wackytoposthere:Help me make a salve (I have SCC) - Cancer: Skin Message Board

Rainer · 02-19-2005, 08:15 AM

Hi wackytoposthere

I just had surgery ( Last Monday )on my face (3 spots) and 1 on my chest for squamous cell carcinoma .Sutures to be removed this Tuesday.

The scars are at least one inch long and very upsetting. I'm waiting for pathology to come back to make sure they got it all or whatever it is they do.

I have 2 other lesions on my face (Cheek) that are pre-cancerous and I will not let them cut me up again if it progresses to anything else. I cannot live with all these scars on my face..it's not just going to happen.

You mentioned in one of your post about the helping other's putting a salve together.

I would love to try this salve.Can you help me get this so I can start as soon as possible?

Thanks so very much : )

Rainer

TampaSal51 · 02-21-2005, 06:17 AM

I'm sorry, I can't help you with the salve, but I can help with words of encouragement on the facial scars. In November I had what I thought was a zit, biopsied because it would not heal. It turned out to be BCC and it was removed. It left a large 2 to 2-1/2 inch scar down the side of my face. I was horrified that such a small spot would have caused them to remove so much that it left this horrid scar. Luckily today, 3 months later, the scar is barely visible. There is a very slight indentation in my face on that side and the scar is just a thin red line. In time, it will fade to a faint white line. Now, the only time anyone notices it is if we are talking about skin cancer (and I am very vocal about this) and I point it out to them.

If your other spots came back as pre cancerous, get them removed. You only need to read other posts on this board from people who are currently dealing with melanoma to realize there are worse things than scars. If caught early, melanoma is completely curable with removal. If not caught early and progresses, there is NO CURE. Read that again, NO CURE! I recently had three more biopsies and one came back as atypical, which means pre cancerous. I will have that removed at my next visit. I have several other moles/spots that we are watching. Should they show any changes or become precancerous, I will have those removed also. As a women, I understand how upsetting scars can be. But, the alternative to those scars is nothing I want to deal with.

Best of luck to you.

BonBe · 02-22-2005, 06:04 AM

Hello Rainer:

I agree with TamapSal. Your comment is completely outrageous when you seriously consider the alternative if it 'progresses' at your refusal to have the spots removed...... surely your health and LIFE means more than superficial looks? some of us are literally fighting for our lives with Melanoma and would gladly have scars if it meant we could live another day to fight the beast (mm) and be healthy.

While I understand your concern over your scars, they are new, and who knows maybe you heal very well, and in time they will fade to just wee pale things.

I think also our society seems to dictate to us how we are suppose to look (just look at all the 'makeover storeies, the nip and tucks, the rest of what is shoved at our faces, and yes I watch them too and cringe, and wonder why we put so much into 'how we look to others')

Sorry, I rather be alive and well and sport a few 'warrior scars'.

Of course in the end the choice is up to you regarding further surgeries, but I hope that you are not just making rash decisions for the sheer vanity aspect. SCC is cureable and dealing with it now, is the best alternative. Have you talked to your dermatologist on how you feel about scars? there are plenty of scar therapys outthere. Infact I am in the progress of dealing with a huge ugly purple raised keloid from a WLE I have on my upper back, which shows if I wear a t-shirt. But dying is a worse alternative. I never will be able to sport a decent scar, but we are dealing with it.

I hope and pray you make the correct decisions regarding your SCC and its removal... I am sorry that it is on your face but it happened, and you at least are having it taken care of.

BonBe