Bad news for Janee cancer in moles

That was my reaction when you first mentioned that you were getting checked out for this. It's still my reaction for this confirmation. Three different cancers? You are a poster child for how cancer just doesn't care what you've been through or have to deal with in your life. I'm really hoping that this was caught early and that they can nip it in the bud. Oh Janaes, we don't care that it isn't uterine cancer! We're still here for you. 

Oh Janae, I am sorry to hear this.  You have a good thought on trying to stay calm - but I am sure it is hard.  Find out what the plan is and let us know.

Sorry you've had such distressing news. We're here for you when you're ready to update us, vent, or whatever.

Adding my support to others. ((Hugs)) I am so sorry you are facing this.

I'm sorry. For some reassurance my mother in law had a bleeding mole on her back a number of years ago. It was cancer and they took a large area off during the operation, but she's had no problems since.

I've also had skin cancer.  In fact, I was just checked at my dermatologist today on mine.  I had basal cell carcinomas in three spots that were discovered last year before my other cancer recurrence was found.  I also had the same type of thing on my neck back in about 2005 or so.  That one was removed surgically in my family doctor's office, which was a piece of cake.  It never came back.  I've been seeing a dermatologist since my husband was found to have melanoma on his scalp.  He had it deep into his scalp and had to see a general surgeon.  He was given a 20% chance of a recurrence.  He's had a few things that would have turned into melanomas eventually removed since then.  They were called actinic keratoses (there are other types of keratoses that aren't as bad).  I also had an actinic keratosis removed on my shoulder many years ago. 

When my latest 3 skin cancers (the basal cell carcinomas) were found, the doctor was going to cut them out, but then he either got lazy or was too busy to do them all the day I went to have them removed (he'd only biopsied two but there were three).  He decided to give me a cream which was supposed to remove them.  It was called Imiquimod cream.  I used it faithfully 5 days a week (with 2 days off each week) as per the directions.  The one on my arm went away promptly.  The other two remained.  About that time, I found out about my other cancer, so I talked to my GYN/onc about whether I should keep using the Imiquimod, which I thought was giving me some insomnia (but now I think it was from nerves to do with my upcoming surgery).  My GYN/onc thought the chemo might even work on the two remaining ones, so he told me not to use the Imiquimod.  It didn't work on them, possibly because they were so far away from my heart where the circulation wasn't as good. He biopsied the third one this winter, and found that was also a basal cell carcinoma.  So I've been using the Imiquimod ever since, which is what he recommended at that time.  He told me today that he thinks the cancer is gone and that I'll probably have the spots there forever.  He said they don't have a pearly appearance and don't appear to have a lot of blood vessels running through them.  There was a third thing he mentioned for how he knew the cancer was gone, but I didn't know what it was, and he didn't elaborate. 

Believe me, having these things removed surgically is nothing compared to our other surgery.  The dermatologist injects a little lidocaine (pain killer) into the area, which stings a little, and then you don't feel anything after that.  He has to remove the skin cancer and an area around it and send that off for a biopsy, making sure that the margins (edges) of what he took off are clear of cancer.  If they're not, he has to go back in another day to take a little more off to get the clear margins.  That happened to me once, with my actinic keratosis.  You have to keep a bandage on the area for a few days.  Don't use any antibiotic cream on it unless the dermatologist tells you to, as that will only irritate your skin.  What is recommended is some vaseline.  That helps it heal faster.

If basal cell carcinoma is what you have, that is the best kind of skin cancer to have.  It usually doesn't turn into anything more serious, but can on rare occasions if left there long enough. 

janaes said:

Thanks for the reasurance

Thanks for the reasurance guys. Im just getting off work and havent heard anything from the plastic surgin (by the way i wrote that wrong in my earlier post) its a plastic surgin doing my prosedure not a dermatoligist. 

It dont want to, but alot a work i was thinking the worst despite what i know.  A coworker shared a story about a girl that died. I sat there thinking that i dont need to here that right now.

 I decided i wasnt going to say anything to my work until i new more.  In fact ive only told my son because he was with me when i was talking to the nurse. I still dont want to share until i know more.  

I might have to tell my work any ways if i have to take a day off or if i need time to recover.

Im feeling pretty anxious to here something.  The nurse ssid that they would call by today.  Im not so sure she really new though.  

Im thinking of calling here later this afternoon if i dont hear anything.

Janae

OH, you've touched on one of my pet peeves!

I had that when I first found out about my cancer, too. And this has happened more than once. I really wonder about why people are this stupid.

(When the person finds out I was clincially diagnosed with Stage 4B Endometrial cancer):

Person: My _______ had Stage 4 cancer.
Me: Oh? What happened to him/her?
Person. He/She died. 

Sometimes, for best effect, the person tells me of another advanced-stage cancer patient who died. 

What ... the ... ? Why on EARTH would you bring that up at a time like this?

I'm hoping sluggish news is good news. It often seems that when the news is bad, doctors can't wait to call you! But yes, you might have to nag them, anyway.