MOHS surgery

[Buffer1973 0]

Has anyone had MOHS surgery?  My anxiety is through the roof.  Thanks in advance for any replies.

[MARC 431]

I had Mohs surgery around 11 years ago. I had a basal cell carcinoma on my right upper nose. I was up the entire time and I was sitting upright in a special seat. The chair was pretty big and elevated. They put a blood pressure cuff and heart monitor on my left arm before the surgery. He covered my face partially and began.He numbed the area first. After the initial surgery was done, I left the room and he checked if he got all of the tumor. He called me back in and said the tumor was deeper then he thought and he had to go back in. He went back in and said it was all gone and he said there was a 99 percent chance it would not come back and so far it has not. The surgery went surprisingly well and my surgeon joked with me a bit. His office was beautiful. I would not worry. 

[MARC 431]

I forgot to mention I go to a dermatologist every 6 months for a skin checkup. 

[MARC 431]

I also forgot to welcome you to the forum. 😀

[Buffer1973 0]

Thank you, Marc. 

I have severe health anxiety and went into a tailspin when what I and my derm thought was a wart turned out to be something that wasn't.  My 2 week wait for the MOHS has been crippling.  I now search my body dozens of times a day for new spots and of course I am finding them all over the place and spiraling.  I spend all day googling and can't seem to stop.  Even when I distract myself with a walk or anything, I can't wait to get back to Dr. Google even when I know this is so harmful, and I have had a great prognosis. 

My question is has anyone found a way to stop this.  Why can't I take each day as it comes.

 

[MARC 431]

When I went to the Moh's surgeon I had him look at other spots of concern while I was there and you should ask him too. 

[MARC 431]

I will never forget when I first noticed that odd looking shiny spot on my nose and I knew it would be bad news. My dermatologist at the time, who has since moved to Long Island, took one look at the spot and he had a grimace on his face. He could never play poker, as he would give his hand away every time and be broke. 

[MARC 431]

My co-worker had an in situ Melanoma on her cheek and hers was also removed by a Moh's surgeon and she is fine today. 

[Buffer1973 0]

My hub has had 4 basal cells removed by MOHS. One he had a good chunk of his ear cut out.  My anxiety is coming from mine is a squamous cell on my collarbone.  I know this one can spread.  Today I found 3 more spots that concern me and I will ask the surgeon to look.  I wasn't sure this was OK.  I know I am being over vigilant now and it has sent my HA into overdrive. I did get out for sometime today and that helped.  Your calm manner  has helped a lot, Marc.  Thanks for that.

[MARC 431]

Thanks for the kind words. My one friend had a melanoma on his stomach and he is fine. My daughters friends father had a melanoma on his back and he is fine. My daughters boyfriends father had a stage 2 melanoma on his chest and he is fine. When I asked my surgeon to look at other spots, he took the time and was very helpful. My older friend had 2 squamous cell carcinomas. One was on his ear and the other was on his forehead and he is fine. Odds are you will be fine too. The people who get in trouble are the ones who wait months or longer to see a doctor,. You and me are smarter then that.