For a few years or more they have frozen "precancers" Keratitis off my ears and my cheek and ignored one on my head as inocious Keratitis. I probably spelled that wrong.Developed bad Vertigo and went to outside ER. The ENT Doctor spotted the places on my ear and head and removed them in two sessions. Basal Cell Carcinomas on ear and Squamous Cell Carcinoma on head.Subsequently a Doctor found one on my cheek that had been frozen in the past. The Basal Cell Carcinoma on my cheek had been not given the attention required Dismissed by "Residents" nothing for at least a couple years. It went deepWent about 7-8 mm deep into fat skin layer. Had to sleep up right, last night, can't look down, smile or anything for a few days. Had to do some cosmetic surgery.Told that once you get them they will show up again and again just about anywhere on your body.All mine were from sun damage in my youth and early adulthood, practically living outdoors.So get a Dermatological check up often.Do not trust "Residents" that are in really students from a University. Just one and you can dismiss it but different classes and different Resident each year.Another Dr told me of a consultation, at another local hospital.The Person he was asked to examine, his Son had told him for years to get a place a skin cancer, next to his hairline looked at.He didn't and just put some salve on it.By the time this Doctor examined him you could see the dura and the brain pulsing.Had to tell him there was nothing that could be done.So do not let those "precancers" places that don't heal or flake off and bleed when you wash etc go unattended.RVers are out in the sun a bit more than many Folks.Get a wide brimmed cowboy hat and use sunscreen even when cloudy.

Glad they caught it.My dad had them. Was always getting one removed from somewhere at some point. Not something to mess around with. He saw his dermatologist regularly for them.So far, I've been lucky and haven't had any.

Living in FL, many friends and family have had things carved off them. I'm much more proactive when it comes to prevention now than I have been in the past. Consequently, the things I've had removed were due to previous sun exposure.I bought a boonie hat from Amazon. It's only $11.99, and available in various colors. It's ventilated, making it cool to wear.Source: https://amzn.to/2UV9FIYThe wife and I visit the dermatologist every year now. We've both had precancerous moles removed, and several more that ended up not being anything of concern. But it only takes one...

My dad had one in his eyebrow he just kept treating the scab and refused to go see the doctor mom finally called the doctor and made the appointment dad wasn't happy but went. His Dr asked him how long had the scab been there and said couple of weeks Dr.said that he needed to see a specialist and went and saw him and was told it was skin cancer and that he would need to remove it what looked small on the outside wad very deep inside and he cut so deep that my dad lost half his eyebrow and was within weeks of losing his eyesight!! That was 30 plus years ago and has gone for regular checks yearly since and has had lots removed over the years head,neck,ears,face and nose and anything doesn't look right he has it looked at. Thankfully my mom got him to see the Dr. I spent my summers growing up outdoors like most of us did and I see a dermatologist yearly and I have have several removed off my back, hairline and ears and arms thank God so far nothing has been cancerous but it's why I go yearly. I also spent 25 years outside for my job and used sunscreen all the time. My dad's have been both cancerous and noncancerous. So I recommend being checked out.

I go to my Dermatologist every 4 months and a Mohs Micrographic Surgeon when required.What should happen at the dermatologist? Based on his experiences and the size, aggressiveness of the spot it is either treated with cryotherapy (freezing) or biopsies are taken. Mohs surgery is the most effective if surgery is required. Thin layers of cancer-containing skin are progressively removed and examined until only cancer-free tissue remain. This is done in office, local anesthetic, very seldom requires stiches.I have had over 25 Mohs surgeries performed, mostly on my scalp and arms, all due to younger years of sun exposure. One melanoma removed by a plastic surgeon.There is also 5% Efudex cream, prescription required, for the skin cancer prone. It works by blocking and killing the growth of abnormal cells.Basal cells and squamous cells are cancer

Skin Cancers | Good Sam Community

toedtoes
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2019
Glad they caught it.

My dad had them. Was always getting one removed from somewhere at some point. Not something to mess around with. He saw his dermatologist regularly for them.

