Just had MOHS surgery-Need support please!

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    • January 9, 2015 at 3:32 pm
    powell1
    Participant

      I had a spot on my left cheek removed by derm in May 2014. Pathology report came back fine. A couple of months ago 3 small spots popped up in same location. Went to derm and she said they need to be removed by plastic surgeon. She also asked pathology to run new slides on original spot removed in May. She told me she would call the second week in January with results and appt. for plastic surgeon. She called out of the blue on 12/22/14 with dx of melanoma. I was in the MOHS clinic for consult the next day and had the surgery on 1/2/15, a week ago. I am 43, female and now have 20 stitches in my face, black eye etc. I see the surgeon today for test results and stitch removal. What questions should I ask? My family is riddled with cancer….my dad had undifferentiated carcinoma on his face resulting in major surgery with lymph node removal, etc. Luckily, he was fine and required no more treatment. Since then he has had prostate cancer but they got that too. My mom had ovarian cancer 5yrs. ago and is o.k. I am freaking out since both of them have positive cancer history but never at my age….they were both in their 60's. I also have an aunt with kidney cancer. So, what questions should I ask the surgeon? Do I need any kind of other tests to make sure I don't have cancer elsewhere? Also having issues with my appearance. Thanks so much!

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        • January 9, 2015 at 3:48 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Your profile says this was between 1 and 2mm.  Was there any discussion of doing a sentinel lymph node biopsy?  This is typically done for lesions of your depth.  But it is also done prior to the wide excision.  Since you had Mohs and not a wide excision, that makes it a little different since Mohs isn't typically done for most melanoma removals.  Melanoma is the #1 or #2 cancer for women in their 20s and 30s, so it certainly isn't unheard of to get this in your 40s.  Do you have a history of sun exposure?  As for appearance, let it heal.  Mohs removes less tissue than the traditional WLE (wide local excision).  I'd get a copy of the pathology report for your own records.  Then ask about lymph node testing.  Other than that, take a deep breath.  Sorry you had to join us here, but let us know what else the surgeon says today.

           

          • January 9, 2015 at 3:48 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Your profile says this was between 1 and 2mm.  Was there any discussion of doing a sentinel lymph node biopsy?  This is typically done for lesions of your depth.  But it is also done prior to the wide excision.  Since you had Mohs and not a wide excision, that makes it a little different since Mohs isn't typically done for most melanoma removals.  Melanoma is the #1 or #2 cancer for women in their 20s and 30s, so it certainly isn't unheard of to get this in your 40s.  Do you have a history of sun exposure?  As for appearance, let it heal.  Mohs removes less tissue than the traditional WLE (wide local excision).  I'd get a copy of the pathology report for your own records.  Then ask about lymph node testing.  Other than that, take a deep breath.  Sorry you had to join us here, but let us know what else the surgeon says today.

             

            • January 9, 2015 at 3:48 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              Your profile says this was between 1 and 2mm.  Was there any discussion of doing a sentinel lymph node biopsy?  This is typically done for lesions of your depth.  But it is also done prior to the wide excision.  Since you had Mohs and not a wide excision, that makes it a little different since Mohs isn't typically done for most melanoma removals.  Melanoma is the #1 or #2 cancer for women in their 20s and 30s, so it certainly isn't unheard of to get this in your 40s.  Do you have a history of sun exposure?  As for appearance, let it heal.  Mohs removes less tissue than the traditional WLE (wide local excision).  I'd get a copy of the pathology report for your own records.  Then ask about lymph node testing.  Other than that, take a deep breath.  Sorry you had to join us here, but let us know what else the surgeon says today.

               

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