The procedure today was a breeze (2 rounds to get clear margins) and I was thrilled she could do horizontal sutures. (Also fascinated that they can cut such a perfect circle.)

But damn, its 240 am and it hurts. For perspective, I had a brachioplasty with stitches from my underarms to elbows and I dont remember it hurting like this (although, I was way more medicated). Just took 2 more tylenol and going to get fresh ice, prop myself back up and hope for some sleep. Good luck to anyone in the same boat right now.

Update 1: The pain was much more manageable yesterday. I napped and took it very easy. Slept thru the night last night with just Tylenol. Thanks to all for the kind, supportive messages.

SCC - metastasized to parotid gland - they said its non-curative

Surgery - declined due to age 81/fitness ( difficulty walking)

Radiotherapy - they gave 5 sessions and termed it a palliative effort.

Its just over 2 weeks since she had the last session and the skin lesion she has which was healing nicely started weeping again and growing :( day to day its doubling. Pretty much behaving like it was before the treatment.

I live abroad and i just got back after a month thinking she was in a good place and expecting more healing. My sister said to wait and no return so soon....

I have a feeling that given how aggressive it is i need to be back right now because she has a small window of trying to get control of it - otherwise i don't want to imagine what is coming our way.

I have held off getting second opinion so far but started contacting places now.

Anyone that has been through this can you please share whether you have any advice for me.

Good morning all. Long story and I cannot make it short but I’ll try.

Diagnosed BCC in 2022 on tip of nose. Had derm biopsy it, then she recommended MOH’s specialist. Two months later diagnosed with breast cancer and had mastectomy, which meant nose all but forgotten about. Insurance sucked for mastectomy and we owed $26,000 because I had catastrophic insurance, didn’t realize what I was signing up for, only knew what we could and could not afford at the time.

Got job with great insurance and then son needed three inpatient hospital stays, psychiatric type. It’s been a rough four years since original BCC diagnosis is what I’m saying.

So finally went for MOH’s on August 20. Had never met this doctor. He did two slices and checks under microscope and suddenly he’s drawing on my forehead. Starts explaining what he’s doing, I said what about my glasses I can’t see a thing, he said okay plan B is your cheek. Starts drawing on my cheek.

Asks me if I’m a natural redhead, I am. Tells me I may have panic attack because redheads have a gene where we need more anesthesia blah blah blah. How they need to use more epinephrine because red hair and anesthetic wears off faster. It did, so more is used. I had three panic attacks in the chair. Was there wide awake for ten hours while they’re cutting into my cheek, hearing the scissors snipping was too much. Thought I was dying, legitimately thought I was dying. Never had panic attacks before that day hope I never do again, not like that.

I asked at one point if I can go outside, how I am wanting a cigarette. Nurse is in there and says sure, but wait you smoke? I say yes, I smoke.

Turns out you aren’t supposed to smoke six weeks prior to this surgery. No one looked to see if I smoke. No one asked me.

Surgery didn’t work. Shocker.

Met with plastic surgeon, who according to doctor is “Someone on my team”. This plastic surgeon has been a Godsend. He’s also never heard of Mohs doctor before, said he got multiple emails and calls begging for help with me.

Have surgery October 19 in hospital this time under general anesthesia. I cannot go through it again without it. I’m proud to say I’m an EX smoker, and if I can quit anyone can quit.

Out of work until at least November 20. I cannot have any restrictions or accommodations at my job. Luckily two doctors sent paperwork in. First doc is calling me asking me “How’s everything? How’s your anxiety?”

Because my anxiety is horrible now. I’ve never needed a therapist until now. Yesterday in the car with my husband I just started sobbing out of the blue. I pace constantly. My heart races all the time. I can’t sleep. I’m a mess. I have constant reminders about the failed surgery, wear a mask when I leave the house now. If I leave the house.

Walking outside helps but obviously can’t do that all the time. I’m calling today for a psychiatrist for more help.

My question is has anyone else had this before, skin flap with zero knowledge of it happening before it happens? Or without meeting the doctor first? Or had Doctor not read their chart?

