DH has had a red irritated spot on his shoulder about the size of a nickel for a long time (close to a year). It does seem to have puss leak from it at times. He has been to the regular doctor twice. Both times he was told it was some type of fungus. They gave him an ointment that seemed to work for awhile. It came back and they gave him something stronger. It only worked for about a month. He went to a Derm. today who he didn't like at all. The guy spoke about 3 sentences the entire time. He did a biopsy and said basically "it could be many things including skin cancer. We'll find out in two weeks." I guess I just wish he would have said "it DOES/DOESN'T look like cancer to me but we have to wait for the results to be 100% sure." Am I asking too much?? Am I reading correctly that skin cancer is easy to cure? Thanks for any advice.

LR

Most of the dermatologists I have met have the bedside manner of a rock! Male or female, no difference. I have always wondered if a certain type of personality is drawn toward a certain medical specialty.
Anyway, I'm glad you DH went to a dermatologist and had his long lasting sore biopsied. If it's skin cancer it's most probably a Basal Cell Carcinoma and is curable. The lesion will be cut out and cauterized and will leave a round white scar, IF it's a BCC. I had my first of many BCCs removed when I was in my twenties and I'm 58 now with quite a few round white scars.

Round white scars? Mine don't look at all like that. Mine are all long thin scars? I have heard others saying they have round scars and I would prefer that. Just curious.

The only long, thin scar I have from a BCC is from the MOH's surgery I had on my temple. All the ones on my arms, back, legs and neck are round and white. The MOH's was the only one I had stitches for too, all the others were burned and scraped leaving a round crater looking sore that took a while to heal over.

Ok, I need to ask my dr about this as I hate the long scars. I have two on my back that look horrible! Is reaccurance an issue with this type of removal?

I have never had a BCC come back. Did you have MOH's on your back? I don't know what would look worse, the thin white scar or the "cigar burn" scar as my daughter calls them. :D

No, just mohs on my face 2 times, similar place. The ones on my back were excision style cuts. Not sure of the terminology?? At least with the white circles you could put a dap of makeup on them to hide them if you wanted. What about Moles? I have excisions for all of these as well-lots of them!! Maybe I will move this to a new topic.