DUers with skin cancer experience - Democratic Underground

Dr Batsen D Belfry

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:06 PM
Original message

DUers with skin cancer experience

Anyone out there have any experience, professionally (Dermatologists, for you smart-asses out there) or otherwise with skin cancer?

I have this weird lump on the bridge of my nose that is clearly not a zit. It has been there for several weeks and started out looking more like a small eczema lesion. It looks like it could be an early stage basal cell cancer but I am no expert. I have my doctor's appointment in a week or so. I am nervous, as I have had numerous 2nd degree sunburns on my nose, shoulders, and upper chest.

DBDB

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fertilizeonarbusto

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:07 PM
Response to Original message

1. From a former lifeguard and underwear model

GET THEE TO THE DERMATOLOGIST NOW!!!!!!!!! I know what I'm talking about and what you have sounds not good.

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Dr Batsen D Belfry

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. Not melanoma, so I know I don't need to run

with hair afire to the doctor.

I can understand the lifeguard thing. I did that too for a few summers along with many summers sailing.

I could have done without the underwear model visual, but hey, it made me laugh. B-)

DBDB

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KitchenWitch

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:08 PM
Response to Original message

2. lesion

Is the lesion scaly and does it peel at all? It could be an actinic keratosis (which can be a pre-cancerous condition)

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luaneryder

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:34 PM
Response to Reply #2

7. I had (have) many AK

spots. I get them frozen or sliced off depending on how rapidly they are growing. One on my forehead seemed to grow overnight!

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KurtNYC

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:09 PM
Response to Original message

3. Keratosis?

I had a brownish lump which developed quickly then stayed one irregular size. Scared the poop out of me but it was keratosis and was removed quickly and painlessly.

I too got a lot of sun years ago.

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Phillycat

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:09 PM
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4. I work in the field.

If it is BCC, it's nothing really to worry about. They'll excise it, they'll check to make sure the margins are clear, you'll have a little scar, and you'll go back later and make sure it hasn't grown back.

The one you have to worry about is melanoma. That's much more serious. I am not a clinician, but what you're describing doesn't sound like melanoma.

You are already going to the dr, so I don't have to tell you to do that, but what I'm saying is I don't think you have that much to worry about.

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Dr Batsen D Belfry

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:15 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Definitely not melanoma

I know what that looks like, and I look for it regularly in the mirror. This is more like some small connected pearly lumps, slightly higher than the surface. Slight discoloration, slight pain to the touch. If it were a zit, it either would have come to a head or disappeared over the past several weeks. Started off more like non-itchy eczema. I have psoriasis, so I know it is not that or eczema.

Thanks for the reassurance. I feel better knowing I have some time and it is easily cured.

DBDB

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wtmusic

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:45 PM
Response to Original message

8. Could be basal cell

No one ever died from basal cell (they just keep growing). I had one removed and they have to pull out quite a bit of tissue to be sure they get it all--at the very least (cosmetically) it makes sense to have it checked out ASAP.

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