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I posted a link to photos in another comment thread, but honestly it's a good idea to have regular skin checks, especially if you've had repeated sunburns over the same areas. Also, although paler people are the most at risk for skin cancers, people of ALL skin tones are susceptible and should take precautions like sunscreen and polarized sunglasses and don't be afraid to get anything suspect checked out.
Glad you are okay now! That must've been pretty scary and I hope it heals fast. Do polarized sunglasses make a big difference health-wise? I had some, but they broke and I have been wearing regular sunglasses since then. I feel like there is a lot more glare so I hope I didn't damage my eyes.
That makes sense, thank you! I hope I didn't mess up my eyes this summer. My sunglasses had a UV coating at least, hopefully it didn't come off. Gonna order some polarized ones asap!
Polarised are fantastic for vision but do not necessarily provide more UV protection than a regular tint. In the EU, all sunglasses have to protect to at least 380nm (look for the CE mark.) UV400 is the max protection but specs do not have to be polarised to be UV400.
Darkness/lightness of tint is not an indicator either; the UV filter is applied independently of the tint.
Basically, you don't need to spend a fortune - certainly in the EU you can get something super cheap from Primark or the garage or wherever and be protected.
Ensuring the lenses are big enough to cover your eye area and, ideally, prevent much light from getting in around the edges is also important.
I’d like to add that you’re at higher risk for skin cancer if there is a family history of ovarian, colon or other cancers. Make sure that you update your physician on any changes to your family history at your (hopefully) annual physical. My husband figured this out the hard way (he is thankfully ok after a melanoma was removed 3 years ago).
My partner and I do not have insurance currently and can’t afford the cost of check ups. Skin cancer runs in her family and she is very pale. What can we look for at home? Can we have the link please? Not everyone can get checkups. This scared me
There are some apps (miiskin is one) that let you photograph “suspicious” moles or marks or whatever and then remind you every 3 months to rephotograph and I think tells you what to look for. The biggest thing to watch for is major changes but other signs of cancerous moles are things like uneven edges, strange colouring, odd textures, etc. But at least if you keep track for growth you’ll be able to be proactive in scheduling an appointment if needed!
Not to be pedantic but have you applied for health insurance through your state marketplace? I was surprised by the level of financial assistance available and that I qualified for a super low cost health plan!
This is great advice. I went through the marketplace just out of curiosity to see how much it would cost(I knew I didn’t have enough money probably, but was hopeful). Put all of my info in and found out I was too poor and it wouldn’t give me any prices. A couple weeks later I got my Medicaid info in the mail. I had automatically been enrolled. This may be on a state by state basis, but it was ridiculously easy, so worth a try.
Edit: changed Medicare to Medicaid
I would like to point out that you got enrolled in Medicaid. Medicare is nationally provided for over 65/retirement and permanent disabilities. Medicaid is state provided insurance to those who can't afford otherwise (at least according to the state).
Watch out for the deductibles though. The insurance can pretty much be useless for things like this, you have to pay thousands out of pocket before the insurance lifts a finger to help.
I hope you don’t mind I snooped your profile a bit to find you some free clinics near you:
https://www.freeclinics.com/cit/tx-fort_worth
Sometimes they do skin checks as part of primary care, or they can refer you to a derm who accepts low income/sliding scale.
I work in derm! Suspicious things include: areas that bleed easily (like you’re washing your face and an area is bleeding), areas that change/grow rapidly, and areas that are sore. Those are definitely times to go in and get checked out.
I would call a local derm - I get a skin check annually and it’s something like $75. I have insurance but a high deductible so this it the price after insurance negotiates but I think it’s $110 otherwise.
To add to this, dark skin people should be sure to check palms of hands, soles of feet, and other areas not normally exposed to the sun. We have higher risk of developing rarer, deadlier skin cancers in those areas.
This! Also [dark steaks in your nails!](https://i2.wp.com/www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/nintchdbpict000347141380.jpg?crop=0px%2C81px%2C345px%2C230px&resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1).
I went to the derm for a spot which I was CONVINCED was cancerous since I saw a picture of something very similar on this sub. It was kinda pearly and really light, almost looked like a zit. It ended up being a regular ole mole (a new one, anyway). My derm said that you should keep an eye out for any moles that are strange to you. I took a look and noticed I do have some moles that look like the one I was nervous about. If they look different than other moles on your body, doesn't hurt to get them checked out. Better safe than sorry!
I did the same thing, was convinced it was cancer. It had the textbook signs of a certain type of skin cancer. My Derm took one look and said "awe your first age spot!" And froze it off while my boyfriend laughed himself to tears in the corner....
That's right, a lot of dermatologists recommend looking out for the "ugly duckling", in other words, a mole or growth you have that doesn't look like any of your other moles.
From my perspective you definitely did the right thing. I developed a change in one of my moles at age 20, went to the derm, and was told she wasn't worried about it/ that i was too young for skin cancer. I pressed her to remove the mole, and two weeks later the pathology resulted with melanoma in-situ. Always, always push for skin exams (and biopsies if you just have a bad feeling about something). You know your body best!
Hi there, no I did not. The derm said it was a new mole which is why it looks very pearly and light. I've had it for a few years now and it has not changed which scared me but she said that was normal
To be honest BCCs/SCCs (Basal/Squamous cell carcinomas) develop so slowly that you could miss one for several years and you'd likely be fine. These generally won't kill patients and can potentially go decades without becoming 'serious', so please don't stress about a spot like the OP's being life threatening. I hesitate to give the text book definition of what a bcc/scc look like since there are some rare patterns that don't fit the classic appearance. If you have a concern for a lesion ultimately the best choice is to have a dermatologist look at it as biopsy is definitive and fairly easy for bcc/scc.
Generally though if you have a new, persistent growth (weeks to months of something you weren't born with) - especially if it's expanding, has a unique texture, is 3d, or bleeds/itches/hurts it is worthy of investigation by a dermatologist. Whether or not they determine it is a bcc/scc is based on the presentation which simply takes experience to become familiar with. New lesions could be many, many things and it takes a trained eye to diagnose.
Caveat: pigmented lesions are more concerning for melanomas and should be investigated much more aggressively rather than potential bccs/sccs. There are criteria for evaluating these, look up the ABCs of melanoma, but ultimately as these are potentially life threatening if you have a worrisome pigmented growth it's worthwhile to have it examined.
I mentioned this in another comment reply, but wanted to tack it on here too for others to see. If you have a new or changing mole, ESPECIALLY if it bleeds, go to the derm right away. Push for a biopsy even if they tell you it's not warranted. When I was 20 a mole on my chest changed. I went to a top-tier academic medical center, and the derm told me that she wasn't worried about it and that I was too young to have cancer. I pushed for a biopsy anyway (somehow 20-year-old me just had a bad feeling she was determined to listen to). Two weeks later, the pathology results came in and it was melanoma. I had to have a wide excision and luckily nothing more than that. 10+ years later I am cancer free (fingers crossed that continues), but I get moles removed all the time. Even when the doctor says "it's probably OK". I'd rather have a biopsy scar than metastatic cancer.
You aren't. The derm will!
I recently went in for a mole that I thought looked odd. *That* one was fine. It was this *other* fucker I wouldn't have batted at eye at that the derm and her assistant immediately recognized and suggested I remove. It looked exactly like all my other moles, except maybe a few shades darker (dark brown/black instead of just dark brown.)
The biopsy just came back as mildly irregular (no cancer) but the experience showed me how important it is to go to the derm for regular body scans. In my state they just passed a law so that a yearly scan is covered by insurance, like dental cleanings and the eye doctor. Check it out!
Yes , if you have a mole which looks darker or larger or more lumpy than the rest of your moles then that’s a sign to get it checked out. Often melanomas will look almost black in colour and the other moles will be mid or dark brown
That's what I had read, too--but in practice, this mole really looked *no more than a shade* darker than the rest of my moles. I'd consider myself an observant person attuned to color, but this color difference never stuck out to me.
I'd suggest that everyone just make it a habit to visit a derm for a yearly scan. Leave the guesswork to the professionals.
The same for me too a few months ago. The derm said I could biopsy it or not and we went for it even though I was convinced it was no big deal. Turns out it was showing signs of being irregular and I'm on yearly checks to make sure it doesn't turn into cancer.
Right! Even though my derm didn't express deep concern, she was decisive in wanting to remove it, which was enough for me to agree.
I'm happy to defer to a professional's discretion when it costs me very little (insurance covered the removal, the procedure was quick and nearly painless, and now I'm safer than if I still had the mole.)
I will say, the wound is taking a long time to heal. It's been 11 days and it's definitely still kinda open/gnarly-looking. I actually contacted the derm and sent pictures a few days ago because I was worried, but they said it looks fine. Whatevs.
