Squamous Cell Carcinoma

I have had threeiopsies and one large area about 4 inches long,2 inches wide, and at LEAST an inch deep removed from my left arm. I also recently had a biopsy done on a small spot on my right arm. NO results back yet. The cancer seems to be coming back already in the largest area, after only a month and a half. HERES MY PROBLEM: I am still seeing a dermatologist....should I "demand" to see an Oncologist? Just how rabid is squamous cell, particularly since it seems to be spreading so rapidly? I also need to know if anyone has any information on chemical causes of squamous cell carcinoma...I have worked in a print shop for 11 years, and my doctor believes I most likely got the cancer from contact with chemicals(thats what the pathology report shows....)
Anybody???

Thanks,
Colleen

Hi, Just saw your post and thought I might ask if you would consider the MOHS surgery? They remove a stage, test it while you wait, and go back in about 45 minutes when results are available and keep removing STAGES or LAYERS until pathology comes back clear. That way they do not take too small or too large of an area. Since yours returned so quickly perhaps they failed to remove all of it initally. Something to think about.

Hi, and Thanks for responding....I failed to mention in my first post that I did indeed have Moh's surgery, back on November 28th. They had to go in 4 times,but they said they got it all. Still haven't healed completely. Just when I think it is closing over, I develope a "blister" under the skin in the area that has bloody pus in it,and it sets me back. While the doctor that did my surgery was wonderful, I don't think I want to have it done again...the cauterizing was sickening. I had such a large area taken out that there was NO skin left to stitch, and grafts weren't considered, so it is healing from the inside out. I do not heal very fast either. At least I am away from the work environment that I believe was the cause of it all....just having a really difficult time "proving" it. Why do people think cnacer just SHOWS UP right away after exposure???
Well, thanks for listening.....have a great day!

Colleen

Dear Colleen, I am so sorry for what you are going thru. It makes my situation sound like a piece of cake. I do not know where you live but if you could go to a teaching hospital maybe they could help you and do research since your problem is probably related to where you worked. Perhaps your employer has a financial responsibility to you as well. Just sounds like a case for the medical journals to me. Thanks for your reply and good luck!

Hi again....

After talking to an attorney,he recommended I file Workman's Comp to get my former employer to take responsibility ( I more or less was "forced" to retire), and I DID file a claim, which, after 60+ days, they finally denied it, and I am back at square one...doing research, trying to PROVE that my exposure was the cause....(it's a very long story....)
Thanks for the suggestion...I will take that into consideration. I am planning on contacting Cancer Treatment Centers of America to see if I can go thru them for further treaments, as I have NO health insurance anymore,WC won't cover it, and although I have applied for SS disability, I haven't heard anything yet. Once my Moh's area heals, my dermatologist recommended I use the 5-Flurourorcil cream( or however it's spelled...lol). As I understand it, that is a very expensive cream...Oh well...lol.!!

Thanks again, and if you want to email me sometime, I can be reached at boilerbrat2000@yahoo.com.

Thanks,
Colleen