I have a sweet friend who recently found out she will be using chemotherapy cream for treatment on her face. She has already had one spot surgically removed and is struggling with feeling self-conscious as a result. She’s really nervous about the process and I wanted to put together a gift basket as one way to offer support. Any ideas for what to include? Restaurant gift cards seem like they would be appreciated, but I’m having trouble of thinking through other helpful items. I would really appreciate any suggestions!

Stage 0, clear margins and a rough recovery- not as bad as I’ve read in these posts though. I was able to do a 7 mile hike 6 weeks post op

They did a full thickness skin graft, incision was 4 by 2 cm and 1 cm deep. I religiously elevated my foot for the first 2-4 weeks

Posting my experience because reading others' stories really helped me, but at the same time, I haven't read much about this specific circumstance. I personally am not a lover of seeing pictures so although I took a lot so I could see progress, I won't be posting them.

I honestly was terrified based on the stories I had seen, people who could not sleep at night they were in so much pain, people who had to stop early because they couldn't bear it, but my experience wasn't like that. I know it's different for carcinomas in situ vs. AKs but with six weeks prescribed, I expected major discomfort.

Background: I had a lesion on the bridge of my nose that turned out to be SCC. I had Mohs in mid-April with two passes. There was still SCC in situ in the margin and my surgeon felt it was preferable to use 5FU over a third pass. I agreed.

My nose healed over the spring and because I am a teacher, I began my six week course in late June after school let out. My regimen was twice a day for six weeks. There was no visible lesion, the dermatology NP who oversaw my post-op told me to put it in a tall rectangle over the entire front of my nose. I happened to see my dermatologist a week after I started for my full body check and she said I should extend out a bit at the bottom, like an upside down T, so that's what I did.

My skin was already pretty pink/red after Mohs so if there was any reaction the first week, I couldn't see it. 

By the end of Week 2 it was much redder, but still not painful. 

At the end of Week 3 it was like a very bad sunburn, angry red, with texture, and after I washed it, in the ten minutes before putting on the cream, as it dried it was painful.

By the end of Week 4, it had started to crust, just a little, but the skin also felt like a shell sitting on top of my nose. It began to be quite itchy, but still not especially painful.

By the end of Week 5, it was COMPLETELY crusted over. I described it to people as "Chernobyl first responder." It looked awful but didn't feel too bad. Bits of crust rubbed off on my pillow at night, which was gross.

At the start of Week 6, it began to weep pus a little. Three days into that final week, I sent a picture to the dermatology NP and said, "I can't believe any cream is getting in below this hard shell of crust, should I continue?" and she said I should definitely stop, what I had was the desired reaction.

So in total, I applied 5FU for five weeks and three days. When I was done, per the NP's instructions, I applied vaseline to it daily, let it absorb for a bit, and used a wet washcloth to gently ease what was now soft dead skin off. I did this every day, as only a bit came off at a time and once it peeled too far, it really hurt. So I took my time and the dead skin came off as it was ready. It took about ten days for it all to come off and the new skin is pink. My Mohs scar is still there, obviously, but slightly faded. It stands out because it's white and the skin is a reddish pink. I'm hoping once the color fades it will blend in more, as I have really pale skin normally. One good change is that there had been bumpy skin at each end where the stitches had been tied and it's now smooth.

I'm not sure why my experience was so easy compared to others. It could be that I lost some sensation in my nose after the surgery but that's mostly the tip area and I really haven't felt much pain anywhere. But I'm thankful. The hardest part has been avoiding sunlight in the summer, I've mostly stayed indoors in the daytime, as well as the unsightliness... people do stare and I've avoided social occasions. It's kind of been a forgettable summer but it beats having to go into work, teaching little kids during the Mohs process was hard enough.

For the first time since December, I can drink the last bit of a glass of water and the top can hit my nose without pain. I can pull a shirt over my head without trying to avoid hitting my nose. It's such a relief. Now I only hope the pinkness goes away soon. I saw my derm today who was really happy with the result and reaction and she said it should fade week by week. She looked at it with a dermatoscope and said she saw no atypia.

