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.

Pam, I forgot to add that if a mole starts bleeding we should see a doctor.
Sometimes they bleed because they are they arein an area where we shave and have become raised so when we shave we nick the top and they bleed.
Just another thing to watch out for.
smile

Wiard, I had basal cell carcinoma on my back several years ago. Removal went without a hitch and I am considered recovered. My main complaint is that it was smack dab in the middle of my back so I couldn't reach it to change the dressing. Had to ask for daily help. Yuk.

Wizard, I've had a basal cell removed from my upper chest 3 times now. First was a scrape and burn, then a surgerical excise. Neither hurt as they numb you first. These are so common with the some worshipping many of us did. I didn't do that, and mine was just above the neckline of my normal blouses. never thought to put sun screen there! now I slather all down my neck and chest area. Good luck to you.

Wizard --
A dear friend of mine was diagnosed with melanoma 3 years ago. She had a large portion of her left cheek (on her face) removed. I am happy to say that she is fully recovered. If you'd like to talk to her about her experience, I could see if it's OK with her for me to give you her email.

Misfire

Wiz, please keep us posted. I'm praying for ya!

Oh queen, care to tell us about your wilder days. We're all ears...you wild woman you!

Meredith, I can relate to your independence. I noticed it when you were talking about asking for help with your dressings. I am the same way. I'll do it myself...thank you.

Now I'm not saying I don't like to be pampered, because I do. That's different!

[ November 26, 2004, 10:18 AM: Message edited by: Dotsie ]

Honey, I would tell all...but then I'd have to cut out your tongue...

JJ

I had the procedure to remove the skin cancer yesterday. It is called Mohs Surgery, which basically involves scraping away tissue as many times as necessary to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, because I had neglected this for so long, I had to have it done six times before they got it all out, and am now sporting a wound the size of a half dollar, which could only be closed by 32 stitches from under my eyelid to down to the lipline. I am fairly certain that plastic surgery is also in my future. I am telling you all this not to complain, because I am grateful that this was the kind of cancer that can be cured and that they got it all. But, I hope anybody that finds a suspicious spot anywhere on their skin will get it checked out IMMEDIATELY, and don't take "don't worry about it" for an answer.

Wiz, Thank you for keeping us up dated. We will continue to pray for a full and miraculous healing.
smile

I'm sure you are glad to have the surgery out of the way! I too had Mohs surgery on my face. From left side of nose down to left side of my mouth - but the surgeon managed to center the incision in my smile line so it's not really that noticeable....yours is a lot longer incision.

Like you, I absolutely would encourage people not to wait to have anything "new" popping up on their skin checked out. I had mine checked out immediately (fortunately) and it was squamous cell not basal which was what I had with my FIRST skin cancer. Mohs is an amazing (and very LOOOOOOONG!!) procedure but allows the surgeon to remove very thin slices of tissue until microscopic examination shows they are beyond the affected area and into healthy tissue.

Wiz I hope that you are forever cancer free! Here's to a HEALTHY future.