On a Personal Note: What Happened to My Face
This is not an April’s Fools post/joke (I wish!) although the timing is a little funny. Kind of? Ok, not really.
I wanted to step back from food for a minute and talk about something a little more personal today in the hopes that maybe my experience can help even just one person reading this.
I’ve been grateful over the years as my blog following has grown beyond what I ever expected – it’s given me a lot of reason to wonder if I’m really doing good and how I can do more. In addition to sharing delicious, tried-and-true recipes, I hope I can help people in other ways. Maybe today is such a day.
Warning: somewhat gruesome (depending on your tolerance level) pictures follow, not to mention more selfies than I’ve ever taken in my life, so read at your own risk. Also, this is taking a bit of courage to post; I hope I can count on you to be kind with your comments (no unnecessary compliments, not fishing for those, but please no cruelty).
Last fall, I ended up at the dermatologist’s office getting a spot on my back checked out. A deep, elliptical biopsy and 12 stitches later (plus a week or so of waiting) and the good news came back that it was not melanoma like the doctor suspected but instead a dysplastic nevus (precursor to melanoma but very good news, nonetheless).
While I was there for that appointment, I asked the doctor about a tiny spot on my nose that had been there for a couple months and seemed like a scab that wouldn’t heal. I actually felt a little silly for asking about it but figured it wouldn’t hurt since I was already there.
You can see the spot here (as I’m intently whistling – or maybe trash talking – while working on a puzzle over Thanksgiving last year):
After about three seconds of examining the spot, my doctor was 99% sure it was basal cell carcinoma. I went back in a week or so later for a biopsy and sure enough, a few days later, the results came back that the seemingly innocent spot really was basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma is a fairly common type of skin cancer but still taken seriously by my dermatologist. To my credit, I didn’t really freak out (kind of a shocker, really) because it was such a small spot and I figured it would be pretty easy to take care of.
Fast forward several weeks later to December 1 when I was scheduled to have MOHS surgery on that spot. I knew that I would be getting a local anesthetic for the area (needles in the nose – ouch!!!) and the doctor would little by little remove an area of skin including and around the basal cell carcinoma spot, send it to the lab to be inspected under a microscope and come back with results (all while I waited in the room).
That process would continue until the borders were clean – meaning, no cancer. I was certain, positively certain, it would be one small removal and I’d be out of there.
Unfortunately, that very tiny spot on my nose had decided to get naughty underneath the surface and after several cuts (and more dang shots in my nose!), clean borders were finally found. What I was left with was a decent sized (and quite deep) hole in the side of my nose.
{Click here for the super graphic surgery photos – probably not fit for young children or really anyone who gets queasy at the sight of gruesome, bloody pics}
I didn’t feel any pain (thanks to the terrible but blessed little shots) and didn’t feel any panic in that moment (thanks to a very competent doctor). That is, until he showed me the area in a mirror and drew with black marker up along my nose where he would now need to cut in order to pull skin down to cover the crater in my nose (after we ruled out the option of a skin graft since it would be nearly impossible to match the skin color and tone of my nose).
The pictures of that part of the procedure are too gory to share on a nice cooking blog like this, but suffice to say, I started to panic a little. Ok, a lot.
An hour later and I was the new owner of 20+ stitches front and center on my face (with more underneath the skin) and lots of iodine to enhance my natural coloring.
Oh, and the doctor did give me this note also. I’ll give you one guess as to whether or not I obeyed doctor’s orders.
I left the office. And I bawled all the way home (mistake: driving myself to and from the doctor; in hindsight, I was in a lot of shock and am grateful I made it home in one piece – my hands were shaking so bad and I could barely see because I was crying and my contacts were all fogged up).
For a few days I had to keep the bandage on and it didn’t seem so bad, although it hurt like the devil.
But then I took the bandage off. I was still in a lot of pain; it was so tender to the touch, and the bruising and swelling were just getting started. Plus, even though I know it could have been worse, I was struggling a bit with the emotional pain of wondering if my face would ever look “normal” again.
While at the doctor (and even before during the dysplastic nevus episode), I endured a stinging but deserved lecture from my doctor about sunscreen.
I’ve actually been a stickler about wearing sunscreen and covering up since I’ve had kids and been in my 30’s but before that? Sunscreen was never really that important to me. I never did the tanning bed thing but I spent a lot of time outdoors and I didn’t concern myself with hats and sunscreen as a teenager and in my 20’s, thinking the color on my face and arms and legs would be welcome and pretty, which is kind of laughable because I’m so fair skinned, I usually burn and stay pale.
