Will I be prone to have more skin cancer now?
I recently had Mohs surgery on my face for squamous cell carcinoma. Will I be prone to have more skin cancer now? Every little bump or dry patch on I find now I think it’s cancer.
I had a SCCIS removed from my thigh in Jan 2017 and recently had a recurrence just outside the scarred area. My derm said that it's a new tumor, not a recurrence, and told me that that an area of skin that was sufficiently sun-damaged has an inherently higher risk for tumor formation, which she called the "field effect." So keep a watchful eye out!
I'm trying 5FU first, but I suspect surgery is in my future...I am so sorry to hear you are facing Efudex following your surgery. I was told the same thing about recurrence. The more sun damage, the greater the chance for multiple surgeries/treatments.
I am glad you are urging others to be proactive with self-checks. Keep advocating!
I am including a few articles that might come in handy when using Efudex. It can be quite a struggle for some patients. Remember that we are here for you and you are certainly not alone!
https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/tips-for-efudex-users/
https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/efudex-side-effects/
https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/efudex-side-effects-tips/
All my best!
April, SkinCancer.net, Moderator
