So tell me your story of having been diagnosed with skin cancer and that it’s no big deal and you never give it a second thought. I’ve been ignoring some now-disturbing patches/moles for a few years and just been told via biopsy that at least one is cancer and that I’ll need to have them removed. There is a quarter-sized patch just below my armpit that has me and the Dr. most concerned.
I will learn more about the type and procedure presecribed for treatment shortly.
-SD
Sorry Dave, that is not the case. I wish it was. My grandfather had it. My dad had it. I would be surprised if I didn’t get it. I take all the precations I can. Everyone makes fun of my lack of tan, but there is a reason for that.
However if it is diagnosed soon enough. Chances for full recovery are generally pretty good from what I hear.
There are a few different types. Which one are you talking about ? and it is a very big deal, you wake up dead, thats how big a deal some types are. I have the lesser type, but is still not fun. There are cures that are natural and some times they work, some times not. If you have one do some thing soon, if i can help let me know.
Like people said, what type?
I had a basal carcinoma removed. Hurt like hell. http://ironclm.typepad.com/ironclms_tri_world/2004/11/surgery_report.html
A friend of a number of us here has gone through treatment for melanoma and she has put together some good links and her blog covers treatment and she’s now back training.
my fatherinlaw has it, 40 years in the tropics will do that to you. I work outdoors all day mostly and usually wear the hat etc, but I should be better. Had a few moles removed as a precaution but other than that so far so good. I suspect it will hit me one day- and to be honest if it is the price for a life in the caribbean then so be it. My father-in-law has to undergo treatment with very strong creams that basically burns the cancerous skin off, and it is quite painful unfortunately.
Both my boys are fair, one is ginger and other blond- they have a rule here at school that is no hat no play which is great… they have burnt once maybe in their short lives and we are as cautious as possible, so fingers crossed
Weeman
i also had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my left temple about 10 years ago. i was only 25 at the time and the doc said it was pretty unusual to get one so young. way too much sun exposure with no sun block. he quoted me a 97% cure rate on the first try and said it was benign and very slow moving.
at any rate, they froze it with a local, burned it off, and that was that. left a small patch about the size of a quarter on my temple, but you can barely tell unless you look close. i make sure to always put a bit of extra sunscreen on that area now.
SuperDave,
I had a cancerous mole removed from my shoulder 2 summers ago, turned out to be melanoma, luckily it was “in situ” which means that it was in very early stages and hadn’t spread anywhere. I had 2 family doctors in the past look at this mole and tell me that it looked okay, it wasn’t until I saw a dermatologist that it was diagnosed properly. It was removed painlessly with local freezing and was healed up in about a month. The last words that the dermatologist said to me was that 60 sunblock was going to be my new friend and that the “white, pale look” was much better than the alternative.
Scary stuff, but I feel that I was very lucky in this case. I now use 40-60 sunscreen all the time, and keep an eye out for any new or “weird” moles on my body.
In the end it was no big deal but I do give it a second thought especially when I get lazy about putting sunscreen on, all I need to do is look at the 2" scar on my shoulder to remind me.
I would strongly advise anybody who has any suspicious moles on them to see a dermatologist. And to lather on the heavy duty sunscreen, the sun is so much more potent these days and we spend so much time training under it.
Tri tops are out for me, I’d rather keep my shoulders covered, never looked good in them anyway.
Hope this helps, best of luck.
Are you asking for yourself?
My wife’s best friend has a derm practice in Dearborn with her parents if you want real answers to these questions. She was head derm resident at U of M so she’s more than a little competent.
I had basal cell carcinoma on my forehead about 5 years ago. It was cut out. In my case, it wasn’t that big a deal. I definitely am more careful about sunscreen now than I was. I was also told that it was pretty unusual to have it as young as I was (32).
Unfortunately, the damage is probably done. I’m fully expecting to have more skin cancer in my life. Not fun, but I LOVE the outdoors. When I was younger, I was a lifeguard, and was pretty tan:)
I wear a hat most of the time when I’m outside now, and watch my son really carefully…
Sorry Dave, it is a big deal; it’s cancer! And you have to treat it as such.
