SKIN CANCER IS NASTY STUFF

[moes]

This is a warning. I'm putting this out here to show how fast skin cancer can grow. I noticed a mole half the size of a pencil eraser that was looking weird. It grew to this size (1 inch by 1 inch) in the pictures within a month. I contacted my Doctor right away after noticing it. Within that month, I was referred to a dermatology specialist, who took a skin biopsy and got the results back, saying it was melanoma skin cancer. She referred me to a cancer surgeon who sent me for 2 CT scans and 4 MRIs, he received the results back from those tests and said he would have to remove a 3-inch by 3-inch section of my leg and that the cancer had moved into the lymph node of my right groin area, so that lymph node has to come out too. I'm lucky it has not traveled to any of my organs. He referred me to an Oncology Specialist in the hospital's cancer section. After meeting with her, she told me I would have to take chemotherapy pills and have an IV drip treatment for a year after the cancer area is removed. Skin cancer is nasty stuff!!!! I'm headed to surgery first thing tomorrow morning for a 3-hour operation. It will take 2 months for the surgery area the heal and a lot of therapy to get the leg working again. So again, if you ever notice one of your moles changing in size, get it looked at right away, do not wait.

 

[Xp29h]

Best of luck! Cancer sucks and it’s fast when it gets going! Great it hasn’t gone to your organs!! Get it gone as soon as you can!! Captain obvious I know. Prayers are with you to get it gone and kick its ***!

I had a small one removed from my nose couple years ago. Injury in the woods with a tree branch but never healed. Mohs surgery took care of it!

Thoughts and prayers!

 

[copper67sat]

Sorry to hear. Glad you caught it relatively early. Praying that your treatment will be successful and your recovery complete.

I just had my 6-month skin check Monday. Dermatologist didn't like the look of a small "freckle" on my shin so she took a scraping for biopsy. Should get the results soon. Previously had a scrape and burn on my other leg for a spot of basal cell carcinoma about the size of a pencil eraser. Ended up with a quarter size spot that hurt like h3ll and took a couple months to fully heal. Still thankful that it didn't spread and morph into something worse.

 

[khryslerkid]

Good luck with your procedure and treatment. Prayers heading your way.

 

[roadrunnerh]

Hang in there man! I went through my own cancer ordeal earlier this year. Do what they tell you and take it one day at a time. You'll beat it!

 

[hemi71x]

Wishing you well.
Not to the extent of the cancer that your going through, but i know what your going through.
I have had so many basil cell carcinomas taken off my skin on my face, back, chest, throughout the years, i keep the skin doctors busy at the Mather VA Hospital.
I'm a blond haired, blue eyed, fair skinned, white boy that's quite susceptible in getting these cancers i have been told.

 

[SteveSS]

I had a 3rd surgery this morning. One on my forehead about a year ago, then one one my nose a week ago, then on my chest today. They just looked like small zits that never went away. The amount of skin they take away is surprising though. On my face they would cut, then examine the edges of the removed skin under a microscope then if neccessary take some more. A cosmetic surgeon did the ones on my face and I have to admit you can barely see the scars. On my chest they just took a swath and sewed me up.

I think it's because I'm a fair-skinned Norwegian living at a high elevation (7500) in Colorado and the sun is brutal here. My mom and older sister both have had skin spots removed. The science is at high latitudes like Norway our skin, eyes, and hair is light to absorb more vitamin D from the limited sun light.

 

[SteveSS]

As I've said before, at this elevation a sunny day in the winter can feel warm and a cloudy day in the summer can be chilly. NOBODY attends a car show here without one of those portable fold-up canopies.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Thanks for the public service announcement & best of luck.

 

[1967coronet]

Moes I hope the recovery time goes fast for your and you out and about soon.

 

[Belvedere408]

Hope your surgery goes well, best wishes.

 

[toolmanmike]

This is a warning. I'm putting this out here to show how fast skin cancer can grow. I noticed a mole half the size of a pencil eraser that was looking weird. It grew to this size (1 inch by 1 inch) in the pictures within a month. I contacted my Doctor right away after noticing it. Within that month, I was referred to a dermatology specialist, who took a skin biopsy and got the results back, saying it was melanoma skin cancer. She referred me to a cancer surgeon who sent me for 2 CT scans and 4 MRIs, he received the results back from those tests and said he would have to remove a 3-inch by 3-inch section of my leg and that the cancer had moved into the lymph node of my right groin area, so that lymph node has to come out too. I'm lucky it has not traveled to any of my organs. He referred me to an Oncology Specialist in the hospital's cancer section. After meeting with her, she told me I would have to take chemotherapy pills and have an IV drip treatment for a year after the cancer area is removed. Skin cancer is nasty stuff!!!! I'm headed to surgery first thing tomorrow morning for a 3-hour operation. It will take 2 months for the surgery area the heal and a lot of therapy to get the leg working again. So again, if you ever notice one of your moles changing in size, get it looked at right away, do not wait.

