Skin Cancer question for those who have had it

[larjoranj]

I had a skin cancer removed surgically from my forehead a few months ago using the Mohs Procedure. For those who aren't familiar with it - they cut a little skin and put it under a microscope to see if they got it all and keep cutting until it's all clear. Mine ended up about 1.5 inches long and nearly .5 inch wide. It was narrow enough to stitch up and the scar is not too bad.

I have another spot now that will have to be treated. My Dr tells me this one is less aggressive ( this one is basal cell - the first was squamous cell ) and this one is a candidate for SRT ( Superficial Radiation Treatment ). No cutting. Low dose radiation with each treatment equal to a dental x ray. Between 15-20 treatments. It eliminates the possibility of having to cut a spot so big that it can't be stitched and has to have a skin graft.

I have to choose between the cutting or the radiation. Anybody here have experience with SRT? I would choose the surgery if I knew ahead of time it would be small enough to stitch up but you can't know that until it's over.

 

[Tin Man]

I had a skin cancer removed surgically from my forehead a few months ago using the Mohs Procedure. For those who aren't familiar with it - they cut a little skin and put it under a microscope to see if they got it all and keep cutting until it's all clear. Mine ended up about 1.5 inches long and nearly .5 inch wide. It was narrow enough to stitch up and the scar is not too bad.

I have another spot now that will have to be treated. My Dr tells me this one is less aggressive ( this one is basal cell - the first was squamous cell ) and this one is a candidate for SRT ( Superficial Radiation Treatment ). No cutting. Low dose radiation with each treatment equal to a dental x ray. Between 15-20 treatments. It eliminates the possibility of having to cut a spot so big that it can't be stitched and has to have a skin graft.

I have to choose between the cutting or the radiation. Anybody here have experience with SRT? I would choose the surgery if I knew ahead of time it would be small enough to stitch up but you can't know that until it's over.

I’ve had 5 squamous cell cancers and 1 basal cell cancer. All were treated surgically (Mohs). One required a skin graft. The surgeon harvested the donor skin from my upper arm at a place that they could stitch closed.

Though I’ve had 28 proton radiation treatments for prostate cancer, I’ve not had SRT.

 

[C-south]

I had a melanoma removed from my back about 20 years ago. I’m not a fair skinned person and I’m pretty certain it was from tanning beds. Just a mole that started getting ugly. Anyway, my oncologist did an excision and I have a pretty big scar on my back from it. He had to do some sort of diamond cut and sew it up and it’s stretched to leave a fairly wide scar. He didn’t do any type of biopsy as he assured me it hadn’t spread. I was going to do it but when they did the scan the lymph node needed was in my arm pit and he said they would tear my arm pit all to hell trying to get it. Anywho I was diagnosed with lymphoma (initially thought lung cancer) in October ‘23 and that’s what I’m currently dealing with. Stay on top of it.

 

[larjoranj]

I’ve had 5 squamous cell cancers and 1 basal cell cancer. All were treated surgically (Mohs). One required a skin graft. The surgeon harvested the donor skin from my upper arm at a place that they could stitch closed.

Though I’ve had 28 proton radiation treatments for prostate cancer, I’ve not had SRT.

Same Dr. do the Mohs and the graft? Same day? Do they just use lidocaine to harvest the graft like they do on the Mohs? And do they just harvest a piece the same size and shape as the missing skin and sew it around the edges?

 

[larjoranj]

I had a melanoma removed from my back about 20 years ago. I’m not a fair skinned person and I’m pretty certain it was from tanning beds. Just a mole that started getting ugly. Anyway, my oncologist did an excision and I have a pretty big scar on my back from it. He had to do some sort of diamond cut and sew it up and it’s stretched to leave a fairly wide scar. He didn’t do any type of biopsy as he assured me it hadn’t spread. I was going to do it but when they did the scan the lymph node needed was in my arm pit and he said they would tear my arm pit all to hell trying to get it. Anywho I was diagnosed with lymphoma (initially thought lung cancer) in October ‘23 and that’s what I’m currently dealing with. Stay on top of it.

Sorry you're going through that. I am fair skinned. No tanning beds but was in the sun constantly as a kid and adult. Wish I knew then.........

 

[Tri-CitiesVol]

@VolsDoc81TX

I remember him talking about Mohs previously.

 

[Tin Man]

Same Dr. do the Mohs and the graft? Same day? Do they just use lidocaine to harvest the graft like they do on the Mohs? And do they just harvest a piece the same size and shape as the missing skin and sew it around the edges?

Yes, in my case, the same doctor did everything, though, another doctor (affectionately known as the Queen of Stitches) closed the source of the graft. I was glad for this. She’s an artist, whereas my Mohs doc’s suturing is meatball surgery.

 

[Tin Man]

I had a melanoma removed from my back about 20 years ago. I’m not a fair skinned person and I’m pretty certain it was from tanning beds. Just a mole that started getting ugly. Anyway, my oncologist did an excision and I have a pretty big scar on my back from it. He had to do some sort of diamond cut and sew it up and it’s stretched to leave a fairly wide scar. He didn’t do any type of biopsy as he assured me it hadn’t spread. I was going to do it but when they did the scan the lymph node needed was in my arm pit and he said they would tear my arm pit all to hell trying to get it. Anywho I was diagnosed with lymphoma (initially thought lung cancer) in October ‘23 and that’s what I’m currently dealing with. Stay on top of it.

Sorry for your tribulations.

 

[walkenvol]

I had a skin cancer removed surgically from my forehead a few months ago using the Mohs Procedure. For those who aren't familiar with it - they cut a little skin and put it under a microscope to see if they got it all and keep cutting until it's all clear. Mine ended up about 1.5 inches long and nearly .5 inch wide. It was narrow enough to stitch up and the scar is not too bad.

I have another spot now that will have to be treated. My Dr tells me this one is less aggressive ( this one is basal cell - the first was squamous cell ) and this one is a candidate for SRT ( Superficial Radiation Treatment ). No cutting. Low dose radiation with each treatment equal to a dental x ray. Between 15-20 treatments. It eliminates the possibility of having to cut a spot so big that it can't be stitched and has to have a skin graft.

I have to choose between the cutting or the radiation. Anybody here have experience with SRT? I would choose the surgery if I knew ahead of time it would be small enough to stitch up but you can't know that until it's over.

Ask about the radiation cream option. My wife’s family is of Scottish decent and the ones who’ve been in the sun a lot over their lives are regularly visiting the dermatologist. If identified early enough, the cream will often take care of it. Good luck!