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My derm doc called today and said the shave biopsy she performed on a suspicious-looking mole on my back returned from the lab as a basal cell carcinoma.
She reassured me that there was nothing to worry about, as she and the derm pathologist studied the sample sufficiently to determine the biopsy removed enough tissue below the margin of the carcinoma to feel safe about no further treatment. She suggested a follow-up appointment in one year.
All righty then -- this is my first cancer diagnosis of any kind, so naturally I am upset and concerned.
Should I take her suggestion of no further treatment needed? Who's had a basal cell carcinoma removed and what advice/treatment did you get?
The little crater formed by the lesion removal during the biopsy appears to be healing up just fine.
I'd like to put a plug in for everyone to schedule an annual full body scan with a board-certified dermatologist. My regular PCP missed this lesion when I had an appointment for a chest x-ray two months earlier, even though he used a stethoscope on my back right where the lesion was to check on my lung sounds.
A full-body mole check is only necessary once and then you visit when you see/feel something different. I had one about 10 yrs ago after my brother had a melanoma removed. I had close to 100 spots frozen off that day (quit counting after 75) and I have gone in a couple of times per year since then. I show the doc the new spot and it usually gets frozen. Of course, you have to be both diligent about checking and aware of what is there. Glad yours was caught in time! My hole from the punch biopsy filled up within a year or so.
My hole from the punch biopsy filled up within a year or so.
A frustrating footnote to my experience with the two shave biopsies I underwent:
As I said, the skin cancer spot healed up just fine, and the biopsy did indeed "get it all."
The other biopsy, taken at the hinge between my upper and lower leg, was quite deep since it was a large, dark flat "freckle." This came back from the lab as a negative, which was a relief, but it will NOT heal! It filled in by scabbing over several times and then began to grow a "dome" of puffy but hard skin that aches and bleeds.
I went back to the derm doc and she applied silver oxide, pressing down hard on the dome, assuring me that would take care of the problem. Unfortunately, the problem came back as soon as the silver oxide wore off, and the dome of skin is bigger and more painful than ever.
Anything I should be doing here or insisting SHE do to get this biopsy site healed up???
A frustrating footnote to my experience with the two shave biopsies I underwent:
As I said, the skin cancer spot healed up just fine, and the biopsy did indeed "get it all."
The other biopsy, taken at the hinge between my upper and lower leg, was quite deep since it was a large, dark flat "freckle." This came back from the lab as a negative, which was a relief, but it will NOT heal! It filled in by scabbing over several times and then began to grow a "dome" of puffy but hard skin that aches and bleeds.
I went back to the derm doc and she applied silver oxide, pressing down hard on the dome, assuring me that would take care of the problem. Unfortunately, the problem came back as soon as the silver oxide wore off, and the dome of skin is bigger and more painful than ever.
Anything I should be doing here or insisting SHE do to get this biopsy site healed up???
You mean your knee, I presume?
It may be that there is a hair trapped under the "dome", creating a foreign body effect. If so, it will eventually work its way out, but it may take a while. I would ask her to numb it up, remove the "dome", and see what is under there.
It may be that there is a hair trapped under the "dome", creating a foreign body effect. If so, it will eventually work its way out, but it may take a while.
Bullseye! Thank you, SuzyQ, for solving the problem and saving me another trip to the derm doc.
I scraped around a bit and, sure enough, it was a curled-up ingrown hair in the wound.
A full-body mole check is only necessary once and then you visit when you see/feel something different. I had one about 10 yrs ago after my brother had a melanoma removed. I had close to 100 spots frozen off that day (quit counting after 75) and I have gone in a couple of times per year since then. I show the doc the new spot and it usually gets frozen. Of course, you have to be both diligent about checking and aware of what is there. Glad yours was caught in time! My hole from the punch biopsy filled up within a year or so.
I am getting somewhat confused here. I go in next
week for a biopsy. I thought they had to surgicaly
remove these moles if they were melanoma.
They can be frozen ?
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