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Damn, thanks for the wake up call. Even though it came on quick and was pretty severe, it's good you caught it when you did. Un noticed or untreated can be deadly. You are fortunate it was on your leg and not exposed like on your face. I had a little fast growing mole on my nose and after a biopsy, it was precancerous. They dug around and took more tissue out leaving me with a small divot bit it's better than taking half my nose off because I waited too long.

i (we) hope your treatment goes well for you. Keep us posted.

 

[68BabyBlue]

Wishing you a complete recovery, and thank you for the public warning. With Carlisle just behind many of us here, your message was well timed. My wife hounded me for years about getting too much sun exposure on the show field (I've attended every year since the first one.) I made adjustments with a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, and a pop up canopy when I took the car.

Last year she didn't like the looks of a small sun spot beside my ear I'd had for years, told me to have it checked on my upcoming wellness exam. Primary care doctor, said no red flags, no oddities or changes around the borders, but she scheduled me for a dermatologist. Local office was scheduled six months out, asked if I'd travel out of town. I said no problem for a retiree. A week later, dermatologist also said no apparent issues, but took it off and sent for biopsy. Came back early stage melanoma.

Went to a Moh's surgeon two weeks later, got it removed in an all day office procedure. Third round came back with clean margins, so no need for further treatment. Caught as early as possible, but still had a major skin graft that looked like the metal work done by @eldubb440 when he cleans up a quarter panel installation. I think the result was good. Anybody at the FBBO tent can chime in if I'm wrong.

Nothing beats early detection, and I definitely have my wife to thank for this one.

 

[Bob Lynch]

Good Luck with the surgery and recovery, hope all goes well.

Another survivor here also, Cancer Sucks.

 

[8formulas]

You never think it'll happen to you until it does. At least that's how I thought. Thyroid cancer, lymph node cancer and skin cancer all within 30 days of each other. I got through it. You will too. Good luck.

 

[Budnicks]

This is a warning. I'm putting this out here to show how fast skin cancer can grow. I noticed a mole half the size of a pencil eraser that was looking weird. It grew to this size (1 inch by 1 inch) in the pictures within a month. I contacted my Doctor right away after noticing it. Within that month, I was referred to a dermatology specialist, who took a skin biopsy and got the results back, saying it was melanoma skin cancer. She referred me to a cancer surgeon who sent me for 2 CT scans and 4 MRIs, he received the results back from those tests and said he would have to remove a 3-inch by 3-inch section of my leg and that the cancer had moved into the lymph node of my right groin area, so that lymph node has to come out too. I'm lucky it has not traveled to any of my organs. He referred me to an Oncology Specialist in the hospital's cancer section. After meeting with her, she told me I would have to take chemotherapy pills and have an IV drip treatment for a year after the cancer area is removed. Skin cancer is nasty stuff!!!! I'm headed to surgery first thing tomorrow morning for a 3-hour operation. It will take 2 months for the surgery area the heal and a lot of therapy to get the leg working again. So again, if you ever notice one of your moles changing in size, get it looked at right away, do not wait.

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Good luck in the surgery
hopefully it all goes well & they get it all
& you heal fast & complete as possible,

sorry
during the treatments
it's gonna' suck

 

[68sprtsat383]

Good luck get well soon

 

[davek]

My friend has been dealing with this for 10 years,he gos in and they cut it off. Its mainly on his head. It sucks. Hope you beat it.

 

[moes]

Everything went as planned today. Back at home now, resting peacefully. They gave me some great drugs to kill the pain. The oncologist told me I have stage 3 melanoma. She said melanoma is the worst type of skin cancer, and the survival rate averages 5 years. I'm lucky they caught it in its early stage. Now the fun begins with all the treatments and pills I have to take. Next for me is a PET scan. For the 1 year of treatments, the cost is around $300,000; luckily, most of it is covered. I'm sure in a few days, when they start to reduce the drugs I'm taking, I'm going to feel the pain from the operation.