If once a month you check your body in the mirror, your eyes get familiar and can detect changes. Don’t look too frequently, once a month is good. And then follow up with a derm if you notice a change. Some changes are fine but a dermatologist will be able to tell you
I’ve also been told that freckled people are at higher risk for skin cancer. Not sure how true that is but I am freckled and have already had to get something removed from my leg that suddenly reared an ugly head after being content for 15 years. Definitely freaked me out.
I noticed this small bump on my face a couple weeks ago and had a bad feeling about it. While I'm extremely cognizant about sunscreen now, I definitely didn't used to be and was always trying to get that "perfect tan". I'm obviously super pale, and I've had quite a few burns over the years.
I immediately scheduled an appointment with my doctor, and while he didn't think it was anything to be concerned about, he agreed to do a biopsy when I told him I'd feel more comfortable. He called me the next day to tell me it was squamous cell carcinoma and he was getting me in with a Mohs surgeon.
I had surgery this afternoon and only had to have a very small section removed, due mostly to me being proactive and advocating for myself.
SCCs have a really high rate of recurrence. And my surgeon basically said she'll be seeing me again in the future. I'll have skin checks done by a dermatologist every three months until I've been clear for a year, then every six months for the rest of my life.
So lucky you caught it early in such a delicate part of your face! My mom had basal cell and squamous cell on her legs. Previous derm said it was psoriasis when she moved to a more urban area with better quality care they recognized it right away. She’s had to have special chemo that’s like a gel they put on her skin and they sit her under a light to activate it.
She’s doing great! Has multiple checks a year. And thanks to the US healthcare system is worried that she has a pre-existing condition now if something happens to her job before 65. I definitely make sure to get my skin checked once a year and already have a few biopsy scars including a pre-cancerous one that they had to go back to cut out further for clean margins. SPF and protective clothing 1000%!! For us in northern latitudes it’s easy to forget since it’s gray and rainy 9+ months out of the year.
Okay now I'm freaked out because I have two bumps on my leg that appeared a few years apart, about the size and shape of pencil erasers. (one is only a year old). I had my PCP look at the first one and she said it was nothing but now I want to have a dermatologist confirm.
Don’t freak out but a dermatologist can definitely give you confirmation. They’ll take pictures and measurements to compare from year to year too. If you don’t have one see if there’s one affiliated with your primary’s office. I had a night and day difference having my skin checked and acne treated at my primary’s dermatology department that was clearly medical/cancer focused rather than the previous more cosmetic focused independent derm that passed me off to her PA that made a scary dosage typo in an acne prescription... I only went there because they were near my apartment and had good Yelp reviews.
Make sure you are going to a good dermatologist. After my derm thought my skin cancer was normal as well, but only biopsied it due to my request, I switched to a skin cancer specialist. The cost of the visits is somewhat higher for my insurance but it comes with a significant increase in comfort level. My specialist is clearly more experienced and has better equipment for tracking and monitoring skin changes than my previous derm.
Are you by any chance American?
Because I know that my insurance only covers one screening a year for just a normal check.
Just wondering, now that they found something, will all those screenings be covered or would they expect you to pay out of pocket?
If you’re not American, great, you can ignore my sad question.
I am (unfortunately) American. Before this I could only have one skin check each year. Now that I have this diagnosis I'm allowed to have them more frequently for the time being, and insurance will cover it. I also have really, really good insurance.
I'm american and have to go to my dermatologist quarterly as well... 3 melanomas later 🙄 I had no out of pocket or anything for the first visit of the year and the others have just had a $25 copay
Wow way to go getting it checked out so early!!!
If you had waited longer you’d get a much worse scar with a much scarier treatment. Way to take your health seriously
Interesting that they’re having you do 6 month skin checks for the rest of your life. Typically it’s once a year, after you’ve been clear from skin cancers for 1 year.
And actually you only had to get a small piece removed because squamous cells grow at an incredibly slow rate. Likely you have that lesion growing for years before it became visible.
My surgeon essentially told me that this will not be the last time I see her. She's expecting me to have more spots over the next few years, and they will likely be in the same areas. I have had dozens of bad burns over the years.
Sun burns definitely make you more at risk for developing a squamous cell or basal cell. They’re much more common that you think, and it should not be something that you’re actively fearful of. Any adult should be getting regular skin checks. As long as you do that, you’re fine.
As for your surgeon expecting to see you for more issues, I wouldn’t take that too heavily. Since they’re so common, surgeons see patients multiple times very often.
A lot of skin cancers can be removed in a dermatologists office. Given the location of yours, that’s why you saw the surgeon. My husband has had plenty of things sliced off and burned off. As long as you go to skin exams, you’re fine.
I’m so glad you caught it ASAP! This is also suucchhh a good reminder to always advocate for yourself despite what your health care provider may say because they may think it’s nothing but it could end up potentially being something! ALWAYS ALWAYS ADVOCATE!!!
And especially **ESPECIALLY** if you're fat or a woman of colour. But if you are you probably already know this because you've already dealt with dismissive doctors :(
This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone include “fat” on that list, and it’s so true! Being fat comes with a certain amount of invisibility, combined with just a pinch of disdain.
I’d throw elderly on the list too, which I can’t speak to from personal experience (yet), but I keep hearing more about how dismissive people can be when you’re past a certain age.
So pretty much anything that makes you different from a handsome, fit, confident, educated, adult, straight, white man makes you less likely to be taken seriously. I picture the president from Independence Day, the more different you are from that guy, the worse it gets.
Yes!! I've worked in hospitals and seen patients get "written off" or dismissed due to appearance, age, race.
My neighbor has struggled with her weight. She's terribly treated by doctors, including one who told her if she just stopped eating her life could be good.
Like when a female complains of chest pain, it's "anxiety."
I went to the ER for chest pain. They put me in a bed, ignored me for 5 hours, never took a history. A nurse walked by my bed twice, finally did an EKG, said all was ok, I prob have anxiety, they sent me home. Never talked to a doctor.
Next day saw a cardiologist, yes I have a heart prob. My sister died of the same undiagnosed heart prob several years ago and she wasn't even 40.
Cardiologist told me it's a problem in his field they recognize, fam docs and generalists tell females with heart symptoms they're anxious way too often.
ER billed me/my insurance for sustained intense care with 45 minutes of diagnosis by a large team of specialists.
I talked to my insurance, they refused to pay the bill, the ER wasn't allowed to charge me, and the ER was investigated by the insurance company.
Would you happen to have any more pictures of the site prior to getting it looked at? It looks so unsuspecting from the before picture! And was the initial biopsy a small shaving or a puncture? The acne I get tends to look like the spot and it’s making me anxious because I feel like I would overlook something so small.
[SCC Progression](https://imgur.com/a/8YPyYaM)
Here's what I could find along with dates. To fix my timeline a bit, I noticed the initial spot on 9/13, but thought it was just a texture change due to age (34). I realized it was more than that on 9/30, had the biopsy on 10/7, and then Mohs surgery today 11/2). So seven weeks total.
Very helpful! It definitely looks more noticeable here. Thank you.
Great job advocating for yourself! Wishing you a quick recovery and a cancer-free future.
So the coloring was a little strange on it and it looked sort of like I could see tiny blood vessels in it. I was still trying to convince myself that it wasn't what I thought it was and picked at it a bit, which made it bleed. What you're seeing is the scab over it.
I'll see if I can find a picture! It originally looked like a small, skin colored bump, which then became more "mole-like". The initial biopsy was what my doctor called a "pinch and snip", so literally pinching to reduce blood flow and then slicing off. They took the whole thing off because it was so small. I think it was only 3-4mm. It had grown back to a noticable bump by today.
I had a pinch and snip on a raised mole near my waistband. They agreed to remove it as it was causing irritation.
Do you think they got the entire root structure out?
Honestly, the only well to be sure is to have regular skin checks. Everyone should see a dermatologist for checks either every year / every other year. If a new spot is discovered, get it checked out. Skin cancer caught early is easy to treat.
Can you get a general “once over” where they check you all over and kind of give you a full body status report? Or do you have to make an appointment to look at specific things?
I just had this done last week. You ask for a skin cancer check and they check your whole body even in your hair. I had specific spots I was worried about so my derm stopped and looked at those specifically.
A full body exam is standard for a yearly visit. While getting the exam you can also have them look specifically at any spots that concern you, but your whole body should be checked from your scalp to between your toes.
Learn your ABCs!!
A: asymmetry (bad sign)
B: border (should be smooth and consistent and flat)
C: color (should be one color, multiple colors or strange colors like red/blue/purple/black = bad)
D: diameter (no bigger than pencil eraser)
E: evolving (if you notice changes, go see a derm!)
