Skin Cancer
Just because you're a hypochondriac doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with you.
I had a small, tender bump removed from my back last week. It was squamous cell carcinoma, the "good" kind of skin cancer. No cancer in the margins of the excision, which indicates it has not spread, but my doctor is setting me up with a dermatologist for more detailed examination.
I had a dark spot removed from my back a couple of years ago, and it was nothing but a dark spot. I almost canceled the appointment to have this one cut out because it was feeling better, and I have a tendency toward hypochondria about such things. But I didn't cancel, reasoning that it was feeling better because I'd quit picking at it after scheduling the excision.
I told the doctor that it may be another false alarm, but that I grew up at high altitude, had frequent childhood sunburns, and am of Scandinavian heritage, so I'm a little bit hair-trigger on weird skin things.
This thing was extremely innocuous. As I age, I get all sorts of small cysts and other lumps and bumps. Many I can rake off with a fingernail, and that's that. This one was a small bump on my back that I could barely reach and couldn't see. Unlike a pimple, it had nothing in it. It was tender, especially when I touched it or touched against it, such as a chair back. It felt like a small rose thorn. I get a lot of those mowing the lawn around our wild roses. But my wife looked in bright light with a lens and could see nothing. It was just red, tender, and a bit scabby.
Catch these early, and they're seldom a problem. Wait too long, and they may spread.
Good information here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/squamous-cell-carcinoma/DS00924
No more sun tans for this kid.
I had a small, tender bump removed from my back last week. It was squamous cell carcinoma, the "good" kind of skin cancer. No cancer in the margins of the excision, which indicates it has not spread, but my doctor is setting me up with a dermatologist for more detailed examination.
I had a dark spot removed from my back a couple of years ago, and it was nothing but a dark spot. I almost canceled the appointment to have this one cut out because it was feeling better, and I have a tendency toward hypochondria about such things. But I didn't cancel, reasoning that it was feeling better because I'd quit picking at it after scheduling the excision.
I told the doctor that it may be another false alarm, but that I grew up at high altitude, had frequent childhood sunburns, and am of Scandinavian heritage, so I'm a little bit hair-trigger on weird skin things.
This thing was extremely innocuous. As I age, I get all sorts of small cysts and other lumps and bumps. Many I can rake off with a fingernail, and that's that. This one was a small bump on my back that I could barely reach and couldn't see. Unlike a pimple, it had nothing in it. It was tender, especially when I touched it or touched against it, such as a chair back. It felt like a small rose thorn. I get a lot of those mowing the lawn around our wild roses. But my wife looked in bright light with a lens and could see nothing. It was just red, tender, and a bit scabby.
Catch these early, and they're seldom a problem. Wait too long, and they may spread.
Good information here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/squamous-cell-carcinoma/DS00924
No more sun tans for this kid.
posted by Eric Rush | 9:35 AM
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