NorCal Kayak Anglers
General => General Talk => Topic started by: NowhereMan on October 03, 2016, 07:51:53 AM
-
I had a very small bump on my nose that I ignored for a few weeks, thinking it was a pimple. But, it didn't go away, and so it was biopsied last week. I just got the results and it's squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is what I'd figured, based on pictures I'd seen online. The good news is that it's not melanoma, the bad news is that it's skin cancer.
Anyways, they want to do "Mohs surgery" to remove it, and I was wondering if anybody on here has experience with this. Better yet, has anybody had this done thru Kaiser? Most of the doctors I've dealt with at Kaiser seem to be OK, but there have been a few that I wouldn't let anywhere near me with a knife in their hands...
-
I'm a 40 yr Kaiser member,
I had a melanoma on my ear lobe, no mohs procedure for that, they just took the recommended border and loped it off. Now I get to see the dermatologist every 3 to 6 mos for about 5 yrs. She's really competent and just a pleasure to be around. A bonus.
They sent me to a Head and Neck specialist for the surgery, but also had me see a plastic surgeon first to consult in case reconstructive surgery would be needed. He did a great job, the ear he worked on looks better than the original.
After reading about Mohs procedure it sounds like the best option to me. Gets it all but not more removal than needed.
Being a Kaiser family all these years I'll say they had some rough years, in the last 10 they have been absolutely top notch for us. You'll occasionally find a doc that makes you feel less than confident, then you just ask for another, BTDT, no problems.
Good Luck
-
I kind of find it interesting that they have a fancy name for gouging out a nice chunk of your flesh. It's called "Mohs surgery". Too bad it had to be on your nose...that sucks.
-
My mom did the surgery on her forehead. She didn't go through Kaiser so can't speak on that but if you have any questions about her experience let me know
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
I'm a 40 yr Kaiser member,
I had a melanoma on my ear lobe, no mohs procedure for that, they just took the recommended border and loped it off. Now I get to see the dermatologist every 3 to 6 mos for about 5 yrs. She's really competent and just a pleasure to be around. A bonus.
They sent me to a Head and Neck specialist for the surgery, but also had me see a plastic surgeon first to consult in case reconstructive surgery would be needed. He did a great job, the ear he worked on looks better than the original.
After reading about Mohs procedure it sounds like the best option to me. Gets it all but not more removal than needed.
Being a Kaiser family all these years I'll say they had some rough years, in the last 10 they have been absolutely top notch for us. You'll occasionally find a doc that makes you feel less than confident, then you just ask for another, BTDT, no problems.
Good Luck
It turns out that Kaiser has a dedicated Mohs surgery group of 4 dermatologists in SJ. They all look good on paper and the one that is going to do mine seems especially good. So that's all good news. First consultation is Thursday, and hoping to get it done ASAP after that.
-
I kind of find it interesting that they have a fancy name for gouging out a nice chunk of your flesh. It's called "Mohs surgery". Too bad it had to be on your nose...that sucks.
Same thing that I was thinking (on both counts).
-
We are Kaiser members. My wife had same procedure done on her nose a few years back. They did a great job and you can't tell unless she points it out.
-
Kaiser member here. I have had 3 mohs procedures done on my face in last 4 years. Nothing like being a Irish lad. A couple were very large, and had great results with all. Painless, done in a couple of hours, and not noticeable for the most part. Highly recommend getting it done. Kaiser fan.
-
Thanks for the info snapperhead and PaddlingBear. I'm planning to get it done ASAP---should have it scheduled tomorrow.
-
I had it on my hand and my Kaiser doc did a scrape and burn. Hurt like a mother and I'm scarred for life. Still have to get a follow up biopsy.
Good luck.
-
Cancer sucks! Good luck with your procedure! :smt001
-
I had it on my hand and my Kaiser doc did a scrape and burn. Hurt like a mother and I'm scarred for life. Still have to get a follow up biopsy.
Good luck.
The good thing about it being on my face is that they don't burn or freeze it off, and they also check to make sure they get it all while they're doing it.
-
Cancer sucks! Good luck with your procedure! :smt001
Thanks. Got the cutting scheduled as early as possible, which is October 26. Wish I could get it done a lot sooner as it's incredibly annoying just knowing it's there...
-
For my day-after-birthday present, I got to have a chunk of meat cut out of my nose this morning. It only took one cut and that part was done in 5 minutes or so. Then I had to wait an hour so they could look at the cutting under a microscope. Apparently, they got it all, and then it was about 10 stitches to sew it up.
For you're viewing pleasure, here's a picture of the cutout. I'm definitely going to have to include this picture in my Christmas card...