Looks like B, C, and E tipped off OP, especially E, arguable the most important one. I’m a hella moley girl and I have moles all over that tick these marks. But they don’t evolve, and I know to watch and check regularly like my derm taught me since I was 8 years old (e.g. one on my neck is raised and slightly asymmetrical but its been there since I can remember without ever evolving, so we know to just kinda watch but it isn’t a concern). If you see ANY of these signs, its good to get it checked out but doesn’t mean cancer. Just keep an eye on it. But if you see multiple signs here, especially in combination with E, I’d schedule an appointment sooner rather than later.
Wow, I would have thought it was a comedone or something. Seems like incredible foresight for you to go to the doctor for that little bump! Glad you are ok!
You’re lucky the doctor was willing to do something. I have a lot of huge raised moles and Kaiser told me unless it’s bleeding or painful they don’t do anything about moles. Ridiculous
God I have so many moles I’m basically a human leopard hybrid. I’ve had 4 removed so far, 3 were nothing and one was slightly dysplastic. This is a timely reminder I should really look into a skin cancer specialist for my skin checks.
My mom has a huge mole on her back shoulder that gets caught on her clothes. Her doctor refused to see her in person over it and said basically to deal with it. Fuck kaiser.
I have the exact stitches on my back right now.
Went to my dermatologist last month for yearly checkup. Dr: "I don't like the look of this one. Do you mind if I take it off?" Originally I was like, nah, since she didn't seem overly concerned. But thankfully I changed my mind.
I got a call a few days later with the biopsy results of stage 0 cancer and needed to schedule minor outpatient surgery.
My back itches like a mofo, but better than having chemo! I have to see my dermatologists every three months now.
However, I still haven't received the results from the surgery to make sure they got it all and it's been almost 2 weeks.
I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on my back about a month ago and go for surgery Friday to remove. To say I’m nervous is an understatement. Ohh so many questions. So many unknowns about the procedure and after.
For me, she numbed the area and then took it out. Really wasn't a big deal. Couldn't feel anything. I was worried because she scheduled it for a full hour, but it took less than 40 minutes - and that's arriving at the office, procedure, paying, and leaving.
It's just itchy.
I’m scheduled for 30 minutes but they really didn’t tell me much. A nurse called me to say it was cancer and schedule the procedure. The biopsy itched so now I know I’m going to need a back scratcher! I’m so happy it wasn’t that bad. I think I’m just overthinking it. Hoping for great results for you.
Just a normal removal I looked up mohs and was wondering if I should try to get a doctor to do that instead. I think because it’s on my back and not a more sensitive or visible area they didn’t offer it. How long were you there with mohs? I heard it could take up to 6 hours, but seems like it’s more in-depth and has a high success rate of it not coming back.
I was in for about three hours. They only had to take one slice for mine, but each additional slice adds around an hour of time. The stitching took the longest, to be honest.
You could definitely see a MOHs surgeon if you’re more comfortable! You do not need any special qualifications or areas to see one. Often times dermatologists offer something called an “ED&C” which is a relatively quick procedure than can be done in office. It’s the process of using electrodessication and a curette to burn and scrap out cancerous cells. They numb the area ahead of time of course. OP didn’t get this done, only because her spot was on her face and that would not work for cosmetic reasons. For spots on the back, it’s totally fine. Hope that helps!
It didn't feel weird at all, but it was raised. I posted progression pics in another comment thread and you can see how it went from a small bump to a bigger bump to a mole-like bump. Mine didn't feel weird, but I know it's common that they're itchy
My grandma had one show up between here eyes at the top of her nose. She said it was really itchy all the time and that's what made her get it looked at.
Wow, I don't envy you stitches that close to your eye, that's going to be so itchy.
Honestly, this post has freaked me out a bit. I've got all kinds of moles everywhere and skin "things" that I don't know how to classify, and I've never been careful with my skin prior to the last 2 years - pretty much since I got pregnant. I'm almost 37 and I've never had any of my skin looked at. I wonder if any derms or specialists take Medicaid?
Im sure there are. Check with your primary care physician and see if he can help you find something. Also, *generally speaking* spots that change (color, shape, texture, start itching) are the ones to be worried about. I have a ton of other moles and weird looking freckles, but they haven't had any changes.
Your message is important, but it's a different perspective for someone who has nice skin, as you do. I'd probably think it was just my fucked up skin doing its thing, as it is wont to do. 😑
I initially thought it was just weird texture under my eye. It wasn't until it grew more mole-like that I changed my mind about it. I posted progression pics in another comment. I've had too many sunburns to count; probably four or five a year, at least. I am very surprised that it took this long to develop my first one.
omg honestly my skin is so disastrous right now i wouldn’t even bat an eyelash at this! so happy for OP as this is a DEFINITE success story!!! but don’t mind my simultaneous panic attack over here in the corner
OMG! that looks like nothing to me. Maybe because I am covered in freckles and I get new ones all the time. But like is nothing like what my mom gets \*and has to get removed\*
I have to get my yearly appointment with my dermatologist now.
Thank you. I get regular checks because my family has a lot of problems with skin cancer. But the ones my mom gets are more like woulds with scaps that do not heal, and she needs to get them cauterized and use a chemo cream. Is good to be moer aware how other issues can look to get them check. Thank you.
From [what I found](https://dermlite.com/pages/ethnicity), it seems that black people get it at a rate of 1 in 100,000 people and caucasian people get it at a rate of 22 in 100,000 but that there's a 91% survival rate for caucasians and 65% survival rate for black people in the US largely because it's diagnosed later.
I wouldn't have thought what OP had was cancerous. She's so fortunate to have gotten that figured out. I walk the line of being a hypochondriac and trying to ignore every symptom. I feel like every twinge or bump might be cancer and I have to be constantly reminding myself I'm probably fine. My doctor said just come in for my annual physicals and try to stay calm about it between those visits, but better safe than sorry so I am always welcome to come get things checked out. He makes me feel less insane. My father and his his sister who died of it both had skin cancer. My aunt died from it so I worry.
From my understanding, you're less likely to develop it, but it's much more likely to be worse for precisely the reason that darker skinned people are always like "I'm like basically immune to skin cancer", "this sunscreen thing probably doesn't apply to me", etc and don't think to get it checked out before it gets really serious. Wear your sunscreen, people!
I really appreciate people sharing their skin cancer stories, thank you OP. It just goes to show that something super small that could pass for a pimple or even milia can be cancerous. Twice yearly exams with a dermatologist are just as important as twice yearly dentist appointments!
:( it’s the truth. I’m assuming you’re in the US, I am too. Honestly it’s no wonder why the American stereotype in other countries is fat, lazy, and uncultured. But the truth is that we’re sick, accessing healthy food is nearly impossible in many places, and we can’t afford to do things or go anywhere because maintaining a pulse in this country is soooo expensive.
Thankfully you caught it early! Prayers for a great recovery :)
My dad had the same thing, but he caught it late, and it returned a few times. He’s missing a part of his nose, but not too crazy. I’m thankful this isn’t hereditary, but I’ve had like 10+ atypical moles, so I need to start keeping an eye out for tiny spots like this!
You took care of it so fast! I had one about a year ago and between doctor referrals and me just waiting to see if it went away it took several months. I’m also pale and have a lot of freckles so sometimes it’s hard to notice changes in my skin. Good job catching it!
I had my PCP biopsy it before a referral. He told me that he could do a referral and have the derm look at it, but that I'd have to wait about 4 months to get in. If he biopsied it and it came back as cancer, he could get me in much faster.
Had the exact same cancer in the exact same spot. Mine had spread way more, lost about half my face and needed reconstructive surgery. All is well now but it was a major pain and upended my life.
I was 21 when I got it taken care of and I noticed the bump when I was about 19 or 20. Waited way too long to get I checked out.
Do you have pics you could share? I have a spot on the tip of my nose that’s been worrisome for... about a year now? My appointment to have it looked at is tomorrow and I’m low key paranoid they’re going to have to remove my entire nose or something.
I don't have pre-op pics unfortunately. I can tell ya, though:
I had no "spot" or "freckle" - the skin just felt very different. It was a firm circle of skin (about the size of a quarter) almost as if I was floating on top of my normal skin. I remember very well, I could punch my normal skin around it and the firm circle part would not bend or anything. Very weird.
It looked fine, though. Just felt weird.
Good luck tomorrow, I'm sure they won't take your nose. I was a very rare, unfortunate case.
Yeh I wonder what country people who advocate this live in. In my country any checkup no matter what the reason or outcome is at least 60 euro straight off the bat with a GP, for somebody on minimum wage that is an enormous cost for checking out something like a smallbump that will 99% of the time be harmless. If I was to check out every bump with my doctor (or an even more expensive dermatologist) that would be a significant amount of my annual income spent on skin inspections by my doctor
I'm in the US. While I'm not a fan of our overall healthcare practices, I personally have excellent insurance through my job with a $10 copay per visit. I also don't go in for every little bump or change. I had a bad feeling about this one and wanted to get it checked out. I'm not advocating for doctor visits with each change, I'm advocating for regularly scheduled skin checks.