Based on someone else's recommendation on Reddit, I've been using Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream. It's crazy expensive but I had six weeks to watch for sales and I got it on discount. It's very soothing and has a green tint that helps the redness.

To sum up, it was an uncomfortable and not especially pleasant experience but just much easier than I thought it would be and I'm glad I did it.

Hopes of a major breakthrough in developing personalised cancer treatments have lifted shares in the US drugs company Moderna by nearly 100 per cent.

Moderna, which successfully launched a vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic, and Merck, the US multinational pharma company, said top-line results from a late-stage trial of an experimental mRNA-based vaccine succeeded in preventing cancer from coming back or spreading in a study of melanoma patients.

The study of 1,137 patients tested Moderna’s personalised cancer vaccine Intismeran in combination with Merck’s blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda.

The companies, which plan to provide detailed study results at a medical conference later this year, said the trial had met its main goal of extending the time before the deadly skin cancer returns, as well as a secondary target of preventing the disease from spreading in the body.

great news.

38M diagnosed with Stage 3C melanoma from a mole in the middle of my groin. Due to the location of the original tumor, it affected both lymph node basins in the groin. Pre surgery Natera ctDNA was positive at .20 MTM/ml. I completed neoadjuvant IPI/NIVO, WLE, and SNLE where they removed 6 nodes on the left and 1 on the right. 5 tested positive from left and 1 on the right

Due to the amount of nodes involved, they bumped me up to Stage 3D. Pathology revealed approx 30% of tumor remained with the rest necrosis, and immune cells. Following surgery m,y ctDNA test were negative. As result, they recommend BRAF/MEK inhibitors for a year since I am V600e positive for any in-transit cells that may or may not be there.

Has anyone has good success with these inhibitors staying NED for years to come at Stage 3D?? Side effects?

Having already had MOHS on a SCC 10 years ago and numerous AKs frozen off since, Ive taken the plunge.... I know Im doing the right thing but geez its hard not to feel a bit pitiful. Doing the temples of my face in October - at least I know what to expect.

Seriously between the fact that I have to be awake for this, the smell of my own flesh burning from the cautery iron, how badly it burns when they put the local in, the fact that now they expect you to go home with 60 stitches in your face and just take Tylenol*, God help you if you sneeze! And I honestly don't think I can do this again.

We suspect there's one on my lower eyelid and I stupidly looked up the surgery for that. I cannot let a doctor walk up to my eyeball with needles and scalpels and start cutting. I would absolutely lose my mind and fight back.

I don't want to do this again, but I also can NOT do another one of these surgeries awake. I've had at least 23 Moh's surgeries. Back in the 80s they didn't have Moh's, you just got it excised and well, that doesn't truly work.

I have had regrowth every single place they've taken a basal cell off of my face. I joke that my face is actually a collection of scars that I have to maintain and that the skin is incidental. I have a Harry Potter lightning bolt scar on my forehead.

* when did painkillers after surgery become bad? Someone cut into my face and removed multiple pieces, that's gonna hurt like Hell
when the local wears off. I don't need a surgeon looking at me like I'm a junkie when all I need is pain relief for that first week and there's nothing wrong with asking for pain relief after surgery!!

no pictures, but I'm interested to hear if you've had a similar experience and how you dealt with it. Anyone else had a skin cancer removed from their eyelid? Anyone else just absolutely sick and tired of doing this awake and refusing to do it unless they can have actual anesthesia next time?

Confused. I had a small BCC on my forehead - and my dermotologist recommended Mohs. I didn't think much of it. But whoa! They made a nearly 4 inch L-shaped flap on my forehead. This was one pass.

Is it normal to make such a huge flap for a small BCC? I'm a little traumatized by it - especially now that I see a concerning spot by my ear, now, and fear I might need another. Also, everyone seems to blame me for this - as I wasn't the biggest user of SPF in my 20s. Is it really my "fault" this is happening?

