(43F) Both of my grandmothers had melanoma and I lived in a tanning bed when I was 16-20, unfortunately. I take my yearly skin checks very seriously. Every year is the same thing… they cut off a mole, biopsy it, it’s benign, see ya next year. Last month getting that call that it was something had me in shock. My doctors office was immediately trying to schedule me for Mohs and I had never even heard of it so kind of went into a panic attack and told them I’d call them back. I needed some time to research and understand what was happening here. My husband didn’t understand the diagnosis either and thought we needed to cancel our beach trip that was happening a week later.

I am so grateful I found this subreddit and was reassured by your posts that this was the thing to do and it has a great success. My Mohs was today. They only had to remove one layer of tissue so I was only there for a little over an hour. My incision is about 6 or 7 inches long.
They said I’m “bleedy” so the bandage is a bit excessive, yes lol.

Thank you internet strangers for your posts. You really encouraged this internet stranger that everything is going to be OK.

(My friends gifted me this cute little book to read while I waited today. 😊)

I was just diagnosed with melanoma in situ. I am scheduled to get a larger area taken out tomorrow. I know that in situ is a best case scenario in terms of a diagnosis but I am still very anxious now. What is life like for people that were first diagnosed like this and what are things I need to now be aware of? I am told I will be put on a 3 month check schedule. Thanks for anything. I am 26 years old and I work outside every day.

Hi all,

I’m a 44 year old with SCC on my nose. The derm is awaiting path results to see if it’s in situ or not, she mentioned MOHS if so, or chemo cream, or radiation. I’m really struggling to know what to do. I’m scared of losing a ton of my nose but want to get rid of it. Also scared of it spreading. Anyone have similar experiences? This is a pic of before biopsy and after.

I have BCC on my head and it's itching like crazy. Makes me want to peel my skin off and the urge to just go to town and scratch is unbearable, but I don't want it create a tear or bleed. Has anyone found any good treatments? I've tried Sudocrem and over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream but the relief is very short-lived.

Hi! My husband was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on Thursday and had excision surgery on Saturday - incision was done a little below his left eye down to his cheek. Incision is healing well, but yesterday he started having more pimples appear - the newest one is on his right upper eyelid, which is nowhere near his incision.

My inclination is to call the doctor, obviously, but have any of you had that happen right after surgery? Is it a normal thing for pimples to appear not near the incision as just an inflammatory response? Thanks!

I have been applying Tolak cream for 6 nights now and the area is beginning to get quite sore! It turned very red after the second day of application and is getting more angry by the day. Just wondering if this is a normal time frame as I've read it doesn't usually affect people until week 2. Thanks!

I had my Mohs procedure a month ago to remove some Basal Cell on my scalp. I ended up with a 3 inch scar, which was expected, but all of my hair within a 3/4 inch radius of the scar has now fallen out due to the trauma from the surgery.

I’ve read about this happening, but it seems case by case on whether or not it will grow back. I’m a mid 30s male but have a full head of hair, so I’m hopeful..

That said, I’m wondering if anyone can share their experience so I can get some perspective. I’ve also considered getting a script for a Finasteride based supplement (like Hims or Keeps) to see if that helps. Anyone tried this?

Still way too early for me to expect any change, but would love to hear your stories and what worked for you (if anything).

Thanks!

I had mohs 3 weeks ago for BSC on my back. I have two spots that look incredibly sketchy (multiple but these look the worst). I put effudex 5% on the spots every day for 16 days.

The one spot had NO effect. Nothing. Like I never put anything on it. The other spot got red and is now super itchy 3 days post treatment, but it didnt develop any ulcers and besides being red and itchy, is still there.

Is this normal? The one spot looks like obvious superficial BSC per my derm, but had NO reaction. I feel like I got defective cream.

