Can I Wait 7 Months for Mohs for 2mm Nodular BCC on Nose?

asked 6 months ago by sjel in Sandusky, OH
Latest answer by Adam J. Mamelak, MD
Question viewed 192 times
Tags: nose, nodule, timing, wait

Biopsy result is 2mm nodular BCCpresent on deep and one peripheral margin. Carcinoma is composed of bland basaloid keretinocytes with peripheral pallsaded of nuclei. Due to a full calendar of raising a 16 year old daughter. I would like to wait until week of July 23rd to have my Mohs procedure done. I do not feel that I am emotionaly ready to go through recovery of my scar in January. In July I would have the privacy of healing that I do not have the luxury of now.

6 answers to Can I Wait 7 Months for Mohs for 2mm Nodular BCC on Nose?

Waiting for Skin Cancer Surgery

While the final choice is yours, it is not a good idea to delay treatment of your skin cancer for such a long time. Basal cell carcinomas tend to grow slowly, but the key word is "grow." Nobody can tell you exactly how quickly it will grow, and nobody can tell you exactly how large the skin cancer is now. The best option, in my opinion, would be to consider Mohs micrographic surgery, which will start with the smallest margin possible and trace out the roots of the skin cancer,... more

Andrew Kaufman, MD
Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon

www.dermatology-center.com

Less surgery and smaller scars with earlier treatment

Medical studies have shown that delaying treatment of skin cancer allows them to grow and get bigger. Larger skin cancer require more extensive surgery, which often means more discomfort and scarring after the procedure. I usually recommend patients have there skin cancer treated as soon as possible. From your description, I think your procedure would be straightforward with very little downtime or recovery. I think treating the skin cancer now will leave minimal scarring, but I could not be... more

Adam J. Mamelak, MD
Austin Dermatologic Surgeon

The sooner the treatment, the smaller the potential scar

As you know, Basal Cell Cancer, even though not an aggressive tumor by any means, is still a cancer. Nodular BCC by defnition could be extending vertically and deep in addition to the outside periphery. Mohs surgery could remove the cancer cells entirely while sparing the uninvolved skin. If the cancer is in fact only 2mm, the potential scar and recovery could be very minimal and should not interfere with your daily activities. However, if the cancer is allowed to progress and... more

Peyman Ghasri, MD
Los Angeles Dermatologist

The sooner, the better

You can wait to do the procedure, but why?? You need to remember that your BCC will continue to grow and develop over these months, and how much can vary from person to person. What might be a simple procedure with a level or two of Mohs now, could very well be a much bigger surgery, procedure, scar, and reconstruction in July. It's best to just do it now and also not stress yourself out more over then next 7 months. While the site may not change on the surface, the underlying roots of... more

F. Victor Rueckl, MD
Las Vegas Dermatologist

Mohs for BCC on nose

Although basal cell carcinoma is generally considered to be a "slow" growing tumor, the rates of growth vary considerably from tumor to tumor and person to person. While it is reasonable to wait 2-3 months, with a wait of 7 months, there is a greater risk that the growth of the tumor could be significant. I suppose the answer to your question would be yes, you can wait 7 months, but most would recommend you proceed with the Mohs procedure sooner, especially for such a... more

Bryan K. Chen, MD
San Diego Dermatologist

Big mistake!

Basal cell carcinomas grow about 1 mm per month. It is likely bigger than you can see right now. If you get it taken care of now it will be a small problem. If you wait, it will become a big problem that may need a big reconstruction. Bite the bullet and get it taken care of! Your 16 year old will understand, and does NOT want to be the reason for you needing a bigger surgery.

J. Charles Finn, MD
Raleigh-Durham Facial Plastic Surgeon

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