Mohs surgery done-BCC

gailaj
gailaj Member Posts: 36
edited March 2014 in Skin Cancer #1
Just to report that I had my Mohs surgery on Friday (as per previous discussion under "newly diagnosed BCC"…The Dr. was quick, efficient, and friendly. He only had to do 2 "passes" before the margins came back clear, so the “hole” was less than the size of a quarter…..he then said I could either have him sew it up or go to another doctor’s office and have a plastic surgeon do it….but only a simple closure was needed (no graft or flap, just a curved horizontal line under my eye), so I told him I trusted him and would rather just have it done, so he did it and I was out of there in less than two hours...going back on the 27th to have the stitches removed (about eight or nine, I think…)

The big pressure bandage was a bit uncomfortable, but I got to take that off the next day and go back to bandaids….The eye of course swelled up a bit yesterday, and I felt that the skin was pulling away from my eye because of the stitches, but I guess that will relax when the stitches are removed, which is scheduled for the 27th...Doesn’t look like too much bruising yet, maybe it won’t be as purple as the biopsy was…but still feel a bit puffy, and have a little numbness in my face (especially in the lip area), which I hope is just from the swelling...

Good luck to everyone else facing the same surgery....hope it goes as well for you too!

Comments

  • ladydi1
    ladydi1 Member Posts: 120
    #2
    Mohs
    Thanks for the update. I have my pre op this Friday 12/4 for the basal cell on my forehead between my eyes. I have survived cervical and breast cancer so don't know why this is making me so anxious. Just want it out in hopes that 2010 can be a cancer free year!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1
  • gailaj
    gailaj Member Posts: 36
    #3
    ladydi1 said:

    Mohs
    Thanks for the update. I have my pre op this Friday 12/4 for the basal cell on my forehead between my eyes. I have survived cervical and breast cancer so don't know why this is making me so anxious. Just want it out in hopes that 2010 can be a cancer free year!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1

    Wishing you well
    Hi Ladydi1 -- I was wondering if you had done your surgery yet. Now about a month and a half out, you'll be happy to know that it has healed beautifully and is hardly noticeable. Wishing you a similar outcome!

    As you may have already seen me post, I have also had experience with cancer before, although not as serious as yours (thyroid and melanoma skin cancer, although not deep). And although this latest was the least dangerous, for some reason it really freaked me out too! Maybe because it is so visible? Or just the whole biopsy and followup surgery route brings back other memories and fears....I don't know.

    But all that being said, we do what we have to do and keep vigilant, but go on with our lives!
    All the best,
    Gail
  • ladydi1
    ladydi1 Member Posts: 120
    #4
    gailaj said:

    Wishing you well
    Hi Ladydi1 -- I was wondering if you had done your surgery yet. Now about a month and a half out, you'll be happy to know that it has healed beautifully and is hardly noticeable. Wishing you a similar outcome!

    As you may have already seen me post, I have also had experience with cancer before, although not as serious as yours (thyroid and melanoma skin cancer, although not deep). And although this latest was the least dangerous, for some reason it really freaked me out too! Maybe because it is so visible? Or just the whole biopsy and followup surgery route brings back other memories and fears....I don't know.

    But all that being said, we do what we have to do and keep vigilant, but go on with our lives!
    All the best,
    Gail

    Mohs
    Hi Gail:

    Thank you for the info. I am now scheduled to have Mohs surgery on 1/25/2010!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1
  • gailaj
    gailaj Member Posts: 36
    #5
    ladydi1 said:

    Mohs
    Hi Gail:

    Thank you for the info. I am now scheduled to have Mohs surgery on 1/25/2010!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1

    Happy Holidays
    Hi
    Ladydi1 -- Try to enjoy the holidays, may the waiting be the hardest part of this whole ordeal for you!

    Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!
    Gail
  • ladydi1
    ladydi1 Member Posts: 120
    #6
    gailaj said:

    Happy Holidays
    Hi
    Ladydi1 -- Try to enjoy the holidays, may the waiting be the hardest part of this whole ordeal for you!

    Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!
    Gail

    Merry Christmas and Thanks!
    Thanks Gail, I appreciate your support. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Years too.
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1
  • ladydi1
    ladydi1 Member Posts: 120
    #7
    ladydi1 said:

    Merry Christmas and Thanks!
    Thanks Gail, I appreciate your support. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Years too.
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1

    Mohs Surgery Done!
    Well January has been quite the month. On 1/19 I had to have a stereotactic core biopsy done on my left breast for what they thought was a recurrence of my breast cancer...happy to say it turned out to be benign. On 1/25 I had 5 hrs. of Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell cancer between my eyes. It took numerous cuttings before they got it all and on 1/26 I had to go to the hospital for a 4 hrs surgery to close the wound. I looked like someone attacked my face with a baseball bat and my eyes swelled shut for 2 days, but am back to work now with just a scar from my nose up to my hairline. They cut some nerves so I have no feeling in the top 3 inches of where my hair begins to the top of my skull, just a little weird. Am back to work full time and waiting an MRI on 2/22 to get to the bottom of a left shoulder problem where a benign tumor was found in 2008. So hopefully the rest of the year will have smoother sailing.
    Prayers to all of you awaiting surgery!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1
  • Kisma
    Kisma Member Posts: 41
    #8
    ladydi1 said:

    Mohs Surgery Done!
    Well January has been quite the month. On 1/19 I had to have a stereotactic core biopsy done on my left breast for what they thought was a recurrence of my breast cancer...happy to say it turned out to be benign. On 1/25 I had 5 hrs. of Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell cancer between my eyes. It took numerous cuttings before they got it all and on 1/26 I had to go to the hospital for a 4 hrs surgery to close the wound. I looked like someone attacked my face with a baseball bat and my eyes swelled shut for 2 days, but am back to work now with just a scar from my nose up to my hairline. They cut some nerves so I have no feeling in the top 3 inches of where my hair begins to the top of my skull, just a little weird. Am back to work full time and waiting an MRI on 2/22 to get to the bottom of a left shoulder problem where a benign tumor was found in 2008. So hopefully the rest of the year will have smoother sailing.
    Prayers to all of you awaiting surgery!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1

    Bless you heart!!
    I have had to have two MOHS done in the past and am sorry to hear yours took so long, but happy they got it.

