STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Hermes

basal cell carcinoma

Boots · Gucci

That's awful. I'm sorry. I was a lurker when you went through your other illness. I'm really sorry that you have to deal with more health issues.

I think this is what my mom had a few years ago. She let it go for a few years (it was on the back of her shoulder so we never knew what she was doing.) The doctor (who is my bosses' brother) told us that if he had caught it when it first started, it would have been a very simple thing to take care of. As it was, he had to cut up a large-ish chunk of skin to get all the roots. It was still an in-office procedure. She needed stitches and her arm was out of commission for a while. But as far as cancers go, this wasn't bad.

Mom's scar isn't that bad and she had a large (like the size of a quarter) chunk removed. By the time it's warm enough for sleeveless weather, I'll bet your scar will barely be noticeable.

Hermes

I think I caught it early. I've watched it for a few months but knew it wasn't normal for me. Had to bite the bullet and go in. I can tell you one thing, I'll be spending some time this weekend with a magnifying glass and mirror to see if I can find anything else.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

My grandmother-in-law had it on her cheek and had it removed. She was very sensitive to potential scarring but it healed up beautifully. That was about 2 years ago and she's checked out fine since them.

I made an appointment last week to have a mole looked at and the receptionist scheduled a full skin look-over (I know there is a more technical term, but it's failing me right now) for misc. potential problems.

I'm sorry you have to confront cancer again, but I think this will be a totally different experience. Hopefully it is just the one occurance and that you don't scar.

alb · Marc Jacobs

I am so sorry that you are having to go through this, D, but good thing they caught it! I'm pretty certain my Dad had something similar on his forehead. I agree with what other posters have said in that it is easy to remove/treat if caught early. Sucks that you have to deal with this again though. :(

Hermes

I went in just to address this one spot, so I wasn't quite prepared when they wanted to look me over (to be honest, when it was proposed, there was a pretty young woman with the doctor and I was ashamed of how I look -- guess I should take better care of myself so I wont be so self conscious about how I look naked in front of a dr.) I'm going to plan on being looked over when I go in next week, but I know what's normal and what is not with my skin, so I'd kind of like to be the judge of what comes off. Just sometimes, I think he's too removal happy to increase billings, everything he has removed looked fine to me and ended up being nothing. I'm getting tired of all the scars.

kenzie · Chanel

Oh that sucks, D. My mom just had this and she's just fine. Little spot removed on her chest and minimal scarring.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I'm glad you caught it and that you're on the ball with keeping an eye out for others. My friend has had a bunch of suspicious ones removed over the years, and she got sick of it too. I hope the doc does a good job at leaving you with minimal scarring.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Nothing much to say but sending love your way {{{{{hugs}}}}}

Suasoria · Chanel

Early detection is a good thing. I know they seem removal happy but the best defense is a good offense.

Two thumbs up for dealing with it like a big girl!

Miss Mabel · Kenneth Cole

I don't have any experience with this, but I wanted to say I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. As you said, it just seems unfair to have this crop up after everything else you have dealt with. I really admire your strength in getting through these situations like a trooper, though!

And a small little FWIW: I have had a lot of moles removed, and only one that scarred badly. I went back to my derm and showed it to him, and he was able to inject it with something -- maybe cortisone? -- that lessened the appearance of the scar. So maybe that's an option down the line if you don't like the look of it.

Hermes

Thanks for the support, ladies. Unfortunately with my fair skin, the scarring will be somewhat visible, perhaps I'll ask about the cortisone shot.

I'll admit I was a little sad about this yesterday, but getting all dramatic about it isn't going to help me. Thanks for the trooper and big girl kudos -- I'm trying

alb · Marc Jacobs

That sucks that you have had to have so many removed, and I know it seems they are removal happy, but think of the consequences (and the criticism they would be subjected to) if it were the opposite. I know you don't want to risk going through full-fledged cancer again - and believe me, the docs don't want the liability. I would guess that they are just being conscientious (vs. trying to increase their billing) - though I can see how it would seem that way. You'll get through this!

gossipgirl · Dooney & Bourke

alb wrote:

I am so sorry that you are having to go through this, D, but good thing they caught it! I'm pretty certain my Dad had something similar on his forehead. I agree with what other posters have said in that it is easy to remove/treat if caught early. Sucks that you have to deal with this again though. :(

Ditto - I've had two removed

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

I'm so sorry D! ((((hugs))))

Kelly · Hermes

Oh man, D. That sucks.

I can only echo what others have said - thank goodness you caught it early.

And even if you do have a gnarly scar, I don't think you necessarily have to "treat" the scar unless you want to. I think scars are kind of beautiful actually - they show you've been through something and come out the other side OK.

Hermes

If scars are beautiful, then I must be drop dead gorgeous by now

Suasoria · Chanel

I think you are!

Hermes

Suasoria wrote:

I think you are!

aw - thank you Su aww and right back at ya...

atlgirl · Gucci

This is not the end of the world. I was told in 2009 that I had basal cell...it is the slowest growing but *can* be the most disfiguring if not caught early.

I was told in August that the mole removed was cancerous. My derm's office directed me to a plastic surgeon for the surgery - but one of the problems was that because of where it was (on my collarbone), I would not be able to do any heavy lifting or physical exertion for at least two weeks, or the skin would stretch around the stitches and the scar would be more noticeable. Problem is that most times of the year, my job is physically laborious. So I checked with my derm and she said I could wait until November of that year, when I had the time to truly rest. I had surgery in early November, and got clear margins on the first try, which was a relief.

I have had no trouble since...though I am not quite happy with the scar. It is not as nice and neat as I would like, and it's about 1.2" long...a little jagged. I usually cover it with my foundation when I am going out somewhere because it's almost in the middle of my collarbone, and most of my tops don't cover that area. I'm pale-skinned also, but my scar is often WHITE against the skin and that's what bothers me. It just doesn't blend.

The surgery and healing process was relatively painless...though it was a bit of a hassle because of the location. I could feel the skin pulling a bit even when I raised my arms in the shower to wash my hair, etc. The plastic surgeon seemed quite pleased with it but it's more noticeable than I would like....but it's not anything really terrible. More of a nuisance.

I am just glad they caught it and early....that is the best thing that could happen (besides not having it at all, of course!). I have never been a big sun worshipper but grew up in Arizona in the seventies / eighties and my mother let us run around all summer until we were toasty brown...it's just how things were done then. And I assume that's what I'm paying for now.

Anyway, I've had a couple moles taken off since that turned out not to be cancerous, and they scarred up less than having this surgery...now I'd rather just have the derm take off anything I tell her to (within reason) before it gets cancerous. The mole that turned showed up in my early thirties, and - live and learn, I guess - I should just have had it removed earlier. Now I know.

Sorry for the ramble...but you will be okay too, D!! Just wanted you to know you're not alone in going through this. *hugs*