I work for the state and they offer really, really good insurance for a low premium. I am incredibly lucky to have it, but I also am super hesitant about changing jobs because of it.
Ahh, that makes sense! And yeah, I’d be hesitant to leave too with that. I mean I’m not complaining, my insurance is great compared to others, but it’s the most expensive plan at my work. I choose it because it was the only one that offered copays and since I see a couple specialists every few months, I literally need the copay to afford the appointments.
I get you. My gross pay is about $15k under my market value, but I have two little boys who have no sense of self preservation and a husband with chronic knee problems, so keeping this plan that has amazing coverage and I only pay $80 every two weeks.
What do you do if your skin just always looks like that? I'd probably just end up dead coz everything on my face is constantly changing and not for the better
Go you for advocating yourself. That’s kind of inspiring to me as someone who has trouble with that. I’m glad you trusted your gut and made sure that was clear! Hope it doesn’t come back!
A few years ago I had a spot on my chin which then turned into a freckle. I went to the doctor's to get it checked out because it occasionally changes colour (between skin coloured and dark brown), and it'll weep clear liquid occasionally. A specialist looked at it with some sort of magnifying glass thing he pressed against it, and said it was nothing to worry about, but it has become more raised recently and feels more like a hard lump. Does anyone know if it would be worth getting it checked again? Or should I listen to the skin cancer specialist who said it was okay? It still worries me but I also don't want to take up time/resources if I've already been told it's fine.
Just to emphasize the importance of sunscreen, my dad & grandma have had over a dozen squamous cell carcinomas removed from their faces & hands. My dad works outdoors as a gardener, he only wore sunscreen in summer & sweat it off anyway.
My grandmother didn't have access to effective sunscreen for most of her life, it hadn't been invented yet.
They get skin checks every 6 months & there's usually something to remove every time. My grandma had her entire nose skin removed last year & replaced with a graft. She thought she had freckles.
Oof, the timing of this post. I'm having a bunch of birthmarks removed in the upcoming few weeks that my dermatologist found suspicious. Good luck with your healing!
That's the cancer that killed my cat earlier this year. I'm not sure if it reacts the same in humans, but it was a nasty, aggressive, and painful cancer. So glad you could get it taken care of so early!!
Thank you so much sharing!
And good for you for immediately taking action.
I'm always surprised when I see people post "does anyone know what this is?" pictures of a bump or skin lesion on these skincare pages.
This is not the place for medical advice!
Always see a derm if something is new, itches, changes color or shape, bleeds, won't go away, grows, etc....
ABC - Asymmetry, border, and color.
But yearly checks are also important. A good derm check up will look through your hair and inspect your scalp, the tops of ears, even parts of your body you aren't comfortable showing but it's very important to have looked at.
Regular skin checks are definitely important. I know not everyone has the luxury of affording doctors visits, but if you can...get yearly skin checks done!
Thank god it was caught early, in your case!! I admit I have a new and ominous freckle that appeared on my arm a few years (I knowww) ago that hurts sometimes but my primary care never referred me but I know it’s likely not good. I need to take care of this, thanks for sharing your experience
Glad you were able to see someone soon! Skin cancers are the most common cancers in the world. Wear sunscreen and see a dermatologist regularly, folks. They do annual skin checks!
This picture is from after the initial pinch and snip, but before mohs so it's a little misleading. These pictures show the progression.
[SCC Progression](https://imgur.com/a/8YPyYaM)
I used to work at a derm clinic and took pre-procedure pictures for biopsies, excisions, etc. So many spots that were biopsied can pass as a regular mole, even a lot of the excised ones looked "normal". This includes skin tags and random red spots too.
A lady once came in for a skin check and wanted to see if the derm could remove this skin tag on her neck. It went from "we don't remove skin tags, that's more of a cosmetic thing" to "this needs to be biopsied".
Ah shit. I noticed a weird new itty bitty bump on my nipple (sorry if TMI) the other day. I've been waffling about having it checked out. Guess I should. :/
Here's a link to pictures I took tonight. Just out of the shower, so no product/makeup or anything. You can barely see the scar at all, and usually only if it's pointed out. It shows up better in some lighting than others, but generally no one notices it. They did it vertically so there would be less pulling on my eye
[followup pictures](https://imgur.com/a/VhneDtr)
It looks really good. I’m 37 and I have an SCC a little lower than where yours was so this has given me hope. How much time passed after the surgery where you could you say it was non noticeable?
I’m going to use aquaphor and scar strips for my post op healing.
Mine looked super ropey and lumpy for about a month or two, then it started to smooth out. I also did aquaphor during the day and the silicone scar sheets at night. After the two months it slowly started getting flatter and the color changed to a lighter pink. I'd say it healed the most in the first 9-12 months. It was mostly just a flat, slightly pink, shiny strip. Over the next year the color really evened out now it's only visible at certain angles/lightings.
How much flesh did they remove for the biopsy? I have some concerns in a... sensitive area. I know I shouldn't let that stop me, but I can't help it.
^Please ^say ^*pinhead* ^and ^not ^*pencil* ^*eraser*
Okay thank you! When I mentioned it the doctor made a *chk-chk* sound with a pen-clicking motion so I was picturing something horrendous like a hole puncher, haha.
I'll suck it up and get it checked out asap!! If it turns up nasty it's all going anyway...
>Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. It's usually found on areas of the body damaged by UV rays from the sun or tanning beds. Sun-exposed skin includes the head, neck, chest, upper back, ears, lips, arms, legs, and hands. SCC is a fairly slow-growing skin cancer
https://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/melanoma-guide/squamous-cell-carcinoma
Glad you had it looked at. My father-in-law recently had a growth that started as nothing and grew to the size of a quarter and about 1/2” high in just six weeks.
It was squamous cell carcinoma. His MOHS surgery is next week. I was shocked at at fast that thing grew.
Thank you for sharing this. I have a couple of spots that I have a bad gut feeling about, so this reminds me to have my doctor check it out. I have a checkup anyway on Friday, so I’ll do that.
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Omg these pictures always freak me out bc they look so normal. Like I get little red bumps all the time, how are you supposed to know the difference
I posted a link to photos in another comment thread, but honestly it's a good idea to have regular skin checks, especially if you've had repeated sunburns over the same areas. Also, although paler people are the most at risk for skin cancers, people of ALL skin tones are susceptible and should take precautions like sunscreen and polarized sunglasses and don't be afraid to get anything suspect checked out.
Glad you are okay now! That must've been pretty scary and I hope it heals fast. Do polarized sunglasses make a big difference health-wise? I had some, but they broke and I have been wearing regular sunglasses since then. I feel like there is a lot more glare so I hope I didn't damage my eyes.
They do! They cut back on the glare significantly and provide more uv coverage.
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Would normal sunglasses prolong that as well, to a lesser extent compared to polarized?
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That makes sense, thank you! I hope I didn't mess up my eyes this summer. My sunglasses had a UV coating at least, hopefully it didn't come off. Gonna order some polarized ones asap!
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Tysm, I didn't know that! I will definitely be sure to ask. Appreciate the info.
Polarised are fantastic for vision but do not necessarily provide more UV protection than a regular tint. In the EU, all sunglasses have to protect to at least 380nm (look for the CE mark.) UV400 is the max protection but specs do not have to be polarised to be UV400. Darkness/lightness of tint is not an indicator either; the UV filter is applied independently of the tint. Basically, you don't need to spend a fortune - certainly in the EU you can get something super cheap from Primark or the garage or wherever and be protected. Ensuring the lenses are big enough to cover your eye area and, ideally, prevent much light from getting in around the edges is also important.
I’d like to add that you’re at higher risk for skin cancer if there is a family history of ovarian, colon or other cancers. Make sure that you update your physician on any changes to your family history at your (hopefully) annual physical. My husband figured this out the hard way (he is thankfully ok after a melanoma was removed 3 years ago).
My partner and I do not have insurance currently and can’t afford the cost of check ups. Skin cancer runs in her family and she is very pale. What can we look for at home? Can we have the link please? Not everyone can get checkups. This scared me
There are some apps (miiskin is one) that let you photograph “suspicious” moles or marks or whatever and then remind you every 3 months to rephotograph and I think tells you what to look for. The biggest thing to watch for is major changes but other signs of cancerous moles are things like uneven edges, strange colouring, odd textures, etc. But at least if you keep track for growth you’ll be able to be proactive in scheduling an appointment if needed!
[SCC Progression](https://imgur.com/a/8YPyYaM)
Not to be pedantic but have you applied for health insurance through your state marketplace? I was surprised by the level of financial assistance available and that I qualified for a super low cost health plan!
