Well I'm going to be 69 Monday. Been surveying since I was 15. Fished and played out in the sun for all except maybe the last 10 years. Well I have a spot on my right hand about the web above the thumb. The spot is not looking too bad right now. But I got a doctor's appointment for August the 5th. I now have an office job with the dot. When I do work outside, mowing grass and such I where long sleeved sun shirts and a hat that covers my neck. Should have done that 40 or 50 years ago. But it is what it is. My survey buddy that works with me had the same spot on the same hand in the same place. He just had surgery to remove his. They cut about a 1 1/2 circle out and sewed it back. Just had the stiches removed yesterday. Doesn't look too bad. But my mind goes into overdrive think, what if the remove more than his? So my question is, has any body had skin grafts done? How bad was it?
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I had squamous cell on my cheek.?ÿ Had a plastic surgeon remove it.?ÿ It was easier than getting a tooth pulled.?ÿ That was six years ago.?ÿ Take Vitamin B3(Niacinimide) to prevent reoccurance.?ÿ Knock on wood.
I have no helpful specific advice. ?ÿOnly a general comment that medical folks who are practicing medicine are getting better and better at it, all the time.
I have had several spots done over the years, everything from small scoopa to a dozen stitches to close up. Take the day off and start max tylenol after. If it is a sensitive spot consider a second day off. Treat it like any other minor injury by keeping it dry and not popping stitches. Have the doc look it over for as long as he thinks it ahould be watched. We find rocks and pins but they are trained to screen for cancer.
There are more types of skin cancer than you can imagine. Some can be very aggressive and end poorly fast. Most are not and can be eliminated through early detection and removal. Stay on it and best of luck..
I'm 70.?ÿ The dermatologists have been whittling on me for about 15 years.?ÿ Only one spot on my ear ever really raised an eyebrow.?ÿ It and most of the real estate surrounding it wound up in a biopsy sample.
All's good so far.?ÿ Just a drawback of the trade I guess.?ÿ I do admonish all those younger than me to protect themselves as much as they can from UV and exposure in general.
One thing I've noticed is that all my "spots" have been on the left side of my face, arm and hand.?ÿ After talking to quite a few of my surveying buddies it is apparent that "spots" on the left side are dominant.?ÿ I attribute this to all the years I drove a survey wagon with the left side of my face and arm hanging in the breeze.?ÿ Just wondering if your "spots" are on the left side also.
@paden-cash My spot is on my right hand. Don't know of any other. I sure the doc will look me over.
As a PSA I'd like to remind everyone that the originator of RPLS.com and the message board, Mark Deal, passed away way too young from melanoma.
Mark had a small sore on his back that wouldn't heal. His family doctor gave him some antibiotic ointment for it and sent him on his way.
I was in Mark's office one afternoon when he came in from the field and was quitting early because he had stepped out of his truck and hurt his leg when he put weight on it...he guessed he had just pulled a muscle.?ÿ The pain persisted and he went to the doc.
An x-ray revealed his thigh bone was weakened and fracturing from a spreading melanoma.?ÿ He sought aggressive treatment out-of-town after that.?ÿ That was the last time I saw him.?ÿ That was in September and We had his services in January.
Get checked often, especially if you've spent a good amount of time in the sun.?ÿ And please seek out a competent dermatologist or oncologist.?ÿ Sometimes general practitioners don'e know what they're looking at.
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Sometimes the dermatologists are not as ethical as they should be either. One who wishes to make the most money can find evidence of problems all over.?ÿ A visit with a second finds practically nothing of concern.?ÿ A third opinion might be advisable.
Yep!
Like anything else, get two or three estimates. Doctors eager to cut and drug are the quick way to scars and dependency.?ÿ
My siblings whom are physicians prescribe minimally and practice a deeper holistic methodology.
My dermatologist sister has talked many people out of the glamour and sham processes and applies her trade in a way that benefits her practice, not her pocket.
I've had a fair share of moles and precancerous melanoma removed. The ones that were superficial were the dermatologist. The slightly more spooky ones were done with the idea that the pathologist will actually let us know if we need to take more action, which is the better practice.
They should be able to gladly without hesitation on or frustration explain why they think a dogflap procedure was warranted without pathology.
Kinda like using a cell phone to find the corner versus using a Surveyor.
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"An x-ray revealed his thigh bone was weakened and fracturing from a spreading melanoma."
That's indicative of spreading prostate cancer that was undetected. The prostate when cancerous and untreated will spread to the bones and may become terminal.?ÿ
I have had prostate cancer and it was cured by radiation treatment for 16 weeks. No side effects whatsoever during treatment.