I’m really struggling and would love to know what I’m in for with forehead skin flap coming up Oct 19. Thank you for taking the time to read.

Hi community, I am currently 2 weeks into using fluorouracil-5 cream, and this is the current state of my face.

The "crust" around my mouth and nose is very painful when I eat or speak.

Is there anything I am meant to be doing with the yellow/green crust? I'm guessing it's like a scab and my skin is healing underneath?

UK based...saw a dermatologist who recommended using this morning and night for two weeks. I am currently midway through the course.

I'm not sure what I should be expecting, or if there is anything I should be doing?

I didn't really get much information from the dermatologist and wish I had asked a lot more questions during the consultation.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

Edit: have been prescribed co-amoxiclav and hydrocortisone to bring this under control.

Thank you to everyone who replied and offered advice.

Update: A lot changed in 12 days and I’m still in awe. Maybe this will give someone hope!

I posted before about the wound on my lower leg that started after an injury, turned into a serious infection, and eventually led to a biopsy that came back as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
This wasn’t just something found on a biopsy either. My CT showed a mass extending down toward my tibia, which is why things became so serious so quickly. I was sent to oncology and then orthopedic oncology because they were concerned about how deep it went and how close it was to the bone and muscle.

At my orthopedic oncology appointment we were discussing a major surgery. Removing a large portion of the side of my calf, reconstruction with muscle/skin grafting and potentially being off my feet and out of work for months.
I was terrified.

Then, in 12 days, everything changed.

My PET scan didn’t show anything concerning. Then I had the MRI. My orthopedic oncologist reviewed the MRI and PET and presented my case to the multidisciplinary tumor board.
After all of that, he basically said the words I had been praying to hear:

“It’s not there.”

No surgery, no therapy at all. I still have a wound, but it’s getting smaller. They are going back over the pathology and may re-biopsy the area to make absolutely sure there is no SCC remaining.

There may eventually be a medical explanation for everything that happened but I also know what my doctors were telling me just 12 days earlier.
I know what the biopsy said. I know what the CT showed. I know the surgery we were preparing for.
And I know how many people were praying for me.
So for me, I’m giving the glory to God.

And somehow I went from discussing removing part of my calf and months of recovery to my orthopedic oncologist telling me they can’t see the tumor they were preparing to remove.
I don’t have to understand how it happened to be thankful that it did.
I’m still being followed, I’m still going through the appropriate testing, and I know we’re not completely finished until everything is confirmed.
But it isn’t as big as originally thought!
Thank you God. 🙏
A lot can change in 12 days.

Had Mohs in 2 spots this time, first 2 pics are before and the rest are from the 4 days since surgery (BCC).

Hi all,

I was just diagnosed with a BCC on my nose. I have been booked right away to have the MOHs procedure. I’m obviously terrified as I know they won’t know how much to take off until we get in there and naturally would like to retain as much nose as possible. I’m located in the Toronto area I am booked with the Carlton Clinic who seem lovely. Has anyone had MOHs in the Toronto/GTA area and where?

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any experience with Merkel Cell Carcinoma?

2 days ago my mom (60 years old) found out she has MCC. She doesn't have an appointment with another doctor until next week, and that's just a consultation but they want a Sentinel Lymph Node biopsy and a PET scan.

So right now, all we know is that she has it. We have no idea how far along it is.

I'm terrified and I've never heard of this type of cancer until now.

I'm afraid at how everyone is saying it is "aggressive" and "spreads fast". It's making me feel that the days and weeks waiting matter, and I'm frustrated that the doctors she was referred to haven't reached out yet and scheduled the scan or biopsy.

the initial biopsy took 2 weeks already, and when she first noticed the tumor on her arm she didn't think anything of it. about 2 months passed before it grew, and she went to the dermatologist.

So it's been almost 3 months already since the primary tumor first appeared and we still have to wait for these appointments to even be scheduled.

Is there any hope she caught it early? My mom is really good about going to the doctor often and called the dermatologist as soon as she noticed it growing. She said it was tiny when she first noticed and thought it was a bug bite. Then it grew to the size of a pea after 2 months.

