Sorry to whine, but this is the last straw (well maybe not the
LAST one, but you know what I mean). I went to the dr today for a regular checkup, med check, etc. We went over my new TENS unit, pain med levels, etc. She's worried that even though I'm sleeping a lot, I'm not getting recuperative sleep because I wake a lot throughout the night in pain. :yawn: So, I'm now supposed to take 2 pain pills before I go to bed. If that doesn't work, she wants me to take a Restoril in addition (evidently it doesn't cause the sleeping pill hangover that others cause). I asked her (jokingly) if I could still be breathing when I woke up and she said yes. We did some routine bloodwork, then she said 'what's that thing on your forehead?' :rolleyes: I had a dry patch about the size of my little fingernail that would bleed, then scab over, then bleed again. I just figured it was my unbelievably dry skin acting up. Well, she took a look at it through her little micro-thingy and yes, I have skin cancer. :eek: We don't know if it's basal cell or squamous cell (she doesn't think it's melanoma), and I'm scheduled with a plastic surgeon for a biopsy on the 18th. I'm VERY fair skinned with red hair, and have always tried to stay out of the sun as much as possible. :cool: Of course, I was stupid in the teens and 20s and got a few raging sunburns. :blob_fire Obviously I'm paying for it now. So, I get to wait 2 weeks+ to find out what's going on. If it's basal cell it's not that bad, but evidently squamous cell can spread. AAAGGGHHH!!! :mad: There, I feel better. Oh well, onward and upward.

Mary
:wave:

Oh, Rusty...I can't imagine what you're going through...thank god you had someone spot it. I'm praying that its the lesser form and that you've caught it early.

thinking of you,
Jinks

Rusty, i can educate you a bit on this since i had basal cell removed from my leg a year ago and since my mother-in-low had same cancer on her face 30 years ago.
Basal cell is the most "innocent" form of skin cancer. What you describing looks like a bit advanced (meaning being there for a while) basal cell. Melanoma looks very different than all of them and i don't think your case looks like one.
Basal cell spreads too!! The only difference between them: melanoma spreads to inside organs, basal cell carsinoma spreads deeper into the skin and also gets wider. It is very slow process, but it does. Even when they remove it (not a big deal, just watch your scab for a while, it took me 3 month to heal, depends on a area and how big this is. They usually take some skin off from the area around too) they tell you it still may come back.:eek:

Please, forgive me for saying this, i am not trying to scare you here, but my mother-in-low had a little red spot on her cheek 30 years ago. They burned it and she was OK for a good 10 years. Than it came back again. To make story short: she lost her gums, roof of ther mouth, her nose, her both lips. He face is completely disfigured, but she still alive and kinda well at ther 81.
Good thing that this is only a basal cell.
And good thing that this is absolutely does not mean that you or I will get cancer back, most people never have reoccurance at all.
But i was stupid when i was young and burned my fair skin so much that i was aware to watch anything unusual. My cancer looked like nothing and many people would not even pay attention to it: red spot on my leg, size of the 1/2 pinky nail. It would get red after the shower and than you hardly could see it, just a dry scabby area. I went to dermatologist, he rubbed this place with his fingers; it got bloody red, he immediately told me this is basal cell, and biopsy prooved it.
I am sure you will be OK, just sorry that you have to worry about it now when your back is not well. Good luck to you, sweet heart, let me know how did it work out for you.:wave:

I am already praying for you and will continue to do so until I hear otherwise. God Bless you for having to endure this waiting.

Right now, I am waiting to hear about whether my dog has cancer or not. I should know by Monday.

I am already praying for you and will continue to do so until I hear otherwise. God Bless you for having to endure this waiting.

Right now, I am waiting to hear about whether my dog has cancer or not. I should know by Monday.

Cancer of what, Diet?
Poor animals, they get sick like us, people...
sorry to hear this.
How are your friends doing who lost their child?

Pepper - I'm SO sorry to hear about your dog, and hope that they are able to provide some treatment that will lick that bad stuff.

Moldova - thanks for your words of encouragement. My dr thinks I have squamous or basal cell because what's growing hasn't really come from a mole like melanoma usually does. I hate waiting until the 18th, but that's the soonest they can get me in - I'll let you know what they find out.

Dear Rusty,

Please take a deep breath..I had what we thought was a wart on the back of my hand....asked one Dr....he said wart....2 years later...I had to fight for a biopsy....PA thought it was a wart...not worth the scar....yeah...sure...well...it was squamous cell cancer....and it had spread. Short story..went to specialist and he removed it...all of it...even though it had spread...it took several weeks with stitches...(remember this is my hand..forehead doesn't move the same way...so they don't need to do the stitches like that...) That was 18 years ago...I am fine. I have had several other little bouts with the stuff over the years... I too was, am a redhead, and very fair... so we do have to watch our skin, the sun damage mounts up over a period of time.. PLEASE, don't worry so much, this is cureable ..I am proof. I know you are scared...I was too, I am going to Dr. in July...he will probably fix about 15 little spots "freezes them off"...gone, cured. I am praying you will be fine...but, it is scary to hear this stuff... Please let me know how you make out...

Sage

Hi,
I just wanted to reply to you regarding your skin cancer on top of it all.
I too, had skin cancer about 7 years ago and it was exactly as you described yours, crusty, and would bleed, scab over and just keep coming back, finally went and had it checked and it was basal cell. Since it was on my face next to my nose I was worried about scaring, but not only did I have no scarring, it hasn't recurred or spread in all this time. I also am red haired and fair, and am going next week for a followup skin check, since I have had many pre-cancers and you have to keep vigilent!

I know this is the Back Board, not the skin cancer board, but I did want to reply to let you know, good you're getting it checked and most likely it will be basal cell, and you will have it off and done! Even squamous cell doesn't always spread unless there for a long time. I hope this puts your mind a little more at ease.
If only our backs could be fixed as easily...:yawn:

Jinks - I'm sorry I forgot you earlier - thank you so much for your support.

Sage - I appreciate you sharing your story, and know that us catching this early bodes only good. I am trying to keep a positive outlook, and maybe if this was the only thing going on I would be able to do that. I've had a series of 'disappointments' in the last 6 months, and I'm almost afraid to be optimistic anymore. Still, I know that I am in good hands, and with such great friends supporting me, how can anything go wrong?

Mary
:wave:

Rusty,
i know how hard to wait for app. But be prepared to wait for couple of days at least for your biopsy report. My Doctor removed what he had to the same day of my app and when report came he called me to come back and remove more. It'd does not hurt, you don't feel much while he is working on you. Just watch not to touch the scab when you taking a shower.
YOu will be just fine, you will see. I am sure they will tell you to stay away from the sun and watch any suspecios "things" on your skin.
Hey, i always say: if this is only cancer i meant to have - i take it!! :-)
Good luck to you, let us know how did it go.