Damn near everyone asks for three "estimates", same for me with physicians. ???? ?ÿ
As a PSA I'd like to remind everyone that the originator of RPLS.com and the message board, Mark Deal, passed away way too young from melanoma.
Do you remember what year that was?
EDIT:
I looked up his obituary. ?ÿ2002. ?ÿHe was only 38. ?ÿBorn 12.23.1963.
@flga-2-2?ÿ
Glad you had a good RadOnc and others. My brother enjoys his practice and generally has great participation with the patient, except when their relatives start to practice Google Facebook medicine.
relatives start to practice Google Facebook medicine
Only to suggest the possibility of Lime disease, otherwise you are trying to outguess someone smarter than you. ???? ?ÿ
@flga-2-2?ÿ
If my relatives start practicing FaceGoogleBookApp medicine I'll file formal complaints with each of their state licensing boards.
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@flga-2-2?ÿ
"the possibility of Lime disease"
Is that like lemon, orange or grapefruit disease?
Lyme disease is the worst of the citrus diseases.
I am a survivor of melanoma.?ÿ The Dermatologist caught mine VERY early and only had to remove about a centimeter diameter spot (after the original sample for biopsy).?ÿ Melanoma ain't nothing to fool with.?ÿ It metastasizes to lung, brain, and other organs.?ÿ It can kill you dead.?ÿ I NEVER wore sunblock or head covering other than a ball cap.?ÿ I'm now up to only once a year exam by a Dermatologist.?ÿ I just had an appointment last week.?ÿ He didn't remove anything but he did cover me thoroughly.
Wear a full brim hat folks and wear sunblock when you're out there.
Andy
This is likely not helpful but I traveled to Vietnam in 2003 and after years of sunscreen, I thought it would be wise to "tan" in preparation for a much hotter climate. It was a very disruptive effort to make numerous 30 minute appointments at a tanning shop. When I got there I of course learned that no Oriental "sunbathes". They think it's ridiculous. (And it is). They rarely expose themselves to the hot sun. Many women spend their lives without a sunbeam. Boy did I feel like a tourist. Skin cancer is pretty rare in Asia. I'm holding out pretty good at 61 because I skied from a young age and hopefully made sunscreen a habit. I did however marry a very beautiful native Saigon lady which lasted 7 years and is still my record
Hanging out in Hawaii a local lady commented to me how Alaskan visitors have such wonderful smooth skin while all the local Houles who were always out looking to get that perfect tan had skin that looked like riding leather. Looking around, she was right. Sun screen is your friend.
Picked up a life guard style straw hat that I use as much in the rain as the sun. The brim is sloped so water runs right off, a little scotch guard and doesn??t soak up water. Essential item for me these days, though for some reason birds sometimes think it makes a good perch.?ÿ
In November 2018, three weeks after my bi-yearly check with my dermatologist (have been treating basal cell keratoma for decades from a life of being outdoors and Irish/German light complexion)?ÿ a ugly looking lesion showed up between my shoulder blades.?ÿ ?ÿLong story shortened: it turned out to be something really ugly.?ÿ Diagnosis after first biopsy was a Stage IV nodular (having shape and "roots") melanoma 10mm in diameter, ulcerated with a mitotic count (how fast its growing) off the charts.?ÿ After a WLE (wide lesion excision) with 2cm extra provisions and a sentinel node biopsy (where the cancer went in the lymph fluid), I had surgeries for full axial lymphoma?ÿ (remove all lymph nodes in both armpits), and then three other surgeries my oncology team believed all the metastatic melanoma was surgically removed.?ÿ I then went through bi-weekly infusions of a mix of trial immunotherapy drugs for 14 months.?ÿ ?ÿThe drugs alone were $11k per treatment plus infusion administration, a $28,000 a month bill.?ÿ ?ÿ Total payout over three years (2018,2019 and 2020) was about $1.3million and my out of pocket $22.5k?ÿ ?ÿ Thank goodness I have insurance.?ÿ ?ÿI have been in NED (no evidence of disease) status since December.?ÿ ?ÿI live in 6 month hall passes of NED then a battery of tests.?ÿ All the treatment has bought me a risk of a coin flip living 4 years, to 75%, but that is all weigi board crystal ball WAGs.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ
My point is, take protecting yourself from sun exposure and skin damage from sun SERIOUSLY.?ÿ ?ÿMelanoma is no walk in the park, once it metastasis, it can go anywhere: ocular, brain, bones, liver, lungs, prostate... My oncologist says its like a dandelion gone to seed in the wind, there is no predictable path.?ÿ Where sunscreen, high SPF clothing an a hat, if you want to avoid this $hit!!!!?ÿ ?ÿMeanwhile I'm making the most of my hall passes, then next battery of exams are in a month.?ÿ?ÿ
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