they needed to install a a spigot to release some. Or, they needed to give me third eye access. The long-term affect is there is no movement under that scar to the right eyebrow, so being able to do "the Mommy look" is awesome!
My lightning scar is from anodular basal cell Mohs surgery. My melanoma scar is on right forearm and the 32 stitch scar [done Dec 2008] looks like a dog or shark bite.
As @grammato3 said, having a sense of humor going through all these has really helped me. While I do not diminish the seriousness of any of it whatsoever, being able to lighten the mood helps me, my providers, and all the staff to get to the end of a day.
Ginger
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@bluelizard Let me add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! @tomrennie is very knowledgeable in this area.
Honestly, I cringed reading about the SCC and procedure you had done. I have had many SCC and BCC procedures done using Mohs. In fact 2 more Mohs surgeries are coming in about 5 weeks, one on each eyebrow. My melanoma surgery in 2008 was a flap procedure on right forearm. Have you noticed any healing in the area of the excision?
Ginger
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1 ReactionI shall aspire in the future to your good example, insert smiling face!
Actually I was making good initial progress with my first piggy-patch...before all went south a week later. I have confidence in my physician, however, and am still in it to win it. Nevertheless, when I signed on for the placenta patch, I think my rose-colored glasses might've obscured my view.
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3 ReactionsI will be thinking of you Ginger in the weeks ahead. As an old farm kid from the long ago prior to UV protective creams, clothing, etc. I imagine I'm just starting my real education in skin cancer, despite a Mal melanoma excision in 2019 which was a piece of cake.
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2 Reactions@bluelizard I love your calling it a "piggy patch" LOL I am a veteran of skin cancers starting all the way back to the mid-80s. Yep, we just never did anything with sunscreen growing up, did we? I have had all sorts of them, from simple to complicated basal cell, to squamous to melanoma. One really cool scar near my collarbone that created a lightning strike looking scar from the surgery! I am also thinking of you as you get the debridement and the piggy patch changed out. I wonder if there was something about that second patch that wasn't quite right, that cost the infection?
Ginger
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI've wondered the same about my second piggy patch. I have labored to take only bird baths, keep completely out of water, have kept bandage in place, so at least I have no guilt it might've been something I did.
A collar bone lightning strike? I heartily approve! My original melanoma at my clavicle was removed, tho my original dermatologist intended to leave it with no further excision, despite margins that were not ideal. (A retired oncological nurse neighbor reviewed my labs and thought I'd benefit from a second opinion...how I came to know my terrific Doc.) It was subsequently suggested that I have an additional excision. He said in consult that he'd "marry the scars of both surgeries to give me a Big Dipper," which he achieved. I mean, why have a simple scar when one can be meteorological or celestial, right?
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Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI had a large squamous cell removed from my forehead above my right eyebrow. Prior to closing the incision, the doctor gave me these options. "If I close you with vertical sutures, your will have a permanent inquisitive eyebrow. Are you a fan of the Pink Panther? Or, we could use a hockey stick suture, but that would be boring." I apparently like boring.
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Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsWe all learn such interesting things when we go through our skin cancer procedures ! Even I as a nurse (and past Pink Panther aficionado!) I had to look up what a hockey stick suture was. I learned it's actually more of an incision/closure, specifically in this case to " align the eyebrow edges and reduce tension on the wound. This approach can help minimize scarring and improve the overall aesthetic outcome of the repair. I'm wondering if the doctor was using some levity to the situation, but I have to ask you, Mr. T - are you pleased with the outcome?
As for @bluelizard, I admire your skill in writing and sense of humor. I've read that humor can help reduce stress and anxiety. Have you found that to be the case in your experience going through this, and perhaps in different trying circumstances?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@grammato3 I am very pleased with the outcome. Thank you. As a hockey person, I understood that suture. Vertical needed a little help from my favorite little black marker. I love when the doctor pulls that out. Anyone else? But, as a Pink Panther cartoon fan, there is a little part of me that thinks Hmmmm.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@bluelizard The healing biopsy site on my right upper arm is itching like crazy, and unfortunately I feel a similar symptom above it under the skin. Not trying to assume there is a growing issue there, and will be most anxious to get that result back.
Almost centered in my forehead about 1/2" above eyebrows, is a squamous cell scar. When it was done, and pressure bandage put in place, I covered it all in smiley stickers. Next day at work in the courtroom, it was the topic for some funny conversations! Basically my response was my brain had reached maximum capacity so they needed to install a a spigot to release some. Or, they needed to give me third eye access. The long-term affect is there is no movement under that scar to the right eyebrow, so being able to do "the Mommy look" is awesome!
My lightning scar is from anodular basal cell Mohs surgery. My melanoma scar is on right forearm and the 32 stitch scar [done Dec 2008] looks like a dog or shark bite.
As @grammato3 said, having a sense of humor going through all these has really helped me. While I do not diminish the seriousness of any of it whatsoever, being able to lighten the mood helps me, my providers, and all the staff to get to the end of a day.
Ginger
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions