Skin Cancer Support Group
If you or a loved one has skin cancer, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, and meet others going through the same. Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin, which can have many causes, including repeated severe sunburns or long-term exposure to the sun. Skin cancer generally develops in the outermost layer of skin so a tumor is usually...
Hi all,
I have read through some of the posts on here & got some good information but still a bit confused/scared as to what is next.
I had sores that turned into blisters looking & very red on the tip of the nose & a bit down the left side.
It took about a month from when the referral was sent to the local hospital plastic surgery dept. I kept phoning & got the appt after 4 weeks which was good for our public health.
I don't know what I expected from the appt but really just thought I would see the Dr & then be told to make another appt for follow up etc. He took one look at my nose, asked how long I had sores on there & said it does look like cancer. Then he said that he would get a registrar to take a biopsy straight away. I asked what happens if it is cancer then it would need skin grafts.
Just the biopsy or more the local anaesthetics hurt so I would hate to think what surgery would be like. I get the stitches out next week (they look great showing blood underneath as apparently I bled a lot) & have tape on the whole nose so I don't know how many stitches even.
Is there a chance that it might not be cancer? I had the body mapping that picks up if things need investigating & that was the one I was referred for. The only other one was on the arm, near wrist & done in Dr's surgery & was skin spot with small bit of cancer in middle but all ok.
I have got no idea what skin grafts involve or what other treatments I would need. I gather skin cancer is the least threatening (to life) than other cancer's. Is this right?
I get the stitches out in a week then see the Dr a week later for the results.
In the meantime I have a heap of other health issues going on including foot surgery due in 3 weeks (been waiting since Nov & in boot), ms, & had asthma & pneumonia 3weeks ago & in hospital for it for about 5 days so till recuperating.
Just being torn every which way health wise & any advice/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Sue
I have read through some of the posts on here & got some good information but still a bit confused/scared as to what is next.
I had sores that turned into blisters looking & very red on the tip of the nose & a bit down the left side.
It took about a month from when the referral was sent to the local hospital plastic surgery dept. I kept phoning & got the appt after 4 weeks which was good for our public health.
I don't know what I expected from the appt but really just thought I would see the Dr & then be told to make another appt for follow up etc. He took one look at my nose, asked how long I had sores on there & said it does look like cancer. Then he said that he would get a registrar to take a biopsy straight away. I asked what happens if it is cancer then it would need skin grafts.
Just the biopsy or more the local anaesthetics hurt so I would hate to think what surgery would be like. I get the stitches out next week (they look great showing blood underneath as apparently I bled a lot) & have tape on the whole nose so I don't know how many stitches even.
Is there a chance that it might not be cancer? I had the body mapping that picks up if things need investigating & that was the one I was referred for. The only other one was on the arm, near wrist & done in Dr's surgery & was skin spot with small bit of cancer in middle but all ok.
I have got no idea what skin grafts involve or what other treatments I would need. I gather skin cancer is the least threatening (to life) than other cancer's. Is this right?
I get the stitches out in a week then see the Dr a week later for the results.
In the meantime I have a heap of other health issues going on including foot surgery due in 3 weeks (been waiting since Nov & in boot), ms, & had asthma & pneumonia 3weeks ago & in hospital for it for about 5 days so till recuperating.
Just being torn every which way health wise & any advice/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Sue
When people neglect to take care of the cancer and it grows too much, it can happen that are inoperable advance skin cancer, here I am speaking of Basal Cell Carcinoma,that also has diferent types.The surgery in the US is done in a ambulatory way.I was back to work 4 days later.
Your doctor will tell you how soon you should need surgery.He will inform you of the results of your biopsy.I also had pre cancerous removed after I was diagnosed with BCC.
Write down your questions for him/her.
I do that, because my mind goes blank at the doctors. Keep us informed how you are doing.
My head is spinning that I may have to do something for it LOL
It will be interesting to see if they do get it organised.
They said something about doing a flap surgery & taking a large area so that they get it all.
Lot to take in.
Stunned
The larger your skin cancer (which is nonfatal and not life-threatening), the larger the surgery and the larger your chances for scars and other related issues.
From what I understand, why are they doing a flap on the tip of your nose? What are the other options/ Why is this the best route?Ask what results that will have regarding the appearance of your nostril and indentation on your nose. And scars.
Ask, ask , ask.
I had a bad experience so my opinion is biased.
Most people have flaps and grats and dont' have major probems. The first few weeks are tough, bu then they usually heal.
Again, ask , ask, ask questions until you get an idea of what it is going to be like.
Best.
this is your face and you have the right to ask qeustions until you understand what is involved.
for instance, what does "deep" mean? That's not a medical term. it could mean anything.
Don't know if I am making sense but I am seeing the plastic surgeons at the local hospital & they are supposed to be the best in the area.
All of our hospitals work together & certain ones have certain specialties. If I was seeing a local dermatologist I would be a bit more worried. They say it should heal fairly quickly too.
They dont want to wait till after my foot surgery as said too long with rehab etc. Just hope all goes fine.
hope they can co-ordinate to do them both at same time, that would be easiest for sure.
Knew it was all too good to be true!
Will take it one step at a time now. Just wish nose didn't hurt too LOL.