SKIN CANCER
Alice, my wife, told me to see a skin doctor. She said, “The sore on your nose isn’t healing.” So I went to the dermatologist.
The doc said, “I’m pretty sure this is cancer. Basel cell carcinoma. If it’s benign, we won’t call you back.”
Three weeks later and no call back. Good. It was benign. I said to Alice, “Maybe I should call the doctor. He said he was pretty sure it was cancerous.”
I called. The skin doctor’s receptionist put me on hold for five minutes. A nurse said, “We’re waiting for a fax.” What’s with a fax? The doctor got on the line: “I have to apologize. We are using a new lab, and they failed to send a report to us. I take the blame. I should have followed up. It’s basil cell carcinoma, just like I expected.” Skin cancer.
I hate that, when you dig hard for a bad diagnosis and get it. Suddenly your world revolves around medical appointments and follow-ups. I went to the specialist, a doctor who did Mohs surgery — deep-dish nose drilling.
What if I hadn’t called the dermatologist back? Maybe I wouldn’t have a nose. I don’t know.
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The surgery featured recorded klezmer music. (Some other time for that story.)
5 comments
Nu. You still using that doctor? There is no benign Basel Cell Carcinoma. Not to mention the lack of transparency. It would be truly remarkable if you didn’t have more incidents of skin cancer. So whatever dermatologist you use, you’ll want to have reassurance that they will operate in a way you have confidence in. So many times you’ll wonder whether they are fleecing you with all of the skin biopsies they’ll be doing to catch incipient skin cancer. But that’s what it takes. Got an appointment for your next skin check?
Sorry to see you went through this. I have heard that skin cancer is about the most curable of cancers. Melanoma, in contrast – pretty bad. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve found the “new technology” has made something take much longer and get far, far more complex. I’ve also found many a doctor has no one call regarding follow-up information, particularly been the results were “negative,” but I’ve had to call.
Rest easier that the path report showed Basal Cell Carcinoma. A Melanoma cell type skin cancer can be an all-hands-on-deck experience. Very difficult to treat.
Basal and Squamous cell types usually not as aggressive and less likely to metastacize
I had something similar but the suspicious bump was on my cheek. Turned out to be a clogged pore, not cancer, but until the report came back I was wondering if they’d have to scrape and drill all the way through. I’ve heard of prosthetic noses, but who get a fake cheek?
Glad you got it checked out.
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