Topic: squamous cell carcinoma (Read 2411 times)

October 03, 2016, 07:51:53 AM

I had a very small bump on my nose that I ignored for a few weeks, thinking it was a pimple. But, it didn't go away, and so it was biopsied last week. I just got the results and it's squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is what I'd figured, based on pictures I'd seen online. The good news is that it's not melanoma, the bad news is that it's skin cancer.

Anyways, they want to do "Mohs surgery" to remove it, and I was wondering if anybody on here has experience with this. Better yet, has anybody had this done thru Kaiser? Most of the doctors I've dealt with at Kaiser seem to be OK, but there have been a few that I wouldn't let anywhere near me with a knife in their hands...

October 03, 2016, 08:10:40 AM #1

I'm a 40 yr Kaiser member,

I had a melanoma on my ear lobe, no mohs procedure for that, they just took the recommended border and loped it off. Now I get to see the dermatologist every 3 to 6 mos for about 5 yrs. She's really competent and just a pleasure to be around. A bonus.

They sent me to a Head and Neck specialist for the surgery, but also had me see a plastic surgeon first to consult in case reconstructive surgery would be needed. He did a great job, the ear he worked on looks better than the original.

After reading about Mohs procedure it sounds like the best option to me. Gets it all but not more removal than needed.

Being a Kaiser family all these years I'll say they had some rough years, in the last 10 they have been absolutely top notch for us. You'll occasionally find a doc that makes you feel less than confident, then you just ask for another, BTDT, no problems.

Good Luck

October 03, 2016, 01:21:31 PM #2

I kind of find it interesting that they have a fancy name for gouging out a nice chunk of your flesh. It's called "Mohs surgery". Too bad it had to be on your nose...that sucks.

October 03, 2016, 02:21:57 PM #3

My mom did the surgery on her forehead. She didn't go through Kaiser so can't speak on that but if you have any questions about her experience let me know

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October 04, 2016, 04:20:23 PM #4

Quote from: Dale L on October 03, 2016, 08:10:40 AM

I'm a 40 yr Kaiser member,

I had a melanoma on my ear lobe, no mohs procedure for that, they just took the recommended border and loped it off. Now I get to see the dermatologist every 3 to 6 mos for about 5 yrs. She's really competent and just a pleasure to be around. A bonus.

They sent me to a Head and Neck specialist for the surgery, but also had me see a plastic surgeon first to consult in case reconstructive surgery would be needed. He did a great job, the ear he worked on looks better than the original.

After reading about Mohs procedure it sounds like the best option to me. Gets it all but not more removal than needed.

Being a Kaiser family all these years I'll say they had some rough years, in the last 10 they have been absolutely top notch for us. You'll occasionally find a doc that makes you feel less than confident, then you just ask for another, BTDT, no problems.

Good Luck

It turns out that Kaiser has a dedicated Mohs surgery group of 4 dermatologists in SJ. They all look good on paper and the one that is going to do mine seems especially good. So that's all good news. First consultation is Thursday, and hoping to get it done ASAP after that.

October 04, 2016, 04:21:48 PM #5

Quote from: MrToady on October 03, 2016, 01:21:31 PM

I kind of find it interesting that they have a fancy name for gouging out a nice chunk of your flesh. It's called "Mohs surgery". Too bad it had to be on your nose...that sucks.

Same thing that I was thinking (on both counts).

October 05, 2016, 04:56:22 AM #6

We are Kaiser members. My wife had same procedure done on her nose a few years back. They did a great job and you can't tell unless she points it out.

October 05, 2016, 07:37:14 AM #7

Kaiser member here. I have had 3 mohs procedures done on my face in last 4 years. Nothing like being a Irish lad. A couple were very large, and had great results with all. Painless, done in a couple of hours, and not noticeable for the most part. Highly recommend getting it done. Kaiser fan.

October 05, 2016, 12:55:02 PM #8

Thanks for the info snapperhead and PaddlingBear. I'm planning to get it done ASAP---should have it scheduled tomorrow.

October 05, 2016, 10:21:08 PM #9

I had it on my hand and my Kaiser doc did a scrape and burn. Hurt like a mother and I'm scarred for life. Still have to get a follow up biopsy.

Good luck.

October 06, 2016, 02:13:53 PM #10

Cancer sucks! Good luck with your procedure!

October 06, 2016, 04:33:05 PM #11

Quote from: Eric B on October 05, 2016, 10:21:08 PM

I had it on my hand and my Kaiser doc did a scrape and burn. Hurt like a mother and I'm scarred for life. Still have to get a follow up biopsy.

Good luck.

The good thing about it being on my face is that they don't burn or freeze it off, and they also check to make sure they get it all while they're doing it.

October 06, 2016, 04:38:15 PM #12

Quote from: Shicken on October 06, 2016, 02:13:53 PM

Cancer sucks! Good luck with your procedure!

Thanks. Got the cutting scheduled as early as possible, which is October 26. Wish I could get it done a lot sooner as it's incredibly annoying just knowing it's there...

October 26, 2016, 12:24:49 PM #13

For my day-after-birthday present, I got to have a chunk of meat cut out of my nose this morning. It only took one cut and that part was done in 5 minutes or so. Then I had to wait an hour so they could look at the cutting under a microscope. Apparently, they got it all, and then it was about 10 stitches to sew it up.

For you're viewing pleasure, here's a picture of the cutout. I'm definitely going to have to include this picture in my Christmas card...

October 26, 2016, 12:50:20 PM #14

woah good thing they stitched it up! can't imagine how interesting blowing your nose would be

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Topic: squamous cell carcinoma (Read 2411 times)

NowhereMan

Dale L

MrToady

AnnieAreYouOk

NowhereMan

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snapperhead

PaddlingBear

NowhereMan

Eric B

Shicken

NowhereMan

NowhereMan

NowhereMan

Cowman