Tina2 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Thought I would put this up to warn others. Watching adverts for what to look for with skin cancer the photos show red or brown raised areas that are an odd shape. But I found out the hard way there are other signs to watch out for. OH went to the skin cancer clinic in Toowoomba, as he had a typical mark on his face. Guess we are lucky as this clinic had GPs that work specifically in skin cancer. After discussing treatment with my husband the GP looked at me and said - how long have you had that lump on your nose. Oh a few months , has it been checked ? well no I thought is was possibly a wart. Short story, I have had an area of what looks and feels like dry skin on my nose for a long time, that has gone and been replaced by this lump. Yesterday I lost most of the left side of my nose and had to have a huge piece of skin cut off behind my ear to patch the hole and will have to have on going treatment and dressings for possibly 3 to 6 months. Now knowing what to look for I asked about to other areas on my face that have this small amount of dry skin, tests done and yep both are skin cancers in the very early stage. This has been a huge wake up call, and I have spoken to friends since and non knew to look at dry skin areas or even small lumps. Most poms like me have fair skin, make sure you cover up and wear a good wide brimmed hat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 My son had an area of dry skin just below his neck on his shoulder. was initially told it was nothing, but like you it was diagnosed later as skin cancer, and a large amount of skin was removed. Hope all is ok, and good to post a warning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Good information to have, I hope you recover quickly and with minimal scarring Tina. I think the best plan of action is to be suspicious of any difference to the skin that doesn't go away within a week or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I had a skin checkup a few weeks back Removed a few moles and sent to be checked Got the all clear Checkups are so important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I had a similar experience and thanks to the Oz publicity about skin cancer I didn't lose a chunk of my nose. I live in Europe but like many of my age group, sunbathed continuously in my teens. I had an itchy spot on the side of my nose which then became a colourless little bump about the size of half a grain of rice. There it sat, doing no harm, for about four years ...then it began going through a cycle of itching, coming to a bit of a head, then scabbing over and not quite healing up. This little spot was TINY. I had been wondering about going to the GP but didn't because it was so small. Then when I was visiting my daughter in Sydney I saw lots of adverts about watching your skin, so when I went home I did take it to the GP, who said it was probably nothing but to visit the hospital for a check up anyway. It turned out to be a basal cell carcinoma - not life threatening but very unsightly as time goes on. I had it removed, and for this tiny tiny spot I had four stitches. The doctor pointed out that the area removed has to be bigger than the visible spot because they need to be sure to remove it all, to prevent recurrence. He said that if I had left it any longer, I would possibly have been looking at a skin graft because it was on the bridge of my nose where there is little spare flesh. I got off lightly, had been left with a little dimple in the side of my nose which nobody is aware of but me - and I am much more careful about my skin these days. Apparently noses and bald heads are two of the common places for skin cancers to appear, also lower legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina2 Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Good information to have, I hope you recover quickly and with minimal scarring Tina. I think the best plan of action is to be suspicious of any difference to the skin that doesn't go away within a week or so. Thank you Happy Heart, I am just so glad we have a clinic that specializes in skin cancer in our town. The pain I have been going through over the last couple of days could have been avoided if I had known the warning signs better. My advise now to everyone is find a skin cancer clinic and have a yearly check up. Apparently these cancers grow far more under the skin than on top of it thus the need for large and often deep cuts to remove all the cancer and the doctor needs to cut out at least 3 mil all around the edge of the cancer, to give a clear margin. I face another 2 removals next week and am not looking forward to that at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Glad you are getting it sorted Tina. My doctor checks me from head to toe at least once a year (including places that don't see the sun). It's something people should ask their GP to do if they don't suggest it themselves. Most surgeries (that I have ever visited) have had at least one doctor who specialised in early skin cancer detection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I saw this on front page of SMH today. I go for check up each year too plus obsessively asking my GP each time I see him to check every spot I can see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Can't you check yourself ? do you need a doctor checking every nook, cranny and crevice ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I tend to 'catastrophise' (sick) (sic!) my maladies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Can't you check yourself ? do you need a doctor checking every nook, cranny and crevice ? Common sense should tell you that a Doctor or Nurse who specialises in skin cancer detection will have a better idea of what to look twice at and whats normal. It's also impractical to look closely at areas on the back or in other hard to view places. If it