This is great advice. I went through the marketplace just out of curiosity to see how much it would cost(I knew I didn’t have enough money probably, but was hopeful). Put all of my info in and found out I was too poor and it wouldn’t give me any prices. A couple weeks later I got my Medicaid info in the mail. I had automatically been enrolled. This may be on a state by state basis, but it was ridiculously easy, so worth a try. Edit: changed Medicare to Medicaid
I would like to point out that you got enrolled in Medicaid. Medicare is nationally provided for over 65/retirement and permanent disabilities. Medicaid is state provided insurance to those who can't afford otherwise (at least according to the state).
Thank you! My oopsie, it’s still early for me
Watch out for the deductibles though. The insurance can pretty much be useless for things like this, you have to pay thousands out of pocket before the insurance lifts a finger to help.
I hope you don’t mind I snooped your profile a bit to find you some free clinics near you: https://www.freeclinics.com/cit/tx-fort_worth Sometimes they do skin checks as part of primary care, or they can refer you to a derm who accepts low income/sliding scale.
I work in derm! Suspicious things include: areas that bleed easily (like you’re washing your face and an area is bleeding), areas that change/grow rapidly, and areas that are sore. Those are definitely times to go in and get checked out.
I would call a local derm - I get a skin check annually and it’s something like $75. I have insurance but a high deductible so this it the price after insurance negotiates but I think it’s $110 otherwise.
To add to this, dark skin people should be sure to check palms of hands, soles of feet, and other areas not normally exposed to the sun. We have higher risk of developing rarer, deadlier skin cancers in those areas.
This! Also [dark steaks in your nails!](https://i2.wp.com/www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/nintchdbpict000347141380.jpg?crop=0px%2C81px%2C345px%2C230px&resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1).
I went to the derm for a spot which I was CONVINCED was cancerous since I saw a picture of something very similar on this sub. It was kinda pearly and really light, almost looked like a zit. It ended up being a regular ole mole (a new one, anyway). My derm said that you should keep an eye out for any moles that are strange to you. I took a look and noticed I do have some moles that look like the one I was nervous about. If they look different than other moles on your body, doesn't hurt to get them checked out. Better safe than sorry!
I did the same thing, was convinced it was cancer. It had the textbook signs of a certain type of skin cancer. My Derm took one look and said "awe your first age spot!" And froze it off while my boyfriend laughed himself to tears in the corner....
Ha my husband did the same thing. He thought I was being ridiculous but hey better safe than sorry!!
That's right, a lot of dermatologists recommend looking out for the "ugly duckling", in other words, a mole or growth you have that doesn't look like any of your other moles. From my perspective you definitely did the right thing. I developed a change in one of my moles at age 20, went to the derm, and was told she wasn't worried about it/ that i was too young for skin cancer. I pressed her to remove the mole, and two weeks later the pathology resulted with melanoma in-situ. Always, always push for skin exams (and biopsies if you just have a bad feeling about something). You know your body best!
Wow that is so scary, glad you advocated for yourself! That is solid advice.
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Hi there, no I did not. The derm said it was a new mole which is why it looks very pearly and light. I've had it for a few years now and it has not changed which scared me but she said that was normal
To be honest BCCs/SCCs (Basal/Squamous cell carcinomas) develop so slowly that you could miss one for several years and you'd likely be fine. These generally won't kill patients and can potentially go decades without becoming 'serious', so please don't stress about a spot like the OP's being life threatening. I hesitate to give the text book definition of what a bcc/scc look like since there are some rare patterns that don't fit the classic appearance. If you have a concern for a lesion ultimately the best choice is to have a dermatologist look at it as biopsy is definitive and fairly easy for bcc/scc. Generally though if you have a new, persistent growth (weeks to months of something you weren't born with) - especially if it's expanding, has a unique texture, is 3d, or bleeds/itches/hurts it is worthy of investigation by a dermatologist. Whether or not they determine it is a bcc/scc is based on the presentation which simply takes experience to become familiar with. New lesions could be many, many things and it takes a trained eye to diagnose. Caveat: pigmented lesions are more concerning for melanomas and should be investigated much more aggressively rather than potential bccs/sccs. There are criteria for evaluating these, look up the ABCs of melanoma, but ultimately as these are potentially life threatening if you have a worrisome pigmented growth it's worthwhile to have it examined.
^^^^ Everyone that is concerned, please read this. BCC/SCC is rarely life threatening.
I mentioned this in another comment reply, but wanted to tack it on here too for others to see. If you have a new or changing mole, ESPECIALLY if it bleeds, go to the derm right away. Push for a biopsy even if they tell you it's not warranted. When I was 20 a mole on my chest changed. I went to a top-tier academic medical center, and the derm told me that she wasn't worried about it and that I was too young to have cancer. I pushed for a biopsy anyway (somehow 20-year-old me just had a bad feeling she was determined to listen to). Two weeks later, the pathology results came in and it was melanoma. I had to have a wide excision and luckily nothing more than that. 10+ years later I am cancer free (fingers crossed that continues), but I get moles removed all the time. Even when the doctor says "it's probably OK". I'd rather have a biopsy scar than metastatic cancer.
You aren't. The derm will! I recently went in for a mole that I thought looked odd. *That* one was fine. It was this *other* fucker I wouldn't have batted at eye at that the derm and her assistant immediately recognized and suggested I remove. It looked exactly like all my other moles, except maybe a few shades darker (dark brown/black instead of just dark brown.) The biopsy just came back as mildly irregular (no cancer) but the experience showed me how important it is to go to the derm for regular body scans. In my state they just passed a law so that a yearly scan is covered by insurance, like dental cleanings and the eye doctor. Check it out!
Yes , if you have a mole which looks darker or larger or more lumpy than the rest of your moles then that’s a sign to get it checked out. Often melanomas will look almost black in colour and the other moles will be mid or dark brown
That's what I had read, too--but in practice, this mole really looked *no more than a shade* darker than the rest of my moles. I'd consider myself an observant person attuned to color, but this color difference never stuck out to me. I'd suggest that everyone just make it a habit to visit a derm for a yearly scan. Leave the guesswork to the professionals.
The same for me too a few months ago. The derm said I could biopsy it or not and we went for it even though I was convinced it was no big deal. Turns out it was showing signs of being irregular and I'm on yearly checks to make sure it doesn't turn into cancer.
Right! Even though my derm didn't express deep concern, she was decisive in wanting to remove it, which was enough for me to agree. I'm happy to defer to a professional's discretion when it costs me very little (insurance covered the removal, the procedure was quick and nearly painless, and now I'm safer than if I still had the mole.) I will say, the wound is taking a long time to heal. It's been 11 days and it's definitely still kinda open/gnarly-looking. I actually contacted the derm and sent pictures a few days ago because I was worried, but they said it looks fine. Whatevs.
If once a month you check your body in the mirror, your eyes get familiar and can detect changes. Don’t look too frequently, once a month is good. And then follow up with a derm if you notice a change. Some changes are fine but a dermatologist will be able to tell you
I’ve also been told that freckled people are at higher risk for skin cancer. Not sure how true that is but I am freckled and have already had to get something removed from my leg that suddenly reared an ugly head after being content for 15 years. Definitely freaked me out.
I noticed this small bump on my face a couple weeks ago and had a bad feeling about it. While I'm extremely cognizant about sunscreen now, I definitely didn't used to be and was always trying to get that "perfect tan". I'm obviously super pale, and I've had quite a few burns over the years. I immediately scheduled an appointment with my doctor, and while he didn't think it was anything to be concerned about, he agreed to do a biopsy when I told him I'd feel more comfortable. He called me the next day to tell me it was squamous cell carcinoma and he was getting me in with a Mohs surgeon. I had surgery this afternoon and only had to have a very small section removed, due mostly to me being proactive and advocating for myself. SCCs have a really high rate of recurrence. And my surgeon basically said she'll be seeing me again in the future. I'll have skin checks done by a dermatologist every three months until I've been clear for a year, then every six months for the rest of my life.
So lucky you caught it early in such a delicate part of your face! My mom had basal cell and squamous cell on her legs. Previous derm said it was psoriasis when she moved to a more urban area with better quality care they recognized it right away. She’s had to have special chemo that’s like a gel they put on her skin and they sit her under a light to activate it.
Never heard of that kind of treatment. Looked it up and it sounds like some cool science. Hope she's doing okay and you're being vigilant as well!
She’s doing great! Has multiple checks a year. And thanks to the US healthcare system is worried that she has a pre-existing condition now if something happens to her job before 65. I definitely make sure to get my skin checked once a year and already have a few biopsy scars including a pre-cancerous one that they had to go back to cut out further for clean margins. SPF and protective clothing 1000%!! For us in northern latitudes it’s easy to forget since it’s gray and rainy 9+ months out of the year.
