Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Carol, Anne and Alley... What I'd like to know is what the two cell carcinomas look like. They seems to be quite common. I once worked with a gal who was diagnosed with melonoma ... her maternity doctor saw it in an exam. So what do these things look like..... BTW, Carol...It's quite common to have oily skin around your nose and the rest of your face is normal or dry. Re: Anne Anne, I have had 2 episodes of basal cell carcinoma on my face.... My nose is super oily while my forehead is super dry that of course I put moisturizer on it....it doesn't make sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Carol, Anne and Alley... What I'd like to know is what the two cell carcinomas look like. They seems to be quite common. I once worked with a gal who was diagnosed with melonoma ... her maternity doctor saw it in an exam. So what do these things look like..... BTW, Carol...It's quite common to have oily skin around your nose and the rest of your face is normal or dry. Re: Anne Anne, I have had 2 episodes of basal cell carcinoma on my face.... My nose is super oily while my forehead is super dry that of course I put moisturizer on it....it doesn't make sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 In a message dated 7/18/2004 4:39:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tatezi@... writes: What I'd like to know is what the two cell carcinomas look like. They seems to be quite common. Tatezi: Usually basal cell shows up as a reddened dry scratchy skin spot. It very rarely spreads as long as it stays on top of the skin but can sometimes lead to kerankanthomas (I think I spelled that right). The k guys can lead to squamous cell. Most of these are sun related. Squamous cell start out looking a lot like a wart that GROWS. In 's latest case, the cancer hit on the major blood vessel to the thumb and had a large feast....consequently it got large fast and was VERY noticeable. His is due to chemical exposure, but that makes you more suseptable to sun damage to exposed areas. Melanoma shows up as a mole-looking spot, which is why dermatologists tell you to watch for sudden changes in any mole-like " blemish " . The horrid thing about them is that they dig deep and can metasticise with very little change in the blemish. In other words: the most dangerous because it's the least noticeable. Further, they are not usually sun related. Hope that info helps. Wish I had pictures. Somewhere there's a website put together by dermatologists. Sign in, it encourages them. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 In a message dated 7/18/2004 4:39:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tatezi@... writes: What I'd like to know is what the two cell carcinomas look like. They seems to be quite common. Tatezi: Usually basal cell shows up as a reddened dry scratchy skin spot. It very rarely spreads as long as it stays on top of the skin but can sometimes lead to kerankanthomas (I think I spelled that right). The k guys can lead to squamous cell. Most of these are sun related. Squamous cell start out looking a lot like a wart that GROWS. In 's latest case, the cancer hit on the major blood vessel to the thumb and had a large feast....consequently it got large fast and was VERY noticeable. His is due to chemical exposure, but that makes you more suseptable to sun damage to exposed areas. Melanoma shows up as a mole-looking spot, which is why dermatologists tell you to watch for sudden changes in any mole-like " blemish " . The horrid thing about them is that they dig deep and can metasticise with very little change in the blemish. In other words: the most dangerous because it's the least noticeable. Further, they are not usually sun related. Hope that info helps. Wish I had pictures. Somewhere there's a website put together by dermatologists. Sign in, it encourages them. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 In a message dated 7/18/2004 4:19:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, tatezi@... writes: Thanks, Anne...I asked because many years ago (longer than I can remember) I got a pimple-like thing on my thigh that turned into a mole-type spot. Again, many years ago, I got another one on the same leg that started out as a pimple-type thing and turned into a mole-type thing. Maybe when I go to County in August for my RNA I'll ask the doctor to refer me to whatever clinic handles that type of thing. Tat, What happened to the first one? Some people literally grow moles. I do. Most of my moles start out looking that way, too. If they don't turn dark, blotchy, or bleed, you're probably okay, but I'd asked a dermatologist for an opinion anyway........just to be on the safe side. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Thanks, Anne...I asked because many years ago (longer than I can remember) I got a pimple-like thing on my thigh that turned into a mole-type spot. Again, many years ago, I got another one on the same leg that started out as a pimple-type thing and turned into a mole-type thing. Maybe when I go to County in August for my RNA I'll ask the doctor to refer me to whatever clinic handles that type of thing. I can almost not remember what it was like to have insurance and be able to see a doctor when one was concerned about something. Tatezi Usually basal cell shows up as a reddened dry scratchy skin spot. It very rarely spreads as long as it stays on top of the skin but can sometimes lead to kerankanthomas (I think I spelled that right). The k guys can lead to squamous cell. ... Melanoma shows up as a mole-looking spot, which is why dermatologists tell you to watch for sudden changes in any mole-like " blemish " . