Got my results today. It's a bad news/good new sort of thing. I do indeed have skin cancer, but it is basal cell, which I guess if you have to have it, is the best kind to have. Now I get to willingly submit to some stranger (albeit a specialist type stranger) cutting a nice hole in my face. Yippee!!

Thanks everyone for the prayers and good wishes.

Thanks also to those of you who have prayed for, and sent cards and gifts for my friend Cheryl. I got a nice note from her the other day after she received her first "goody" package, and she was so touched and grateful. She has such a serene, wonderful attitude, and really makes you count your blessings.

My Dad had it on his back years ago. They removed it and he's been fine ever since. I will be praying that you get the same results!

Wizard, I went through that myself in 1990. At the edge of my eyebrow and my doc did eensy weensy stitches after removing the basal cell and you can't even see the scar. I've had subsequent skin cancer battles but no recurrence in that site. I guess I'm an expert on skin cancer (!!) as I've also had squamous cell and melanoma. I'm convinced that it somewhat has to do with the fact that when I was growing up nobody spoke of sun screens or protecting ourselves from sunburns, etc. I used to get HORRIBLE burns as a kid.

Hang in there - I'm sure you are glad it was diagnosed as basal cell vs. anything else. Keep us posted!

Wiz,
Had two removed from my right breast about a month ago...second occurrence, in the same spot too. One was malignant, one wasn't.

I'm fine as frog hair! So take heart...

JJ

JJ....
Perhaps it is because I am consuming my third glass of wine after a really long day, but I must ask... Most skin cancers are related to over exposure to the sun, correct? If that is the case, the location of yours would indicate you have had way much more fun than most of us are willing to admit!!!

Bless your heart!

ps...and thanks, everyone!

I WAS FRAMED I TELL YA! I WAS FRAMED!

teehee....okay, you've found me out. But in my defense it was a bazillion years ago when I was slimER. Much, much, much, much (did I say much?) slimER. And YoungER....much, much...okay, you catch on, right?

Personally, I think they are inherited too. At least the tendency to grow them. And although I am a redhead (or use to be) three of my sisters are dark headed and dark complexted. And one of them has had mellanoma on her back!

Mom has had them, as well as all of my sisters. Plus my Mother is a breast cancer survivor. So...

JJ

I hope all goes well for you Wiz...still praying. I am Italian and moles run in our gene pool, or we like to call them "beauty marks." How des one know if and when they are cancerous? I am very serious now asking in ernest....

Chatty,
Essentially you watch for changes in a mole. If it becomes larger or noticeably smaller. If the edges become ragged or if it begins to stand out from your skin where it was previous flat against it. If it changes color or begins to itch or is painful or dry or changes in some other way, you should see your doctor. Also if a mole develops where you previously didn't have one, you might want to check with your doctor.
When you go in for a check up, your doctor should measure your moles and note the color and type that they are on your chart for future reference. As you age, you may develop nevi which are collected blood vessels that resemble moles and he may want to note those also just for comparison though they are rarely cancerous.
Melanoma is a pretty bad thing. I too come from a line of people that develop it. I make my doctor check me out annually. Of couse you have to be careful of unnecessary surgery also because you can have melanoma in a mole that is encapsulated and will not cause problems until it spreads as a result of surgery or you can catch it early and remove it. It's kind of a toss up.
smile

[ November 18, 2004, 09:35 PM: Message edited by: smilinize ]

An annual "skin check" by your doctor is a good idea.....and keeping tabs on your OWN skin by looking yourself over in a mirror (ALL of yourself!!!!) regularly is a good idea. As Smile said, any changes in moles or freckles should be noted. In my case with the melanoma it was a very "innocent" looking flat mole on the back of my calf...but it started bleeding and I had it checked out. It was melanoma and was a very extensive tissue removal with skin graft from my hip. The doctor told me if I'd waited any longer to get it checked out, it COULD have effected muscle tissue which would have made it a lot worse!

SO - bottom line is if you see a change, or even THINK you see a change, have it checked out. The old "better to be safe than sorry" rule applies to skin cancer that's for sure!

Wiz,

I have a friend who is fair complected with red hair and she is constantly having these things removed. It'll probably be more scary than it really is. Anytime someone wants to put a hole in my face, I tend to become nervous.

JJ, I'm glad someone called you out on that one. The minute I read that, I thought, "What a party girl Ms. J is".

Hang in there, Wiz.