saves a few lives...early detection is where it's at. Malignant Melanoma is a horrible death. You wouldn't think a skin cancer would invade every organ often culminating in the brain and reducing people to a shadow of their former selves. This is serious stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Common sense should tell you that a Doctor or Nurse who specialises in skin cancer detection will have a better idea of what to look twice at and whats normal. It's also impractical to look closely at areas on the back or in other hard to view places. If it saves a few lives...early detection is where it's at. Malignant Melanoma is a horrible death. You wouldn't think a skin cancer would invade every organ often culminating in the brain and reducing people to a shadow of their former selves. This is serious stuff. They say that 66% of the population in Australia will get skin cancer at some point in their life. Scary statistics. For some reason many Aussies seem to think they are bronzed god's / godesses who can take the sun when the reality is most of them just have the same genetics and skin type as us pasty poms. Hence the massive skin cancer statistics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Can't you check yourself ? do you need a doctor checking every nook, cranny and crevice ? Reading the experiences of those above should make it clear that skin cancer is not obvious to the untrained...it may be something as innocuous-looking as a patch of dry skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I fancy the UK stats are not so good because so many people still go for beach hols to the Med, and when the sun shines in UK they whip their shirts off and bake. It might be a shorter summer but you still have to take care. Do builders and labourers still work stripped to the waist? Most outdoor workers here are covered up. I see posties now almost invisible except for their faces under hats and helmets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I've had one removed from my shin- a couple of years ago now and it has healed up beautifully with no scar. I used that bio oil stuff on it, seems to work well. My mum got one in the UK on her eyelid from sunbaking with her eyes shut. She had to have skin grafts etc. Never went overseas to anywhere hot, just good old sarf east London! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 For some reason many Aussies seem to think they are bronzed god's / godesses who can take the sun when the reality is most of them just have the same genetics and skin type as us pasty poms. Hopefully the younger generations will get the message. It starts with child care and continues into school now - shade sails over play areas for the little ones and a "no hat, no play outside" policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 God knows why people still go to the beach to sun bathe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Malignant Melanoma is a horrible death. You wouldn't think a skin cancer would invade every organ often culminating in the brain and reducing people to a shadow of their former selves. This is serious stuff. Yes, I can vouch for that too. My sister developed a malignant melanoma which invaded her brain and bones and lung - and she survived only 6 months after the diagnosis. It was indeed a horrible death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina2 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Can't you check yourself ? do you need a doctor checking every nook, cranny and crevice ? YES ! you cant check your back or the top of your head, and what may look like nothing to worry about could be something to very much worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina2 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Yes, I can vouch for that too. My sister developed a malignant melanoma which invaded her brain and bones and lung - and she survived only 6 months after the diagnosis. It was indeed a horrible death. Sorry to hear that Skani, This has been a huge wake up call for me. 12 stitches in my nose, 2 between my eyes, 6 on the donor graft sight and (now 3 under my eye as of yesterday. cant sleep as behind my ear is so soar, I have been given something called fixaderm, its an oil to rub in after the stitches and dressing are removed (nose will be 6 weeks, of weekly visits and new dressing). This is "serious" and I am the first to put my hand up and admit I had no idea how serious sunburn can be. Now I cover up if in the sun, avoid being outside in mid day heat, and wide brimmed hats are kept in the car, and in the house to wear when ever I step outside. Thank goodness we now have the knowledge of the risk of skin cancer so we can teach the young what might happen if you dont take sunburn or even simple exposure to the sun seriously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Yes, I can vouch for that too. My sister developed a malignant melanoma which invaded her brain and bones and lung - and she survived only 6 months after the diagnosis. It was indeed a horrible death. I'm very sorry to hear that Skani. Very traumatic for all involved. My condolences to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 W have the My UV web site permanently open and try to avoid going out when it is at the extreme levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina2 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 W have the My UV web site permanently open and try to avoid going out when it is at the extreme levels. Thanks for this never heard about it before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 http://www.myuv.com.au/your-uv-forecast/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest66881 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 http://www.myuv.com.au/your-uv-forecast/ Thank you for the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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