Thanks for the heads up.
Best wishes to you for a positive outcome.
Best wishes to you for a positive outcome.
Yearly check ups... please
- Thread starter Shawn Seeger
- Start date
Have that Irish/Scottish/English type skin. Been asking my PCP for a referral to a Dermatologist. He always volunteered to check instead. Things like Wanative has could only caught by a professional. Been bugging him for years for that referral and still the same answer. I have had skin cut out before by the dermatologist maybe ten years ago. Now I have a new PCP, that will be one of the questions I'll ask.
Fred - Get it treated and cured - we have a few fishing dates in the future! Prayers to you my friend.At work years ago I told the fellas I was going for a prostate exam later that day.
Of course I got the typical razzing some dudes are going to dish out.
I told my Doc about it. Jokingly he told me to tell them he put on some soft romantic music, lowered the blinds then lit some candles and asked me to drop my drawers and bend over.
Cracked me up!
I told them at work the next day and got a good laugh over it.
I've been diligent for years on getting tested for the usual cancers we hear about. Prostate, colon, skin cancers.
No fear or procrastination at all.
I'm 71 now and received a rude awakening on December 31 three weeks ago.
I have cancer. I've had some skin issues with sores the last year or so. I had a sore in May 2025 on my face that ulcerated (bled). My Dr. took a biopsy when it had almost healed. She could not get enough tissue due to it healed and the biopsy was inconclusive.
She told me to come back in if any more sores popped up. In December I noticed a similar but larger lesion on my left upper thigh the groin area.
I got back in to the Dr. and she shaved the nearly 1 centimeter lesion off and sent it in December 19th.
On December 31st the results came back positive for a very rare form of cancer called cutaneous skin Lymphoma.
It's so rare that only one to three people
In a million contract this disease.
It's a disease that affects the white blood cells. It presents in many different forms on you skin. It can be like a rash, a scaly patch or a raised lesion/tumor that can ulcerate (bleed).
I'm at the beginning of this journey right now. I've had a complete blood workup that was very good. I've had a CT scan that also had good results.
I will see a oncologist at Fred Hutch in Seattle on February 9th. They will go over things with me regarding test results, the stage my cancer is, treatment options and probably more testing. This cancer is very difficult to diagnose exactly due to the different ways it can present.
The good news is that it is very treatable and prognosis is generally positive as only a small percentage of those affected die from it.View attachment 177108
If you see something that looks like this get it checked! You never know.
Had a colonoscopy this summer, at 75 have had one every 5 years since 40 and they've never found anything.
So with a history of 0 findings over the decades, per the current medical standard that was my last scheduled scope as anything I do develop will likely not kill me before I die of old age.
Regarding skin cancer...see your derm yearly and talk to them about using Fluorouracil on a preventive basis. This is a chemo cream you rub onto your face and scalp for a week 2x a day that destroys cancer cells while being completely benign to normal cells.
I just finished a week application and areas on my nose and a few other spots have turn red and scaly, cancer cells that will soon slough off leaving normal cells behind. Highly effective, it is routinely used on folks with sun exposure.
Used to routinely have PAK (precancerous actinic keratosis) barnacles frozen off my head at every visit, since using Flourouracil I rarely do.
So with a history of 0 findings over the decades, per the current medical standard that was my last scheduled scope as anything I do develop will likely not kill me before I die of old age.
Regarding skin cancer...see your derm yearly and talk to them about using Fluorouracil on a preventive basis. This is a chemo cream you rub onto your face and scalp for a week 2x a day that destroys cancer cells while being completely benign to normal cells.
I just finished a week application and areas on my nose and a few other spots have turn red and scaly, cancer cells that will soon slough off leaving normal cells behind. Highly effective, it is routinely used on folks with sun exposure.
Used to routinely have PAK (precancerous actinic keratosis) barnacles frozen off my head at every visit, since using Flourouracil I rarely do.
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Scudley Do Right
Legend
I was in the same boat just a few weeks before you. The hardest part for me was in the very beginning before you have all the information. Once I talked to the oncologist and started getting after it things became more normal. Good luck to you I hope everything goes well.At work years ago I told the fellas I was going for a prostate exam later that day.
Of course I got the typical razzing some dudes are going to dish out.
I told my Doc about it. Jokingly he told me to tell them he put on some soft romantic music, lowered the blinds then lit some candles and asked me to drop my drawers and bend over.
Cracked me up!
I told them at work the next day and got a good laugh over it.
I've been diligent for years on getting tested for the usual cancers we hear about. Prostate, colon, skin cancers.