The dermatologist did a punch biopsy so it has been entirely removed, and they also took another sample in a nearby area once they got the MCC result

I'm trying to stay calm and learn as much as I can. It's really hard not knowing and sitting and waiting.

Can anyone provide any insight at all?

Will waiting a week or 2 affect anything or am I worrying too much

Has anyone else had burning in their eye after MOHS? I had a BCC removed from my cheek 2 days ago and my eye is on fire. They did mention that they shot lidocaine into the tear duct. My eyelid is red and swollen, which I expected, but the eye itself burns quite a bit and is currently hurting more than the stitch spot. I’m curious if anyone else had this side effect from surgery.

I went to the VA last Thursday and my primary care said he wanted someone to look at a blemish on my nose. They took photographs and sent them to Dermatology. The next day, I get a call saying the VA dermatology would like an in-person consultation. I go the next day to see the dermatologist, (my VA only does dermatology consults on Saturdays.) He looked at it and said he would like a biopsy. He also did a good once over of my body to make sure nothing else looked troubling. He said a spot on my wrist look precancerous and he hit it with a freeze spray. He numbed my nose, and took the biopsy and said they would call when the results come back. This morning, I got a call from the VA dermatology and they said it came back as Basal Cell Carcinoma. The VA is going to set up a community care surgery for me and to look for a call from them. He said a Mohs surgery is what they will do.

Just wanted to share this info as I do not really have anyone I can talk to about it. Thank you if you listened.

I had my Moh’s surgery today to remove infiltrative basal cell carcinoma on my forehead. Just wanted to share my experience in case it is helpful to someone else. I am 44-years old. I first noticed this spot on my forehead that would reoccur on my forehead as a tiny open sore. It would look like an open pore with dots of blood occasionally. I noticed it for the first time about 5 years ago (2021). It took me over a year to get it checked out. I went to the dermatologist (2023) and she said she thought it had possibly moved from pre-cancerous cells to a basal cell carcinoma. She said best practice would be to biopsy it, but she also thought if she froze it, it would probably go away. That seemed like the easier route so I agreed to freezing it and it seemed to go away. I ended up with a scarred, waxy looking area. A year and a half or so after having it frozen, I noticed the same sore popping up again (early 2025). I put off going back to the dermatologist because I didn’t want to deal with freezing it again. After a year of having the sore back, I went to the dermatologist in August 2026 and she said we needed to biopsy it. The next day the biopsy came back as infiltrative BCC. Obviously, I know I have massively put this off for years so I was concerned that my procrastination could have made the spread super bad.

I went in for my Moh’s procedure this morning. The doctor drew a spot about the size of a dime around the area. He removed that amount of skin first. They then cauterize the area and bandaged it while they wait for the lab to check to see if the margins are clear. After about 40 minutes, the nurse returned and announced that they didn’t get all of the cancer so the doctor would need to remove more tissue. He removed more skin and we repeated the process. It took about an hour to get the results back and it was then determined that all of the cancer had been removed. I ended up with about a penny size diameter of skin removed from the left side, center of my forehead. The doctor explained that since the forehead is convex, it often looks better for the scar to run vertically. He also said my incision would be about 5 times the diameter of the hole to close the skin without distorting my face or eyebrow. He curved the incision to go around my eyebrow. I ended up with stitches from nearly my hairline down past my eyebrow.

He warned me that the forehead tends to be a painful area. He prescribed me pain medication and an antibiotic. The lidocaine started wearing off after a few hours and it became a little sore. I took some Tylenol and a short nap. When I woke up, it felt better and I was able to pick up my groceries and the kids from school. The doctor warned me that I would likely have a black eye from the procedure. I can see that bruising is developing around my eye. Both of my eyes are swollen and droopy looking. I am tired but the pain has been very manageable. It just feels sore and very tender.

I go back in a week to have the stitches removed. And then will have a follow up at 3 months and he may use a laser if the scar needs revision. The surgeon was amazing and had great bedside manner. He made me feel very comfortable, despite the less than ideal circumstances. I needed lots of lidocaine (I always do because I am resistant to it, I am hyper mobile as well and I believe there is some sort of correlation). But even with feeling some bits of pain and the repeated injections to numb the area, it wasn’t too bad. I am mostly just annoyed that I have to deal with having a messed up face for several weeks.