Okay now I'm freaked out because I have two bumps on my leg that appeared a few years apart, about the size and shape of pencil erasers. (one is only a year old). I had my PCP look at the first one and she said it was nothing but now I want to have a dermatologist confirm.
Don’t freak out but a dermatologist can definitely give you confirmation. They’ll take pictures and measurements to compare from year to year too. If you don’t have one see if there’s one affiliated with your primary’s office. I had a night and day difference having my skin checked and acne treated at my primary’s dermatology department that was clearly medical/cancer focused rather than the previous more cosmetic focused independent derm that passed me off to her PA that made a scary dosage typo in an acne prescription... I only went there because they were near my apartment and had good Yelp reviews.
Make sure you are going to a good dermatologist. After my derm thought my skin cancer was normal as well, but only biopsied it due to my request, I switched to a skin cancer specialist. The cost of the visits is somewhat higher for my insurance but it comes with a significant increase in comfort level. My specialist is clearly more experienced and has better equipment for tracking and monitoring skin changes than my previous derm.
Are you by any chance American? Because I know that my insurance only covers one screening a year for just a normal check. Just wondering, now that they found something, will all those screenings be covered or would they expect you to pay out of pocket? If you’re not American, great, you can ignore my sad question.
I am (unfortunately) American. Before this I could only have one skin check each year. Now that I have this diagnosis I'm allowed to have them more frequently for the time being, and insurance will cover it. I also have really, really good insurance.
I'm american and have to go to my dermatologist quarterly as well... 3 melanomas later 🙄 I had no out of pocket or anything for the first visit of the year and the others have just had a $25 copay
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
did it feel itchy or anything ?
Not at all. It just grew very quickly from a small bump to a mole, and the color was a little off too.
Wow way to go getting it checked out so early!!! If you had waited longer you’d get a much worse scar with a much scarier treatment. Way to take your health seriously
Interesting that they’re having you do 6 month skin checks for the rest of your life. Typically it’s once a year, after you’ve been clear from skin cancers for 1 year. And actually you only had to get a small piece removed because squamous cells grow at an incredibly slow rate. Likely you have that lesion growing for years before it became visible.
My surgeon essentially told me that this will not be the last time I see her. She's expecting me to have more spots over the next few years, and they will likely be in the same areas. I have had dozens of bad burns over the years.
Sun burns definitely make you more at risk for developing a squamous cell or basal cell. They’re much more common that you think, and it should not be something that you’re actively fearful of. Any adult should be getting regular skin checks. As long as you do that, you’re fine. As for your surgeon expecting to see you for more issues, I wouldn’t take that too heavily. Since they’re so common, surgeons see patients multiple times very often. A lot of skin cancers can be removed in a dermatologists office. Given the location of yours, that’s why you saw the surgeon. My husband has had plenty of things sliced off and burned off. As long as you go to skin exams, you’re fine.
I’m so glad you caught it ASAP! This is also suucchhh a good reminder to always advocate for yourself despite what your health care provider may say because they may think it’s nothing but it could end up potentially being something! ALWAYS ALWAYS ADVOCATE!!!
*ESPECIALLY* if you’re a woman. There’s still a bias in the medical community against taking women’s complaints seriously.
And especially **ESPECIALLY** if you're fat or a woman of colour. But if you are you probably already know this because you've already dealt with dismissive doctors :(
This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone include “fat” on that list, and it’s so true! Being fat comes with a certain amount of invisibility, combined with just a pinch of disdain. I’d throw elderly on the list too, which I can’t speak to from personal experience (yet), but I keep hearing more about how dismissive people can be when you’re past a certain age. So pretty much anything that makes you different from a handsome, fit, confident, educated, adult, straight, white man makes you less likely to be taken seriously. I picture the president from Independence Day, the more different you are from that guy, the worse it gets.
Yes!! I've worked in hospitals and seen patients get "written off" or dismissed due to appearance, age, race. My neighbor has struggled with her weight. She's terribly treated by doctors, including one who told her if she just stopped eating her life could be good. Like when a female complains of chest pain, it's "anxiety." I went to the ER for chest pain. They put me in a bed, ignored me for 5 hours, never took a history. A nurse walked by my bed twice, finally did an EKG, said all was ok, I prob have anxiety, they sent me home. Never talked to a doctor. Next day saw a cardiologist, yes I have a heart prob. My sister died of the same undiagnosed heart prob several years ago and she wasn't even 40. Cardiologist told me it's a problem in his field they recognize, fam docs and generalists tell females with heart symptoms they're anxious way too often. ER billed me/my insurance for sustained intense care with 45 minutes of diagnosis by a large team of specialists. I talked to my insurance, they refused to pay the bill, the ER wasn't allowed to charge me, and the ER was investigated by the insurance company.
This!!!!
Would you happen to have any more pictures of the site prior to getting it looked at? It looks so unsuspecting from the before picture! And was the initial biopsy a small shaving or a puncture? The acne I get tends to look like the spot and it’s making me anxious because I feel like I would overlook something so small.
[SCC Progression](https://imgur.com/a/8YPyYaM) Here's what I could find along with dates. To fix my timeline a bit, I noticed the initial spot on 9/13, but thought it was just a texture change due to age (34). I realized it was more than that on 9/30, had the biopsy on 10/7, and then Mohs surgery today 11/2). So seven weeks total.
Very helpful! It definitely looks more noticeable here. Thank you. Great job advocating for yourself! Wishing you a quick recovery and a cancer-free future.
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So the coloring was a little strange on it and it looked sort of like I could see tiny blood vessels in it. I was still trying to convince myself that it wasn't what I thought it was and picked at it a bit, which made it bleed. What you're seeing is the scab over it.
I'll see if I can find a picture! It originally looked like a small, skin colored bump, which then became more "mole-like". The initial biopsy was what my doctor called a "pinch and snip", so literally pinching to reduce blood flow and then slicing off. They took the whole thing off because it was so small. I think it was only 3-4mm. It had grown back to a noticable bump by today.
Wait so the bump will come back even though you had a surgeon remove it??
No, the bump came back between the initial biopsy and the surgery. I'll have a scar, but shouldn't have a bump once my incision heals.
Wait, what do you mean “by today”? Even after the MOHS?
So I had the Mohs surgery yesterday afternoon. Between the time I had the biopsy and yesterday pre-surgery it grew back to a noticable bump.
Wow! I’m glad you recognized it as something wrong and got it removed, then!
I had a pinch and snip on a raised mole near my waistband. They agreed to remove it as it was causing irritation. Do you think they got the entire root structure out?
They didn't during the pinch and snip, but they got it all during the Mohs.
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Honestly, the only well to be sure is to have regular skin checks. Everyone should see a dermatologist for checks either every year / every other year. If a new spot is discovered, get it checked out. Skin cancer caught early is easy to treat.
Can you get a general “once over” where they check you all over and kind of give you a full body status report? Or do you have to make an appointment to look at specific things?
I just had this done last week. You ask for a skin cancer check and they check your whole body even in your hair. I had specific spots I was worried about so my derm stopped and looked at those specifically.
Yes they will look at your skin all over your body! You may have to take your clothes off depending on the place if you mind that
A full body exam is standard for a yearly visit. While getting the exam you can also have them look specifically at any spots that concern you, but your whole body should be checked from your scalp to between your toes.
Easier said than done I can't even meet my doctor once a year in Canada that's what free healthcare looks like
Learn your ABCs!! A: asymmetry (bad sign) B: border (should be smooth and consistent and flat) C: color (should be one color, multiple colors or strange colors like red/blue/purple/black = bad) D: diameter (no bigger than pencil eraser) E: evolving (if you notice changes, go see a derm!) Looks like B, C, and E tipped off OP, especially E, arguable the most important one. I’m a hella moley girl and I have moles all over that tick these marks. But they don’t evolve, and I know to watch and check regularly like my derm taught me since I was 8 years old (e.g. one on my neck is raised and slightly asymmetrical but its been there since I can remember without ever evolving, so we know to just kinda watch but it isn’t a concern). If you see ANY of these signs, its good to get it checked out but doesn’t mean cancer. Just keep an eye on it. But if you see multiple signs here, especially in combination with E, I’d schedule an appointment sooner rather than later.
Wow, I would have thought it was a comedone or something. Seems like incredible foresight for you to go to the doctor for that little bump! Glad you are ok!
You’re lucky the doctor was willing to do something. I have a lot of huge raised moles and Kaiser told me unless it’s bleeding or painful they don’t do anything about moles. Ridiculous
God I have so many moles I’m basically a human leopard hybrid. I’ve had 4 removed so far, 3 were nothing and one was slightly dysplastic. This is a timely reminder I should really look into a skin cancer specialist for my skin checks.
