I need some encouragement

Hi Tracy:

I did find that I sweated more easily and became extremely HOT something I do not normally experience, it was hard to continue on the treadmill for 1 hr, but I did as I did not want the whole treatment to take over, I had to keep some control. Now though back at the gym I do still experience feeling hot rather than sweating although I do that also. It seems that although I sweat it is not so free as before, difficult to explain really. I see my Derm tomorrow as I have noticed a spot come up on my nose again it seems overnight to me, I hope its not "here we go again!"

Sylvia

Hi Sylvia, 

I know that feeling well. That is exactly what catapulted me into the dermatologists office last Thursday.  That is when she began talking about Efudex.  I was so concerned I was going to need another Mohs and it's in a very difficult spot.  It ended up being nothing much!

I'll hope the same for you.

Tracy 

Have any of you been offered radiation therapy for your skin cancers??

Most derms to offer it and it is Malpractice not too.  Particularly if the surgery is going to be cosmetically disfiguring or cause a  functional problem. 

To the man who has multiple cancers Most can be treated in one course of therapy and the AREA of involvement ie precancers can be treated also and as opposed to the creams the effect is usually permanent.  The secret of radiation treatments is they can treat the cancer and "clean up" the area so no more cancers will develope.  The derms do not want you to know this for obvious reasons.  They make a fortune off the MOH's.

Some derms still have radiation machine in their offices, but I would recommend going to a radiation oncologist.  So if the derm tries to say radiation is not used seek another opinion.

You can use radiation or surgery anywhere on the body.  Which is better depends on the location and number as well as which gives the best results.

Reasons for irradiation;

1. Patient choice, some have had so many surgeries they don't want anymore

2 Medical; Some are on blood thinners and it would be risky to treat or on area (legs) which may not heal well.

3. Cosmesis; irradiation given properly leaves NO scar and of course leave the nose , eyes, lips and ears looking normal

4. Function; operating on the lip or eyelid can cause functional problems

5. Multiple areas;  Can be treated at one time.  It is also cost effective because the cost stays the same essentially whether treating one site or 5 or 6 sites.

6 Areas can be treated;  This means that not only the cancer but the surrounding precancerous area can be treated which reducies the number of future problems

Most Derms never offer it.  The side effects are local only/ no systemic and less than the creams besides being more effective.  Photodynamic therapy is horrible.  Skin cancers are an epidemic and there are so many that it take all professionals to treat them even primary care.  My concern is we are seeing ADVANCED skin cancers which require more treatment and are spreading to other areas because pts avoid or cant get in to see a derm or have treatment in a timely manner.

SCCA is the same cancer as Lung Cancer or other head and neck cancers , let it grow and it will spread.  Even basel cell can eventually spread.

I had Mohs sx  to my lt cheek May 22, 2007. Was not a experience that I would have picked to deal with in this lifetime. I am female and vain so I am having a  hard time dealing with this. I have a great sense of humor which I think is my saving grace, I refer to my reconstruction sx as looking like a greater than sign on my face! Ironic because I hated math. I call it my Alien cheek because I canot feel it and it looks different. BUT   I  Look at it  as this , I could be hooked up to a IV providing me with chemo, but I am not. You have an 11 yr old daughter, she is happy to have her Dad, and you will be around for a long time, the scars are temporay!!! You as I are lucky to have a spouse to stand by you and support and love you, that my friend  may be more than others without this diagnosis experience in a lifetime.  I wish you well and inner strength!!

On 7/4/2007 Mohssx2007 wrote:

I had Mohs sx  to my lt cheek May 22, 2007. Was not a experience that I would have picked to deal with in this lifetime. I am female and vain so I am having a  hard time dealing with this. I have a great sense of humor which I think is my saving grace, I refer to my reconstruction sx as looking like a greater than sign on my face! Ironic because I hated math. I call it my Alien cheek because I canot feel it and it looks different. BUT   I  Look at it  as this , I could be hooked up to a IV providing me with chemo, but I am not. You have an 11 yr old daughter, she is happy to have her Dad, and you will be around for a long time, the scars are temporay!!! You as I are lucky to have a spouse to stand by you and support and love you, that my friend  may be more than others without this diagnosis experience in a lifetime.  I wish you well and inner strength!!