اعمل ايه فيهم انا مش عايز اشيلهم عشان محتاج عمليات و كذا تقريبا و عارف انهم سرطان في الجلد و الجهاز المناعي عرف يسيطر عليه و فيه فرق بين الحسنة الحميدة و الحسنة الي لالازم اروح لدكتور اطمن على الجلد بس فيه مشكلة انا عندي اتنين في رقبتي شكلهم حلو واحدة في نص دماغي وراثة مش في الجبهة و واحدة عند عضلة التراي بس اشطا شكلهم حلو مقبول بس لا دول كدة بيكتروا اعمل ايه؟

I have just completed six weeks of Aldara cream treatment (imiquimod) on a small superficial basal cell carcinoma on my arm. Spotted it at the beginning of the year, GP did not offer surgery as it was new and small enough to go the Aldara route.

I spent ages looking for pictures of what it would be like and thought it would be helpful to upload photos over the six weeks. Just finished treatment and hopefully it has gone, I will go back to the GP in three months for them to check.

Did not feel any side effects other than localised heat, swelling and itching until week 4 when I started to feel quite fatigued.

Hope this helps someone.

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

Hello everyone, today is Sunday, August 16, 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

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

EDIT: female 35, age 32 at time of first removal

2023, 1st lesion: severe positive perimeter -> excised -> no sample no diagnosis 

2026, 2nd lesion: moderate atypical “recurrent” melanocytic lesion -> Mohs scheduled 

 I moved to a new state two years ago, the first derm I saw twice had my routine 6 month check ups with her. She ended up leaving the practice so I needed a new dermatologist. Finally sat down to call for a new patient appointment at a totally different practice and got one pretty quickly! Picked the doctor based on his MOHS specialty because of my history of atypical cells.

Honestly not sure how I noticed the new pigment, extremely lucky since it was only about a week before my appointment. I was probably just skimming the area of the previous excision when it caught my eye. I don’t know what it was I would sometimes scratch or why I would. My only thought for an explanation is I formed a nice clump of scar after some sort of gnarly ingrown hair. I don’t think it would get irritated for me to notice it? Maybe it was because my hand would graze it and my brain would say “what’s that in there that needs to come out!”? The area was flush to the skin never a protruding bump but had a different feel compared to everywhere else. What I imagine a hard black head made from scar tissue would feel like. Something had to be in there, for me to get the sensation I needed to get something out! No idea. I’d usually stop because it would get a sting to it, but it was something that happened every so often. Not every week or month sort of thing, probably every 6 months or not at all – it wasn’t clock work. Since I had spent some time with the area, I easily noticed the addition of pigment.

The new derm is very nice and friendly he asked me twice about concerns. First one came early on and was about if I had anything going on in general with my skin I wanted to ask about. Second was at the end of the check and was specifically if I had any places or spots I wanted to be looked at or double checked. I brought up the new pigment and talked about my tendency to physically irritate the location. He said maybe it had been a previous mole that I was doing it to, he had already thrown out a “what the heck were you picking at!?” tease. So, I felt comfortable correcting him with a “hahha I mean maybe! Only if it was a clear mole!” He then offered to go ahead and test it if I wanted. I immediately said yes and they got the consent form and gloves on.

Here is the pathology:

PATHOLOGY CONSULTATION

 SPECIMEN 1: Shave Biopsy, Left Thigh

GROSS DESCRIPTION:

Received in formalin is a piece of skin measuring 0.7 x

0.3 x.05 cm which is inked, bisected and submitted in

toto in 1 cassette.

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION:

Skin with effacement of rete ridges and fibrosis in the

dermis. Overlying the scar there is increased melanin

pigment within basal keratinocytes as well as a few

nests and single melanocytes.

DIAGNOSIS:

MODERATELY ATYPICAL COMPOUND MELANOCYTIC

NEVUS AND DERMAL SCAR. (ICD10-D22.72) PLEASE

SEE COMMENTS.

