Dermatologic issue and rads

Lojo
Lojo Member Posts: 303
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

I'm not sure where to post this,

But my RO frowned at a spot on my forehead that I've been watching for a while and said to go to a dermatologist and get it "off". She said it didn't look like melanoma but I'm guessing basal cell carcinoma. It's small, maybe 2-3mm and sort of shiny. Anyone have any idea if the dermatologist will just cut it off (my appt is tomorrow am, right before rads #17). Or will it be biopsied and I'll have to wait until rads are done? Ugh.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    lojo - I don't have ILC, and didn't have rads, but I have had at least 25 basal cell carcinomas stretching back more than 20 years.  Generally, these spots are biopsied with a punch biopsy or a scrape biopsy.  The derm waits for a path report and then you decide on the method of removal.  I have had them electrodessicated, scraped, burned, surgically removed, MOHS surgery, wide excision (like a lumpectomy), and frozen.  The different methods are used depending on location of the spot and its size.  For that tiny of a spot they may elect to not prolong the process and just freeze it off and skip the biopsy - hard to say.  The forehead doesn't have a lot of flesh underneath the skin, so this might be the best approach.  Alternatively, if they scrape (kind of like a scooping with a sharp blade) they may just do the path and see if they have clean margins and leave it at that.  All of this can be done in the derm's office - it is pretty quick.

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  • Lojo
    Lojo Member Posts: 303
    edited March 2014

    Thanks,

    I've had some moles removed before (frozen) but nothing suspicious before.

    I'm hoping the derm will just scrape it off tomorrow. I don't know if it will even require a stitch. Then I guess I might go get my hair cut with bangs! Which I've been too nervous to do!  :)

    were your spots shiny? I initially thought it was just a plugged sebaceous gland, but it hasn't gone away.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    100% of mine have been basal, and mine present very pink, like a pencil eraser. They have an iridescent pearlized aspect, and have been a bunch of different sizes.

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  • Lojo
    Lojo Member Posts: 303
    edited March 2014

    Benign! Small blessings.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    lojo - yay!  Happy for you!  Make sure you are using sunscreen! 

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