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 The first one started out as a dark bump but turned into a flat dark spot on my thigh...the second one is still a dark bump but it appeared years after the first one. I'd never thought anything about them until this conversation came up. And I don't think I've ever mentioned it to a doctor. I really hate not having insurance...but I'm blessed that I have county even if it does take days of waiting to get into a doctor. And I learning to live without insurance is becoming more the norm every day. Tatezi Re: Cell Carcinoma Tat, What happened to the first one? Some people literally grow moles. I do. Most of my moles start out looking that way, too. If they don't turn dark, blotchy, or bleed, you're probably okay, but I'd asked a dermatologist for an opinion anyway........just to be on the safe side. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 The first one started out as a dark bump but turned into a flat dark spot on my thigh...the second one is still a dark bump but it appeared years after the first one. I'd never thought anything about them until this conversation came up. And I don't think I've ever mentioned it to a doctor. I really hate not having insurance...but I'm blessed that I have county even if it does take days of waiting to get into a doctor. And I learning to live without insurance is becoming more the norm every day. Tatezi Re: Cell Carcinoma Tat, What happened to the first one? Some people literally grow moles. I do. Most of my moles start out looking that way, too. If they don't turn dark, blotchy, or bleed, you're probably okay, but I'd asked a dermatologist for an opinion anyway........just to be on the safe side. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Definitely get it biopsied. As most of you know, I finished treatment for malignant melanoma a little over a year ago. The mole they removed looked like a regular black mole. It looked like a couple of other black moles I have all of which are just moles. Yet, this one was 2.5 (I think cm? I forgot) which means it had spread to the lymp nodes (one actually). It didn't bleed, wasn't irregular, wasn't discolored, etc. It doesn't even have to look suspicious to be cancer. It's wierd, but better to be safe. Especially if you are fair skinned. Unfortunately, we are products of the " Coppertone' generation, where it was thought to be healthy to tan, and stay that way, and most of us were tanning as children, sometimes even burning. Sunlamps and artificial lamps are just as dangerous. The biopsy is easy to get done. Get a dermy, see him/her regularly. Have a spouse or loved one check your body periodically for moles and measure them. Keep track of their measurements. ** Any ** changes in growth, note and make sure your dermy or other doc knows. (Like you Anne, I have moles growing all the time.) I have a forum on Melanoma if you are interested http://forums.delphiforums.com/amelanoma/ Good luck. Let us know. Alley (new email addy, the other one was getting spammed to death) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Definitely get it biopsied. As most of you know, I finished treatment for malignant melanoma a little over a year ago. The mole they removed looked like a regular black mole. It looked like a couple of other black moles I have all of which are just moles. Yet, this one was 2.5 (I think cm? I forgot) which means it had spread to the lymp nodes (one actually). It didn't bleed, wasn't irregular, wasn't discolored, etc. It doesn't even have to look suspicious to be cancer. It's wierd, but better to be safe. Especially if you are fair skinned. Unfortunately, we are products of the " Coppertone' generation, where it was thought to be healthy to tan, and stay that way, and most of us were tanning as children, sometimes even burning. Sunlamps and artificial lamps are just as dangerous. The biopsy is easy to get done. Get a dermy, see him/her regularly. Have a spouse or loved one check your body periodically for moles and measure them. Keep track of their measurements. ** Any ** changes in growth, note and make sure your dermy or other doc knows. (Like you Anne, I have moles growing all the time.) I have a forum on Melanoma if you are interested http://forums.delphiforums.com/amelanoma/ Good luck. Let us know. Alley (new email addy, the other one was getting spammed to death) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Oh and you might want to make sure your doc, gastro or whomever does your most frequent labs, checks for AFP, alpha feta protein, to look for hepatoma (liver cancer), which heppers are more prone to get than non. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Oh and you might want to make sure your doc, gastro or whomever does your most frequent labs, checks for AFP, alpha feta protein, to look for hepatoma (liver cancer), which heppers are more prone to get than non. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 My basal cell carcinoma on my chin looked welllll, weird. It wasn't red, but was dry and scaley looking, the thing with me is that it wasn't very noticeable being in the spot it was, the crease on my chin. I'm not sure if the one on my nose was cell carcinoma cuz we didn't biopsy it, it looked like a normal skin cell but was bigger and since it wasn't going away the doc said it probably was. When I took the big sample into the lab it looked really gross....and was quite large that it needed 4 stitches. My doc kept saying how long have you had this and I said about a year or so, don't think he believed me cuz he said " are you sure it wasn't years " and I said nope. Anne, I'm glad you described what Squamous cell looks like so I know....as for melanoma, well I have too many moles to count so I figure it would get me in the end anyway....I try not to fuss over it although one is itchy sometimes. And they do start