Removal of possible basal cell on arm?

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Emilyc
Emilyc Member Posts: 31
edited June 2015 in Lymphedema

My left arm has a possible basal cell near the wrist..going to the dermatologist next week. Have had breast cancer surgery both sides. The left side was done in 1997 with removal of a few lymph nodes that were negative. I have never had any swelling problems with the left arm. I am terribly concerned about the right way to go about possible treatment for the basal cell (maybe) since I do have lymphedema on my right arm. Should I take prophylactic antibiotics?? Has anyone else had this issue?

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2015

    I had basal cell on my face, derma treated it topically with a cream for 4 weeks. Be sure to tell your dermaabout the LE

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015

    Maybe the cream would be the least invasive choice if I have to have anything removed.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    I just did this - had two basal cells (I have had many of them lifetime, predating breast cancer) removed from my lymphedema arm between the elbow and shoulder where my swelling is the worst.  I used a topical cream called Aldara (imiquimod) by my request because I did not want an incision beyond the biopsy scrape on that arm.  My derm is unsure whether or not the topical went deep enough, but he will reassess in two months.  I did not have any issues with my arm while using the cream even though it causes an immune response and you get a scab-like area.  I would suggest you try this as a first line treatment if you are concerned, and then if the response is insufficient, do another round of the cream.  I did six weeks first, then another six weeks.  Good luck!

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015


    This is an incredibly helpful post .......thank you! Did you do any special precautions when you did the biopsy for the skin cancer on the LE arm???

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    Glad to help!  I did not take a any specific precautions, mainly because I was actually at the derm for a post-op check on another site on my back and they took a look at my arm and decided to biopsy it while I was there.  I just asked them to go as shallow as possible on the scrape.  The area was not that obvious to me - I usually recognize the basal cell spots right away because I have had so many, this really just looked like a dry area.  I was a bit surprised it came back positive.  I did not wear my sleeve because the biopsied area would be under the sleeve and I didn't want it squeezed.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited June 2015

    Emily, here are guidelines for surgery (or any risky procedure) on an area with lymphedema. Just scroll down to the very last section on this page:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Med...

    Looking forward with you to a great outcome. Please do keep us posted,
    Binney

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015


    Thank you...........I already feel a lot less worried!!!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2015

    Emilyc, welcome to our community and please keep us all posted!


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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015


    Thank you !!! This is a very nice forum and I hope I can "pay it forward" in the future!

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited June 2015

    Emilyc,

    I'm doing fine two weeks after trigger thumb release surgery. My only swelling is what would be expected from any surgery.

    My LE is truncal and upper arm only and usually very well controlled, so I felt the relief from pain and regained function was worth the risk. The surgery was done in a surgicenter with full antibiotic prep the night before and morning of. If I was getting surgery in a doctor's office, I'd definitely ask for antibiotics. I didn't because I already have antibiotic allergies and I need to save them for an actual infection. My mom has become allergic to almost every antibiotic around. Thankfully I seem to have a very strong immune system (except for BC if that was why I got it).

    I think SpecialK's suggestion to use the creme to see if it will work for you is a very good idea.

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015

    Well...a bit of good news! Went to dermatology today and she feels that the spot on my arm is not a basal cell and she is not worried about it !! Yay!

    We talked about lymphedema and what a plan would be for someone like me if I needed a procedure on my lymphedema arm. In addition to the topical meds for treatment, there is also a focused radiation treatment that can be used on skin cancer. Depending on what the depth and type of the lesion is, radiation treatment may also be a choice. She gave me the info to get on their website so I can have a dialog with the surgeon in chief and get his input regarding past cases that he may have treated.

    I think it's good to have this info so I can eliminate this worry from my "list of worries" (yes this is another topic). Anyway, I hope this little bit may help someone else on this board.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    emilyc - can you provide the radiation treatment info?  My topically treated spot may not be truly gone and my derm is making noises about further treatment - and this is on the worse of my LE arms.

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015


    Sorry I don't have any other info on it. Dermatologist said that there are some elderly or special needs patients who just can't have surgery and the treatment for them may be radiation. It is not new nor is it experimental. To me it sounded like a good dermatology center could do this. I see that you are in Tampa - are you going to a hospital affiliated derm place??

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015

    These guys are in Florida and appear to utilize radiation treatment
    <http://www.marderdermatology.com/radiation-therapy>

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    I am seen at the University of South Florida's Dermatology group. They are adjacent to the only NCI cancer center in FL, Moffitt Cancer Center. USF also has a medical school, so I am sure they have the latest technology, but I am not far from Orlando if they don't! Thanks for the info!

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015

    Good luck!! I'll keep posting here with any new info that I get!

     

    Em

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2015

    Special, read that whole site, they don't appear to be in Orlando. From Port St Lucie to Okeechobee. You're already a Moffitt, THE best

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  • Emilyc
    Emilyc Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2015


    I found a radiation skin cancer program at Dana Farber in Boston. Good to know and hopefully I will never need it!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    Spookie - I eye washed and saw Orlando, thanks for catching that! My derm is USF, but I can scoot across the street to Moffitt if need be and that is where my LE therapists are also. I will be curious what the recommendation will be at my next derm appt

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