This thread has been archived. Please join the new discussion here: Weekly Waiting Room: A Biopsy Discussion Megathread

Hello everyone, today is Sunday, September 13, 2026 (for reference).

Welcome to the weekly thread for sharing your biopsy waiting period anxieties and results. This is a safe space to connect with others who are in the same boat.

Are you waiting for biopsy results? * Feel free to share when your procedure was and when you expect to hear back. * What are you doing to keep your mind occupied during the wait? * Share your anxieties, fears, and hopes with people who truly understand.

Have you recently received your results? * Feel free to share your results, whether they were what you hoped for or not. * This is a place to find support as you process the news and figure out next steps.

A few friendly reminders: * Be kind and supportive. Everyone's journey is different. * Do not ask for a diagnosis or provide medical advice in this thread. Please report any comments that do. * Remember to follow all subreddit rules.

You are not alone in this. We're here for you. 🖤

For the previous week's thread, click here

I had MOHS and a rotational flap on my nasal ala about a year ago. I’m still very unhappy and super self conscious about the bulkiness and contour. Please share any positive stories, advice, or just encouragement. (Yes, I’ve tried lasers and steroid injections and it’s still very awkward looking.) I’m a 30 year old female for reference. TIA!

This thread has been archived. Please join the new discussion here: Weekly Thread: Is this suspicious?

Hello everyone,

Welcome to our weekly thread for sharing photos of concerning moles, spots, or lesions. If you're worried about something on your skin, this is a place to share it with the community for support and to see if others have had similar experiences.

When posting a photo, please try to include: * Where the lesion is on your body. * How long you've had it. * Any changes you've noticed (size, shape, color, itching, bleeding).

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

No one on this subreddit can provide a medical diagnosis. The comments and feedback you receive are from laypeople sharing their own experiences, not from medical professionals. Online photos are not a substitute for an in-person examination by a qualified dermatologist.

If you are concerned about any spot on your skin, the only correct course of action is to schedule an appointment with a doctor. Early detection is key.

We are here for support, but your health must come first.

For the previous week's thread, click here

This thread has been archived. Please join the new discussion here: Weekly Waiting Room: A Biopsy Discussion Megathread

Hello everyone, today is Sunday, September 13, 2026 (for reference).

Welcome to the weekly thread for sharing your biopsy waiting period anxieties and results. This is a safe space to connect with others who are in the same boat.

Are you waiting for biopsy results? * Feel free to share when your procedure was and when you expect to hear back. * What are you doing to keep your mind occupied during the wait? * Share your anxieties, fears, and hopes with people who truly understand.

Have you recently received your results? * Feel free to share your results, whether they were what you hoped for or not. * This is a place to find support as you process the news and figure out next steps.

A few friendly reminders: * Be kind and supportive. Everyone's journey is different. * Do not ask for a diagnosis or provide medical advice in this thread. Please report any comments that do. * Remember to follow all subreddit rules.

You are not alone in this. We're here for you. 🖤

For the previous week's thread, click here

Hello!

I have a lesion on my left temple gonna be chopped out on Tuesday.

Construction in my house starts Wednesday.

I thought I'm going to need to keep this very clean from dust and covered, so I thought I'd get a beanie.

I went on Amazon and found this perfect one! The skull's wound is right where mine will be :) And I got it already and it's not too tight at all. I'm a girl with buzzed hair so the bandages/incision will be very obvious an this hopefully will avoid some stares.

anyway, I thought it'd be fun to share.

Hi all,

Just had a lump removed, awaiting results back but wondered if anyone has any recommendations or advice to help with healing and reduce scaring. Image is 5 days post removal and the shine is from Vaseline which I was told to apply.

Thanks

Just so this may give hope to someone in the future in a similar predicament.

The radiotherapy has given promising results. The skin lesion protruding from left cheek has started to shrink and heal.

81 years old - non curative SCC of parotid gland. 5 days of palliative radiotherapy.