Wellness

[BoopOMatic]

@Calcgirl  It's scary but I'm sure everything will be fine...xoxo HUGS

[smoochy]

Had a basal cell cancer removed about two years ago, front of my lower leg. It took several weeks to heal. Coming up this month: removal of a small squamous cell lesion on forearm and a small area on leg that is a subtype of melanoma. Will become malignant melanoma if not treated. Thank goodness for my full body skin exams every six months. And the sharp eyes of my APRN who found this tiny dark spot.  

[Estellee]

@Calcgirl I've had a few removed as well. In fact 2 weeks ago. Looks a whole lot better than last week and in a few weeks it should be healed up nicely. I think the scrape and burn heals more quickly than if someone needed stitches.

[Growing]

I had the scrape and burn for my first basal cell carcinoma on my lip in 1992. It smelled kind of bad and left a little pink scar. No big deal considering my skin cancer history but this is a very old school technique. I even have one skin graft on my nose after BCC removal. Perhaps there is not much skin to cut out and sew back up on your ankle?

What is considered the more modern approach is the MOHS surgical technique where they check to make sure they have removed all the BCC roots and tissue. They cut it out, check the specimen under a microscope, and when the margins of the cancer are cleared or show total removal, they sew you back up. Or they have to do a skin graft if too big. They take the stitches out after a week usually. 

For some of us, it takes more than a week for things to heal. When I have a biopsy, I say about two weeks, sometimes three weeks for the little scab to totally go away. I still have the little scab from 2 and 1/2 weeks ago where I had a surgical marker inserted and then the surgery.