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trudie
61 Posts |
 Posted - 12/03/2009 : 14:15:50
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Hi everyone,
I had the surgery yesterday for a BCC on my upper lip. Recovering nicely, but had three removals and several stitches in a line from my nose down to and through my upper lip. Haven't counted them yet. I was there from 8a.m. to almost 5 p.m. I'd be happy to email anyone personally if they want more info on the experience. Cheers. Keep up the search for topicals that work and I wonder how we can pressure the "industry" to increase their research efforts? My dermo thought there might be something available soon, but said that so far there was nothing topical that worked for nodular BCC. How are we to know what the truth is?
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homestrong
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2009 : 13:36:24
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I was was diagnosed with a nBCC on the left nostril of my nose.
Mohs was recommended, of course, but the nose being arguably the
worst place to have a scar, I explored nearly every major
topical treatment on this site (Cymilium, Eggplant, Pancreatin, etc),
but have only seen ANY results from using Aldara.
Here's a set of photos on my nose, the first one being before
doing any ALDARA treatment, and the 2nd taken 4 months later,
after 2 separate 4/6 weeks, twice-a-day ALDARA treatments.
Clearly I've made some progress.
http://www.homestrong.com
Also I had done the 6 week,2x/day treatment on two separate sBCC,
and in fact, those sBCC are completely gone.
I'm sold on Aldara. I plan to use it the rest of my life,
if possible. |
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trudie
61 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 12:54:31
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| Thank you, homestrung, for replying. 49 people read my post, but only you have responded so far. I'd like to tell all the readers that the Moh's surgery was pretty traumatic for me and a little encouragement would have been really nice. |
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thanks01
USA
170 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 16:11:11
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Dear Trudie,
I did read your post and I guess I gave no response because, having had Mohs myself on my face (with fairly good results) I still put it LOW on the list of solutions that I'm currently following. In other words, I'm familiar with "that route" and, like you, hope that something better turns up.
I'm sorry to have forgotten the "support" aspect of all our posting here. I also consider that important and valuable. Re-reading your post I am reminded of that time. Even though the outcome was good, the experience was bad. So, my hope for you is that you do not suffer too much, now that you have gone through with it.
The pain part was pretty bearable, but the FEAR of how far they would have to explore with Mohs was pretty bad. For a while I thought I would end up like "the Phantom of the Opera." As it is, the place is now almost invisible.
The operation was near enough to my eye that I was prevented from driving. The Mohs doctor was in the city and there was no public transportation to get there. My husband is handicapped and cannot drive. I had to choose between spending hundreds of dollars for two nights at a hotel (the Mohs was on the first day and the plastic surgery with a different doctor on the next day) or paying a driver to take me into the city repeatedly (which I did). So, far from being a "minor outpatient experience," for me this blew up into a "big deal."
I went with the Mohs 2 years ago more or less because I was being told to (or recommended to). Up until that doctor visit I had no idea that I had skin cancer (thought it was eczema) and, even though I started reading this forum and tried the eggplant, I felt that I had better follow the recommendation. The big "C-word" came as a shock.
Now that I have "gained a little time" I follow this forum and all its possible solutions with great interest and hope, including the ideas that go beyond topical treatments into diet, etc.
One thing that bothers me is that beside the "verified" spot on my cheek, there was another very small item about half an inch away, even nearer to my eye. I even went back on another visit before Mohs to see if this should be biopsied and was told that they were not concerned about this spot. Then they did the Mohs and went as far as they thought they needed to, searching for the borders of the original spot.
However, this fall at the regular visit to "the derm" (not the Mohs doctor) I was told that this (still remaining and more persistent spot) "looked suspicious." It has not been not biopsied (yet). I followed an Aldara treatment for about two months and came away with some improvement and not much "damage." However, there is STILL something there - tiny.
What I'm getting at is that the doctor community seems to work on a "spot by spot" approach. I think they should have paid more attention to the small spot in the first place. In their favor, perhaps they thought they had enough cutting to do at one time.
I'm not saying they are wrong, but I feel an expectation on their part that they can resort to surgery any time. It also seems that good old BCC is pretty persistent and will keep on coming.
I guess the reason I'm telling you all this is to show that others are still in here, working away at this problem. And Mohs -- in my book -- is still one of the least-loved solutions.
So I wish you all the sympathy you need to recover, and a way to avoid a repeat of your recent experience !! I think you'll find over time that this is a great forum. Best from Thx |
Edited by - thanks01 on 12/09/2009 16:45:18 |
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trudie
61 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2009 : 09:12:41
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| Thank you so much for your lenthy reply. I am healing very well, thank you, but I found the experience as you did, extremely emotional and traumatic. I do commend the forum for searching for better alternatives and I repeat my question of asking for suggestions on how to activate for topical FDA approved solutions. The Environmental Working Group is doing great work on finding products with harmful ingredients; it seems that there should be something out there concerned with political solutions to our problem. Anyone with ideas? |
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thanks01
USA
170 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2009 : 10:28:54
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Trudie,
Your idea about the FDA is a good one, and maybe it will grow. As you can see on the forum (Cashew, DeBCC), my current new interest is in a paste derived from the cashew nut.
A man in the Phillipines claims to have discovered that this is an effective, gentle treatment for skin cancer. I think this man deserves credit and remuneration, while at the same time I am eager to benefit simply from the knowledge that a NATURAL ingredient may be of so much help. And here's where the FDA comes in. The supplement companies are doing what they can to sell NATURAL products and make a living, and this seems only fair, compared to the tremendous prices for "man-made" and "man-discovered drugs." Both, of course have their place, but it is a concern that people interested in NATURAL items have more trouble bringing them to market.
Although I am pursuing the "homemade" approach with these cashews, I am a purchaser of natural supplements and feel that these, and the knowledge about how to use them, deserve a place.
So, if you pursue your idea, perhaps the FDA can find a way to balance this area better. I hope some other readers in the forum also take interest in your idea. Perhaps if this forum can get some pretty good evidence on various NATURAL topicals, we can help by supplying information.
Meanwhile, good luck and I hope and pray that you heal completely! Thx |
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Rose Petal
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2010 : 23:53:23
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Hi Trudie.
I remember that you were really struggling to make a decision on treatment for your skin cancer. I hope you are healing well now that you had Mohs.
How do you feel emotionally and physically now that you are 3 months out from surgery? |
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Moh's surgery undergone yesterday
