Skin Cancer Support Group

First of all, welcome and good luck with the surgery! I had Mohs in August '09 near my eye for BCC, but it was underneath (involved my lower eyelid). Of course, no one but your doctor can tell you exactly what to expect, but know that Mohs is the treatment of choice for basal cell tumors near "structurally important" parts (like eyes) and it takes the very least amount of tissure required, while still removing all of the tumor. There are reports of up to a 99% cure rate for BCC...

Usually, Mohs is done with a local anesthetic, which in my case, was quite effective. The doc will make one or more "passes" -- take as little tissue as needed, then it goes immediately to pathology and they repeat if/as necessary until the margins are clear. So there's some down time waiting for pathology. They let my hubbie come in and hang out with me (I had 2 passes). Afterward, there will be some sort of decision made about repair -- whether it's left to heal on its own, closed with stitches, or other means. I had a fairly large defect, so I ended up with a skin graft, and did have my eye patched for a week after surgery to help keep the healing area still...but everyone's case is different. We'll be happy to hear your story afterward and provide what support you may need as you heal.

Keep in mind you go into the Mohs doc's office with skin cancer...and you come out cancer free! It's been less than 2 months since my procedure and, although I have a fairly large graft, my face is healing well, and I have become quite the pro at "camolflague and distract" makeup. Good luck to you!!!

Thanks so much for your response. I am glad that you are healing well. Did you have local anesthesia for your repair? Where did they take the skin from? I just had a bowel resection on July 31 and was 9 days in the hospital after that, so - this is coming out of the blue!! Was there much pain involved? Thanks so much for your help! Mary Anne

My reconstruction was done with MAC -- monitored anesthesia care -- a combination of local and IV sedation. I did have awareness of the procedure, but nothing hurt. Pain afterward was managed only with Tylenol. Thought my surgeon was a sadist...but he said that was to make sure that pain pills weren't masking any increasing pain, which could have been a sign of real trouble (and actually, the Tylenol did okay, and I didn't have "pain pill head" fuzziness to deal with). My donor site for the full thickness skin graft was the back of my left ear. That's my story...yours may/will be different!!

Thanks, I saw the doctor today and he will decide after the surgery whether to close, leave open or have plastic surgery. He sounded optimistic and he gives you Ativan if you need it. I feel a lot better. They only problem, may be damage to my tear ducts which would require an ophthalmologist to do surgery. I feel a lot better.

Hi O&H!
I had a cancer exactly where yours is and had it removed a month ago. My Mohs surgery required only one pass, local anesthesia. It hurt after, but not for long as I was headed right to the hospital for the ocular plastic surgeon to do a skin graft. That was done with IV anesthesia....I was out cold while they numbed it up and they were just finishing when I came to. I had little pain after, just the first night when I took a percocet. Because of the location, my bandage did not stay on, so I had to go and have a new one applied. That stayed for a few days, then she let me go with none. Very different from Frogerina's experience. My graft was lumpy and raised still when I saw the doc this week. She was pleased with the graft taking well, but concerned with the lumpiness, so she gave me some keratin injections right into the skin graft. It was not very painful at all and the next day the graft was flatter. I may need another injection when I go back in a month. I wear glasses, so the graft is kinda hidden. When my glasses are off, it is noticeable, but getting less ugly as time passes. Doc said it may take several months.
If you have any questions, please ask. I was worried sick, literally, and folks here helped me a lot!
Thinking of you!
Jeanne

Thanks Jeanne,
The doctor did not say what I will need afterward. If I see the plastic surgeon, I think it would be the next day. I wear glasses, too, so I hope it will hide some of it. Where did they take the skin for your graft from? Thanks for your help. Mary Anne

Dear Frogerina,
I too had mohs surgery on the side of my nose. Please share with me how your surgeon prepared you before the surgery and after. I have had a very bad experience and am trying to find out if was similar with others. I was told no alcohol for one week before and after surgery. I was also told no fish oil, asprin, or other pain relievers for the same amount of time. I was told i could not fly for 25 days and was to be basically on bed rest for three weeks. My bcc was really small but ended up with a quarter size hole. I was to go back a week later for reconstruction. When I went back they gave me an ativan 10 mins before injecting me with the sedative and I had a terrible reaction to the injections and ended up in the ER. The surgery was being done in a dr office and not a surgi-center. They were not prepared for the emergency. I don't know if I should file a report. The surgeon didn't call for days and days to find out what happened to me. I am sure he is afraid of a law suit. That is not my intention but I need to know what normally takes place and what is considered normal procedure.I did not have the reconstruction yet. I am in san diego and plan to fly to Phila, PA to a plastic surgeon. Someone please reply

My mohs surgeon was very nice. He even gave me his cell phone number and home phone number. I have a hole now that I have to clean and apply antibiodic ointment twice a day. I am keeping it covered. I see the plastic surgeon next week for repair. Not sure what he will do. I think he might do it in a surgical center. I know that Lidocaine can affect the heart. I had an epidural for bowel surgery in August and wound up have crazy heart rates that put me in the cardiac care unit post op. I had to have a lot of tests and nothing showed. I think it was from the epidural. You should definitely tell the new surgeon about your reaction. Maybe they will do it in a hospital OR. Good luck and take care, Mary Anne

Dear Maryanne,
Thanks for your reply. Did you have your surgery in a surgi-center or doctors office. Please tell me how they prepared you for the surgery and what restrictions. How have they prepared you for the reconstruction? I was fine with the first injections, it was the second visit that I ended up in the ER. They were really surprised. If this is a common reaction I don't know why they don't prepare for it and discuss this with the patient. Thanks for your help. Good Luck to you. What state are you in?

I am in PA outside of Philly in Delaware County. Philly has a lot of good hospitals. My Moh's surgeon did the procedure in his office but he is a former professor at Penn. I haven't been told anything about the repair yet. Before the Moh's they told me no Motrin, Aspirin, etc. I had an Ativan before the surgery. No, I have wound care twice a day until I see the plastic surgeon. What happened after your injection?