-
woah good thing they stitched it up! can't imagine how interesting blowing your nose would be
-
I hope you heal fast and well. A good reminder to put sunblock on for anybody.
-
Better safe than sorry, hope the healing is sooner than later.
-
Ouch!!
Good Luck Bro...
Hope they got it all[emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Wow, best wishes with the healing.
-
Yikes, that's a whole lot of hole. Good to hear they got it all on the first go around. Mend quick.
-
Yeeeee, Happy Halloween!!! :smt002 glad they squashed that squishy squamous off your snout
-
Hey Nowhereman
I am a roofer and I was diagnosed with basal and squamous cell cancers. I decided to not go the route of surgery but did do the 5fu treatment(living hell). I treated myself with a plant called petty spurge and have been cleared for a while now. There are many approaches to skin cancer and I researched a great deal but found a great deal of help and information from a site topicalinfo.org before progressing with my approach to cure. I was aided by my ten year old daughter in application of the plants sap to the local areas this seems to have been a cure. I still periodically use it to remove ak lesions if they appear but I am more conscious of diet nowadays.
-
Didn't read all the reports before posting. Astaxanthin is a supplement that you should look into due to its ability to help in stopping oxidative stress in cells (especially skin cells) surrounding wounds. It also helps minimize sun burn/ damage when taken in doses of 12mg daily. It has helped me a great deal..
-
Didn't read all the reports before posting. Astaxanthin is a supplement that you should look into due to its ability to help in stopping oxidative stress in cells (especially skin cells) surrounding wounds. It also helps minimize sun burn/ damage when taken in doses of 12mg daily. It has helped me a great deal..
or just eat more farmed salmon! :smt002
-
Natural Astaxanthin not the chemical version. Like in real salmon.
-
That's what my nose looked like when I used to snort cocaine.......
Egad!!!
Give us an "after" shot please, please........
Bushy
-
woah good thing they stitched it up! can't imagine how interesting blowing your nose would be
Hard to believe, but they actually gave me the option to stitch it up or not. The doctor said it'll eventually "fill in" even if they don't stitch it. Ended up going for the stitches as it should heal a lot faster that way.
-
That's what my nose looked like when I used to snort cocaine.......
Egad!!!
Give us an "after" shot please, please........
Bushy
Should have a picture of the stitches tomorrow when I can finally take the annoying bandage off. I'm betting that I won't need a costume for Halloween...
-
OMG! "It'll fill in." Right.......
Bushy
Take it easy and heal well my friend!
-
Somehow missed this post. Glad your procedure is over and your on the mend NWM. Now you need some water therapy to get your mind off it .
Alex
-
woah good thing they stitched it up! can't imagine how interesting blowing your nose would be
Hard to believe, but they actually gave me the option to stitch it up or not. The doctor said it'll eventually "fill in" even if they don't stitch it. Ended up going for the stitches as it should heal a lot faster that way.
WTF fill in? Good call on the stitches and hope it heals up quickly.
Sure will help me remember to apply and reapply sunscreen.
-
Here's my Halloween costume.
-
Now you need some water therapy to get your mind off it .
The worst part of the whole thing is that the doctor said no strenuous activity for a week, so I'm going to be bored out of my gourd for a while.
-
Here's my Halloween costume.
Not bad at all. Just looks like a long dried booger. BOO ! :smt001 Glad you got it looked at and are on the mend. Apply lots of vitamin E for the scarring . Or is that a myth ?
Alex
-
Now you need some water therapy to get your mind off it .
The worst part of the whole thing is that the doctor said no strenuous activity for a week, so I'm going to be bored out of my gourd for a while.
Easy, you can re-org your fishing chart, re-file by month and conditions, then create plan of action for opening day. Or you can start shopping online for Christmas! Earn spouse point toward season opening :-)
-
That looks much better!
Ouch!
-
Glad it went well, note to self....more sunscreen and HooRag
-
Next on the list is the hoo-rag. Have always tried to wear long sleeve shirts as well and hats with extra section that covers the back of my neck.
Protect yourself. This kinda stuff comes back to haunt us later. :smt013
Alex
-
That stitched up well. I had my doubts after I saw the first photo but damn if that didn't close right up.
Now as long as you don't have any violent sneezes or go 2 knuckles deep on a mining project your good to go.
Congrats on getting it taken care of early and kicking it's ass.
-
That stitched up well. I had my doubts after I saw the first photo but damn if that didn't close right up.
Now as long as you don't have any violent sneezes or go 2 knuckles deep on a mining project your good to go.
Congrats on getting it taken care of early and kicking it's ass.
Haha! I'm even afraid to raise my eyebrows...