Skin Cancer on the Lower Eyelid

By jaygee

1 min read

I have had a “spot” (which sounds innocuous enough) on my lower eyelid. Twice before I have had it removed only to grow back. I thought of it as annoying but nothing more. I have had eye issues which led me to see an eye specialist who looked at it and said it should be looked at. At my checkup with my dermatologist, she is also now concerned and said needs to come out.

Has anyone had any experience with skin cancer in eyelid? If yes, how did it go?

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Ronni Gordon Member
I believe that was the first of my many Mohs surgeries. It was also in the area of my inner eyelid, right around my tear duct. I'm a little fuzzy on the details but I remember that although I was also nervous about the procedure, once I got numbed, which of course hurts a little, I didn't feel anything. By the way it was a squamous cell cancer, in situ, meaning just on the skin. It's a little weird to have someone poking around in your eye, but I've had worse! Good luck and let us know how it turns out. – Ronni, Skin Cancer Team Member
pomlady Member
Hi yes I too did have a red spot on my lower eyelid. I went to the Optometrist back in 2017 for an eye exam. I mentioned the spot had been there for awhile and he looked at it with his equipment and he said "it looks beautiful, like a vase of flowers!", okay, it is nothing. But it still bugged me, just a small round red spot in the middle of the lower eyelid. By the next year with it still there, I asked my gp about it; she didn't seem concerned either but referred me to an eye surgeon. Had to wait a few months and finally got in to see the eye surgeon; she said she would scrape it off in the hospital and it should be fine; but would send it away just to make sure. The results came back as a BCC; so back to the hospital again for a removal this time. No Mohs, just a removal. That was in 2018 and so far it has not grown back; the only thing is that the surgeon said my bottom eyelashes might be going this way and that but when they grew back, they would be fine. No they never did grow back and the few that are there are still crooked; but mostly a bare spot. Also once in awhile I find just below the eyelid, where there was a small pocket of skin where she sewed it up, sometimes it does puff up a bit, even has a slight pinkish color to it. I still have the antibotic cream the eye surgeon gave me and use it once in awhile because of the slight pink and then it goes away. Not sure what that is all about. But the cancer looks gone for now, so happy about that. I also had Mohs on my nose last Summer for another BCC, still have a scar I am dealing with on the end of my nose; they say once you get a couple, you will get more🙁! Probably true, red head with freckles here. 
1. April Pulliam Member
 <inline-mention username="pomlady" user-id="4174295"/> ...You have had more than your fair share of this beast in a short time! I am so sorry! You are right, though. Once you have one skin cancer diagnosis, it seems others are bound to follow. I am sure you are at your wit's end with the puffiness near your eye. I am glad the antibiotic cream is helping, but I might be tempted to have a dermatologist look at the spot again to be on the safe side. He/she can help you figure out why that problem might be occurring repeatedly. I am sending you lots of healing vibes and well wishes for the all-clear at your check-ups. I am also including a couple of articles on scarring that might be helpful. https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/dealing-scars https://skincancer.net/living/treatment-side-effects-appearance-scars Hugs! April, <a href='https://skincancer.net' target='_blank'>SkinCancer.net</a>, Moderator
SMach Member
I was diagnosed with melanoma of the lower lid. Since January I’ve had 6 surgeries to remove and rebuild back my eyelid. My last surgery was 6 days ago and it’s beginning to look like a livable result. I’m very frustrated with my EX-dermatologist. I saw him 7 times in 13 months. He never took it seriously and I had no idea that melanoma could be white (amelanotic). After my biopsy results came in he told me it was rare. I asked if he had ever seen it and he said Yes. Now that I know about it, all the symptoms I had including a small ulceration and lashes falling out, he fell down in his job! I just wonder how many others have gone through radical procedures/surgeries due to the incompetency of the doctor. 
1. Scott Matheny Member
 Wow! I am sorry that you had to deal with this. I always think that we need to be our best advocates. How are you doing now? Scott <a href='https://skincancer.net' target='_blank'>skincancer.net</a> team member
SMach Member
My last reconstructive surgery looks pretty good. I do, however, have to have some lymph nodes that lit up on my PET Scan biopsied next week. I also have some lung nodules that they’re watching. One has grown so I still have to have CT Chest scans every 3 months. Thanks for asking! 
1. Scott Matheny Member
 Thank you for the update. Glad that your reconstructive surgery looks good. Hoping for some good news regarding your nodes and lungs. Let us know how those go. Scott <a href='https://skincancer.net' target='_blank'>skincancer.net</a> team member