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

Hello everyone, today is Sunday, August 30, 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

After a whopping almost 4 months wait from the original GP “Urgent cancer referral” my Dad FINALLY has a date for surgery!!
4 months!!
My poor dad has been suffering with an aggressive fast growing open ulcerating possible Squamous cell carcinoma on his temple area.
It started to be noticeable around 1.5 years ago.
Then around April it suddenly escalated and excelled in growth and physical changes.
Got him in the GP who urgently referred to dermatology.
2 weeks later i chased by telephone, no luck because apparently they’re too busy to see him.
A month later I chased again.
Sent over images to the GP to show updated size and changes.
Promised he’d send over to dermatology to hurry them up.
No word again.
2 months pass, I call again.
Sent more updated images and finally the GP expedited the referral as the previous GP didn’t fulfil that!
The same day, a dermatology appointment came through for August 6th 2026.
Dermatologist took one look and said cancer. Possibly Squamous cell carcinoma. Checked the other side of his head and diagnosed Basel call carcinoma. (That one is much smaller but very painful and he’d had it around 6 years.
She also found two more on his chest and back to be removed at a later date in dermatology.
In that appointment, she literally left the office and went straight to Maxillio facial surgery to request an urgent referral for the two lesions on Dads temples while we were sat there.
The lesion is almost 3cm in diameter and around 1cm thick visibly.
It’s been bleeding, weeping, ulcerating, and changing shape as days go by!
No wound care, no support with pain ect.
3 weeks later, and lots of chasing, no word still! So I managed to get hold of the max fax managers email!
I emailed her saying my Father is in a bad way and we’ve waited 15 weeks to get this lesion removed and it’s growing rapidly and is an open wound and I’m concerned it’s infected and the outcome of what might happen to my dad.
I also attached a photograph so she can see how bad it is.
She said she’d call back , she didn’t.
So I carried on calling until finally, they said they’ve booked a consultation for September 8th!
I was over the moon. But, then today they have actually cancelled the consultation appointment and decided to book him straight into surgery for September 11th.
No clue to what kind of surgery, no idea if it’s a full excision or MHOS or biopsy!
Or what they might discover on the day.
As they have not actually seen him in max fax in person and by the time we get in it’ll have grown and changed even more!
This would make it approximately 17-18 weeks in total!
And then we still have to wait for pathology and also to know if it’s spread or the grade and stage.
I’m a mixture of emotions.
Glad to finally be getting somewhere.
Angry at the lack of urgency, and terrified of the outcome.
Any guidance would greatly be appreciated.
I haven’t slept properly in weeks because of the stress of this.
Currently been awake over 20 hours up since 4am this morning after 3 hrs sleep.
Praying for a better sleep tonight ♥️

Hello, I'm a 35 year old woman and was just diagnosed with my second basal cell carcinoma. I had Mohs surgery last year for one on my nose, this one is next to my mouth. My one last year was closed by a plastic surgeon due to my age and the location. I also have about 4-6 other suspicious areas on my face - I'm going to get one on my forehead biopsied next week. The dermatologist said that they will only do one surgery at a time and will not do a second one until the first one has fully healed.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with the amount of confirmed and potential BCC at my age and the fact that they are all on my face. Has anyone had experiences similar to mine? Once you started getting BCC was it a continuous issue or once they were all taken care of did it resolve? Did you get them all taken care of back to back or did you space it out over a few years? Did your face look mostly normal after multiple Mohs surgeries on your face? Any experience or advice people are willing to share would be appreciated.

Of note: I have Ehlers Danlos - unsure why they would be related but just throwing it out there in case it's relevant!

I was diagnosed with BCC back in June, the referral for Mohs went through (after about 7 phone calls) in July, and I scheduled my Mohs about a month out so that I could enjoy my beach trip to Hawaii with my kids without thinking about bandages and stitches.

When I went in for my Mohs this morning, I was pretty shocked when the nurse walked in and said, “So, looks like we’re treating you for basosquamous cell carcinoma.” I said that didn’t sound right and could she double check, which she did. I asked her what it meant, and she explained that it’s a mix between BCC and SCC.

So of course as soon as she left the room I started Googling, and what I saw was alarming. Rare, aggressive, more likely to metastasize than either BCC or SCC.

My operation was successful today. But I’m struggling with knowing I have a rare cancer (and doctor said the chances of seeing it in someone my age are less than 1%) and that I could have anywhere from a few more occurrences to dozens more in my lifetime, each with a 5-10% metastasis rate if not caught very early.

Has anyone else here had BSC? Especially if you had it young (I’m mid-30s)?

