Skin cancer - Damn!!

[Hillbilly]

Well, went to see a specialist on Thursday last week, and got told, "What's the earliest you can get back here tomorrow?" (Friday) I aks why, and if he's going to freeze off the mole on the side of my face. "NO! You're going to have surgeory!" was the reply.

I was stunned. Well I went back Friday and got a nice pice of my face removed next to my left ear. There are about 20 stitches, and I'm not allowed to shave, wash my hair or do anything to get the stitches wet in case infection sets in, which would be disasterous. Can't sleep on the left either. Iguess it didn't sink in until I looked inside the jar on the doctors table. (I thought it was painkillers or something) The large strip of flesh is to be sent for a biopsy, anf the surgeon *hopes* it isn't Melanoma.

Well, I'll find out in Friday when I get the stitches out. He insisted on using Nylon, as the scarring is minimized. What freaked me out was he said "I'll remember you in my prayers" Needless to say I'm not handling this well at all.

Before anyone says anything, No, I'm not a "sun worshipper", although I'll definitely be using factor 30 sunblock and getting a hat. Puts a different spin on my signature - I may have to change that!

[gijoe1313]

Bad josh! Hope it turns out for the best - jeez, makes me think I ain't so daft to wear ninja balaclava whenever I ride and not have any speck of skin showing!

Well, rest up, take it easy if you can - and worrying won't help! The worst part means not riding for a while cause of the helmet?

[cowpoos]

thats a pretty tough hand you got dealt there mate!!!
as much as I or anyone could say it could be worse or try look on the bright side etc...I can't imagine where your mind is or how your feeling!!! hoping for the best is the best anyone can do...take it easy.

[Hillbilly]

Yeah, riding is out as i can't put the helmet on. I can put it on, but taking it off will be rather painful. I kinda feel like I've had a face-lift, cos the left cheek is pulled tighter (slightly) as the surgeon had to stretch my face to stitch up the piece he cut out. The stitches run fron the top of my lest ear to the ear lobe. He did a good job though, nice and tidy.

However, It's the results I'm worried about. This Friday he'll give me a thorough look over for any more cancer spots.

[bell]

All the best for when you get your results back mate.

Long sleeve shirts, a decent hat and sunglasses as well as SPF 30 have been the norm for me since I had a pre-malignant (not quite benign) melanoma/spot cut out when I was 21. Almost 15 years later and you still have to be on your guard about the shape/size of moles/spots that are around the place. The last four I had removed were benign.

I'm heading back to Qld to live next year...time to dust off the old Akubra! Actually, I think I read that NZ has a higher incidence of melanoma per capita than Australia. I believe the apparent lack of 'heat' in the sunshine over here is very deceiving. I can't imagine spending 1/3 as much time in the sun without a hat on over here compared to back in Qld. Must be a higher rate of UV coming through over this side of the ditch?

Take it easy on those stitches. And try not to antagonise yourself too much until you get the results! I hope the outcome is positive for you.

[Mom]

I can't imagine spending 1/3 as much time in the sun without a hat on over here compared to back in Qld. Must be a higher rate of UV coming through over this side of the ditch?

Take it easy on those stitches. And try not to antagonise yourself too much until you get the results! I hope the outcome is positive for you.

I so agree! The sun here is vicious, I wear a horrible sun hat, to my kids disgust, and cant imagine being out, without it!

Had a pre-cancerous mole removed about 10 years ago, no chances here for sure!

Good luck, and be very careful with the wound, specially when the stitches come out.

[klingon]

Sorry to hear about that, Hillbilly. I had the same kind of thing a few years ago - only mine was on my bum! Actually that was quite a good place to have it because I could spare a good chunk of flesh from there... lol

I had to go back and have a bigger chunk taken out a while later. My medical records say it was a "malignant melanoma" but I believe it was actually pre-malignant. Either way, I'm always in sunnies and I have a bottle of SPF30 sun screen with me wherever I go!

I also was never a sun-worshipper. I got burned a few times as a kid, but so did everyone. I think it's more about genetics. If you have that skin type, then the Aussie/NZ sun is just going to be bad for your skin and you have to keep out of it as much as possible.

Anyway, good luck with the test results and even if the news isn't what you want to hear, try not to fret too much. There are plenty of us who have been through similar stuff and are still here to tell the story.

Keep smiling

[MacD]

I've had suspicious moles removed from both my neck and stomach, fortunately they proved to be benign. I hope you have the same result.

However, it does remind me to go for another checkup as I have about a zillion other moles to keep an eye on. I suspect I really should be running around under cloudy northern european skies, not down here in the South Pacific!

On the other hand having moles may have some benefits in terms of ageing!

[Macktheknife]

Tough news to hear mate, but don't worry.
Whatever the result, remember this, worrying won't help or change anything.
You may want to change certain habits etc, but you know that already, relax and keep focussed on other things until you know more. Then you will know whether or not worry has any place in your future. (probably not then either)
All the best
Mack

[MyGSXF:Me]

Wishing you all the best for when the results come back Hillbilly!!

I had the worst smear result possible a few years ago.. they had me in hospital & under general, faster than I could blink.. but have been all clear since!!

Jen

[Trudes]

All the best there, you'll do fine.

[ynot slow]

All the best mate,this is one test you want to fail.

Mum had a mole taken out last year,said worst part was waiting till biopsy report came back,told her to be positive about the outcome,hell she has had quad bypass and farkin cancer wasn't goner be a problem.

Know the feeling waiting,had to wait for 5-6 hours after my surgery before the surgeon would explain to me why I needed chemo and radiation,his house quack said my biopsy required both,when I asked for explanation she said need to speak to my surgeon,can understand your thoughts of anguish,mind you originally I was told my surgery would mean no chemo etc so was taken back abit at the time,can only reiterate be positive,all the best is all I can add.Puts the world cup into perspective don't it.

[Pwalo]

Like everyone else has said try not to stress about it too much. My wife had to have a melanoma removed from her arm about 14 tears ago.

She's going strong, and hasn't had any further problems. Funnily enough you can get skin cancer where the sun don't shine, so cover up by all means, but don't get too paranoid about the sun.

All the best, and hope you can get your helmet on and off soon (now that sound a bit dodgy).

[klingon]

... Funnily enough you can get skin cancer where the sun don't shine, so cover up by all means, but don't get too paranoid about the sun...

Yeah as far as I can remember, my bum has never been exposed to the sun! The surgeon who did my op said she had removed melanomas from between people's toes and all kinds of places where they would never have got burned.

On the other hand, she also said that sun exposure is the direct cause of melanoma, it's just that the melanoma can appear anywhere on your skin. So the answer is to slip, slop, slap & wrap!

Another thing she said was that most of the damage has already been done by the time you're an adult. So if you have a family history of skin cancer, don't let your kids get burned!

[Dilligaf]

All three older brothers had melanomas cut off their faces.... time must be ticking for me..
Though I did get the Spanish heritage looks while they are the blondies...