Two days ago, I had basal cells removed from my face.
That was the second time in the same spot. The first time, about 10 years ago, they simply lanced it and then tested to be sure it was truly basal cell. What I didn't know at the time was that they should have tested on-site, then lanced more until it was gone. Apparently that doctor was a quack or just didn't care.
On this go around, they had to take off 3 layers. The doctor said it was pretty deep and was working it's way into the fat -- probably because the deeper parts of it hadn't been removed the first time.
So... why am I posting this here in the Surveying forum? Because I'm quite certain this stems from my working in the field in Southern California for the first 8 years of my surveying career. That was in the late 80's / early 90's and I rarely wore any kind of protection, nor did I use sun block (dumb). Most of those years, even in the winter, I was in the sun constantly. It's amazing that this is the only instance of skin cancer (so far).
My lack of good choices then is now biting me in the butt today. I figured it was worth talking about here in case any of you young'ns aren't using sun block.
Also, it could have been worse. About 10 years ago, I was shaving with a traditional razor, and I cut that spot -- it wouldn't stop bleeding, so my wife rushed me to ER. They cauterized it and said it looked like skin cancer. The rest is history.
Take care of yourselves. I'm very lucky that it's not much worse.
I should also point out that I now have to get my skin examined every 6 months to see if it pops up anywhere else.
It's on the left side of my face, in my sideburn, right by my ear. Not a fun area to have something dug out of your face.
Also, this might be why I've taken a little longer than usual to respond to emails and post moderation requests recently.
Glad you had it taken care of. I should get myself checked again too. I'm always suspected that it appears more on the left side due to driving, but who knows.
I'm always suspected that it appears more on the left side due to driving, but who knows.
That's my thinking as well. I do most of the driving and was almost always the driver at work too.
We have a wonderful doctor and he handles the minor surgery right there in his office. For several years I was having one removed every two months or so but it has tapered off lately. All three kinds: basal, squamous, and melanoma, mostly on my chest, back and arms. Only two call backs because the biopsy showed it wasn't quite excised - for those two there was blood all over the place because he really dug deep.
I check my front and legs after every shower, and Vicki checks my back. Some of them come on slowly and some pop up fast, so a daily check is not excessive.
I slather on the sun screen and wear a very wide brimmed hat, but the damage was done decades ago in my much younger years on a survey crew in Fort Lauderdale. The top of my left ear is badly sun damaged.
Got an appointment for the end of this month to get looked over. Started making it a yearly thing last year.
I have an awesome doc who cuts, freezes, and scoops every six months or so for the last eight years. Basal cell should be as 'harmless' as cancer gets, but it will kill you if you don't stay on top of it.
Glad you are taking care of it Wendell. Stay well.
This was me 4 years ago with Effudex (sp?) treatment. It's a topical cream that they tell me attacks and removes pre-cancerous sun-damaged skin cells over a few weeks. I had it on my hands and arms too. I quit the treatment a few days early. It was just too painful but it sure beats skin cancer. Big floppy hats and long sleeves since then.
I misspent my youth building and repairing swimming pools starting at age 14 and some days I wouldn't even take a shirt with me to work. Baked a dark brown every summer from the waist up starting with fair skin. I've done the Effudex treatment once and I imagine I can expect a lot more of that plus the knife plus nitrogen freezing in my future. My sister is a dermatologist so she keeps me in line now. A hat and long sleeves are my friend. One thing I'll never have to worry about is sun damage on my legs. They are as lily white as can be and always have been.
My sister's patients always walk out of her office with a wound of some kind. When she first cut me, I made up a fantastic story about how it could have happened and she requested more stories so she could pass them out to patients or let them pick one out of a hat as the reason for their wounds. Here is today's installment.
I left a birthday party late one night and was walking home. As I was crossing the street, a motorcycle gang came roaring up, revving their engines and making a big racket. As I looked closer, I saw that they were actually midgets on motorcycles and they had drywall stilts strapped to their feet so they could operate the big bikes and hold themselves up while stopped. That looked funny and I started smiling and then I saw their leather vest badges. Their bike gang was The Rumpelstiltskins and they wore no shirt except for the wrinkled black leather vests like the cat had slept on it. I couldn’t help myself and started giggling at them so they started riding around me in a circle, revving their motors and trying to look menacing. They looked so much like the Shriners on parade I was laughing even harder so they stopped their bikes in a circle around me, holding themselves up with their stilts and dismounted. As they walked over to me, looking me right in the eye with their enhanced height, I had a stroke of brilliance. I said, ‘wait a minute, I can speak to you guys in your own language” whereon, I untied the knot on my birthday party balloon, inhaled the helium and started singing the Oompa Loompa song in a super funny high voice. I lasted about 3 seconds before I fell over laughing so hard and holding my stomach. The midget bikers on stilts kicked me with their stilts until I was battered and torn and that’s how I got these injuries.
Thanks for the reminder Wendell. I'm fair complected and go to the dermatologist every year and get something or other frozen off. I try to remember to wear a hat and sunscreen but at least once a year I get burned due cloudy days turning sunny or something similar. Anyway, reminders are good.
Gregg
With the last couple of years the dermatologist went by the wayside. I'm scheduled next month, two and half years in one appointment. I'll be a mess from the waist up. Well more of a mess then usual.
I've been going to a dermatologist for screenings every winter when things slow down and so far so good. I bought a boonie hat last year as well which has been great. I sure like a nice tan but definitely need to be smarter about it.
I'll be honest, this and ticks made me want to limit my time outside working. Started about 10 years ago when I first became a dad. Probably what got my fascination with laser scanning and drones going.
like some, I'm on the 6mo plan. Grew up on the water and was 20 as lifeguard in Hawaii when sunscreens were marketed by Hawaiian Tropic with hula dancers, and adult beverages. Damage was already done and paying now.
I had a melanoma on my face about 10 years ago. The dermatologist caught it EARLY. It was Stage 1A. Less than 1 mm thick. I was on 4 times a year then 3 times a year and now once a year. I almost never leave there with all the skin that I went in with.
He found the melanoma when I went in to have a BB removed from my cheek that had been there for 40+ years. I couldn't have an MRI on my knee with the copper coated steel BB still there. Being in the wrong place 50 years before may have saved my life.
Andy