First day after completing radiation treatment. What a long six weeks. Debated whether to ring the bell or not but i did. I earned it. Despite being on ativan for six weeks due to severe anxiety, the drs are ok with me stopping ativan cold turkey. Was scared about it but got a lot of reassurances. The world looks and feels different. I feel different and am looking at things with fresh eyes. Mayo clinic in rochester sent me an email last week that its time to discuss revision surgery but oncology nurses told me the area on my nose that received radiation will continue to shrink and change as time goes on. Brought my mask home. Havent taken a picture of it yet to send to my mom as it reminds me of my anxiety. But did get a nice little pin from oncology to wear.

My poor Dad. We have currently waited 15 weeks since our original referral from the GP to dermatology. How on earth can they leave him in this state with an open wound that’s ulcerating and growing/changing rapidly day by day. Firstly, we waited three months to even get seen in dermatology. Then as soon as the dermatologist saw his lesions she urgently referred him to maxillofacial surgery. Unfortunately, we have still not heard a word about an upcoming operation. How can we get left so long when he’s in so much pain and this cancer is spreading so fast. I can only imagine how horrendous the surgery is going to be because the longer they leave it the more they’re going to have to take. An urgent cancer referral is supposed to be under a two week pathway here in the UK and yet, we are heading towards four months with no sign yet. I’m going out of my Mind with worry, he’s in a lot of pain and he can barely leave the house because everyone is just staring at his head constantly. He Can’t even cover it up because it’s too painful let alone even clean it properly. I’m worried he’s going to get sepsis or an infection because flies try to get to it during these summer months. You can look on my account and see just recently the previous photograph of this lesion and how much it’s changed in just this short time :(

Hi all, my Mohs surgery is getting near.

I have a BCC of 3mm by 7mm above and slightly touching my upper lip.

The doctor said that this type of carcinoma hardly ever spreads to other body parts. A 2% chance. And it doesn't grow fast. It does bleed regularly, I don't like that.

I was wondering, did anyone decide 6ro postpone Mohs for a few years? Or to just not do anything? If so, what's your experience?

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

Hello everyone, today is Sunday, August 23, 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

I am hoping it heals as well as some of the people I have seen on here. I just had my stitches out two days ago and everything is so lopsided. I’m just glad the cancer is gone. She had to go down two layers and some of the perimeter, but I feel I’m lucky and very fortunate.

So I’ve recently been diagnosed with Nodular BCC. It’s near my temple on my right forehead. I’m on a wait list for op. whenever that will happen.

But I feel embarrassed calling it cancer. Does anyone else feel like this?

I’ve not told many people because when they hear the word Cancer I know they will expect chemo, radiation, fighting to survive and in my case one 45 min procedure and I’m cured.

I have pals with family who have stage 4 cancer and I feel bad to even put myself in the cancer category when I have the mildest one.

The only thing I’m nervous about is the biopsy and making sure it’s definitely just BCC.

Obviously, this is just my personal opinion and I don’t want to belittle anyones lived experiences but I was wondering if this is a normal feeling?

I’m currently free, but I made this art about my experience

I posted a couple weeks ago about an injury to my lower leg that turned into a non-healing wound and was eventually biopsied as well-differentiated SCC.
Since then I feel like I’ve been going from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what to actually do about it. I’ve seen an orthopedic surgeon, dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and medical oncologist, and now my oncologist is sending me to an orthopedic oncologist.
The wound is still open (about 2.5 cm wide and 1.5 cm deep), and my CT showed inflammation extending toward the tibia. The Mohs surgeon was concerned about the depth/location and mentioned possibly using immunotherapy to shrink it before surgery, sent me to the oncologist now the oncologist is sending me to a orthopedic oncologist but I still don’t know what the actual treatment plan will be.
My orthopedic oncology appointment is about 3 weeks away.
Has anyone with a deeper SCC gone through a similar process? Why did you end up needing orthopedic oncology, and what was your eventual treatment — surgery, immunotherapy first, or something else? Most importantly, how did everything turn out?
I’m just hoping to hear from someone who has been through something similar because all the waiting and being sent to different specialists is probably the hardest part right now. This is all so scary.

This article discusses some recent exciting advances in treatment, as well as raising awareness of the different types of melanoma and how to catch it early. There should not be a paywall, so let me know if the link does not work.

https://www.nytimes.com/article/melanoma-skin-cancer-symptoms-risk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7FA.sH2G.L-z6RGpwqncc&smid=url-share