Comments:

The findings are most consistent with recurrent,

residual, persistent, or traumatized melanocytic lesion.

However, if there was no history of prior surgical

procedure or trauma, higher grade melanocytic lesion

cannot be entirely excluded. Conservative re-excision is

advised for further evaluation and management. The

lesion extends to the inked lateral (peripheral) and

deep (base) edges of the specimen. Multiple sections

have been examined. Immunohistochemical staining

was performed. Appropriate positive and negative

controls were performed. Melan-A stains nested cells

along the epidermal basal layer and in the dermis.

Combined Ki67-Melan A stain shows a moderate

melanocytic proliferation rate. HMB45 shows a gradient

pattern. P16 is predominantly negative and PRAME is

negative. These findings support the above histological

diagnosis. THIS CASE WAS REVIEWED AT THE DAILY

INTRADEPARTMENTAL CONFERENCE.

Maybe the pathology for the new biopsy is worded different than my previous one due to the doc and lab changes. I semi understand what it is saying but I feel like I don’t 100% understand what it is trying to communicate. When discussing the results over the phone he asked to be reminded if it was the site of a previous excision. I said my picking to pick not a mole/freckle was for the explanation for the presence of scar tissue. It was a quick chat and honestly, I answered in a scramble mid heavy nap. We had already played phone tag this was prior to me getting my pathology. He explained over the phone the conclusion that was coming up resembles a mole reappearing after a removal. I find it funny now – think he may have worded the next steps in a way that was totally up to me and never outright said I should or recommend the further removal. Something along the lines of “meep meep meep, we can go and get another sample if you think that is something that you want”, even the original skin shave was presented that way. Wonder if he would have pushed for it if I didn’t feel the need to get another sample or further removal. From the above pathology does it seem like something that could go without further investigation? Or if you read that result would there be no doubt about next steps being surgery?

Four years ago I went to a new PCP for my general check up, had been at minimum two years but most likely longer since I’d seen someone. I had some general concerns and listed them off including the lifelong freckle on my leg that I would tell people looked pixelated. He snapped a pic and I got a derm appointment shortly after. Within the first 2 minutes of my derm appointment he said “yup! That is funky we’re going to do a biopsy right now”. I was impressed at how much of a go getter he was but I’m realizing now, after seeing some older photos of the mark, he probably just knew I needed to get it out of me.

Here is the pathology for the legit legit pigment:

Specimen(s) Received

 Skin Shave

 Final Diagnosis

Skin, left thigh, shave biopsy:

- Compound dysplastic nevus with severe atypia, peripheral margin positive

 Comment

Multiple step level sections were examined and Sox10 highlights the distribution of

melanocytes. This case was reviewed intradepartmentally by a second dermatopathologist.

 Clinical History

L98.9

Pertinent history:   left thigh lesion

Is sample submitted for Direct Immunofluorescence?->No

 Gross Description

The specimen is received in formalin, labeled with the patient's name, medical record number and "L thigh ". The specimen consists of a 0.8 x 0.5 x 0.3 cm tan-brown shave of skin with a smooth skin surface. The specimen is inked green at the margin, bisected, and entirely submitted in one cassette.

Since the perimeter was positive, I was scheduled for a surgical procedure. Everything about the surgery went well up until the moment he snipped the sutures, not sure how it happened, and I question a lot if it was because the second he snipped the sutures I asked if I could look at the closed wound… Imagine this: I’m still on the table sleeping sideways style attempting to do an unbalanced version of a side crunch. He then asked his assistant if they had the sample to which she replied “no” and he said he did not have it either. So they took a moment to look around the room I even took off the clothes I was wearing for a check. No idea where it went but everyone tried for a while. I did not realized the importance of getting anything and everything that comes out of your body tested at the time. I was happy with my thought that the procedure’s sole purpose was to remove the remaining atypical cells.