out like pimples. Hope this helps some Tatezi. Huggggs Carol Re: Cell Carcinoma In a message dated 7/18/2004 4:39:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tatezi@... writes: What I'd like to know is what the two cell carcinomas look like. They seems to be quite common. Tatezi: Usually basal cell shows up as a reddened dry scratchy skin spot. It very rarely spreads as long as it stays on top of the skin but can sometimes lead to kerankanthomas (I think I spelled that right). The k guys can lead to squamous cell. Most of these are sun related. Squamous cell start out looking a lot like a wart that GROWS. In 's latest case, the cancer hit on the major blood vessel to the thumb and had a large feast....consequently it got large fast and was VERY noticeable. His is due to chemical exposure, but that makes you more suseptable to sun damage to exposed areas. Melanoma shows up as a mole-looking spot, which is why dermatologists tell you to watch for sudden changes in any mole-like " blemish " . The horrid thing about them is that they dig deep and can metasticise with very little change in the blemish. In other words: the most dangerous because it's the least noticeable. Further, they are not usually sun related. Hope that info helps. Wish I had pictures. Somewhere there's a website put together by dermatologists. Sign in, it encourages them. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 My basal cell carcinoma on my chin looked welllll, weird. It wasn't red, but was dry and scaley looking, the thing with me is that it wasn't very noticeable being in the spot it was, the crease on my chin. I'm not sure if the one on my nose was cell carcinoma cuz we didn't biopsy it, it looked like a normal skin cell but was bigger and since it wasn't going away the doc said it probably was. When I took the big sample into the lab it looked really gross....and was quite large that it needed 4 stitches. My doc kept saying how long have you had this and I said about a year or so, don't think he believed me cuz he said " are you sure it wasn't years " and I said nope. Anne, I'm glad you described what Squamous cell looks like so I know....as for melanoma, well I have too many moles to count so I figure it would get me in the end anyway....I try not to fuss over it although one is itchy sometimes. And they do start out like pimples. Hope this helps some Tatezi. Huggggs Carol Re: Cell Carcinoma In a message dated 7/18/2004 4:39:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tatezi@... writes: What I'd like to know is what the two cell carcinomas look like. They seems to be quite common. Tatezi: Usually basal cell shows up as a reddened dry scratchy skin spot. It very rarely spreads as long as it stays on top of the skin but can sometimes lead to kerankanthomas (I think I spelled that right). The k guys can lead to squamous cell. Most of these are sun related. Squamous cell start out looking a lot like a wart that GROWS. In 's latest case, the cancer hit on the major blood vessel to the thumb and had a large feast....consequently it got large fast and was VERY noticeable. His is due to chemical exposure, but that makes you more suseptable to sun damage to exposed areas. Melanoma shows up as a mole-looking spot, which is why dermatologists tell you to watch for sudden changes in any mole-like " blemish " . The horrid thing about them is that they dig deep and can metasticise with very little change in the blemish. In other words: the most dangerous because it's the least noticeable. Further, they are not usually sun related. Hope that info helps. Wish I had pictures. Somewhere there's a website put together by dermatologists. Sign in, it encourages them. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Alley, I get that done about every 3-4 months....I yelled " WHAT " in my docs office when he told me I was a 10....up from being a 7. Peach State Pam calmed me down by saying that it's not unusual to have a fluctuating AFP marker when we have cirrhosis. My next test was down to an 8. And I get an ultra sound every 6 months too. It is very important to have these tests done every 6 months. It's a good thing to bring up to the group Alley. Carol Re: Cell Carcinoma Oh and you might want to make sure your doc, gastro or whomever does your most frequent labs, checks for AFP, alpha feta protein, to look for hepatoma (liver cancer), which heppers are more prone to get than non. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Alley, I get that done about every 3-4 months....I yelled " WHAT " in my docs office when he told me I was a 10....up from being a 7. Peach State Pam calmed me down by saying that it's not unusual to have a fluctuating AFP marker when we have cirrhosis. My next test was down to an 8. And I get an ultra sound every 6 months too. It is very important to have these tests done every 6 months. It's a good thing to bring up to the group Alley. Carol Re: Cell Carcinoma Oh and you might want to make sure your doc, gastro or whomever does your most frequent labs, checks for AFP, alpha feta protein, to look for hepatoma (liver cancer), which heppers are more prone to get than non. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 In a message dated 7/18/2004 11:23:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, shshonee@... writes: The biopsy is easy to get done. Get a dermy, see him/her regularly. Have a spouse or loved one check your body periodically for moles and measure them. Keep track of their measurements. ** Any ** changes in growth, note and make sure your dermy or other doc knows. (Like you Anne, I have moles growing all the time.) Good advice, Alley. I keep my eyes open, too. Since I am part Indian, Danish, ish, African American, etc. my skin tends to tan, but freckle and mole in spots.........go figure. I use sunscreen, but we did grow up in the coppertone era...........I didn't have time to tan, as such, and still don't, but I make it a habit to use sunscreen. I still tan, just not as dark as I did prior to sunscreen. I never could stand going outside with long-sleeved shirts and slacks on to weed, etc. and surf fishing requires that you get in the water at least up to your knees if your short and want to cast out far enough to catch a fish.:-). Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 In a message dated 7/18/2004 11:23:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, shshonee@... writes: The biopsy is easy to get done. Get a dermy, see him/her regularly. Have a spouse or loved one check your body periodically for moles and measure them. Keep track of their measurements. ** Any ** changes in growth, note and make sure your dermy or other doc knows. (Like you Anne, I have moles growing all the time.) Good advice, Alley. I keep my eyes open, too. Since I am part Indian, Danish, ish, African American, etc. my skin tends to tan, but freckle and mole in spots.........go figure. I use sunscreen, but we did grow up in the coppertone era...........I didn't have time to tan, as such, and still don't, but I make it a habit to use sunscreen. I still tan, just not as dark as I did prior to sunscreen. I never could stand going outside with long-sleeved shirts and slacks on to weed, etc. and surf fishing requires that you get in the water at least up to your knees if your short and want to cast out far enough to catch a fish.:-). Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 Thanks, Alley. I've never been a sun worshipper but as a youth I was a swimmer and diver so was always in the sun during the summer. And the years I spent on the racetrack I was always in the sun...hard to work outside and avoid the sun. Other than my childhood and my racetrack years, I never spent much time in the sun. But I was in the sun for many years whether swimming or working outside When I see the GI at County I'll ask for a referral to the dermi clinic. If he can't give me a referral to another clinic I'll have to start all over at County with days of waiting at the walk in clinic. Tatezi Re: Cell Carcinoma As most of you know, I finished treatment for malignant melanoma a little over a year ago. The mole they removed looked like a regular black mole. ....Especially if you are fair skinned. Unfortunately, we are products of the " Coppertone' generation, where it was thought to be healthy to tan, and stay that way, and most of us were tanning as children, sometimes even burning. Sunlamps and artificial lamps are just as dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 Thanks, Alley. I've never been a sun worshipper but as a youth I was a swimmer and diver so was always in the sun during the summer. And the years I spent on the racetrack I was always in the sun...hard to work outside and avoid the sun. Other than my childhood and my racetrack years, I never spent much time in the sun. But I was in the sun for many years whether swimming or working outside When I see the GI at County I'll ask for a referral to the dermi clinic. If he can't give me a referral to another clinic I'll have to start all over at County with days of waiting at the walk in clinic. Tatezi Re: Cell Carcinoma As most of you know, I finished treatment for malignant melanoma a little over a year ago. The mole they removed looked like a regular black mole. ....Especially if you are fair skinned. Unfortunately, we are products of the " Coppertone' generation, where it was thought to be healthy to tan, and stay that way, and most of us were tanning as children, sometimes even burning. Sunlamps and artificial lamps are just as dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 I've discussed this with my cats but they refuse to accept the responsibility. <g> Have a spouse or loved one check your body eriodically for moles and measure them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 I've discussed this with my cats but they refuse to accept the responsibility. <g> Have a spouse or loved one check your body eriodically for moles and measure them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 Hi, Well after all we've had to say about skin cancer in the last few days. Anne (me) trots off to her dermatologist (who is wonderful, I might add) to have a wart removed and ends up having a biopsy done..................The doc said he didn't think I had anything to worry about. It hadn't turned black too far underneath........very few if any epitheleal cells involved. This from a spot that's been on my leg for quite some time, but just developed a little tiny dark spot at it's edge, but still within the border. And I get to keep my wart for awhile because the patient prior to me used up all the liquid nitrogen............oh well. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 In a message dated 7/19/2004 12:04:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, tatezi@... writes: I've discussed this with my cats but they refuse to accept the responsibility. Gee, I never thought of that. wouldn't sit still long enough. I wonder how Shadow would respond. says: " go see the doc, I know what a bullet hole looks like and what to do with.......moles, I know nothing about. " Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 I'd pass too... I have to be out of it before I let someone stab a needle in me. My dentist tells me I use alot of nitrogen...I don't ever tell him I've had enough unless I'm floating on the ceiling. <g> Re: Cell Carcinoma ....the patient prior to me used up all the liquid nitrogen............oh well. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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