Squamous Cell Carcinoma

[elk42]

        Just to remind FF members of sun damage skin and skin cancer.
  I had my 4th   one a couple weeks ago. One my lip and three on my arms  And my ears are damaged because of baseball caps.  If you have a place on your skin that will not heal in two to three weeks get it checked.
     Another note my first wife had a place on the back of her leg that was checked by her primary care Dr. and sent to lab. And lab said could be might be melanoma . By the time she got to the right Dr. it was to late . And also my best friend had a place above his lip that looked like a pimple and the same route and had to remove half of his face.
     We do have some mentors on FF that wear wide brim hats like Magicman and
Costomsawyer.
     Our ancestors knew this ***Did we forget??? 



 

[Magicman]

Thanks for the timely reminder.  My arms take a beating in this Summer Sun.   

[LeeB]

Just had a lump removed from my left cheek last week. The doc thought it was a cyst. Sent it off and it was a metastasized squamous cell cancer. I went this morning for a P.E.T. scan to make sure I don't have any more cancer floating around. He also had to take some more tissue from my cheek to be sure he got it all. He took a biopsy from a spot on my nose I was concerned about. This will be my third one removed, 2 squamous and 1 basal cell. This last one is worrisome because it was metastasized, meaning it likely came from another source and is possibly spreading. Don't know the results of the test yet. The dr couldn't get the cd to open up while he was at the hospital. Squamous can be fatal if not caught and treated.

[Roxie]

Yes it can.  You'll be in my thoughts, and hoping for a good outcome for you.  Please keep us posted. 

[Magicman]

I had to Google and do some reading.  Scary stuff but hopefully yours was caught in time. 

I wish you the best Lee with whatever treatment your Dr. deems necessary. 

A use sunscreen but my arms take a beating while sawing. :-\   

[LeeB]

The results from the scan came back negative!!!!!  8) 8). Bad news is I now have to go back to work tomorrow. I take that any day over the other options.

[Roxie]

YAY!   8) 8) 8) 8)

[Magicman]

Thanks for sharing the good report Lee.   

[LeeB]

Elk 42,
After having 4 removed, I'm sure you know how important it is to keep on top of this. Have your doctors ever suggested any further screening?

[elk42]

LeeB

   Going back in Aug. for checkup .  I have been going every 12 mo. for several years to be checked believeme.I keep a close watch .The first one was on my lip they caught it on a checkup.

[LeeB]

Keep an eye on yourself too. I pointed out all three of my cancers to the medical professionals. The two squamous cell they told me were nothing but after asking about them many times I insisted they be removed and tested. Good thing I did.

[Gary_C]

I've had 2 basal cell, 2 squamous cell and one melanoma removed. From my latest 6 month visit, I had one biopsy which came back as pre-cancerous so I go back in the second week in July to have that spot burned or frozen, which ever the surgeon decides.

Yes, with fair skin and being outside a lot, I have a lot of skin damage and regular checkups. I've learned to wear long sleeved shirts all year so most of the damage has been on my face and one on my back.

These days when you get old you better find a good skin doctor and get naked. They call it a full body checkup. 

[elk42]

LeeB
   I go to Arkansas Skin cancer center in the Baptist Tower at Little Rock. They have there on lab. in house, they cut and test. I don't have any trouble with them cut and test.    Dr Dinehart and Dr Breau.

[doctorb]

I was curious how they "knew" that the cheek lesion was a metastasis?  Great that your scan is negative.  But Squamous cell can metastasize when the primary cancer is pretty small, so I am sure they're going to do further follow up on that.  Great news, Lee.

[LeeB]

doctorb,
The spot on my cheek wasn't a lesion. It was under the skin in the cheek tissue and he thought it was a cyst when he went in the first time. Only after it was sent for testing did we know it was squamous cell, hence the second surgery to make sure he had gotten clean margins. Follow up exams are def scheduled.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Hope you guys remain OK.
I dont do the sun thing any more.
Wide brimmed hat, sun glasses  and my wife buys some long sleeved white dress shirts for 3 or 4 bucks from the thrifty shopper for use on the hot days, altho hot here is relative to you guys in the all too sunny south.
85 is hot here, 90 unbearable.
My dermatologist checks me routinely every year and in between if I have a prob.
All mine have been benign so far.
Thankfully my sawing is under cover so i can go hat less  and wear ear protection.