No fear or procrastination at all.
I'm 71 now and received a rude awakening on December 31 three weeks ago.
I have cancer. I've had some skin issues with sores the last year or so. I had a sore in May 2025 on my face that ulcerated (bled). My Dr. took a biopsy when it had almost healed. She could not get enough tissue due to it healed and the biopsy was inconclusive.
She told me to come back in if any more sores popped up. In December I noticed a similar but larger lesion on my left upper thigh the groin area.
I got back in to the Dr. and she shaved the nearly 1 centimeter lesion off and sent it in December 19th.
On December 31st the results came back positive for a very rare form of cancer called cutaneous skin Lymphoma.
It's so rare that only one to three people
In a million contract this disease.
It's a disease that affects the white blood cells. It presents in many different forms on you skin. It can be like a rash, a scaly patch or a raised lesion/tumor that can ulcerate (bleed).
I'm at the beginning of this journey right now. I've had a complete blood workup that was very good. I've had a CT scan that also had good results.
I will see a oncologist at Fred Hutch in Seattle on February 9th. They will go over things with me regarding test results, the stage my cancer is, treatment options and probably more testing. This cancer is very difficult to diagnose exactly due to the different ways it can present.
The good news is that it is very treatable and prognosis is generally positive as only a small percentage of those affected die from it.View attachment 177108
If you see something that looks like this get it checked! You never know.
I’ve become increasingly demanding as I’ve gotten older regarding my healthcare. My primary has taken care of me for years and I like him a lot. My last visit I told him I didn’t give a shit what anything costs, if there is at test or procedure he thinks I need I want it done. The same goes with any specialists I see. My urologist will hear it from me next week.
If your new primary doesn’t provide the referral after you ask, demand it. Primaries aren’t dermatologists and I say that after having multiple melanomas.
SF
Thank you!
I will Pat, excited about the up
I will Pat, I'm excited about the upcoming seasons.
Porter2
Legend
The thing about one cancer mole is that while they look very similar it can be another man’s reoccurring zit for lack of a better word. Once again why I go to a dermatologist once a year. Have had two suspicious growths/moles/lesions removed over last five-six-maybe seven
years. Both came back non-descript or not cancerous. Forget the exact words. But I remember clean margins (they scrape the suckers away).
years. Both came back non-descript or not cancerous. Forget the exact words. But I remember clean margins (they scrape the suckers away).
I hate giving a thumb's up to this thread.. not implying anything, but I laugh as I do. Get that thumb away from me!
I need to see a dermatologist.. I had an appointment last year, but had to cancel it and it was booked way in advance.
Making some of these damn appointments takes a lot of time! Many I can book through MyChart.. well, one of the 5 different MyCharts I have and a separate site for my Rheumatologist.. no site for my podiatrist.. and carrier pigeons for.. wait no carrier pigeons yet...
I can't get an appointment with an Endocrinologist.. Overlake isn't accepting new patients.. they lost a doctor this past year. I was referred to the Polyclinic, but they don't take my insurance. I pushed hard, two different customer service people on the Overlake Scheduling line.. the first one was rude and didn't seem to care one fucking bit. The second, was helpful, after I pushed hard and explained it. I told her I understood, but I was irritated to say the least. If anyone has suggestions, I'm open to it. I'm going to check with Evergreen and the UW and work with my doctor.. I have to get another referral! Good thing I worked in Sales and Customer Service.. and am kind of an asshole.. I don't mind when the answer is NO, but I want to know why.. and not be treated like shit or have to wait forever to talk to a human!
It's hard enough dealing with this shit, just the appointments for myself and for the past year, much of my mother's appointments!
I did get an eye doctor scheduled easily! I found them last year, down in Kirkland. I called, got connected right away and it too, like 3 minutes.. BOOM! The lady was awesome!
I need to see a dermatologist.. I had an appointment last year, but had to cancel it and it was booked way in advance.
Making some of these damn appointments takes a lot of time! Many I can book through MyChart.. well, one of the 5 different MyCharts I have and a separate site for my Rheumatologist.. no site for my podiatrist.. and carrier pigeons for.. wait no carrier pigeons yet...
I can't get an appointment with an Endocrinologist.. Overlake isn't accepting new patients.. they lost a doctor this past year. I was referred to the Polyclinic, but they don't take my insurance. I pushed hard, two different customer service people on the Overlake Scheduling line.. the first one was rude and didn't seem to care one fucking bit. The second, was helpful, after I pushed hard and explained it. I told her I understood, but I was irritated to say the least. If anyone has suggestions, I'm open to it. I'm going to check with Evergreen and the UW and work with my doctor.. I have to get another referral! Good thing I worked in Sales and Customer Service.. and am kind of an asshole.. I don't mind when the answer is NO, but I want to know why.. and not be treated like shit or have to wait forever to talk to a human!