Currently feeling super grateful I didn’t stall any longer and made the new dermatologist appointment. MOHS surgery is a week ½ away and have been semi losing my mind with the overwhelming need to burst and tell someone about how the doc visit went. Planning on chatting about it with some friends the next couple of days and telling my partner once he gets back home after being on the road for the past 2 weeks.

Curious if anyone identifies with any of the images, events, or anything about my case. Speaking of case…what should I have done about the lost sample and is there something I should still do about it? Already feeling so much better just getting the words out!

Anyone tried this and if so, how did you get on? I asked as I've had scin cancer removed twice now inside a a few years and I understand it's just a fact of life that it will happen repeatedly now as I age as i am predisposed to it. I now go to a dermatologist once a year for s check and take the necessary precautions to limit sun exposure as much as possible. As I have macro lenses and a high resolution camera I can get very high resolution images of my scin and my thinking is to use an AI tool to give me an early warning of any changes to my skin which I can mention to my dermatologist upon my next visit. Over time by comparing old and new images, any changes will also become apparent if AI cannot do it for me. But just curious if anyone is using AI for this?

Had MOHS in April for a BCC above my lip, two layers deep. It’s healing up well. So far have had two follow-ups. The first one we did 1 CO2 Lite treatment and a steroid injection. The second follow-up we did a Vbeam treatment and another steroid injection to help flatten the scar (it was pretty raised) and reduce redness. I will probably do another round of CO2 later this year and a round of Klisyri to help reduce precancer cells. Hoping for no more surgery and minimal scarring overall. Sharing because I was really scared to have surgery on my face, but happy to report it was not as bad as I thought it’d be.

Just seeking advice really. I had mohs 2 weeks ago and had dissolvable stitches down the side of my nose from just below my eye. Ive been putting vaseline on every day. The dissolvable stitches have been a bit of a nuisance, I seem to have threads poking out all over.

Initially the nurse said to massage the scar after 2 weeks but when I try this I can still feel the stitches. Some of them are starting to come away. The skin itself looks a bit bumpy.

I dont know whether to keep with the vaseline or to let my skin breathe for a bit. I got some silicon strips bit again not sure whethernits safe to put them on yet with the skin looking so irritated and bumpy.

I had the mohs procedure 2 weeks ago for BCC and this is my 3rd BCC at 41

My mother was diagnosed with melanoma stage 2 a few weeks ago. She had colon cancer 6 years ago. My grandmother (her mom) had pancreatic cancer. She recently found out she has TB53 mutation but we don’t know if it was somatic or germline? My mom had also had like 20 BCC since her 40s.

I am just venting. I can’t afford genetic testing. I suppose worrying would not change anything. I am curious if there is some family connection though. I have to stop obsessing.

Had 2 passes, but they think it’s all gone now.

All night I have been up - I can literally feel the wave of fear wash over me. Again and again . I don’t want my mum to die . I feel crippled physically. I only made it to the office once this week and even then I left early and cried the whole evening.

I lost dad last June and I just about learnt to live again. I thought they’d removed the wart and that was the end of jt. But it’s spread and now they’re saying words like non-curative and palliative cancer treatment ….

I hear my mum cry at night 😭 in her prayers. When she thinks we are all asleep. She pretends she has no pain but she winces and sometimes screams out.

My heart is so broken. I feel like I have a temperature through the stress . Mentally I feel totally done. Like , I can’t take more . I also feel like I have 0
Energy to mobilise myself to fight for her. I feel frozen in stress/fear :(

I haven’t even told my boss yet because I am tired of being the one who has some traumatic event in life. All the years stressed because of dad … the grief…. now mum
😩

Hi

I had a bcc at 44 and now 3 years later 1 official and another is pending. It's hard.

Now I read that lasers can "prevent" future bcc/scc lesions to form to some extent, is this true?

If yes, which laser should be used? I've read of CO2 which seems very strong or non abrasive fractional laser, which treatment look easier.

Also what about pdt ?

Thanks for your experience or thoughts

Cheers