Basal cell cancers & Moh's Surgery
 

I wonder if anyone can give me some information about "Moh's surgery" in regards to the removal of basal cell carcinomas please?

I know I can get it from any search engine, but I remember back to when I had an infiltrating basal cell carcinoma excised from my own nose in January, and one or two members mentioned this type of surgery to me.

Unfortunately I can't find it now in the search menu, but it's that personal information that I'm after because I now have a letter from a friend asking for any information she can get about Moh's surgery, so any information would be gratefully received. Here is part of the letter that she sent me:

.....I am scheduled for something called mohs surgery for my nose on October 23rd. This is a new procedure where they take layer by layer off and examine the cells in the office with pathologists until they get to the end of it. I am teriffied. I cried all morning. That surgery is supposed to last 2 - 4 hours and I am not thrilled at being awake the whole time.....

As you can see, part of the writer's concern is that she might be awake for the whole thing, and if so.....would the procedure be painful?

When I had the cancer removed from my own nose and my nose fully rebuilt, it was done under a heavy sedative and I don't remember a thing about it. For me, they used a drug called called Midazolam (Hypnoval) but I can't remember the name that America knows the same drug as....but it's the one used for colonoscopies and other short procedures.

If anyone has had this operation themselves or has some information about it I'd be very grateful, also can you please let me know what type of sedation or anesthesia was used, and if it was painful at all. Thank you.

I don't have any personal experience with that surgery. However, please let your friend know that I will keep her in my prayers.

Also, let us know how she is doing.:hug:

Anne, I've never heard of "moh's surgery", but what you describe sounds very similar to when the Doc took my Dad's cancer off his cheek. They'd do a little cutting, send it to the lab, then excise a little more, until the lab results were clear. When they were finished, it looked like someone had taken a small melon scooper to Dad's cheek. It healed very nicely, with only a small, virtually unnoticeable scar.

Sadly, that skin doc, his son, his assistant and asst's dtr, and others from his traveling crew -- 10 in all -- died in a plane crash just a month ago. They routinely flew throughout central Utah to share their skills with folks from rural towns. Such a loss.

(Sorry, but this weighs on my mind and I just haven't had anywhere to express it.)

Best wishes to your dear friend for her surgery. :hug:

And extra hugs for my furry Ozzie friend: :hug:

Anne

I had Moh's last time on my face near my ear. It's a piece of cake, literally. Local anesthesia. And I have absolutely no scar. In fact, I thought it was much easier and less painful than the other type.

Here's a good website if you want some information.

http://www.mohscollege.org/about/overview.php

I've received an email from my friend about the Moh's surgery, and below is an excerpt of it for you to read.

.....Again - thank you so much for the information, and tell your friends thank you so much - that was so sweet of them. I did find that websight .... and it helped out a lot. Like I said before, I am going to try not to get nervous because whatever happens happens right?? I am just hoping for the best and if it is something hopefully it will be in the early stages...... Thank you!!

I just wanted to thank everybody for your replies, and especially for your support. I forwarded all the replies to my friend in a hope that they would ease her mind, and by the tone of her letter it seems that her mind has been put to rest and she's much less frightened about the upcoming surgery.

Thankyou also for the website that she mentioned FG.

I truly appreciate everybody's help so far, and I'll let you know how she gets on with the operation. :grouphug:

Post mohs surgery
 

Hello

I just had the Mohs Surgery on my lip 3 weeks ago , The surgeon did a local and I must say that what hurt the most but after that it was smooth sailing . The scar tissue is at the Hardening stage but I do massage it 2-3 times a day . I'm wondering how long this will last ? Does vitamin E work on the Scar ?

Good Luck

Chetter

that's what they are doing with my mom Annie snip, test and because they found a bad nod they treated her with radiation for a month. she will have another pet scan in less than 3 months then 6 months to make sure they got it all but the initial was just simple removal, and test. my moms a big wussy when it comes to docs and test and so on, she had no trouble with this procedure,

Annie:hug: