Just got the news....could be actinic keratosis - Cancer: Skin Message Board

sandra1 · 04-23-2004, 08:33 PM

Hi everybody,

I am new here......and just got the news yesterday from my dermatologist that I may have actinic keratosis on my face above my brow. He freezed it with the cold stuff (cryosurgery). I think he thinks it might be actinic keratosis......so he told me to come back in 2 months. When I do see him then, will he have some idea just actually what I have, and maybe do a biopsy to make sure what I have? Is that the standard way of doing things? This whole thing has got my nerves up abit because I am only 48 years old, and the last thing I need in the prime of my precious life is this! My father has been battling basal cell for years on his face, but he got his first one in his late seventies, and here I am young with this......

I would appreciate any response from any body about this.....

Thanks and wish everybody a speedy cure.

Sandi

kellie2 · 04-30-2004, 11:31 PM

It's nothing to worry about....really. I had this very same thing, in the very same spot, right above my eyebrow. He treated it the same way as yours, healed with no problems, and I haven't had anything since. I was worried about cancer too, but he reassured me that it was not cancer and to stop worrying. And you should, too. It's fine. Really.

sandra1 · 05-03-2004, 02:59 PM

Kellie2,

Thanks for your encouragement. I would like to ask you if your growth above the eyebrow(before you had the freezing done on that area) had at any point changed before you went to your dermatologist? The reason why I asking is because back in March I had started to try to brush away some dry white flakes with my eyebrow brush, but very lightly. Sometime after doing this a few times ( the spot had been red for more than six months) I noticed the whole red spot sort of changed to a smooth red bump, so I decided to wash it more harder with the facecloth. That bump went away in about a week after that. It returned to the red spot I had before. Then, I went to my dermatologist about this in April. I tried to explain this to him about it, and he just told me that I may have the keratois, so he decided to freeze it. So, I am wondering about if you had any kind of changes to your growth before you went to your doctor about it? I also like to mention that when I did see him, I had a little "pimple" near the top of the red spot. Well, that pimple is still there even after the freezing method, but it's more scaling, rough because of the treatment. Can you give me a feedback on this, because I am begining to wonder about it? I am supposed to go back to him in June.

I would appreciate any response from you or from anybody.

Thanks.

motherchuck · 05-03-2004, 03:45 PM

Sandra-your story sounds very similar to mine. I was 27 at the time but the spot had been on my brow for 2 years. Thought the same thing as you, maybe a pimple, dry skin etc. Anyway, at 27 I had a biopsy and it was a basal cell. The spot was removed (with quite a few stitches) and it healed wonderfully. At the age of 32 a new spot in the same brow was biopsied and it ended up being another basal cell but the more aggressive type-morpheaform infiltrative. I thought I caught it really early but the removed portion was the size of a dime! Two long rows of stitches to close it up. It look great now but I fear the cancer will continue to come back. I am noticing the small bumps like before as well as a small red spot. My dermatologist could not find anything but I feel it!! I may be a bit paranoid now too. We have not done another biopsy but I am sure it is a matter of time.

I would ask your dr to biopsy it. I know sometimes we leave the decisions to the dr (b/c we are trying to trust them) but you know your body and it is your face.... Wouldnt hurt to ask or get a second opinion.

sandra1 · 05-03-2004, 06:24 PM

Motherchuck,

Thanks for your response. How was your first spot removed? And, the second spot you had, was it in a different area on that same brow? When you were talking about the spots begin on the brow, are you saying they were above your brow or right on your hair brow? When the doctor does a biopsy on a spot, how is it done, and what's it like to have one done? I am sorry I am asking alot of questions, but I would like to have some idea what's it like to have to go through this type of thing.

Do you think with this type of bump I had back in March and the small pimple I have now might give the doctor some good idea what needs to be done when I see him again in June?

Thanks in advance for your input. I hope things will be ok for you concerning your situation.

Sandi