It's hard enough dealing with this shit, just the appointments for myself and for the past year, much of my mother's appointments!
I did get an eye doctor scheduled easily! I found them last year, down in Kirkland. I called, got connected right away and it too, like 3 minutes.. BOOM! The lady was awesome!
Hey @Wanative well that sucks! Glad you caught it and taking care of it! Everybody's journey is different, and even an easy journey is hard!At work years ago I told the fellas I was going for a prostate exam later that day.
Of course I got the typical razzing some dudes are going to dish out.
I told my Doc about it. Jokingly he told me to tell them he put on some soft romantic music, lowered the blinds then lit some candles and asked me to drop my drawers and bend over.
Cracked me up!
I told them at work the next day and got a good laugh over it.
I've been diligent for years on getting tested for the usual cancers we hear about. Prostate, colon, skin cancers.
No fear or procrastination at all.
I'm 71 now and received a rude awakening on December 31 three weeks ago.
I have cancer. I've had some skin issues with sores the last year or so. I had a sore in May 2025 on my face that ulcerated (bled). My Dr. took a biopsy when it had almost healed. She could not get enough tissue due to it healed and the biopsy was inconclusive.
She told me to come back in if any more sores popped up. In December I noticed a similar but larger lesion on my left upper thigh the groin area.
I got back in to the Dr. and she shaved the nearly 1 centimeter lesion off and sent it in December 19th.
On December 31st the results came back positive for a very rare form of cancer called cutaneous skin Lymphoma.
It's so rare that only one to three people
In a million contract this disease.
It's a disease that affects the white blood cells. It presents in many different forms on you skin. It can be like a rash, a scaly patch or a raised lesion/tumor that can ulcerate (bleed).
I'm at the beginning of this journey right now. I've had a complete blood workup that was very good. I've had a CT scan that also had good results.
I will see a oncologist at Fred Hutch in Seattle on February 9th. They will go over things with me regarding test results, the stage my cancer is, treatment options and probably more testing. This cancer is very difficult to diagnose exactly due to the different ways it can present.
The good news is that it is very treatable and prognosis is generally positive as only a small percentage of those affected die from it.View attachment 177108
If you see something that looks like this get it checked! You never know.
Stay positive, get exercise, meditate if you do it just find quite time daily, get the best sleep you can. And go fishing as much add you can.
I will be praying for you and your family! Toy got this!
Melanoma is another scary one , my father -in-law died from it , it's an ugly one . Had a bit of a bout with it myself , I got lucky with mine . Had a mole on the top of my head ,I probably asked my primary care doctor for a couple years or so about it ,it's just a mole . My wife kept saying it just doesn't look right , having as said lost her dad to melanoma . Off to the dermatologist , sure enough did a biopsy , non invasive melanoma . After two sessions of cutting off the mole , and tissue ,and 17 staples later they got it all . He told me it would not of went much longer it would have been bad . Every six months now I get checked .
An added bonus is a free bailer…the purge with a load of water and laxatives the day before is fun…
Dave
Dave
Another vote for the dermatologist. I had a squamous cell carcinoma get way out of hand despite numerous treatments and regrowth, at age 34. Radiation and numerous surgeries. At age 52 I have been on the 3 month derm visit cycle since then. This week I go in for another red light treatment (similar results to effudex/fouroflurocil but less overall time). New stuff crops up all the time. I have Swedish, English, Czech and Calabrian ancestry and not particularly fair skin. I live at altitude but have always been good about sun protection. You never know so get checked!
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Listen to your body. It is trying to tell you something! If you go 'hmmm', 'I wonder', 'something has changed' ---> get it checked out sooner than later.
Well, another vote for a dermatologist; actually a dermatologic surgeon who has greater skills including MOHS micrographic surgery. As a survivor of basal and squamous cancers, various types keratosis, atypical nevi, plus you name it, for past 30+ years, keeping on top of skin cancers is paramount. For my last MOHS surgery, I had to sign a waiver for eye removal ---> if necessary... Fortunately I still have it. I typically have 8-10 skin cancers/abnormalities removed every year. Not an easy way to loss weight BTW... Does not work well for facelifts either. As @SurfnFish said above, Fluorouracil is great stuff. Expensive ($2k) retail per tube, but a lot cheaper with good insurance...
