BCC On Nose - MOHs 2 Slice/Recovery - Annapolis, MD

As I write this review, I am 4 days post-op (surgery date: 8/19/14) following MOHs surgery to remove a small spot on my nose, that was found to be cancerous - basal cell carcinoma (BCC). I've had this spot for about 2 years before I did anything about it. Before the procedure, it could be characterized as a small pimple-like sore that would bleed, scab over, heal a bit and then bleed all over again. I am an R.N. (inactive) and I feel I should have known better and done something sooner. Yes, I knew better, but on some level I didn't want to face the truth - and the consequences. I was clearly in denial. Gentle reader, I urge you to not delay one day if you find yourself in the same situation.

I am incredibly lucky. It took just two MOHs "slices" to get it all. (MOHs involves taking slices of the affected tissue, followed by an approximately 1.5 hour wait while the excised tissue/cells are examined under a microscope. The goal there is to determine if a slice captured it all - or if additional slices are required.) In all, I spent about 5 hours from the time I arrived at the doctors office, to the time my procedure was complete. I was able to leave the office to get a cup of coffee and something to eat (you do not need to be fasting/NPO for MOHs - at least I didn't).

My suture line is about 1-inch in length and lies on the upper left sidewall, close to the dorsal area. (I describe is as an area where one might have a left-side nose piercing.) The suture line is clean and is comprised of eight (8) tiny stitches. To me, it's considerable and a bit unsightly to look at, but I've seen enough "before and after" photos to know, this is naturally the worst part of the recovery process. Even at 4 days, I am seeing improvement, and I feel this is owing in large part to diligently following my post-op instructions.

One thing I did add to my recovery phase is taking sublingual arnica montana to assist with the pain, swelling and bruising. It's homeopathic, over-the-counter and can be found online or in stores (like Whole Foods). Very effective.