Little skin procedure

[Nancy]

Joe had a small basal cell carcinoma on his face removed on Monday. He went in to have the dermatologist diagnose it. Doc said, "we're gong to take that off right now, Coumadin doesn't scare me, I can usually stop any bleeding". So off it went.

What a relief! No lengthy hospital stays, no worrying about bridge therapy. Everything is done. It's scabbed over and so far all is well. Bled a tiny bit the night after the removal, but nothing to worry about.

 

[EVELYN]

Give Joe our best, Nancy....so glad it's over and done with!!

Evelyn

 

[hensylee]

Nancy, I had one of those removed several yrs ago. It was on the inside of my upper arm - not very exposed to sun. It had colors - purple, black, pink. It was basal cell, like Joe's. It just appeared one day and I watched it carefully; when it changed a bit, off to the dr. The dr told me if the spot is brown, not to worry, but if it changes color, is uneven edges, then it probably is something that needs coming off. Glad Joe got his early. Me, too.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Well that's darn good news Nancy! My skin appears clear. Though, my faimly, Mother, Father, Sis are covered with all sorts of goodies. Always having something removed. Guess the good lord figured heart disease was enough for me.
I do worry about the "what if's". Happy to see Joe cleared it up without coming off the Coumadin!

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi nancy!
that was a very cautious doctor! i'm so glad it was a quick procedure and that it's done and over with.
glad you and joe and the doc caught it early too. i wonder if a laser removal would work too... i go to this laser guy in the city who specializes in MOHS surgery (for removing basal cell and other carcinomas).
wishing you and joe all my best, sylvia

 

[nadi]

Good News

Good News

Nancy,

I am glad all went well for Joe.

Take care

 

[Nancy]

I told Joe he's getting like an old tree with fungi and other things growing on it.

Just my Irish humor acting up, I guess.

The skin doc is good, and doesn't like to fool around and wait.

I don't know about laser surgery. I do know that he wanted to see the base of the growth as he was removing it. Once it was gone, he cauterized it.

 

[Ross]

*Looks at moles and speculates*

*Could it be? Nah*

If Joe had it, I might follow suit. Seems him and I have most of the same problems. Glad his is taken care of.

 

[Les]

That's great news. I have had a couple basal cell doo-dads removed and there was no concern about being on Coumadin. Didn't bleed at all.
_______________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[John Cochran]

Glad it worked out so well for Joe, Nancy!

These skin carcinomas are nothing to take lightly. They can become fatal if not attended to promptly. My father had a spot on the side of the bridge of his nose. They had to get it all, but wanted to stay as far from his eye as possible. So, they would cut a little, send it down to the lab, cut a little more, send it down to the lab...and so on until all the cancerous cells were gone.

I had myself thoroughly checked by my pc doc, and he said that normal moles tend to be symmetrical, whereas cancerous growths tend to be irregular; he also mentioned that different colors, e.g., black, blue, green, red, were not normal.

If anyone has any question at all (looking at you, Rosso) get it checked out. Early detection = easy cure. Those of us with fair skin and light complections are more at risk.

A dear lady I know, who had extremely lovely features, waited too long to get her skin checked. She survived, but the surgery left her with significant disfigurement.

Most docs don't automatically check you as part of a physical anymore...you have to directly ask them to check you. *Sigh*. Once again, we have to be assertive and pro-active to remain healthy.

--John

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi all!
john, you are so right. my in-laws had a good friend for years. this guy went bald at the top of his head and never thought to put on any sunscreen or wear a hat for protection.
his cancer had invaded so deeply that he did not end up surviving it.

so, please bear this in mind when you head for the sun! (body checks help too).
be well, sylvia