Melanoma & Skin Cancer support: Introduce yourself and connect

@rhondaobason25 - I’m sorry about your basal cell carcinoma (BCC) diagnosis—it’s tough to face with so little info. However, BCC, the most common skin cancer, grows slowly and rarely spreads but needs treatment to avoid local damage. It’s often caused by sun exposure and appears as a pearly bump, red patch, or non-healing sore on sun-exposed areas.
Surgery is recommended because it’s over 95% effective at removing BCC. Options include:
Excisional Surgery: Removes the tumor and some healthy skin.
Mohs Surgery: Removes layers, checking for cancer cells, ideal for the face.
Curettage: Scrapes small BCCs, followed by burning the area.
Done outpatient with local anesthesia, surgery takes 30 minutes to a few hours. Recovery is 1–4 weeks, with possible scarring. Suggest you ask your doctor which surgery is right for you.
BCC is highly treatable, with a near-100% cure rate if caught early.
How long have you noticed it? Please share specific questions or details (e.g., BCC location or reports), and and if you have any particular questions or concerns and we will try to help! You’re not alone—we're here to help!

"Working on mysteries, without any clues".... Diagnosed 4 days ago-Basal Cell Carcinoma. Told I need surgery. I know nothing else and have questions.

Hemoglobin last week was 7.7 so had a blood transfusion. The one drug I'm on is opdiva which I understand is very powerful. The other is it begins with a y. I'll check the site and will find it.
I'm just extremely fatigued.

@wgv So sorry it's taken me a bit to get back to you with this part of the information; I see Colleen provided you with the support group and hope to see you in a future Zoom call!
fHere is the site that lists potential adverse reactions associated with immunotherapy treatments: https://aimwithimmunotherapy.org/resources-for-your-patients/patient-action-plans/ If you been able to identify the name of the immunotherapy meds you're on, you can go directly to the box that includes that information. Let me know if I can provide further direction with that.

I see you've been feeling fatigued, which I wonder may in part be due to your low red blood cell count, that can be caused by any number of reasons for which you may be treating now. Has your doctor been able to determine that and possibly start any treatment?

Next infusion on Wednesday next week. Had a transfusion this week because of low red blood cells count. I'm really fatigued. Walking across the room is exhausting. My left ear canal is completely blocked which drives me nuts. All I want to do is sleep.

@wgv, I thought I'd check in. Have you had another immunotherapy infusion since your last post? How are you doing?

@wgv, I can help out. Monthly meetings that @grammato3 refers to are held the second Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central time. Here is the link to sign up for the monthly support group led by a Mayo Clinic social worker, Heidi:

- Melanoma Support Group Meeting https://connect.mayoclinic.org/event/melanoma-support-group-meeting-2-89f6e876/

Also listed in the Events section https://connect.mayoclinic.org/events/ are the upcoming Melamona Symposia help by Mayo Clinic. You can attend in person in Jacksonville, Florida or Rochester, Minnesota or virtually online on May 17.

- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Education Symposium in Rochester, MN & Online https://connect.mayoclinic.org/event/melanoma-and-skin-cancer-education-symposium/
- Melanoma Symposium for Patients and Families: Jacksonville, FL & Online https://connect.mayoclinic.org/event/melanoma-symposium-for-patients-and-families/

I would be interested

I can relate, @wgv. I'm 68 and was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma a few months back, also receiving immunotherapy - Keytruda. I think I can find a website I uncovered that had a list of potential adverse reactions you can be on the outlook for in case you experience any (no everyone does) which is geared to the specific type of immunotherapy you're undergoing.

Also, did you know there's an online support group the second Tuesday of the month led by a licensed social worker at Mayo? It's open to even non-Mayo patients. It ought to be listed under th Events section on the Mayo Clinic Connect page.

Would you be interested in either of these?

Melanoma was found in my right lung, on the brain a few spots, in my stomach, in my left outer ear canal, a spot on my liver and lymph node on my neck. Side effects have been mostly nausea and fatigue