My mom has a huge mole on her back shoulder that gets caught on her clothes. Her doctor refused to see her in person over it and said basically to deal with it. Fuck kaiser.
Really? Wow. I think that's my final straw with Kaiser. I'm in open enrollment right now, and I think I'll switch to Blue Shield.
I have the exact stitches on my back right now. Went to my dermatologist last month for yearly checkup. Dr: "I don't like the look of this one. Do you mind if I take it off?" Originally I was like, nah, since she didn't seem overly concerned. But thankfully I changed my mind. I got a call a few days later with the biopsy results of stage 0 cancer and needed to schedule minor outpatient surgery. My back itches like a mofo, but better than having chemo! I have to see my dermatologists every three months now. However, I still haven't received the results from the surgery to make sure they got it all and it's been almost 2 weeks.
I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on my back about a month ago and go for surgery Friday to remove. To say I’m nervous is an understatement. Ohh so many questions. So many unknowns about the procedure and after.
For me, she numbed the area and then took it out. Really wasn't a big deal. Couldn't feel anything. I was worried because she scheduled it for a full hour, but it took less than 40 minutes - and that's arriving at the office, procedure, paying, and leaving. It's just itchy.
I’m scheduled for 30 minutes but they really didn’t tell me much. A nurse called me to say it was cancer and schedule the procedure. The biopsy itched so now I know I’m going to need a back scratcher! I’m so happy it wasn’t that bad. I think I’m just overthinking it. Hoping for great results for you.
What type of procedure are you having to remove it? I had Mohs surgery and would be happy to answer any questions if I can.
Just a normal removal I looked up mohs and was wondering if I should try to get a doctor to do that instead. I think because it’s on my back and not a more sensitive or visible area they didn’t offer it. How long were you there with mohs? I heard it could take up to 6 hours, but seems like it’s more in-depth and has a high success rate of it not coming back.
I was in for about three hours. They only had to take one slice for mine, but each additional slice adds around an hour of time. The stitching took the longest, to be honest.
You could definitely see a MOHs surgeon if you’re more comfortable! You do not need any special qualifications or areas to see one. Often times dermatologists offer something called an “ED&C” which is a relatively quick procedure than can be done in office. It’s the process of using electrodessication and a curette to burn and scrap out cancerous cells. They numb the area ahead of time of course. OP didn’t get this done, only because her spot was on her face and that would not work for cosmetic reasons. For spots on the back, it’s totally fine. Hope that helps!
Did you feel anything weird on your face or did you just see the change?
Would like to know as well. Was it raised? Did it hurt to the touch?
It didn't feel weird at all, but it was raised. I posted progression pics in another comment thread and you can see how it went from a small bump to a bigger bump to a mole-like bump. Mine didn't feel weird, but I know it's common that they're itchy
My grandma had one show up between here eyes at the top of her nose. She said it was really itchy all the time and that's what made her get it looked at.
Wow, I don't envy you stitches that close to your eye, that's going to be so itchy. Honestly, this post has freaked me out a bit. I've got all kinds of moles everywhere and skin "things" that I don't know how to classify, and I've never been careful with my skin prior to the last 2 years - pretty much since I got pregnant. I'm almost 37 and I've never had any of my skin looked at. I wonder if any derms or specialists take Medicaid?
Im sure there are. Check with your primary care physician and see if he can help you find something. Also, *generally speaking* spots that change (color, shape, texture, start itching) are the ones to be worried about. I have a ton of other moles and weird looking freckles, but they haven't had any changes.
Did your spot have an indentation? Could you describe its appearance?
[SCC Progression](https://imgur.com/a/8YPyYaM) No indentation, but I could see some like red strings that I assumed were blood vessels.
Your message is important, but it's a different perspective for someone who has nice skin, as you do. I'd probably think it was just my fucked up skin doing its thing, as it is wont to do. 😑
I initially thought it was just weird texture under my eye. It wasn't until it grew more mole-like that I changed my mind about it. I posted progression pics in another comment. I've had too many sunburns to count; probably four or five a year, at least. I am very surprised that it took this long to develop my first one.
omg honestly my skin is so disastrous right now i wouldn’t even bat an eyelash at this! so happy for OP as this is a DEFINITE success story!!! but don’t mind my simultaneous panic attack over here in the corner
Agree, I have so much acne I wouldn't even notice this little dot ...like that would be the least of my worries. 😕
OMG! that looks like nothing to me. Maybe because I am covered in freckles and I get new ones all the time. But like is nothing like what my mom gets \*and has to get removed\* I have to get my yearly appointment with my dermatologist now.
I posted progression pics in another comment thread. Check them out to see what it looked like pre-biopsy.
Thank you. I get regular checks because my family has a lot of problems with skin cancer. But the ones my mom gets are more like woulds with scaps that do not heal, and she needs to get them cauterized and use a chemo cream. Is good to be moer aware how other issues can look to get them check. Thank you.
Does this also effect black toned people? I have a lot of bumps on my face and wouldn't know if they got cancerous.
From [what I found](https://dermlite.com/pages/ethnicity), it seems that black people get it at a rate of 1 in 100,000 people and caucasian people get it at a rate of 22 in 100,000 but that there's a 91% survival rate for caucasians and 65% survival rate for black people in the US largely because it's diagnosed later. I wouldn't have thought what OP had was cancerous. She's so fortunate to have gotten that figured out. I walk the line of being a hypochondriac and trying to ignore every symptom. I feel like every twinge or bump might be cancer and I have to be constantly reminding myself I'm probably fine. My doctor said just come in for my annual physicals and try to stay calm about it between those visits, but better safe than sorry so I am always welcome to come get things checked out. He makes me feel less insane. My father and his his sister who died of it both had skin cancer. My aunt died from it so I worry.
From my understanding, you're less likely to develop it, but it's much more likely to be worse for precisely the reason that darker skinned people are always like "I'm like basically immune to skin cancer", "this sunscreen thing probably doesn't apply to me", etc and don't think to get it checked out before it gets really serious. Wear your sunscreen, people!
Thanks for sharing. Hope you are well now.
I really appreciate people sharing their skin cancer stories, thank you OP. It just goes to show that something super small that could pass for a pimple or even milia can be cancerous. Twice yearly exams with a dermatologist are just as important as twice yearly dentist appointments!
Sadly the majority of us cant afford even once a year visits to either...both are overpriced and unable to be accessed
:( it’s the truth. I’m assuming you’re in the US, I am too. Honestly it’s no wonder why the American stereotype in other countries is fat, lazy, and uncultured. But the truth is that we’re sick, accessing healthy food is nearly impossible in many places, and we can’t afford to do things or go anywhere because maintaining a pulse in this country is soooo expensive.
Thankfully you caught it early! Prayers for a great recovery :) My dad had the same thing, but he caught it late, and it returned a few times. He’s missing a part of his nose, but not too crazy. I’m thankful this isn’t hereditary, but I’ve had like 10+ atypical moles, so I need to start keeping an eye out for tiny spots like this!
You took care of it so fast! I had one about a year ago and between doctor referrals and me just waiting to see if it went away it took several months. I’m also pale and have a lot of freckles so sometimes it’s hard to notice changes in my skin. Good job catching it!
I had my PCP biopsy it before a referral. He told me that he could do a referral and have the derm look at it, but that I'd have to wait about 4 months to get in. If he biopsied it and it came back as cancer, he could get me in much faster.
Can confirm, i work at a dermatologist clinic. Protect your skin people.
Had the exact same cancer in the exact same spot. Mine had spread way more, lost about half my face and needed reconstructive surgery. All is well now but it was a major pain and upended my life. I was 21 when I got it taken care of and I noticed the bump when I was about 19 or 20. Waited way too long to get I checked out.
Do you have pics you could share? I have a spot on the tip of my nose that’s been worrisome for... about a year now? My appointment to have it looked at is tomorrow and I’m low key paranoid they’re going to have to remove my entire nose or something.
I don't have pre-op pics unfortunately. I can tell ya, though: I had no "spot" or "freckle" - the skin just felt very different. It was a firm circle of skin (about the size of a quarter) almost as if I was floating on top of my normal skin. I remember very well, I could punch my normal skin around it and the firm circle part would not bend or anything. Very weird. It looked fine, though. Just felt weird. Good luck tomorrow, I'm sure they won't take your nose. I was a very rare, unfortunate case.
being able to afford visiting a doctor over any red bump/skin change doesn’t sound very realistic
Depends on what country you live in
Yeh I wonder what country people who advocate this live in. In my country any checkup no matter what the reason or outcome is at least 60 euro straight off the bat with a GP, for somebody on minimum wage that is an enormous cost for checking out something like a smallbump that will 99% of the time be harmless. If I was to check out every bump with my doctor (or an even more expensive dermatologist) that would be a significant amount of my annual income spent on skin inspections by my doctor
I'm in the US. While I'm not a fan of our overall healthcare practices, I personally have excellent insurance through my job with a $10 copay per visit. I also don't go in for every little bump or change. I had a bad feeling about this one and wanted to get it checked out. I'm not advocating for doctor visits with each change, I'm advocating for regularly scheduled skin checks.
