Less IS More!

By gammy5

2 min read

Aggressive basal cell

Two weeks ago today, I underwent my second surgery to have my nose reconstructed after having to have another serious Mohs procedure to remove a recurring BCC tumor called Morpheaform. This type of BCC is the most aggressive and invasive and causes so much damage if not caught early. And it’s very difficult to catch it early if you are not on a schedule to see a dermatologist every so often.

A second invasive treatment

My first tumor looked like a pimple that would come and go. Two years later, I finally went to have it checked out. It took three attempts to get clear margins and nearly 150 stitches inside and out and reconstruction of my nose after the surgeon did a cheek flap. Fast forward almost 7 years later, when I went to the dermatologist for a rash and he saw a white area in the scar on my nose. He did a biopsy and it came back the exact type of cancer I had previously.

Finding a surgeon for aggressive basal cell

After discussing with my family, I decided to go to one of the top cancer centers in the nation. It happens to be 50 miles from my home. From the date I called them, to the date I had my surgery was only 24 days. They were awesome! Even though I had to endure two more surgeries, the pain has not been unbearable and the incisions look great so far (I have only seen it the day they removed the stitches) and that is a plus to me. My nostrils will never look the same. One side is pulled up a little more than the other and closed slightly. Yes, I have less nose, but more life!

Focusing on prevention

So, I will go get checked every 6 months, like I should have been doing. I am extremely high risk and I am not ready to go through another surgery on my nose. I have been cautious about the sun since my first surgery and am even more diligent now. I live in the south which means hot and muggy spring, summer and fall, yet I ordered sun-blocking long sleeve shirts and have been wearing them. I will do what I can to keep from damaging my skin any MORE!

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NinaHU Community Admin
Hi <inline-mention user-id="2087194" username="gammy5"/> , I wanted to share some comments we received on Facebook: "I had surgery on my nose in 2004, and it returned ten years later. I then had twenty radiation treatments, and it returned four years later. At what point do you realize that it's going to come back no matter how much of your nose they take or how much they kill? When it came back this time, I chose Erivedge (chemo) which specifically targets aggressive basal cell carcinoma. I was on it for almost six months, and it did kill most, but not all of it. I'm taking a chemo break, and will look at it again in about a month. I'm just not convinced that surgeries are the answer. I keep thinking that, they could take my entire nose, and it would come back some place else, i.e., on my cheek, forehead, or any number of other places it chooses. I had Melanoma surgery four and a half years ago, and so far, it has not returned. I pray it doesn't, because this basal cell has been the most horrible of all the surgeries I've had to deal with and I've had six so far. " - Deb "I hate it when even the office help for the plastic reconstructive surgeon says " just" basal cell!!" - Sue "My biggest fear is to have them return!! I had a BCC on the side of my nose the size of a pencil eraser. Had it biopsied and removed last year, had a flap done. One little dot as I called it turned into the whole side of my nose being reconstructed. " - Dianna "My sympathy to you. I also had five Moh's surgeries in one day before there were clear margins. then over the next year I had four more reconstruction surgeries on my nose. I am thankful that I still have a nose even though it will never be the same." - Ruthann Thinking of you and as you can see, you're not alone in this battle! - Nina, <a href='http://SkinCancer.net' target='_blank'>SkinCancer.net</a> Team
1. gammy5 Member
 Thank you. I know the feeling. The type of cancer I had grows like an octopus and was in my sinus as well as my cheek but I am lucky to have found excellent oncology MOHS and Plastic Surgeons close to home. Chemo was not recommended for this tumor, nor radiation, unless it had grown into my brain and luckily, it had not.
2. NinaHU Community Admin
 I'm so glad you had excellent care, <inline-mention user-id="2087194" username="gammy5"/> ! Grateful that it didn't make it to your brain. My uncle had a brain cancer that had a similar way of growing with roots. Thankfully they were able to shrink and treat. I love your positivity and wishing you continued cancer free! - Nina, <a href='http://SkinCancer.net' target='_blank'>SkinCancer.net</a> Team
moonmomma Member
I am so sorry you had to go through all that! I am happy to hear you didn't have too much pain. I am so happy to hear you are so positive. You may have less nose, but you are still here! Keep being positive and may you have no more BCC.
1. gammy5 Member
 Thank you! I plan to stay positive and my nose is really looking good! I a, please! And cancer free. For now!
grandmas Member
Oh my gosh, I happened to come across your post as I was browsing this forum. I have been posting and asking for anyone with experience with Morpheaform, because I think that's what I have too. I have a small pink pimple on the end of my nose ... for about a year now. It bled a few times initially but hasn't grown much or bled recently. I would say it's 1/4 inch. I made an appointment with a dermatologist but I can't get in until December 11th and I'm scared. In doing research on the web, I've now realized that I most likely have Morpheaform BCC because I am now seeing SO many patches of shiny, pulled scar tissue looking areas on my face, most around the nodule, up the nose, on both sides, and in the folds next to my nose on both sides, and going down towards my lip. I am also noticing what I think are new areas on the upper sides of my nose as well. I never knew of such a type of cancer and I always thought skin cancer looked like sores, nodules, pimples, etc. ... never innocuous scarry looking areas. I have very dry skin, syringomas, xanthelasma (sp?) areas, so it's really difficult to discern Morpheaform looking areas. My question to you is this, since I have only found two other people with Morpheaform BCC and neither have responded to me ... am I safe to wait until December 11 if this is Morpheaform? How quickly does it spread? Is it also a slow growing BCC? I know it's more invasive but is the invasiveness fast? Please answer, I'm so upset and worried here. Just my luck, to likely get the worst kind of BCC. By the way, I'm 60 years old, fair skinned, blue eyed and had several bad sunburns as a teen and young adult.

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