I Need Some Encouragement

I am 45 yrs old, married, and have a 11 year old son. I had mohs surgery on May 23rd for 2 skin cancers, one on my check and one on my right temple. This has been very difficult to say the least. It is on my mind always. I am very self conscious of the scars. My wife is wonderful and says they are hardly noticeable. I also have have several AKs on my face that will lead to the topical treatment, I am sure. Did everyone sort of check out of your normal routine during treatment? What about working? I don't feel like the same person since the biopsy came back positive. I have a hard time sleeping and concentrating.

Just looking for a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks 

On 6/11/2007 Davedeal wrote:

I am 45 yrs old, married, and have a 11 year old son. I had mohs surgery on May 23rd for 2 skin cancers, one on my check and one on my right temple. This has been very difficult to say the least. It is on my mind always. I am very self conscious of the scars. My wife is wonderful and says they are hardly noticeable. I also have have several AKs on my face that will lead to the topical treatment, I am sure. Did everyone sort of check out of your normal routine during treatment? What about working? I don't feel like the same person since the biopsy came back positive. I have a hard time sleeping and concentrating.

Just looking for a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks 

 

              

I was one of the people who did check out during Efudex treatment because after a few days only I had an extensive reaction on my forehead, cheeks nose and areas of my neck and chest. I felt that I dealt with it better at home than trying to explain myself to other people. it looked awful. I was at home for around 3 months before I felt confident enough to go out as when the skin was healed it left my face very red which took time to go away and still comes back when I am hot or exercising. Its rather a peculiar red as the areas that were affected come up so it looks a little odd, but this I can deal with. A lot of people on this site did work and I admire them for it.

I am 66yrs and I suppose really should have got over being concerned about vanity but I could not in this case. I am however very pleased now as the skin is good and complexion clear, no marks left at all.

I think it is best to do the treatment in the winter and always remember to wear sunscreen 60 or higher and a hat. I curse those good days at the beach when I was a child in England, but then who knew the dangers.

Sorry this reply is not too encouraging and you also may not have such an extensive reaction!

Hi,

I had a BCC removed via Mohs procedure on March 22nd.  I was in denial about the scar I would have before surgery and so I too have had my life disrupted.  Very upsetting.  I don't like the scar, although I have to say with each day I am more used to it.  It's right in plain view in the skin over my left incisor.

I'm giving myself one year and then I promised myself I would try laser for redness if it still exists and Sculptra, which was recommended by my dermatologist for the divot where the hole was.  This is a 49 year old woman who never wears make up and professes to not be vain at all.  People tell me "it's not that bad" were getting a rather prickly "because it's not on your face" response for awhile.  Almost 3 months post surgery I'm not giving that response everytime.  :-)

 I've decided to begin Efudex treatment at the end of the week.  I want to deal with the AKs I have and hopefully stave off any further cuts to the part of my face that people see most.

I understand how you feel.  I do think it will get better for you.   Now I am advocating sunscreen to loved ones and total strangers alike.  I'm scared about the Efudex treatment, but I don't like the thought of the AKs turning into anything else because they are literally ALL OVER my face.

I hope this helps.  Mark August 23rd on your calendar and see how you feel then.  

Tracy 

Hi Samra,

I see that you have some residual redness still.  It's something I am worried about because I flush so easily as it is and I exercise several times a week.  I understand we are all different, but it worries me some.  Did you use Carac or Efudex?  

I am looking into short term disability for a week or two during the worst of the treatment.  I don't do well with no sleep and I understand sleeping is not comfortable because of the itching and burning. 

On 6/11/2007 Tracybird01 wrote:

Hi,

I had a BCC removed via Mohs procedure on March 22nd.  I was in denial about the scar I would have before surgery and so I too have had my life disrupted.  Very upsetting.  I don't like the scar, although I have to say with each day I am more used to it.  It's right in plain view in the skin over my left incisor.

I'm giving myself one year and then I promised myself I would try laser for redness if it still exists and Sculptra, which was recommended by my dermatologist for the divot where the hole was.  This is a 49 year old woman who never wears make up and professes to not be vain at all.  People tell me "it's not that bad" were getting a rather prickly "because it's not on your face" response for awhile.  Almost 3 months post surgery I'm not giving that response everytime.  :-)

 I've decided to begin Efudex treatment at the end of the week.  I want to deal with the AKs I have and hopefully stave off any further cuts to the part of my face that people see most.

I understand how you feel.  I do think it will get better for you.   Now I am advocating sunscreen to loved ones and total strangers alike.  I'm scared about the Efudex treatment, but I don't like the thought of the AKs turning into anything else because they are literally ALL OVER my face.

I hope this helps.  Mark August 23rd on your calendar and see how you feel then.  

 

Tracy 

 

Thanks Tracy. I wish you the best during your treatment. It takes a lot of courage. I will mark my calendar for Aug 23rd. Please let us know how it goes. Are you taking off work?

Dave 

I am looking into short term disability.  I will probably start working from home as soon as I go fully hideous.  Then depending on sleep or the lack thereof and pain or the lack thereof, I'll work or not.