So far, I've been lucky and haven't had any.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Feb 13, 2019
I'm going thru that right now
2manytoyz
Explorer
Feb 13, 2019
Living in FL, many friends and family have had things carved off them. I'm much more proactive when it comes to prevention now than I have been in the past. Consequently, the things I've had removed were due to previous sun exposure.

I bought a boonie hat from Amazon. It's only $11.99, and available in various colors. It's ventilated, making it cool to wear.

Source: https://amzn.to/2UV9FIY

The wife and I visit the dermatologist every year now. We've both had precancerous moles removed, and several more that ended up not being anything of concern. But it only takes one...
campinginthewoo
Explorer
Feb 13, 2019
My dad had one in his eyebrow he just kept treating the scab and refused to go see the doctor mom finally called the doctor and made the appointment dad wasn't happy but went. His Dr asked him how long had the scab been there and said couple of weeks Dr.said that he needed to see a specialist and went and saw him and was told it was skin cancer and that he would need to remove it what looked small on the outside wad very deep inside and he cut so deep that my dad lost half his eyebrow and was within weeks of losing his eyesight!! That was 30 plus years ago and has gone for regular checks yearly since and has had lots removed over the years head,neck,ears,face and nose and anything doesn't look right he has it looked at. Thankfully my mom got him to see the Dr. I spent my summers growing up outdoors like most of us did and I see a dermatologist yearly and I have have several removed off my back, hairline and ears and arms thank God so far nothing has been cancerous but it's why I go yearly. I also spent 25 years outside for my job and used sunscreen all the time. My dad's have been both cancerous and noncancerous. So I recommend being checked out.
garym114
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2019
I go to my Dermatologist every 4 months and a Mohs Micrographic Surgeon when required.
What should happen at the dermatologist? Based on his experiences and the size, aggressiveness of the spot it is either treated with cryotherapy (freezing) or biopsies are taken.
Mohs surgery is the most effective if surgery is required. Thin layers of cancer-containing skin are progressively removed and examined until only cancer-free tissue remain. This is done in office, local anesthetic, very seldom requires stiches.
I have had over 25 Mohs surgeries performed, mostly on my scalp and arms, all due to younger years of sun exposure. One melanoma removed by a plastic surgeon.
There is also 5% Efudex cream, prescription required, for the skin cancer prone. It works by blocking and killing the growth of abnormal cells.
Basal cells and squamous cells are cancer
2edgesword
Explorer
Feb 13, 2019
Sorry to hear about the reoccurring issues but glad you've been staying on top of things. Hopefully we're getting close to a cure for this dreaded disease.
naturist
Nomad
Feb 13, 2019
Been there, done that. Had a basil cell carcinoma removed from my chest, a number of moles and "age spots" as well as actinic keratoses frozen off, one of which the dermatologist said "I think we got it, but if it ever comes back, I want to see you immediately."

While melanoma is really aggressive, hardly anyone ever dies from basil or squamous cell cancers -- unless they ignore them for way too long. Those of us getting up in years need to be proactive about this. Get your hide checked by a dermatologist. The life you save could be your own.
ppine
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2019
I had an outdoor career and live at 5,000 feet. I grew up on boats. We did not know anything about skin cancer in the old days, but we do now. I wear long sleeves even in summer when outside. I use sunscreen every day in the summer. I discovered wide brimmed straw and felt hats in 1973.

Now I still got out all the time but hide from the sun. I have heard the clank of parts of my hide going in a stainless steel dish many times. Most of them have been on my back, one on the upper arm. It is just plain stupid to go outside without a hat. The skin cancers on the top of the head and the face are the worst.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2019
Visited the dermatologist this afternoon. Two “suspects” removed this time.
Charlie_D_
Explorer
Feb 14, 2019
I have had 4 basal cells removed in the last 15 months. Sun related. I am on Ebril and Rheumatologist says if it continues she may have to take me off of it because skin cancer can be a side affect.

Because my dermatologist insists on surgery I Googled it and found that removal is the preferred course of action so that is my suggestion for future occurrences. Other medications may also be related to skin cancer.

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