Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip, Again

I had a spot on my left corner bottom lip for a year. It would open, be sore, bleed, then heal. This cycle was continuous. It didn't look like a cold sore (herpes). The wound would open, get bigger, heal and was very painful. It would throb.

Unbearable treatment pain

After a year of this, I went to the doctor, who sent me to a plastic surgeon. He removed an approximately 1-inch x 0.25-inch patch of skin on my lip and closed it with approximately 12 stitches. That healed well.

Once it was healed, the plastic surgeon wanted me to use a chemo cream called Efudex. I used that for 3 weeks—morning and evening, moisturizing the afternoon in between. The pain got unbearable. I went to see plastics after that.

A new lesion

While using the Efudex, I developed a larger area of open skin that wouldn't heal on the opposite side of my bottom lip. My plastic surgeon referred me to a dermatologist to see if she had another solution to this new basal cell carcinoma, other than cutting it out. I see her next month.

Hoping for alternative treatment

I have been waiting patiently.

If she can't recommend anything, then I will have to get this area on my lip cut out as well. This wound doesn't hurt like the other side, so while I wait, I am enjoying having a lip.