Need Info

Hi

I am new to this board I wanted some information on the protocol for a biopsy for skin cancer. Last Thurs I went to my dermatologist because I had found 4 brown odd shaped birthmarks on my waste  On Thurs the doctor shaved the skin said there is nothing to worry about come back next week and we will biospy the one on my face (It is the size of a needle and greyish black. and I will have a skin cancer screening by a different doctor. On Monday I do that visit the doctor checks out my body say my lab results are not it and wants to do another biopsy next to the one the other doctor did This one required 2 stitches When I asked her why this one was so deep she said that is how she was trained in case the pathologist needs more of the sample. It doesn't sit right with me I dond't like whe two doctors in the same office do things differently

So I guess my question which is the correct way to do the biopsy Is there one way if they suspect cancer and another way if they don't? I have a total of 4 of these things on my waist will they be biopsying all of them.

I am not sure how to find info on this board  but so far it seem that  there is no detail talk  How they were diagnoised what treat pain tolerence pain medication The real deal stuff that the doctors never tell the patients  I find that an informed patient usually does better ...al least for me it works that way I need to know what I will be up against if the results are not good.

What is the survival rate for skin cancer are there long term survivors

Laura

Hi: I have had skin cancer for a number of years - 25.  I have had the dermatolgist do it both ways - the scraping and also cutting deeper to make sure they have a sample the has clean cells around it.  As a precaution, I get my body checked fairly often - 2 to 3 times a year.  The best advise I can give you is to be constantly aware of your skin and any markings that seem usually in size and texture.  Good luck! Stay out of the sun and be protected!

My husband was sent by his GP to a dermatologist when we located a "suspect" mole.  The Dermatologist took a core sample.  It required 4 stitches. You can not determine the "stage" or size of the tumor by the core sample.  The attempt is made to biopsy the deepest part, but the dermatologist can only do his/her best.   That sample came back positive for Melanoma.  The dermatologist sent us directly to MDA for surgery for the removal of the tumor and lymph nodes.  

A very large part of my husbands forearm was removed to ensure they got all of the cancer.  Three lymph nodes were removed.   The lymph nodes came back clean.  We now go every three months to MDA for full check ups - and see the dermatologist in between visits.  

BTW - although a HUGE amount of tissue was removed during surgery - he only has a long scar and a slight dimple at each end.  You might not even notice it until he points it out. 

Hi Donna -

First let me say welcome to this site - you have come to a good place that has a lot of good hearted and caring people in my opinion.

I can't answer a lot of your questions about mainstream doctors and treatments, because I represent the other side of the coin here - the natural side that looks to nature, whether first, last or alongside conventional treatments, and encourages everyone here to also look into what natural healing might have to offer.

Obviously, each doctor is going to treat you the way they were trained, and thus there may be differences in virtually identical procedures depending on how they were taught.  I would suggest that not only are doctors taught to do things somewhat differently, but when it comes to nature they are taught very little at all.

You said "I find that an informed patient usually does better ...al least for me it works that way . . ." and I find that very encouraging.  I believe that a truly informed patient is one who will have left no area unresearched and that will include taking a look at what nature might have to offer in regards to the roles that a good diet, proper nutrition, a clean body and environment, removal of stress, fresh air and water, exercise, a healthy amount of sunshine (yes, even for those with skin cancer), and possibly vitamins, minerals and other supplements may play in building your immune system and helping you fight and ward off cancer.

Most doctors, especially those not trained in diet and nutrition and/or integrative and complimentary therapies, provide little if any information such as I listed above - mainly because that is not yet a part of conventional training (though thankfully it is improving by leaps and bounds).  That IS, however, part of my training and experience and I can only urge you to take a good look both inside and outside the box to give yourself the maximum knowledge.

One thing is certain, cancer can only appear when it has managed to defeat the body's first line of natural defense - the immune system.  No matter how good of a job mainstream treatments may do at cutting out, burning out or poisoning out the cancer cells themselves, (and often those treatments take a toll on what is likely an already impaired immune system), it is nature that is, in my humble opinion, the best bet to address the underlying causes that led to cancer as well as build up the body to prevent it from returning.

And so, I would say in answer to your most important question of all, about survival rate and long term prospects that the more you bring nature into the process and embrace the idea of beating cancer as a lifelong committment from here out, the greater they will be.  I happen to know a number of long term skin cancer survivors- one of whom is my very dear cousin and lifelong running buddy whom was suddenly diagnosed with stage III melanoma.

For more information, I urge you to take a look at these two articles at the very respected (among natural health advocates at any rate) Natural News site:

http://www.naturalnews.com/022808.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/022782.html

Best of wishes to you!

On 4/22/2008 nerchlejo wrote:

Hi

I am new to this board I wanted some information on the protocol for a biopsy for skin cancer. Last Thurs I went to my dermatologist because I had found 4 brown odd shaped birthmarks on my waste  On Thurs the doctor shaved the skin said there is nothing to worry about come back next week and we will biospy the one on my face (It is the size of a needle and greyish black. and I will have a skin cancer screening by a different doctor. On Monday I do that visit the doctor checks out my body say my lab results are not it and wants to do another biopsy next to the one the other doctor did This one required 2 stitches When I asked her why this one was so deep she said that is how she was trained in case the pathologist needs more of the sample. It doesn't sit right with me I dond't like whe two doctors in the same office do things differently

So I guess my question which is the correct way to do the biopsy Is there one way if they suspect cancer and another way if they don't? I have a total of 4 of these things on my waist will they be biopsying all of them.

I am not sure how to find info on this board  but so far it seem that  there is no detail talk  How they were diagnoised what treat pain tolerence pain medication The real deal stuff that the doctors never tell the patients  I find that an informed patient usually does better ...al least for me it works that way I need to know what I will be up against if the results are not good.

What is the survival rate for skin cancer are there long term survivors

Laura

Hi Laura;

I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in January and had a 2nd surgery March 31 to remove the lymph nodes in my groin.  The mole I had was on my thigh and I waited too long to have it checked.  Fortunately the pet scan was negative and the 10 nodes they removed are also negative.  The Sentinal Node was positive and that is why the lymph nodes were removed.  At this point I am Clinically Cancer Free.  Not sure where you are from but the best advice I can give is that you should go to a skin cancer specialist preferably at a hospital like Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York of Dana Farber in Boston.  I made the mistake of going to a general oncology surgeon and had the first surgery at a general hospital.  There are doctors who specialize in skin cancer. 

Best of luck;

Joanne

I had an area on my face which returned 3 times. The first time the physician froze it. That was in 2001. In 2005, it returned and he numbed it real good which was EXTREMELY painful since it was above my upper lip. He scraped it really REALLY well and sent it for biopsy. Results were that it was a pre-cancerous lesion. It returned again this year 2008. He numbed the area again and did a punch biopsy where they cut it out, go deeper, and closed it with 2 stiches. The reason for the punch biopsy where they go deeper and more diameter is to attempt to get it all with the biopsy  in case it is cancer. My final diagnosis was Basal Cell Carcinoma which of course is cancer and he got all of the lesion while he was doing the biopsy. I don't need any further treatment at time because he did remove a large enough sample to diagnose it and remove it. I had another lesion the first time, in 2001, which he froze and it never returned. I don't even remember where it was now, but I know there were 2 at that time. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common skin cancers and needs to be removed as they come. More serious skin cancers like Melanoma need more serious treatment. Continue to keep an eye on as much of your body that you can see and have someone else look at the areas you can't see. Early diagnosis and treatment for skin cancer is the same as any cancer, it greatly increased the ability to be treated successfully.