<TMI>
The sooner you listen to your body, the better the outcome.
Well, another vote for a dermatologist; actually a dermatologic surgeon who has greater skills including MOHS micrographic surgery. As a survivor of basal and squamous cancers, various types keratosis, atypical nevi, plus you name it, for past 30+ years, keeping on top of skin cancers is paramount. For my last MOHS surgery, I had to sign a waiver for eye removal ---> if necessary... Fortunately I still have it. I typically have 8-10 skin cancers/abnormalities removed every year. Not an easy way to loss weight BTW... Does not work well for facelifts either. As @SurfnFish said above, Fluorouracil is great stuff. Expensive ($2k) retail per tube, but a lot cheaper with good insurance...
<TMI>
The sooner you listen to your body, the better the outcome.
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Regarding skin cancer, I am in my early 70s with a Northern Euopean ancestry. I have always been in the PNW and as a kid, but much less so as an adult have had some bad sunburns.
Since the early 1970s when I served in the USAF and took up hiking, climbing, skiing, fishing... I have virtually always worn quick drying long sleeved shirts, long pants, and (usually fingerless) gloves for bug, briar, and sun protection.
*adding For over 20 years I have almost always worn a buff, and more recently an Aqua Designs vented facemask that does not fog up my glasses when fishing. Last year I found an inexpensive UPF 50 Bassdash Green Vegetation Camo sun hoodie with a vented light olive drab mesh facemask, and on the sides + underarms. I wish it had zip chest or upper arm pockets to hold Chapstick and a microfiber cloth for my sunglasses but I like it a lot.*
As a bonus I find my skin feels cooler when covered by a light layer. One of the few, and the last of the bad sunburns as an adult occured while swimming so I have worn the shirts when swimming every time since then. I have also worn (usually a ball cap or brimmed) hats outside. I wear them outside so often and have for so long that sunlight can be annoying to me without one even though I've always worn (prescription) sunglasses.
I had a balding friend who was being treated for skin cancer on his scalp but I truly didn't realize it was so prevalent in the PNW until the Sept 2024 "Reapplication of Sunscreen?" thread. That prompted me to (easily) get a referral from my PCP to a dermatologist for a full body check in 2025. No cancer found but did have a subcutaneous cyst just below my right eyebrow removed that had been there and itching on and off for decades. I will be seeing him annually.
I believe using Sunscreen, and Covering Up has helped me so far. And I will now get annual skin checks by a dermatologist.
Since the early 1970s when I served in the USAF and took up hiking, climbing, skiing, fishing... I have virtually always worn quick drying long sleeved shirts, long pants, and (usually fingerless) gloves for bug, briar, and sun protection.
*adding For over 20 years I have almost always worn a buff, and more recently an Aqua Designs vented facemask that does not fog up my glasses when fishing. Last year I found an inexpensive UPF 50 Bassdash Green Vegetation Camo sun hoodie with a vented light olive drab mesh facemask, and on the sides + underarms. I wish it had zip chest or upper arm pockets to hold Chapstick and a microfiber cloth for my sunglasses but I like it a lot.*
As a bonus I find my skin feels cooler when covered by a light layer. One of the few, and the last of the bad sunburns as an adult occured while swimming so I have worn the shirts when swimming every time since then. I have also worn (usually a ball cap or brimmed) hats outside. I wear them outside so often and have for so long that sunlight can be annoying to me without one even though I've always worn (prescription) sunglasses.
I had a balding friend who was being treated for skin cancer on his scalp but I truly didn't realize it was so prevalent in the PNW until the Sept 2024 "Reapplication of Sunscreen?" thread. That prompted me to (easily) get a referral from my PCP to a dermatologist for a full body check in 2025. No cancer found but did have a subcutaneous cyst just below my right eyebrow removed that had been there and itching on and off for decades. I will be seeing him annually.
I believe using Sunscreen, and Covering Up has helped me so far. And I will now get annual skin checks by a dermatologist.
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I'm not sure why so many docs shy away from referring their patients for testing. It's not as though they have to pay for it.
The moral of these stories is that you must be your own advocate. If you feel that (additional) testing is important, insist on it! Nobody else will!
The moral of these stories is that you must be your own advocate. If you feel that (additional) testing is important, insist on it! Nobody else will!
Great Advice!
x100...do the research, do not hesitate to engage physicians in treatment pathways, and always be willing to physician shop for second opinions if your current one is not sufficiently responsive.
A significant contributor to late diagnosis is stoicism...if it doesn't feel right, it's not right, so find out why.