Skin Cancer

**jas** · 05-12-2010, 08:24 AM

Tomorrow I am getting a skin cancer removed from my my face. Summer is comming and people are just dying to get into the sun again. Please be sure to take it slow and put on sunscreen.

This cancer did not start out looking like anything I would have thought would be cancer. It looked like a flat wart like thing. It is kind of under my nose, just where when you have a running nose it would get irritated. That is just what happened. It had been there for a bit, but over the winter I had a runny nose and it kept getting irritated and would bleed. It finally healed up or so I though and then about March it looked like next to it was a little pimple, it wasn't, when that healed the whole thing looked like a pearly, shiny, smooth bump. Almost like scar tissue. It did not look that bad, so I thought.

Anyhoo, the doc took one look at it and knew it was not right. Usually she said she would have me come back in two weeks after they get the results from the biopsy back, but she was so sure that it was something that she was just going to have me come in in one week to get it removed. That is the appointment I have tomorrow. I got the results yesterday, it is basil cell carcinoma.

My dad died of the really bad skin cancer melanoma. Living here in Florida I know I have a lot of sun damage from when I was younger and will now have to deal with the after affects. I am sure that there are other issues with my skin this was just the most glaring and obvious one to start with.

I don't and haven't gone out in the sun for sun bathing purposes for years, but the damage it done from teenage sunburns ect.... You would think living in the Sunshine state I would be able to lounge all the time. Nope.

I just thought I would remind people to be sure to wear sunscreen everyday and avoid getting sunburned for sure. Tanning beds are not any better and may even be worse for you.

**Russ** · 05-12-2010, 08:27 AM

Good reminder Jas. I just has a pre-cancerous one removed from my temple and honestly, it scared me. Now when I mow the lawn I wear a long sleeved shirt and if it's too warm I bathe in sunscreen before going out.

**jas** · 05-12-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Russ

Good reminder Jas. I just has a pre-cancerous one removed from my temple and honestly, it scared me. Now when I mow the lawn I wear a long sleeved shirt and if it's too warm I bathe in sunscreen before going out.

Yes for guys watch out for the tips of the ears and back of the necks too!

**mama2James** · 05-12-2010, 09:00 AM

I am having a mole removed from my chest as soon as I can, the dermatologist can't see me until August though. I am also encouraging my husband and best friend to be seen for moles they have. My youngest sister goes tanning in the booths, and I really wish she wouldn't. I'm glad you saw someone about your bump and so happy that you will be ok!

**valerian** · 05-12-2010, 09:59 AM

I worry about this also. I was born in Florida and spent many days in the sun there and suffered from quite a few sunburns as a kid. Back then sunscreen only went to a 4 and I'm fair-skinned.

**Liane** · 05-12-2010, 10:07 AM

Glad that your doctor is removing your basal cell. Both of my parents have had some removed. My Dad has had multiple sunburns and my Mom had 1 or 2 as a child but stayed out of the sun since then. What people forget about is daily application of sunscreen. Driving in the car will get you just as quickly as roasting on the beach. Best of luck on your removal. It is scary but you will be fine.

**jas** · 05-12-2010, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by valerian

I worry about this also. I was born in Florida and spent many days in the sun there and suffered from quite a few sunburns as a kid. Back then sunscreen only went to a 4 and I'm fair-skinned.

I am fair skinned, green eyed and that is one of the most likely type to get sun burned also blue eyed. I was the type that would be sooo white then get burned soooooo bad then could not go out in the sun for a month then the whole thing all over. Only one year did I ever have a tan the rest was white or sunburned. No one back then really used sunscreen. Back in the day it was suntan oil everyone used. For me that was disaster.

**jas** · 05-12-2010, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Liane

Glad that your doctor is removing your basal cell. Both of my parents have had some removed. My Dad has had multiple sunburns and my Mom had 1 or 2 as a child but stayed out of the sun since then. What people forget about is daily application of sunscreen. Driving in the car will get you just as quickly as roasting on the beach. Best of luck on your removal. It is scary but you will be fine.

Yes, not putting on sunscreen daily even for like you said daily living is setting a person up for skin cancer. For driving the left side, face arms, hands, ears and neck are all exposed to much more sun that the right, unless you are the passenger then the right is more exposed. So as I am typing this BOTH sides are at risk in the car!

MY dad like I said died from Melanoma, but he delt with a lot of basil cell and squamos cell too. In fact he had a basil cell spot removed from his ankle that would not heal. It was terrible. If he would not have died from the melanoma as fast as he did there was the real possibility of him losing his foot.

EVen though basil cell when caught early most of the time is just cut out and you are done with it, but it can get bad and cause a lot of localized damage.

None of this is something to just shrug off. People should get checked even if they think it is nothing and for sure if they do. They don't all look like the grissley melanoma that we all see in magazines.

**Debbie-cat** · 05-12-2010, 10:31 AM

Good luck with the procedure and thanks for the reminder. ((hugs))

**frugalfoster** · 05-12-2010, 10:32 AM

My 24 dd had a basil cell on her foot of all places! So everyone...check your whole body!

**jas** · 05-12-2010, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfoster

My 24 dd had a basil cell on her foot of all places! So everyone...check your whole body!

Idk if you saw my post above as we posted at aroun the same time about my dad and basil cell on his ankle and he was close to losing his foot, but died of melanoma in the mean time.

So glad to hear dd got hers taken care of fast!!!!!

**kittykatstrong** · 05-12-2010, 10:59 AM

When I was younger I would get sunburnt so bad that it would blister. Now that I am older I worry about getting skin cancer. Good luck with the procedure.

**frugalfranny** · 05-12-2010, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by jas

For driving the left side, face arms, hands, ears and neck are all exposed to much more sun that the right, unless you are the passenger then the right is more exposed. So as I am typing this BOTH sides are at risk in the car!

EVen though basil cell when caught early most of the time is just cut out and you are done with it, but it can get bad and cause a lot of localized damage.

None of this is something to just shrug off. People should get checked even if they think it is nothing and for sure if they do. They don't all look like the grissley melanoma that we all see in magazines.

Great reminder Jas.

I want to remind the people that NONE of them look alike.

You described your basal cell but mine was totally different. (have had two) It looked like a little patch of what could have been eczema. It itched, I scratched it, it weeped, and then it grew. Grew slowly but grew. The only reason I went to the Dr. is that I thought it might be ringworm!!

This was...yep.....on the left 'driving arm', right at the place where the elbow bends; when you have it resting out car window!