So, who knows about Mohs???? - Page 2

sophiamarie · ‎08-08-2013

Oh, this is making me very nervous. I just went to "youtube" and watched a couple of videos and they weren't pretty. I have a BCC on the tip of my "very expensive" nose of all things. I was given the option of MOHS or radiation, by my Dermatologist.

Now, after seeing these videos, I am tempted to go along with the radiation. He explained that the MOHS could take one session, while the radiation could be maybe 10 visits or more and the treatment is about 10 seconds but with the prep. probably more than an hour.

He told me to call the MOHS doctor and just go there for a consultation and then check into the radiation (done at the hospital) and then make up my mind.

What to do - what to do.????????? ${#emotions_dlg.confused1}$ ${#emotions_dlg.confused1}$ Who knew that baking in the sun for more than 30 years could lead to this????

myheart · ‎03-22-2010

Mohs has a 99% cure rate.

HULAGIRL · ‎03-10-2010

I've had it done twice on my nose by two different surgeons (because I relocated).....they both did a great job. It didn't hurt and I healed pretty quickly.

puglet1 · ‎03-31-2011

I have had two Moh's procedures on my face . . . and I'm still beautiful. Cool

Seriously, I was an avid sunbather in my youth and have paid the price. I have had a couple of BCC's on my body, surgically removed by my derm, but when he found the ones on my face, he immediately suggested Moh's for the best cosmetic outcome.

It sounds a lot scarier than it actually is. The Moh's-trained female surgeon and the nurse I had were so considerate and calming. As others have explained, the site is numbed with lidocaine, so you don't feel anything. It took about 2-3 minutes for her to do the excision from the side of my nose. I was sent out to the waiting room for 20-30 minutes. Everything had been removed successfully and I went home with just a bandage. The wound closed up on its own. This was done about 12 years ago. I have a slight dent in the side of my nose. It is not noticeable and doesn't bother me at all. I'm just thankful.

For the BCC high up on my cheek a couple of years later, the same surgeon had a plastic surgeon on call on the floor below in case she felt I would need stitches. After that excision, I went downstairs to the plastic surgeon, who put in a couple of stitches. I was very upset at the thought of having a scar in such an obvious place on my face, but it turned out to be the most beautiful tiny crescent shape under the outer corner of my eye. Over time, it straightened out and today is unnoticeable.

Do not worry about Moh's. I think I'd be more concerned about getting radiation and I think you should ask about, as well as research on your own, the adverse effects of getting radiation on your health for the short- and long-term.

betteb · ‎03-09-2010

On 2/24/2014 sophiamarie said:
Oh, this is making me very nervous. I just went to "youtube" and watched a couple of videos and they weren't pretty. I have a BCC on the tip of my "very expensive" nose of all things. I was given the option of MOHS or radiation, by my Dermatologist.

Now, after seeing these videos, I am tempted to go along with the radiation. He explained that the MOHS could take one session, while the radiation could be maybe 10 visits or more and the treatment is about 10 seconds but with the prep. probably more than an hour.

He told me to call the MOHS doctor and just go there for a consultation and then check into the radiation (done at the hospital) and then make up my mind.

What to do - what to do.????????? ${#emotions_dlg.confused1}$ ${#emotions_dlg.confused1}$ Who knew that baking in the sun for more than 30 years could lead to this????

I would do the MOHs before i would ever do any type of radiation. Radiation affects the whole body and can cause visible burns, so if you are thinking about scarring, the radiation can cause that too.

Is the spot small?

From Wiki-The cure rate with Mohs surgery cited by most studies is between 97% and 99.8%^[7] for primary basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer

It's God's job to judge the terrorists. It's our mission to arrange the meeting. U.S. Marines

kdgn · ‎03-09-2010

I'd do MOHS, hands down. The doctor does the best job possible to leave the least amount of scarring.

Melania · ‎06-12-2013

My friend had it on her nose and it was just as everyone says. They had to do at least 3 or 4 tries till they got it all. It is very precise.

She opted to have plastic surgery after. Both went well and you wouldn't even know she had it done.

Try not to worry sophia...easy for me to say, I know but it is a very throough procedure and you'll be good as new.

I do want to say that ever since she has gotten some type of cream to use that treats pre-cancerous cells that may or may not be there on hr face. It has really helped too.

sophiamarie · ‎08-08-2013

Thanks so much for all the replies. I know I shouldn't go to youtube, because I look for the worst case scenarios. I thought MOHS was supposed to be "scar-less" but I saw people with half of their faces gone. Geez

I went to my Dermatologist in November with this teeny speck on the tip of my nose, with a little raised spot. He gave me a shot to numb it, then he took a biopsy. He called me a few days later and it was confirmed BCC. Then, I had a mess with my hip fracture and had to put the BCC aside for a few weeks.

I called him today to tell him I'm finally ready to do something about this and he said to come in and he would take a look and maybe remove it himself. When I got there, he couldn't even find it. The speck is gone and there is just a teeny raised spot. Really hard to find. I said jokingly of course, "maybe you got it all with the biopsy and he said, maybe I did".... Well, anyway, he took measurements and said he wouldn't even try to do it himself because of where it was. If it was on the side or anywhere else, then it would be different, so he gave me the name of the MOHS doctors, connected to the hospital and told me to call and go in for just a consult and then, to think about radiation. He was pushing for the MOHS though. ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup1}$

But, after watching these videos, I kind of chickened out and just told my husband that it isn't as easy as he made it sound. Then again, I am probably making more out of this than it really is. After all, I only noticed it around the beginning of November, so how bad could it be, right????? ${#emotions_dlg.scared}$

Now, after reading these posts about radiation, I'm leaning towards the MOHS again. I will call them tomorrow and make an appt. and talk to them and hopefully I'll get a better feel for what they are going to do and maybe how many sessions will be needed. ${#emotions_dlg.ohmy}$

Keep the info. coming and maybe by tomorrow, I'll get up the courage to take a scalpel and do the surgery myself... ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup}$

Thanks again - you are all being very helpful...... Smile

BaileyandBella · ‎03-10-2010

I had Mohs down my cheek, a 2" incision, you can BARELY see the scar. I do not scar well and always keloid, but not with Mohs. ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup}$

BaileyandBella · ‎03-10-2010

My BCC was the size of a sesame seed or smaller, it was tiny. He had to go back in 5 times.....I was there all day, but I am thrilled with the results.