#79852 09-03-2008 12:59 PM | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Hello all, I just went today to a General Surgeon who took a biopsy of an unusual spot just above my knee. I saw a GP last week who sent me to him. Nice older man, very wise, said he thought it may be a basil cell, but did a biopsy and will let me know next week. I asked him about radiation or anything and he said he would remove it with a local if it came back bad and that would be it!
He said he had one in the same place and he removed it himself years ago and that was all he did.
I will go to my Ent in a couple of weeks, but he stays in his specialty and won't comment on dentists, etc.
Has anyone had a skin cancer removed? If so, did you have any treatments afterward? I so hope it is not, but I just am unsure if this Surgeon is telling me everything? Thanks all who listen, Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO. Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw. Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo. | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | I have had several skin cancers removed over the years, due to 25 years of competitive swimming and water polo in an era when Coppertone was the style, and nobody had ever heard of SPF.
Most of mine were basal cell that were removed from my upper chest and back by my Internist. I used to joke that he was dismembering me 1 cm at a time. Had 2 SCC removed as well, the latest one popping up just after radiation completed. It was a keratoacanthoma that was square in the middle of my upper chest at the collarbone level, right in the middle of the extended radiation field. These are ugly little critters that grow fast, but are generally considered low grade. I had a dermatological surgeon remove that one. Clean margins, no follow up treatment.
For most skin cancers short of melanoma, removal is the sole treatment. Like others, they can recur, but can also be removed then. Except for melanoma, metastasis is very rare, usually only in cases that have been allowed to progress to significantly sized lesions.
So your doc is not steering you wrong.
Jeff SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007 T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007 39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07 Complete response to treatment so far!!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 | i concur with jeff. know many with skin cancer removals and all have told me no further treatment was involved.
Rita - Age 44 wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1 (R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.
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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."
| | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 | My Father had skin cancer on his cheek. It was very small, about the size of a pin head. The Doctors removed it and had it biopsied. He had to go back three other times until the Doctor was satisfied with the margins...no other treatments...no other problems. It was about 7 years ago.
7-16-08 age 37@Dx, T3N0M0 SCC 4.778cm tumor, left side of oral tongue, non smoker, casual drinker, I am the 4th in my family to have H&N cancer 8-13-08 left neck dissection and 40% of tongue removed, submandibular salivary gland & 14 nodes clean, no chemo, IMRTx35 11-4-08 Recovering & feeling better | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Thanks you guys! I was told this am that it came back a basel cell and removal was all that was needed! I had nightmares again about radiation and all that stuff we have all been through on here! My husband laughed at me with relief because I said this was the easiest cancer I have ever had!!! What a warped sense of humor I have these days. Just glad to be alive. THanks again! Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO. Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw. Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo. | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | Glad it all turned out, Debbie!!! Jeff SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007 T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007 39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07 Complete response to treatment so far!!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | All that worrying for nothing. LOL.. Not laughing at you , thinking how many of us want to run and hide until we get the results back fron the DRs. It all takes time and comes out in the wash.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | You are right Jim, but some of us will never change. I still don't like it but compared to what we have been through - I feel like I dodged a bullet! I like it that we can laugh!! Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO. Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw. Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo. | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Debbie, I feel like maybe a machine gun going off. That was a lot of bullets whizzing by our heads. Without laughter, you are right. We would have nothing but self pity. Have a good Sunday.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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