Went to the dermatologist to get my yearly check. A red spot on my forehead that had been there for quite some time, was biopsied on Tuesday. The spot would heal up, then return and bleed sometimes during face cleaning. Actually thought it was just an area of thin skin. So when I got a call at work 2 days later, telling me that little red spot was basal cell carcinoma, I immediately started crying, and couldn’t comprehend what was happening. My mom was my age when she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and she had a scar on her forehead from one of the removals. So I was terrified that this was happening! Options presented to me were cutting it out, or cutting it out. Explained the difference between the Mohs Surgery and Surgical removal from a plastic surgeon. Opted and scheduled for Mohs with the best doctor in town, who had a cancellation the following Tuesday. Then the depression and feeling sorry for myself settled in.... only good part was that I only had a few days to worry about procedure. On Saturday, I made myself go out shopping to get my mind off things. While shopping, looking at a display of mirrors, one fell off rack, and broke my toe! I didn’t even report it to the store, being in my weird state of mind. Went to my car and cried, just too much! Tuesday came, 12:45 procedure time, I limped into the surgical room, put on my gown, laid down, toe throbbing, and the tears started flowing..... Nurse held my hand and covered me with a soft blanket. Doctor came in and said he was told I was crying, he was sooo sweet and kind, and told me I was beautiful, and he would make sure my scar was perfect. Numbed area and so gentle that the first layer was removed and I didn’t feel anything. He came back into room and said he got the root, but needed a little more on one side. Renumbed and took second pass, which turned out to be “ he got it all” and no sign of anything else.Cancer free! Two layers of stitches and a pressure bandage applied, husband took me home to rest. Minimal pain, some stinging, but my toe has caused terrible pain. As I lay here writing this I am 5 days into healing, and will go this Tuesday for stitch removal. I have documented all with a photo each day and will add them later. Updated on 5 Feb 2018: 6 days post Mohs Surgery on Forehead, adding photo. Stitches feel tight and sore! Keeping them moist with Aquaphor, and bandaged, per doctors instructions. Updated on 5 Feb 2018: I’m a mess! Updated on 6 Feb 2018: Stitches removed today, and my forehead said ahhhhh, relief! Stitches were ridged into wound, tight, and sore. Nurse said healing looked good, but was surprised at my bruising. I was told I can massage and use vitamin E oil or scar gel. Happy to be moving forward, but would be lying if I said the scar looks good.... to me it’s awful! Need to be patient. Updated on 9 Feb 2018: Getting concerned about scar..... It has changed from horizontal to being higher on one side, just since stitch removal this week. I was on the end of September botox in forehead, feels like muscles are moving now and pushing scar around.... if that makes sense... Updated on 10 Feb 2018: Scar continuing to become crooked, and eye bruising remains. Updated on 12 Feb 2018: Massaging with vitamin E like crazy. Want to make sure I give my poor forehead the best outcome possible. Spoke with doctors office, they are not concerned with eye bruising or scar this early. Told dissolving stitches take 6 weeks to heal. Updated on 20 Feb 2018: Today marks my 3 week post op Mohs procedure. Pictures don’t look much different, but I want to document anyway. Still slight bruise under right eye, massaging regularly, and keeping very lubricated. Forehead remains numb, which I’ve been told could take up to a year, or could remain numb. Wish these were things that were disclosed prior, but wouldn’t have changed the fact that this had to be removed. Staying positive and hoping for a happy little scar. Updated on 27 Feb 2018: Can’t believe it’s been a month already. Healing daily and seeing much progress. Above scar still numb, and a dinky little remnant of my bruised eyes remain. Same regime of massaging with my E oils, Aquaphor, and scar gel. Using Skin Medica Total Defense sunscreen daily also. Updated on 18 Mar 2018: Day by day continue to heal, still massaging and using Vitamin E squeezed from capsules, and scar gel. Updated on 2 Apr 2018: 2 month anniversary of Mohs surgery. Healing continuously, redness reduced, incision shrinking and flattening out. Left side fairly smooth, right side has definite lumpiness. Will pursue some scar touch up offered by Surgeon. Very pleased with overall healing. Updated on 11 May 2018: It’s been 3 1/2 months since the BCC was removed from forehead. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions to say the least! I have made an appointment with the surgeon, to see what tricks he has up his sleeve to possibly improve a few nooks and crannies. Updated on 5 Jun 2018: Finally after 4 months, several calls, visits and emails... I came face to face with my Moh’s Surgeon. He hugged me and apologized for all the mixups with appointments and office confusion. Had notes & pictures documented, which he copied to share with staff. I’ve been stressed and angry since surgery. And was about to crack! He calmed me down and we now have a plan in place for some laser revision in a couple weeks. I asked to see my photos taken during surgery, which I had never seen, and they looked better and smaller than expected. He said I still have some stitches not dissolved yet. And expects that my forehead will once again be some sometime smooth. Forehead was getting extra horizontal lines, which were not there before. Got a little zap of Botox to loosen up skin piling scar, then will do a little laser, and work with me until happy. So I am relieved that we are working towards a plan of attack. several Updated on 19 Jun 2018: I am about 5 months post forehead Moh’s now. Healing pretty well, but I accepted the Surgeons offer for a few zaps of Ematrix laser today. Very tolerable and quick! Got to thinking maybe I didn’t feel much, because my forehead is still quite numb. But we’ll see how this works to get the lumps out... Updated on 3 Dec 2018: Very nervous to have 1 year skin scan since they found the BCC on my forehead. So happy to get the all clear! 10month old scar still working on a laser scar revision called Ematrix. Noticing as the numbness is finally wearing off, I’ve had a headache everyday. Don’t know if it’s related, but scar is usually where it hurts. Updated on 3 Dec 2018: Updating 11/30/18 photos from Mohs procedure to remove nodular BCC from forehead, Procure date 1/28/18 BCC removed after 2 passes. Received the all clear from dermatologist on Friday, so I am happy and relieved. It’s been slow and confusing process, but making improvement daily. Updated on 4 Dec 2018: 10 month photo update after Moh’s procedure on forehead. 2 passes removing nodular BCC in middle of forehead by Moh’s surgeon at end of January. Just got the all clear from the dermatologist last Friday, during full body scan, so very happy. . Updated on 24 Apr 2019: It’s been 15 months and still having healing issues. Horizontal scar is indented, lumpy, raised, red and sore, and I’m not happy. Moh’s surgeon has suggested I go to a plastic surgeon for a consult.They used Ematrix a few months, it didn’t see much difference. Updated on 13 May 2019: I can not express how upset I am at my reversed healing.... Several attempts by Moh’s doctors office to just pawn me off to a Plastic Surgeon. When that didn’t work, I had another office visit , now after all this time they decide I have Rosacea. Not sure what to think anymore, healing was good early on, now I have lumps, redness and soreness along scar line. They want me to take doxycycline for a few months, if that doesn’t work, I should see the PS.
