Basal Cell Carcinoma - Cancer: Skin Message Board

jktbre · 03-04-2009, 02:32 PM

Hi,

I went to the Dermatologist two days ago about a spot on the side of my nose that has been there for a few years. It bleeds on occasion and my hubby said that it was getting bigger and changing colors. The dr took one look at it and said that it was a Basal Cell Carcinoma. He wanted to set up surgery for the following week but I could not make that date. He did a scraping of it and said that he would like to do the surgery at the end of the month. (I am going away next week for a short family visit). The results of the biopsy are not in and already he is planning surgery?

Also, I have been having trouble with my vision in the eye above the bump. I did not think to ask the Dr about it. My vision goes blurry in that eye and then returns to normal. Does anyone know if the two could be related?

What are your opinions on surgery. I know that it should not be a factor but I am pretty vain and the thought of an ugly scar really bothers me. One of my residents has had her entire nose removed as a result of skin cancer and it looks like they just slapped putty on her face and called it a nose. Yikes. I keep joking that I am following her footsteps but seriously, I don't want that nose.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Chele60 · 03-04-2009, 03:22 PM

Don't feel badly for not wanting a scar or other disfiguring mark on your face. Regardless of our health situation, nobody wants a scar on their face. I feel badly for your co-worker, yet I'm not sure of her exact situation and it may not duplicate yours.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is something a dermatologist can spot fairly easily. A biopsy can confirm it, but it's common enough so a doctor knows what it is. Facial surgery for BCC is really amazing right now. I'm not sure when your co-worker had her surgery, or the extent, but there is some reconstructive surgery that is really amazing. I really believe it comes down to researching your plastic surgeon and getting the best you possibly can. This is not an area to scrimp on!

I can't speak to the possible relationship between your BCC and your eye. My knowledge just doesn't go there. You might want to check with your dermatologist and see what s/he thinks. Or maybe somebody else on these boards might be able to address that.

jktbre · 03-09-2009, 09:14 AM

Thank you for responding, Chele.

The lady that I work with is a 94 year old resident at an assisted living center, not a co-worker. She spent many years on fishing boats and has numerous suspicious skin areas but because of her other health issues, they are not pursuing them. They did remove a spot on her face as it bled easily and interfered with her day to day activities.

I do not know when they did her nose. It really looks terrible but it was many years ago and medical care has improved tremendously since then.

My concern is partly the healing process and how frightening I will look to my residents. Because we are a small facility and only one CNA is on shift at a time, our residents become very close to us. I am wondering if my being there and lookingmonsterous will frighten them. I really wont know until after they dig away as to how deep of a hole in my face I will have. Being that it is the side of my nose, I imagine that it will not be an easy process.

I have been reading through the board and feel pretty encouraged by many of your posts, however and I wanted to thank all of the members here. Thank you.

Chele60 · 03-09-2009, 04:01 PM

My apologies regarding the resident = co-worker! For some reason I had thought resident = nurse or intern. My bad!

There have been great inroads with facial surgery and melanoma in the past few years - it is really amazing! You should be able to have a consult with a plastic surgeon performing your surgery, and when you do ask for references/pictures of his/her work. Be exacting in your concerns. A plastic surgeon wil certainly understand!

You will definitely want to look for posts by teapotlady, too. She was just recently diagnosed with Basal Cell on her face. (Temple area, I believe?) She was very concerned about scarring, and rightly so. She has just recently had her surgery, and her post-surgery posts are on this site. She has some very positive things to say.

If you get a chance, you might want to do some investigating online regarding MOHS surgery. It is primarily used for Basal and Squamous Cell cancers, and it used when the maximum amount of skin is to be preserved for cosmetic reasons. It is fairly new technology and is only performed by certain surgeons, but it is definitely worth looking into!

jktbre · 03-18-2009, 11:46 AM

Hi,

I made an appointment with a MOHs surgeon. There really seems to be no convenient time to have this surgery. I work in the health field myself and am wondering how much recovery time I will need before returning to work. Any ideas? How much time did you guys take off or were you able to return to work immediately?