I’ve had basal cell and squamous cell cancers removed surgically at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Skin Center in NYC. About 10 years ago I started going to the dermatologist for check ups but once it was diagnosed as skin cancer, I made an appointment at Memorial. They are the cancer specialists
This is not something that should kill you and it won’t if it is taken care of. But it would be really stupid to have your skin rot off while you were treating it as no big deal!
My wife had basal on her nose. It was pretty deep so they had to take skin and cartilage from behind her ear to fill in the hole from the chunk they removed from her nose. Very nasty looking for awhile until she went back for some cosmetic touchup. Ahh, that wonderful Irish skin.
I just had some growth removed from my wrist with liquid nitrogen. It took three tries, the last time hurting a lot. Best to get these checked early as some spread really fast and once into various systems - blood, lymph, nerves, or organs… well, it’s not good.
David
Sorry to here about the skin cancer. I have had a couple of basal cell cancers and my wife had a squamous cell. I did not have much pain when they were removed but no swimming for a couple of weeks. Hat and sun screen always now. As you know living in SoCal we are outdoors year round.
Good luck.
That was pretty much the experience I had. Mine was on my upper chest, just below my throat. They froze it, then cut it off. leaving a small scar. That was like 15 years ago. I’ve never had a problem since. Whenever I go shirtless, which is rare, I make sure to cover that area with a strong sunscreen. I don’t do much else though. I probably should use a sunscreen when I run or bike.
I know a fair amount. I work for a dermatologist once a week. We remove cancers all the time. Feel free to PM me for any details. Skin cancers are very rarely life threatening as long as you are vigilant about removing them ASAP. From now on, be very careful about sunscreen and get checked every 6-12 months by a dermatologist!
Jodi
Sloppy statement - basal cell is one thing and melanoma is another and much more serious in most cases (i.e. you want basal if you have to have it). All of us in this sport should go to the skin doctor once a year the way we are outside. I try to wear sunscreen but it is a joke when out on a 3 hour run or 6 hour ride at 90 plus degrees. So, I take the George Hamilton approach and just have everything cut off once a year. Good luck and let us know which one it is. -------
Well, yes; and anyone else that might benefit from the stories, advice or anecdotes.
-SD
Here inAustralia, we have skin cancer clinics in all cities and large towns and they are free to attend. The doctors are general practitioners with an interest and further qualifications in dermatology.
I’m 67 and have had so many superficial ones removed I’ve lost count. In the early 1960’s they used dry ice and electric needles on me.
I go every 3 months now and usually have one or two bcc’s cut out and others scaly ones treated with liquid nitrogen. Had 1 sq. cell cut out but they sent me to a dermatologist for that one. Luckily, no melonoma yet, touch wood.
Of course your heritage determines your skin type and mine is Swiss and English, but after a lifetime outdoors in the Australian sun beach, sport, work, sports cars and not much protection or knowlege the damage is done.
My next appointment is tomorrow. Timely thread, eh.
I had basal cell carcinoma on my left shoulder. They cut it out and told me that I wouldnt get a scar. I did get a little scar that I tell people I got from a shark attack. I would make sure you have your insurance up to date, because you probably wont be able to get it if you are diagnosed with any type of cancer. I have another appt. to get checked next week.
I had two basal cell cancers removed from my face two months ago. One was on my left cheek, I had noticed an odd spot for months but didn’t get it checked. Due to its specific type and size, it was cut out by a plastic surgeon. Had a couple of stitches that had to be removed a few weeks after the surgery. I was told not to swim or exercise for a week (for fear of popping the stiches if I ran). When I did run after the week, I felt that advice had been a bit too cautious…but I can see avoiding a tough workout for the first week, I guess.
95% of the time if it is basal cell you’ll have it removed and that will be that. If there is a problem, it is that the site has something growing again. I have a fairly noticeable scar on my cheek, hopefully it will diminish over the months.
Best of luck with it.