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Post by EspadaIII on Jan 31, 2023 12:12:24 GMT
Had a suspected basal cell carcinoma removed from my forehead last night.
A little spot/lump appeared in the summer which turn brown over a few weeks and then remained as it was. Suffering from the usual male pattern baldness it was relatively noticeable despite being only 3mm diameter so Espadrille nagged me to go to the doctor. I had a telephone appointment and he asked me to visit him ASAP. Had a look and wasn't overly concerned but sent me off to the dematologist. She also was not overly concerned but said better out than in and then they can do a biopsy. It wasn't completely round and the edge was indistinct so they could rule out something obviously benign hence the desire to take it out.
So last night I had it out and now have six stitches in my forehead which is proving uncomfortable as the skin is tight there so I feel as though I have a permanent frontal headache. Luckily paracetamol is keeping the pain at bay. The very nice doctor who did the procedure kept me talking as he was doing it and said that it probably was cancer but '... if you're going to have cancer - this is the one to have'...". So hopefully all OK. Removal of a limb I could cope with, but my head is a little drastic.
Ho hum.. no swimming for a while, limited other exercise other than walking.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 13:26:32 GMT
Yeesh, very sorry to hear that, EIII. Get well soon. Hopefully a bullet dodged.
All the best.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jan 31, 2023 13:52:24 GMT
If you're going to get it, having it caught early is the way to go.
You'll be on the list for regular checks now which is a good thing too.
My MiL had stage 1 caught in one of her lungs autumn '21, op last January. She had some discomfort breathing for a few months, better that than the alternative.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jan 31, 2023 14:37:02 GMT
Indeed. My father (as you may well recall from early - middle 2020) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and survived just six months. It is one of the cancers that are rarely caught in time. So hopefully this is 'something and nothing' in the great scheme of things.
First question I was asked was do you regularly visit hot countries, to which the answer was yes but that I try as best I can to keep out of direct sunlight. Obviously I haven't tried quite well enough.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jan 31, 2023 16:52:09 GMT
Sounds like if it is something it's been caught early.
When you next go anywhere in the sun for any length of time (and I include UK) make sure you're covered up, e.g. a cap on your head.
All the best.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jan 31, 2023 17:25:00 GMT
Thank you.
My priority from now on will be much more of the 'slip, slap, slop' as the Aussies used to say, especially the hat and the sunscreen. I am rarely without a T-shirt anyway unless I am swimming.
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Post by Humph on Jan 31, 2023 23:13:10 GMT
Oh heck Esp, just seen this. Best wishes for a speedy and uncomplicated recovery.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Feb 1, 2023 7:22:08 GMT
I’m with Private Baldrick on this one. If there’s a cancer with your name on it, it’s best to have it where you can see it. And this one’s now dealt with, so well done for getting it seen to promptly. The soreness will fade and let’s hope that’s the end of the story.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2023 9:38:11 GMT
Thank you. My priority from now on will be much more of the 'slip, slap, slop' as the Aussies used to say, especially the hat and the sunscreen. I am rarely without a T-shirt anyway unless I am swimming. I rarely go to "proper" hot places, but when I do it's always sunscreen, hat and sleeves when out and about in the day. And I swim in a t-shirt and wide brimmed hat. Ginger, innit. |
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Post by Humph on Feb 1, 2023 10:27:48 GMT
Both my wife and I have fairly swarthy complexions most of the time. Neither of us seem to suffer from sunburn as a rule. We both just get darker the more we are out and about in sunshine.
I guess we should use sunscreen but we don’t seem to need it really. That’s possibly naive of course, but I really can’t remember ever suffering any redness or discomfort as a result of being exposed to sunlight.
Having said that, neither of us are very good at sitting still either so we don’t tend to sunbathe as such.
I guess we are both outside quite a lot though and maybe we’ve just rusted.
😉
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Post by EspadaIII on Feb 1, 2023 13:44:53 GMT
My mother-in-law sits in the sun without sunscreen getting red like a lobster. We shout at her but she ignores us, has awfully thin and dry skin but so far has avoided any serious side effects. As my daughter will be finishing school this year so summer holidays may well be a thing of the past and we will tour in May/June, September /October, so avoiding the strongest sunlight.
My forehead is less tight today and the first dressing is coming off this evening with the stitches coming out next week.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Feb 1, 2023 15:19:30 GMT
Both my wife and I have fairly swarthy complexions most of the time. Neither of us seem to suffer from sunburn as a rule. We both just get darker the more we are out and about in sunshine. I guess we should use sunscreen but we don’t seem to need it really. That’s possibly naive of course, but I really can’t remember ever suffering any redness or discomfort as a result of being exposed to sunlight. Still worth taking precautions. You may not get the external warning than Vić or I might, but the scientific consensus now is that there isn't really a 'safe' level of UV exposure. I've always wanted a proper panama hat. This might be just the prod I need to go and buy one. |
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Post by Humph on Feb 1, 2023 15:24:12 GMT
You’d have to get a car with a parcel shelf too though. It’s the law that’s where Panama hats go.
😉
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Feb 1, 2023 15:30:45 GMT
The i3 kinda has one. My big crushable felt Stetson has ridden on the roller cover in two Stuttgart estate cars and behind the rear headrests in everything else we've holidayed in since I bought it in Austin in 1999. You have to pull the band up to see the original shade of green; the rest has faded to a kind of greenish khaki. A panama might not suffer the same way.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2023 15:38:37 GMT
You need a pair of yellow suede desert boots to go with that hat, Dubya.
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