On 7/4/2007 Mohssx2007 wrote:

 

On 7/4/2007 Mohssx2007 wrote:

I had Mohs sx  to my lt cheek May 22, 2007. Was not a experience that I would have picked to deal with in this lifetime. I am female and vain so I am having a  hard time dealing with this. I have a great sense of humor which I think is my saving grace, I refer to my reconstruction sx as looking like a greater than sign on my face! Ironic because I hated math. I call it my Alien cheek because I canot feel it and it looks different. BUT   I  Look at it  as this , I could be hooked up to a IV providing me with chemo, but I am not. You have an 11 yr old daughter, she is happy to have her Dad, and you will be around for a long time, the scars are temporay!!! You as I are lucky to have a spouse to stand by you and support and love you, that my friend  may be more than others without this diagnosis experience in a lifetime.  I wish you well and inner strength!!

 

Hey Dave,

I'm new to the site and just read your post. Whats your status today? Are you sleeping and regaining your concentration? I hope so. Thanks to all the folks who responded to you for encouragement. I know what you feel like Dave. I've been dealing with BCC's for over twenty-five years (should I thank my Irish mom?) and periodic treatments annually are the norm. Fifteen years ago was my first efudex treatment. Then came the Mohs on my cheek, talk about a scar, but hey...it's the new norm for me. Better than a mela huh? Followed by routine office visits which included freezings, scrapings and the like. Last night I applied my last treatment of efudex again at 2x@14 days. This time Dave, I did schedule time off (three weeks). I went into the first week of treatment working, because I knew I could get away with it. But into the second week, the blotchy redness started, followed by the burning and itching. All you read on this site of peoples experiences, just kind of glob them all together and thats what you can expect. But hey...it may be milder for you (although probably not. Hows that for encouragement?). Hang in there Dave. It only lasts for a short time. Its just something you gotta do, period. And one more thing...I learned today from this site that vaseline applied to the worst areas has some comforting value. Around my nostril/cheek area hurts the most, but the jel absolutely helps. 

On 7/17/2007 elevatormike wrote:

Hey Dave,

I'm new to the site and just read your post. Whats your status today? Are you sleeping and regaining your concentration? I hope so. Thanks to all the folks who responded to you for encouragement. I know what you feel like Dave. I've been dealing with BCC's for over twenty-five years (should I thank my Irish mom?) and periodic treatments annually are the norm. Fifteen years ago was my first efudex treatment. Then came the Mohs on my cheek, talk about a scar, but hey...it's the new norm for me. Better than a mela huh? Followed by routine office visits which included freezings, scrapings and the like. Last night I applied my last treatment of efudex again at 2x@14 days. This time Dave, I did schedule time off (three weeks). I went into the first week of treatment working, because I knew I could get away with it. But into the second week, the blotchy redness started, followed by the burning and itching. All you read on this site of peoples experiences, just kind of glob them all together and thats what you can expect. But hey...it may be milder for you (although probably not. Hows that for encouragement?). Hang in there Dave. It only lasts for a short time. Its just something you gotta do, period. And one more thing...I learned today from this site that vaseline applied to the worst areas has some comforting value. Around my nostril/cheek area hurts the most, but the jel absolutely helps. 

Thanks Mike, and everyone else for responding. Yes I am starting to feel back to normal. The scar is fading a bit, so I guess in time it will be ok. I still need to do Carac treatment. I think I will do it in September if I can get the huevos. Like you said, it's just something I got to do. Dang it! This site is great. I have learned a lot and misery loves company. Are you doing OK? You have a week until you go back to work? Did you go on disability?        

Hey Dave,

I was thinking about you.  One thing about the Efudex.  It made the rest of my face so red I stopped even being able to see my Mohs scar.  

4 month post surgery and I don't pay the scar much attention anymore.  Like someone else said, it's the new normal.  It has faded, softened and generally blends into the rest of my face.

I started Efudex on 6/15, I finished on 7/5 after 3 weeks.   I did not have the amount of reaction I expected.  But it did catch a BUNCH of stuff.  One thing I tried was to up my intake of Oemga 3 and 6 in my diet.  It seemed to help with the inflammation without holding down the therapeutic reaction for me. 

Today is roughly 2 weeks post treatment.  To look at me you'd still see some peeling and minor pinkness.  I'm calling it going from angry fire engine red to slightly peeved pink.  Someone at work stopped and told me how great my skin looked.  After the last 4 months it really made me feel good, funky scar and all. 

Hello Tracy,

Thanks for thinking about me. I'm very happy for you. Sounds like things are turning out very well. You give me encouragement to go forward with the treatment. My Dr. gave Carac for a 2 week treatment . He dosen't like to go longer unless absolutely necessary. I am shooting for September. My Mohs scar is fading some also. My Dr said he could do dermabrasion on the scar if I choose. He did say if I do the Carac treatment then I probably would not need the dermabrasion. 

Thanks again, and I hope to here from you soon. 

God Bless

Dave