    I too have a ruff month where I have two surgery's to remove some aggressive cell growth on my back. i am confidant that I won't have to go in again, but the stitches in my back remind me that I am no free just yet.

    Good luck and keep us posted on your MRI. I will be praying for you.

    Kisma
  • jspatrick
    jspatrick Member Posts: 2
    #9
    ladydi1 said:

    Mohs Surgery Done!
    Well January has been quite the month. On 1/19 I had to have a stereotactic core biopsy done on my left breast for what they thought was a recurrence of my breast cancer...happy to say it turned out to be benign. On 1/25 I had 5 hrs. of Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell cancer between my eyes. It took numerous cuttings before they got it all and on 1/26 I had to go to the hospital for a 4 hrs surgery to close the wound. I looked like someone attacked my face with a baseball bat and my eyes swelled shut for 2 days, but am back to work now with just a scar from my nose up to my hairline. They cut some nerves so I have no feeling in the top 3 inches of where my hair begins to the top of my skull, just a little weird. Am back to work full time and waiting an MRI on 2/22 to get to the bottom of a left shoulder problem where a benign tumor was found in 2008. So hopefully the rest of the year will have smoother sailing.
    Prayers to all of you awaiting surgery!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1

    Wind at your back
    As you can see I am new to this site but not to stereotactic core biopsies (93) and Mohs (last September). I started putting a lot of family history together and discovered that I have a first cousin who tested positive for Lynch Syndrome (a genetic abnormality in the cell's ability to fix mistakes mostly affecting colon cancer). I was tested in November and to no one's surprise I find I won the family lottery and carry the syndrome, too, with the addition of Muir Torre which is a sub category that produces subaceous carcinomas which I experienced last year. I am glad you were able to get through the Mohs well. Mine took about 3 hours but was located on my upper back. There seemed to be some difficulty identifying the biopsied cells for a while. Knowing that I carry the Lynch Syndrome will now change the frequency of proactive testing so visiting doctors has become my new avocation. I hope your healing moves quickly and the rest of the year has the wind at your back for smooth sailing.
  • gailaj
    gailaj Member Posts: 36
    #10
    ladydi1 said:

    Mohs Surgery Done!
    Well January has been quite the month. On 1/19 I had to have a stereotactic core biopsy done on my left breast for what they thought was a recurrence of my breast cancer...happy to say it turned out to be benign. On 1/25 I had 5 hrs. of Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell cancer between my eyes. It took numerous cuttings before they got it all and on 1/26 I had to go to the hospital for a 4 hrs surgery to close the wound. I looked like someone attacked my face with a baseball bat and my eyes swelled shut for 2 days, but am back to work now with just a scar from my nose up to my hairline. They cut some nerves so I have no feeling in the top 3 inches of where my hair begins to the top of my skull, just a little weird. Am back to work full time and waiting an MRI on 2/22 to get to the bottom of a left shoulder problem where a benign tumor was found in 2008. So hopefully the rest of the year will have smoother sailing.
    Prayers to all of you awaiting surgery!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1

    Hope worst is behind you
    Hi Ladydi1 =
    Sorry haven't checked this board in a while. What an ordeal you went through, hope the worst is behind you!
    Best,
    Gail
  • gailaj
    gailaj Member Posts: 36
    #11
    ladydi1 said:

    Mohs Surgery Done!
    Well January has been quite the month. On 1/19 I had to have a stereotactic core biopsy done on my left breast for what they thought was a recurrence of my breast cancer...happy to say it turned out to be benign. On 1/25 I had 5 hrs. of Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell cancer between my eyes. It took numerous cuttings before they got it all and on 1/26 I had to go to the hospital for a 4 hrs surgery to close the wound. I looked like someone attacked my face with a baseball bat and my eyes swelled shut for 2 days, but am back to work now with just a scar from my nose up to my hairline. They cut some nerves so I have no feeling in the top 3 inches of where my hair begins to the top of my skull, just a little weird. Am back to work full time and waiting an MRI on 2/22 to get to the bottom of a left shoulder problem where a benign tumor was found in 2008. So hopefully the rest of the year will have smoother sailing.
    Prayers to all of you awaiting surgery!
    Hugs,
    Ladydi1

    just had core biopsy two weeks ago, but ok
    I am wondering if skin cancer indicates that we are more prone to growing things, either benign or malignant...(I also had thyroid cancer in 2008). I just had an abnormal mammogram a month ago, and then ultrasound-guided core biopsy in my left breast, thankfully only a fibroadenoma. But stressful to say the least!

    Otherwise, due to go to derm soon for 6-month checkup...but the Mohs surgery site under my eye looks almost perfect, they did a great job!

    How are you doing, Ladydi1??

    Best to all,
    Gail
  • gailaj
    gailaj Member Posts: 36
    #12
    Kisma said:

    Bless you heart!!
    I have had to have two MOHS done in the past and am sorry to hear yours took so long, but happy they got it.

    I too have a ruff month where I have two surgery's to remove some aggressive cell growth on my back. i am confidant that I won't have to go in again, but the stitches in my back remind me that I am no free just yet.

    Good luck and keep us posted on your MRI. I will be praying for you.

    Kisma

    hi kisma
    How are you doing?

    Gail

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