Superficial Skin Cancer

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

Just a personal FYI for anyone that reads this.

Went to my Dermatologist about a week ago. He did a Nitrogen treatment on a spot on me left temple. Had the same done on my left cheek about a year ago. Skin eventually just falls off.

Also had 2 skin sores on the upper side of both forearms. He scraped the skin and then cauterized both areas. He also checked my upper body for spots, and found none. Received the results of the Lab Study results today from the forearm skin, and the report came back as Superficial Skin Cancer.

Glad I had these spots, which were not sores for months, and recently began to feel like a burn. Will keep a follow-up appointment after I call his office on Monday, might call during my 4-6 hour Iron Infusion, and see when he wants to see me again.

Mentioned in another post here about seeing 3 doctors in 4 days and my Dermatologist was one of them. Not to get that other half of my Iron Infusion on Monday. Maybe things will slack a bit after that, I'm hopin' anyways. =^..^=

hckynut(john)

CinNC · ‎10-05-2012

Had almost the same derm appt this week (I live in Monroe NC) - two spots frozen from my forehead. A biopsy taken from behind my ear and a referral to a hand surgeon for a growth on a knuckle.

I hadn't been back to the derm in two years but got an email that they had openings in a new office about 25 miles from me so quickly booked the appointment.

Haven't had the results of my biopsy yet.

Hope things settle down for you hckynut.

Reever · ‎03-14-2010

The majority of skin cancers are highly treatable. The only deadly kind is melanoma. They are very rare though. I assume superficial is another word for basal. I had one removed but the cost was excessive - over $6000 for a Mohs procedure that had to be paid with my deductible. The surgery crippled me financially for 2 years.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

My physician and my dermatologist have told me any new spot on your skin after the age of 50 needs to be checked.

I have had 5 new growths removed in the 5 years I’ve been retired; the 2 on my hand came back as early stage squamous. My exam and biopsy were done in September, but my hand could not be treated with cryosurgery at that time, due to my knee surgery. The complication with my incision popping open delayed treatment on my hand into March.

I finally had the cryosurgery, and have returned for a recheck. My hand needs to heal another 3 months before a biopsy to make sure treatment was successful. This dermatologist asked me about the blister and sore that resulted from the cryosurgery, as they feel the uglier they are on the surface, the more successful the treatment. I will find that out in August.

Because of my fair skin, I avoid the sun as much as possible. Even an SPF of 110 will not fully protect me from a sunburn.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

I suppose the moral of this story is don't wait for months when you see a new spot or lesion or lump or sore on your skin. I can't wrap my head around why anyone would wait months but I'm glad you had it taken care of. He didn't just "scrape", he excised the lesion and then they biopsied it. Superfician skin cancers don't spread.

tarsmom · ‎03-21-2010

My story:

Age 62 - I work FT - we have a program at work where if you have certain procedures done (dental, physical, skin check, mammogram, etc) within a 3 month period, you earn $50. I was checking the list and thought "I haven't been to the derm in a while" and it would satisfy my visit so I could get my $50.

Long story short:

Yep, I had skin cancer. The few years prior I had occasional spots frozen off or biopsied but I didn't even notice this spot. It was not raised, or dry or noticeable. It was below my right collarbone and I notice everything. The area looked "pink" to her so she biopsied it and I got 'the call' two days later - squamous. The one in the middle. I had it taken care of and I'm fine.

Moral of the story: go get checked if you can - like I said I notice everything but obviously my eyes weren't trained to notice this one.

Financialgrl · ‎03-13-2010

@hckynut I can relate. Battled extremely aggressive cancer 6 years ago so I have had and will remain in a multiple doctor rotation every 6 months for cancer screenings.

I have a back full of moles and decades ago during an operation for something else they removed over 20+ moles on my back while I was under. After cancer treatment in 2012 I inherited so many doctors/screenings every 6 months I dropped the dermatologist.

A month ago one of the moles on my back became "puffy" so went to dermatologist. She removed that and another to send off to be tested - both those were fine. Bc of insurance, had to come back to have two others checked.

One she removed and sent off and the other she performed a non invasive adhesive skin patch biopsy bc she thought that one may be pre-cancerous. She numbed area, did a few scrapings over the area and dabbed the adhesive patches over the spot to collect cells. Those patches get sent to check the RNA/DNA of that mole to see if it should be removed. She said she did not see any signs of areas or moles with characteristics of melanoma but the one removed from my shoulder may be basel cell. So now I need to add dermatologist back into my doctor rotation. Feel like I live at the doctors!

Q4u · ‎03-17-2010

I have avoided the sun my entire life, the sun actually hurts my skin and I can't tan and I still am looked at yearly and often have pre-cancerous spots frozen off my hull. One of the reasons I no longer have eyebrows. I've had several frozen off my eyebrows. The challenge has been finding a gel pencil that will hold on scar tissue. A good concealer is my friend.

It's an important reminder and I thank you for bringing it up.

*~"Never eat more than you can lift......" Miss Piggy~*

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@Financialgrl

Thank you for your post. From my own experiences I certainly understand seeing multiple doctors, and also spending many years, day after day in my hospital waiting areas for getting procedures done. The last 3 weeks has been one of them.

Even though I've spent years in our Cancer Center waiting room, it was never for treatment of cancer. My Hematologist has always been located in a cancer location, and because of years of Anemia, that was another of my waiting area homes.

Appreciate you telling me your story and hope things go well for you.

hckynut(john)

Financialgrl · ‎03-13-2010

@hckynut wrote:

@Financialgrl

Thank you for your post. From my own experiences I certainly understand seeing multiple doctors, and also spending many years, day after day in my hospital waiting areas for getting procedures done. The last 3 weeks has been one of them.

Even though I've spent years in our Cancer Center waiting room, it was never for treatment of cancer. My Hematologist has always been located in a cancer location, and because of years of Anemia, that was another of my waiting area homes.

Appreciate you telling me your story and hope things go well for you.

hckynut(john)