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Thread: Skin Cancers

  1. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Arron View Post
    I have been battling melanoma for 16 years now and thus am in a good position to answer your question.

    There is no other way to determine if a suspicious mole is cancerous then through excision and biopsy. There should be a good measure of skin removed around the mole to provide information on spread etc. Deeper secondary tumours are investigated with needle biopsies, but not surface-level primary tumours.

    The main point is what constitutes ‘suspicious’. A particularly experienced clinician will examine the spot and may make a call about whether it is suspicious or not, and hence whether it should proceed to biopsy. The call should be conservative. In other cases he will examine a spot closely and say ‘I think it’s OK but let’s just keep an eye on it’. Obviously the experience level of the clinician is very important here.

    I believe (and be aware I am not a medical person) that a suspicious spot should NEVER be burnt off. If it were a melanoma, burning it off will not stop the cancer from spreading as there will be subcutaneous elements. However you will have lost the warning sign, and probably even forget there was ever a problem. Further, burning will make it difficult to get the knowledge necessary to treat any problem that does arise.

    You asked how many people have had spots removed for biopsy and how many have come back positive. I don’t really understand why you would want to know this as it shouldn’t be relevant to your decision but you asked so here is my answer
    About 14 suspicious spots removed
    1 came back as malignant melanoma.
    1 as squamous cell cancer.
    About 6 as aplastic naevii (meaning turning into something probably harmful)
    About 6 as totally benign.

    So really, only one was serious. The 6 aplastic naevae we’re slowly turning into something malignant but not a threat in the early stage so a good demonstration that things are usually ok if you get them early. The squamous cell cancer is basically harmless but like all cancers should be removed.

    You have to have a lot of trust in someone under these circumstances and it’s not GP level medicine. I can give you the name of the specialist I see in NW Sydney - who is excellent. In my mind there is only one thing you should be doing - book in to see your GP and ask for a referral to a good specialist (preferably the one I recommend). If you end up loosing a chunk of flesh out of your neck then that is no big thing - heals in about two weeks.

    Pm me if you want the recommendation

    Arron
    PM Sent.

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  3. #17
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    I see a skin cancer clinic GP, not as regularly as I should though. Over the past 15 years I have had many biopsies and some BCCs removed in the doctor's room. I have had 2 BCCs removed in day surgery by a plastic surgeon (forehead & nose). On Thursday I had my first SCC (forehead) removed by a plastic surgeon hopefully all of it but waiting for the post op appointment on Thursday to confirm.

    Your GP can do a punch biopsy on your neck for analysis if that's quicker than getting an appointment at a clinic, but do yourself a favour and book in for a full body check without delay.
    Kev

  4. #18
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    Just a follow up to this, I went to see the specialist recommended on Wednesday. He has prescribed a cream called “Efudix” for the many solar keratoses on my face, head and ears. He also wants to remove surgically the three big brown cancers that I presented to him in the first place about. So hopefully it’s all good and there’s no underlying issues with them. Thanks for all the advice.

  5. #19
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    don't be complacent when BCC's [probably had six removed]are found my GP has indicated to me that they are not as simple as most think,I have three melanomas removed and you MUST remain vigilant because they are like rabbits and continue to raise their ugly heads.

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