Skin Cancer Surgery

By Bones

1 min read

As a baby boomer from the early '50s through the '60s and living on Long Island, I have had plenty of sunburns. I endured many sunburns going to the ocean many times for some 20 years. I have never suffered any problems from enjoying the sun.

An outdoor childhood with no sunscreen

Back then growing up as a child you were never allowed to stay inside your home. Parents in those days told you to go outside, go swimming or play with your friends. We had no video games or TV to watch. I grew up not using any sunscreen; back then it was not even thought of. My sunburns would be relieved by using Noxzema cream. Then everything was fine until your next sunburn.

Flash forward to basal cell carcinoma and Mohs surgery as an adult

Now jump forward to "today" and I am having more basal cell carcinoma skin cancer spots. I have to go to my dermatologist for treatment every six months. My cancer spots are zapped with a freezing mist, which stings for a few seconds. My dermatologist said there is not much I can do now. This is showing up more with baby boomers.

Today I received a call from their office, telling me I have to have Mohs surgery on my ear. This will be my third Mohs surgery on my face, and they are very uncomfortable.

Always wear sunscreen

I can only say "always use lots of sunscreen" and wear a large hat at all times. I wish I could have known what I could have "maybe" prevented when growing up. You don't want Mohs surgery, it is very painful!!

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Ronni Gordon Member
<inline-mention username="Bones" user-id="4160398"/> I could have written what you just wrote myself, including being a baby boomer and spending time on Long Island and not using any sun protection. Though my skin cancers have been mostly squamous cells . And I too have had Mohs surgery...unfortunately more times than I can count though fortunately also because we are lucky that this procedure exists. Thanks for sharing your story and reminding readers of the need to respect the sun. And since you mentioned Mohs, here's something I wrote about the man behind the procedure: <a href='https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/frederic-mohs' target='_blank'>https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/frederic-mohs</a>. Take care, Ronni (skincancer.net moderator)
1. Bones Member
 <inline-mention username="Ronni Gordon" user-id="2101997"/>
Ashley Maddox Member
Thanks for sharing this. I can really identify. Sunscreen was not a thing in the world I grew up in either, and now, I too, am paying the price.
Bones Member
I guess we just have to take the good with the bad! I have enjoyed those years living on Long Island going to the ocean to body surf, swim. It was a much simpler world when I grew up and life was more enjoyable for me.
Wrenny Member
Your story is my story. Life outdoors. I spend far more time outside than in and have all my life. My childhood and teenage years were made up of sunburn and sunbathing. Young adulthood consisted of spending summers at the beach, a pattern I repeated for decades. I love the sun, I love the beach, I love gardening, kayaking, swimming, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, I drive a convertable with the top down spring summer and fall. I have had 2 melanomas over 10 years and this year 5 years after the last one was on my ear, the inside curl next to a helix piercing. I have 9 piercing s in my ears and love my jewelry. We know where this is going. Surgery to remove a large piece of my ear, and SLB in my neck. It was horrible, frightening and painful and disheartening. Fortunately all margins were clear, lymph nodes clean. I am grateful. But then there's my poor ear with the big bite taken out. An alloderm graft and hope that it will stimulate regrowth. The pain is significant, 6 weeks later. Sigh. No sun for me forever now, so I am told. Likelihood of reoccurance certain. Skin checks every 3 months. My lifelong love of the sun has been tainted with fear and sadness like the loss of a dear friend. Sigh. I'm lucky/not lucky.
1. Scott Matheny Member
 <inline-mention username="Wrenny" user-id="6913456"/> Thank you for sharing your story with us. I am sorry for what you are going though. I am happy that your margins are clear but hope that the pain subsides. I grew up in the sun as well. I know how you feel. Standing with you as deal with these challenges. Scott <a href='http://skincancer.net' target='_blank'>skincancer.net</a> moderator
Bones Member
Sorry to read about your cancer history. I now stay out of the sun as much as I can. Still have to work outdoors with yard work. I don't go to the beach anymore, but I use clothing that has sunblock and lots of lotion. I wear a hat all the time and just hope it all works?
1. Scott Matheny Member
 <inline-mention username="Bones" user-id="4160398"/> This is my life now as well. I only feel completely comfortable now with all of those things protecting my skin. I am a wildlife photographer and while others are in shorts and t-shirts I am completely covered. I really stand out. Please keep us updated on how you are doing. Scott <a href='http://skincancer.net' target='_blank'>skincancer.net</a> moderator
Bobbie Member
My primary doctor said I had a cyst. Looked like a large pimple, on my face, very close my nose, but knew it was different. Primary was wrong. Couldn’t see a dermatologist for 8 weeks! Went to plastic surgeon. She removed what I said was a cyst. Fortunately did a biopsy, Pathologist said clear margins (clear by 1mm). Surgeon asked pathologist to review, Came back with same results. Surgeon found a Mohs surgeon in another town & referred me. <inline-mention username="Ashley Maddox" user-id="4731620"/> 
1. Bones Member
 <inline-mention username="Bobbie" user-id="8563120"/> Sorry to hear you had to go thru that to get the correct procedure.
Patrickf1 Member
I did have Mohs surgery on the right side of my lower lip during September 2022. The doctor cut across the whole lower lip left to right and the cut out the cancer on the right side. I still have numbness in the lower lip . I am going to see a plastic surgeon on Friday to talk about my issue. The lip doesn’t look bad (just a little irregular lip line) . The numbness causes my issues.
Bones Member
I have some numbness on my ear lobe from the mohs surgery.

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