My boss suggested the Short term disability.  So I don't feel so bad. 

On 6/11/2007 Tracybird01 wrote:

Hi Samra,

I see that you have some residual redness still.  It's something I am worried about because I flush so easily as it is and I exercise several times a week.  I understand we are all different, but it worries me some.  Did you use Carac or Efudex?  

I am looking into short term disability for a week or two during the worst of the treatment.  I don't do well with no sleep and I understand sleeping is not comfortable because of the itching and burning. 

The redness is not so bad as it only appears with exercise (4/5x week) or when I get hot, it seems to appear mostly at night before sleep I can actually feel the redness coming at that time. During the day there is nothing only if I irritate my face such as rubbing or around my nose if I am not careful, as I said its a funny red as all the affected spots appear. its not the usual red face after exercise, even the spots on my neck show up. The Derma told me it would eventually disappear. Now though I do not care as it is a little price to pay for getting rid of all the AK's etc.

I am curious though as to who removed your lesion was it a Derma or Plastic surgeon, I had a BCC removed from my face and really there is only a little scar, it was removed by a plastic surgeon. I used Efudex 2x day for 21 days.

Hope this helps.

On 6/11/2007 Tracybird01 wrote:

Hi Samra,

I see that you have some residual redness still.  It's something I am worried about because I flush so easily as it is and I exercise several times a week.  I understand we are all different, but it worries me some.  Did you use Carac or Efudex?  

I am looking into short term disability for a week or two during the worst of the treatment.  I don't do well with no sleep and I understand sleeping is not comfortable because of the itching and burning. 

I also used vaseline with hydrocortisone for the itching and burning it was the only thing that helped. I tried other creams but the burning was too much I had to wash them off immediatly. I did resort to a few sleeping pills during the worst of the treatment as I felt I would be able to handle things if I was not so tired. Fortunately for me I did not work so did not have that worry!!!

On 6/11/2007 Davedeal wrote:

I am 45 yrs old, married, and have a 11 year old son. I had mohs surgery on May 23rd for 2 skin cancers, one on my check and one on my right temple. This has been very difficult to say the least. It is on my mind always. I am very self conscious of the scars. My wife is wonderful and says they are hardly noticeable. I also have have several AKs on my face that will lead to the topical treatment, I am sure. Did everyone sort of check out of your normal routine during treatment? What about working? I don't feel like the same person since the biopsy came back positive. I have a hard time sleeping and concentrating.

Just looking for a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks 

 

              

I am 40 years old, almost 41, and since late January of this year have had 40 biopsies with 34 coming back as basal and squamous cell cancer. 16 have have been surgically removed and I am preparing for treatment on the next 18. I have also used Efudex on my entire torso, shoulders and have just finished treating my ears. I have a daugther that is almost 15 and a son who is almost 23. The first round of treatments were very difficult. I had surgery every week for 2 months while using the Efudex at the same time. I won't say it wasn't a horrible time, because it was. I will never do both treatments at the same time ever again. I ended up with a staph infection on my entire torso. On a more positive note, once I made it past the first week of healing from the Efudex, things started to heal very rapidly. It seems to have taken years off my skin.  I ended up missing about 2 weeks of work mainly due to the fact that I had some huge incisions on my legs PLUS the topical treatment and was in pretty bad shape. I have worked the entire time I have treated my ears. I probably will work from home during the time I treat my face in the fall.  I understand your feelings of fear and uncertainty very well. Personally, the longer this has gone on - and realizing that this will go on with me for quite awhile - I think it is VERY important to continue your regular routine as much as possible. It is very easy to get caught up in surfing the internet looking for info, etc., that can be good, but it can also take on a life of its own! Since my incisions have healed, I have worked really hard at continuing to excercise daily, work, etc.  It sounds like you are getting good treatment. Keep a very close watch on your skin and have them look at anything at all that doesn't seem right to you - that is how ALL of my skin cancer has been found! I would also get going right away on your Efudex treatments - It doesn't cure skin cancer but it is very efficient at pulling out the pre cancer and sun damaged areas and helping to clear them up - It can also help to bring out the skin cancer that is there that needs to be biopsied as those areas will not heal as well as your other skin after treatment. You can work to avoid future surgeries by using it. Keep your chin up! I know it is emotionally a very difficult thing to comprehend and deal with. You may have already been using the Mederma, but I have found it to be very helpful at lightening and softening the scars. I don't know if any of this is helpful or not - just know that you are not alone and hang in there!

Hi Samra,

That is encouraging.  I exercise 4-5 x per week as well and it concerns me that I'd flush heavier than I do now without the treatment. I can do that for awhile.  The gentleman on topical chemo mentioned that he was feeling as though his sweat glands in treated areas were not working as well either.  Do you also experience that?

My Mohs procedure and closure were performed a the same location.  I think the scar is larger because it's still new, and the location is so prominent to anyone looking at my face.  The doctor who closed was not a plastic surgeon.  If I were to go through that again I will opt for a plastic surgeon to close the wound.  It has already improved so much, so I am hopeful for the future.  People kept telling me that time will heal it, but I was very, very impatient.  Good lessons for me I suppose.

Tracy