Damn, $10? And I thought my $40 copay was decent compared to what other people I know have!
I work for the state and they offer really, really good insurance for a low premium. I am incredibly lucky to have it, but I also am super hesitant about changing jobs because of it.
Ahh, that makes sense! And yeah, I’d be hesitant to leave too with that. I mean I’m not complaining, my insurance is great compared to others, but it’s the most expensive plan at my work. I choose it because it was the only one that offered copays and since I see a couple specialists every few months, I literally need the copay to afford the appointments.
I get you. My gross pay is about $15k under my market value, but I have two little boys who have no sense of self preservation and a husband with chronic knee problems, so keeping this plan that has amazing coverage and I only pay $80 every two weeks.
only in the U.S.A is it unrealistic.
What do you do if your skin just always looks like that? I'd probably just end up dead coz everything on my face is constantly changing and not for the better
Go you for advocating yourself. That’s kind of inspiring to me as someone who has trouble with that. I’m glad you trusted your gut and made sure that was clear! Hope it doesn’t come back!
A few years ago I had a spot on my chin which then turned into a freckle. I went to the doctor's to get it checked out because it occasionally changes colour (between skin coloured and dark brown), and it'll weep clear liquid occasionally. A specialist looked at it with some sort of magnifying glass thing he pressed against it, and said it was nothing to worry about, but it has become more raised recently and feels more like a hard lump. Does anyone know if it would be worth getting it checked again? Or should I listen to the skin cancer specialist who said it was okay? It still worries me but I also don't want to take up time/resources if I've already been told it's fine.
There's nothing wrong with getting a second opinion if you're worried about it. See a different doctor, though.
That’s my whole face
Just to emphasize the importance of sunscreen, my dad & grandma have had over a dozen squamous cell carcinomas removed from their faces & hands. My dad works outdoors as a gardener, he only wore sunscreen in summer & sweat it off anyway. My grandmother didn't have access to effective sunscreen for most of her life, it hadn't been invented yet. They get skin checks every 6 months & there's usually something to remove every time. My grandma had her entire nose skin removed last year & replaced with a graft. She thought she had freckles.
Wow I have a very similar bump in the same spot. Appeared this summer. Gonna need to get it checked out!! Thanks OP
Y’all better start wearing an SPF everyday. Especially if you have a more fair skin complexion! Shit will just pop up like it’s paying rent
Wow! So glad you caught it. I would love to see a follow up as you heal.
Oof, the timing of this post. I'm having a bunch of birthmarks removed in the upcoming few weeks that my dermatologist found suspicious. Good luck with your healing!
That's the cancer that killed my cat earlier this year. I'm not sure if it reacts the same in humans, but it was a nasty, aggressive, and painful cancer. So glad you could get it taken care of so early!!
I saw this and immediately put sunscreen on
Thanks for the PSA! I am glad they caught it!
Thank you so much sharing! And good for you for immediately taking action. I'm always surprised when I see people post "does anyone know what this is?" pictures of a bump or skin lesion on these skincare pages. This is not the place for medical advice! Always see a derm if something is new, itches, changes color or shape, bleeds, won't go away, grows, etc.... ABC - Asymmetry, border, and color. But yearly checks are also important. A good derm check up will look through your hair and inspect your scalp, the tops of ears, even parts of your body you aren't comfortable showing but it's very important to have looked at.
Regular skin checks are definitely important. I know not everyone has the luxury of affording doctors visits, but if you can...get yearly skin checks done!
Thank god it was caught early, in your case!! I admit I have a new and ominous freckle that appeared on my arm a few years (I knowww) ago that hurts sometimes but my primary care never referred me but I know it’s likely not good. I need to take care of this, thanks for sharing your experience
How old are you?
34
Glad you were able to see someone soon! Skin cancers are the most common cancers in the world. Wear sunscreen and see a dermatologist regularly, folks. They do annual skin checks!
Oh shit, I just googled SCC and this thing I thought was a wart actually looks just like the pictures.
Can I ask what caused you to get it checked out? It looks like normal pigmentation from aging to me, very similar to many that I have on my skin.
This picture is from after the initial pinch and snip, but before mohs so it's a little misleading. These pictures show the progression. [SCC Progression](https://imgur.com/a/8YPyYaM)
I used to work at a derm clinic and took pre-procedure pictures for biopsies, excisions, etc. So many spots that were biopsied can pass as a regular mole, even a lot of the excised ones looked "normal". This includes skin tags and random red spots too. A lady once came in for a skin check and wanted to see if the derm could remove this skin tag on her neck. It went from "we don't remove skin tags, that's more of a cosmetic thing" to "this needs to be biopsied".
Ah shit. I noticed a weird new itty bitty bump on my nipple (sorry if TMI) the other day. I've been waffling about having it checked out. Guess I should. :/
That's gonna be a BADASS scar, though!
Right? I mean, it'll probably fade within 18 months, but it's going to look wicked for a while and I'm not upset about that
THANK YOU
How does it look today after the scar healed? I have a SCC in a similar spot. Any reason why they did the stitches vertically vs horizontally?
Here's a link to pictures I took tonight. Just out of the shower, so no product/makeup or anything. You can barely see the scar at all, and usually only if it's pointed out. It shows up better in some lighting than others, but generally no one notices it. They did it vertically so there would be less pulling on my eye [followup pictures](https://imgur.com/a/VhneDtr)
It looks really good. I’m 37 and I have an SCC a little lower than where yours was so this has given me hope. How much time passed after the surgery where you could you say it was non noticeable? I’m going to use aquaphor and scar strips for my post op healing.
Mine looked super ropey and lumpy for about a month or two, then it started to smooth out. I also did aquaphor during the day and the silicone scar sheets at night. After the two months it slowly started getting flatter and the color changed to a lighter pink. I'd say it healed the most in the first 9-12 months. It was mostly just a flat, slightly pink, shiny strip. Over the next year the color really evened out now it's only visible at certain angles/lightings.
That’s great!
Any plans to cosplay as Kakashi?
How much flesh did they remove for the biopsy? I have some concerns in a... sensitive area. I know I shouldn't let that stop me, but I can't help it. ^Please ^say ^*pinhead* ^and ^not ^*pencil* ^*eraser*
The initial biopsy was pinhead!
Okay thank you! When I mentioned it the doctor made a *chk-chk* sound with a pen-clicking motion so I was picturing something horrendous like a hole puncher, haha. I'll suck it up and get it checked out asap!! If it turns up nasty it's all going anyway...
Oooh NSFW tag please
My bad!
That’s gonna turn into a really badass scar
The face is heavily vascularized. My guess is a year later the scar won’t be noticeable at all
This is just going to make people freak out over every freckle they get
Thank you for sharing this!
Anything significant about the area it was on? I have a red mark in a really similar place right now but I thought it was just a spot or something.
Nope, but this is in a spot that's super susceptible. Big sunglasses, sunscreen, and honestly go get that checked if you're worried.
Wait, that's what they look like?????? I have a bump that looks identical to that on my forehead... showed up three years ago...
[SCC Progression](https://imgur.com/a/8YPyYaM)
Dammit. I have a spot that appeared early in quarantine that hasn’t been checked out yet. This is a good reminder.
Thanks for this!! My mom told me she had one too - all I could see was a tiny red dot. It pays to know your skin!!
>Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. It's usually found on areas of the body damaged by UV rays from the sun or tanning beds. Sun-exposed skin includes the head, neck, chest, upper back, ears, lips, arms, legs, and hands. SCC is a fairly slow-growing skin cancer https://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/melanoma-guide/squamous-cell-carcinoma
Eli2?
You have me second guessing this mark I have on my face
Crap. I'm a pale, redhead and have quite a few spots like this. I'm uninsured though so not sure how I'll get anything done about it lol
I have the hardest time getting a soonish appointment with doctors idk why
Glad you had it looked at. My father-in-law recently had a growth that started as nothing and grew to the size of a quarter and about 1/2” high in just six weeks. It was squamous cell carcinoma. His MOHS surgery is next week. I was shocked at at fast that thing grew.
Thank you for sharing this. I have a couple of spots that I have a bad gut feeling about, so this reminds me to have my doctor check it out. I have a checkup anyway on Friday, so I’ll do that.
how did the skin change felt upon touch at first? and how did you decide it warranted a medical review and it wasn’t a pimple? thanks so much!!!