CancerCompass message board discussion started by Witchdoctor on 9/23/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,16420,0.htm Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ 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 anymore2 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 normal4. Function; operating on the lip or eyelid can cause functional problems5. 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 problemsMost 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. Witchdoctor Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT This is interesting information and I THANK YOU!Very disappointing for me because my dermatologist was dissing my primary care physcian for mistreating my skin cancer for two years.Now, do I call an oncologist or get a referral from my dermatologist?  I've already had the surgery for one spot. Can I still have the radiation in place of the Efudex treatment that is being prescribed?  He wants me to do full face treatment for some pre-cancers and also to go over the spot he removed surgically.  SpankyB Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT Based on what you just said I would have your primary care refer you for a consult.  You can take a copy of what I wrote with you for the Rad Oncs information and your primary physicians,  so they know where this comes from.  I am a board certified radiation oncologist. Witchdoctor Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT Thank you again for your advice. I'm finally seeing a new primary care doctor on November 19th (my original is the one that misdiagnosed me to begin with).  I sought the advice of a dermatologist who quickly diagnosed my lesion as a BCC after two years of mistreatment by my doctor. My dermatologist removed the tumor and has recommended Efudex treatment which for family reasons I have postponed until after the holidays. After hearing your advice I am now seeking the radiation therapy as you describe.   Keep informing people of this option.  I've heard too many stories of recurrence with the Efudex and I'm not certain I want to have to repeatedly go through the topical therapy.  I don't want to do ONE session let alone several more over the next couple of years.Thanks witchdoctor!! SpankyB Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT