Basal... Keratoacanthoma... SCC

Hello, I know this is a couple of years old but I will tell my story. I have questions and a great deal of anxiety especially now with COVID-19.

Misdiagnosed with BCC

I recently had surgery to remove what was originally diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, which actually was diagnosed by the skin specialist as keratoacanthoma. The keratoacanthoma began to grow in February, right after I had a previous surgery on my hand unrelated but very stressful.

As I was recovering from that surgery I noticed a sore developed on my lower left shin. At first, I was convinced that I had an infected ingrown hair. I was in enough pain from it that I went into our Emergency Department to have it looked at. All I heard were the words biopsy and surgery as I sat alone in disbelief.

Remember COVID was just setting in Canada. My doctor's office was still open thank goodness so I called right away and was seen within 5 days. My family physician took a look at it with a magnifying lens and told me that it was basal cell carcinoma and not to worry because it was probably the best one to have because it grew so slow. We arranged for an appointment with our skin doctor and at that time she was booking her appointments about 5 weeks ahead. Of course, within that very short period of time which seemed like an eternity looking back on it, the "basal cell carcinoma" grew very rapidly.

The sore was growing fast

I was having a very hard time dealing with the accelerated growth as it changed rapidly and looked like a volcano with something hard in the center growing up and outwards. My skin was peeling and the sore was getting larger by the day. I experienced a lot of pain and discomfort with it, and it was so itchy at times I wanted to cut it out myself.

I was very worried as all doctor's offices closed and wondered if I would even be able to see my specialist. There were weekly calls to my family doctor explaining how the sore had changed so rapidly from when he had seen it. I was crying daily and not sleeping. I was a wreck and I feel like I still am. I felt so helpless and really I was at a disadvantage due to this pandemic and the anxiety was so overwhelming.

My telehealth visit

When the day of my appointment with my specialist came and went a no show... all I could do was wait for a call. As her office was closed, I had no choice and when she called the next day to my relief I was booked a virtual appointment. I was also instructed to send her photos. I had been taking photos of the growing tumor daily.
The virtual call ended up with no voice so we couldn’t talk to each other and she called me on the phone instead to discuss the photos I had sent her.

She informed me from viewing the photos that what I had was in fact a fast-growing keratoacanthoma and it was in a bad spot. My surgery was deemed emergency surgery and she opened her office to do it, and I was booked within the week.

My emergency surgery during COVID

Surgery during COVID was scary and we were as safe we were supposed to be with masks on. It was herself and another doctor helping out. She told me it would be painful and it would swell. I had to keep my leg up and raised for five days to avoid swelling.

The surgery was traumatic, well the initial freezing was, she had to stop halfway through the freezing because it was so painful and I was tensed up.

From beginning to end I was in her office approximately 30 minutes..salutation.. surgery..very few words due to COVID. I was bandaged and told to leave the dressing on for 2 days and to keep it dry. My return appointment was in two weeks to have stitches removed.

Left in a great deal of pain

I won’t go into detail about the next five days. I experienced a great deal of pain. I could not walk for five days and I was unprepared post-surgery. I realize due to COVID I was so lucky to have the surgery, but I also ended up pulling muscles in my groin and pinched my lower back.

I had five stitches and the incision was about four inches long. When stitches were removed I was told that I had squamous cell carcinoma. It was cancer and she said she got it all.

Now my questions...

I am 7 weeks healing now but I am worried because I have two small areas that are not healing up totally. The scabs have come off both areas and they are small areas— the size of really small peas. But the two areas won’t heal completely it seems.

I also have an egg size type swelling above the incision site as opposed to below it. Of course, I am taking photos and as I look at the photos closely I just don’t know if it's ok. Again with more anxiety.

I happened upon this site and saw you experienced the same or similar to me. Do you have any advice and should I try to get a second opinion? I'm sure the skin specialist will call me back again, but with COVID I have to wait.
I am worried.