Combine that with the fact that I grew up in a generation where many mothers didn’t sunscreen their children (yes, my mom feels a lot of guilt which is silly since she was one of millions letting their kids blister in the sun in the 70’s and 80’s) and you have a recipe for basal cell carcinoma.
And honestly, based on the fact that I’ve never been a bikini-wearing, beach bound, sun lover spending hours laying out in the sun, I’m certain that if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
It’s an understatement to say our holiday season was very low key. I didn’t leave my house for several weeks and my 8-year old couldn’t look at me for a long time because he said “I’m not trying to be mean, mom, but your face gives my tummy the jigglies.” I can’t blame him.
I shouldn’t have been self-conscious but I was (and still am a little even though I’ll show you below how amazingly my face has healed in a few short months).
I’ve never worn makeup besides mascara and a little eyeshadow, but all of a sudden, I wondered how on earth I was going to cover this up once it healed a bit? (Spoiler alert: I’m still rocking the no-makeup look because it’s really hard to teach an old dog new tricks.)
That dang swelling decided to settle into the left side of my face and stay awhile. Plus, what do you think about that natural eyeshadow I’ve got going on? Who needs makeup, anyway??
You may or may not have noticed the lack of cooking videos over the last few months, but this basal cell carcinoma “experience” has put projects like that on hold and is also the reason, if you know me in person, I became even more of a homebody recluse from December to February than I already was.
It was such a relief to finally get the stitches out. Can you see how my left eye is pulling slightly in the corner?
That bothered me quite a bit for several months – I couldn’t close my eye all the way and my contact always felt like it was going to fall out (annoyingly, I couldn’t wear my glasses because they sat right there where the stitches ended at the top of my nose and it hurt too badly to wear them for a while).
As the weeks went on, it was amazing to start seeing the progress of healing, helped along, I have no doubt, by many, many prayers, lots of essential oils and Mederma. (Sorry about the death glare on the right; I take selfies very seriously, apparently.)
As I think about the whole process, I’m beyond grateful I was in the dermatologist’s office back in early fall when I had a suspicious mole on my back.
I never ever ever would have made an appointment for a “silly” spot on my nose but being able to ask the doctor about it at the first appointment was divine intervention. Who knows what would have happened had the cancer had even more time to spread?
This experience has made me think a lot about what I’m going to do going forward when it comes to sun control for me and my kids, but it’s also made me realize that by sharing this with you, all of you, maybe I can bring awareness to how important sunscreen and covering up in the sun really is.
I already have a separate cancer history (from seven years ago) and combined with this latest basal cell carcinoma issue (and the data that shows there’s a high chance it will come back in some form on my body, especially my face), I’m determined to make changes to protect the future of my health even though we have been sticklers about sunscreen and hats for well over a decade now.
I’m throwing away my pride and deciding that even if I’m the only one at the lake and on the boat and at the park and working in the yard and at soccer games this summer wearing a large-brimmed hat and carrying an umbrella and donning sunscreen from head to toe and a long-sleeve swimsuit and even a long skirt at times, it’s ok. It’s really ok. It’s a small price to pay to have healthy skin; I certainly do not want to relive the events of the last few months.
Will you think about your sun exposure and that of your kids if you have them? For me? Think about it and consider ways you can protect you and your family by choosing the right sunscreen, wearing hats when possible, and being smart about sun exposure.
After spending countless hours online (why do I do this to myself?) looking at other stories and cases of basal cell carcinoma and MOHS surgery, I’m immensely grateful that in the end, my cancer spot and removal area really was quite small compared to how it could have turned out (my doctor said he’s spent 15+ hours chasing skin cancer around patient’s faces, and I wanted to kiss his feet that I was only there for a couple hours).
It’s miraculous and amazing how the body can heal. If you would have told me last December that I’d actually want to look in a mirror come March, I would have laughed (ok, probably cried) in your face. But I am so blessed that I have healed well and am continuing to heal.
Please learn from my experience.
Be smart! And stay safe in the sun, ok?
Love ya.
UPDATE: I cannot even tell you how overwhelmed I’ve been at your response to this post. Your kindness has brought me to tears more than once. More than that, though, have been the stories you’ve shared of your own skin cancer or of your loved ones. Many of you have emailed me personally and commented below that because of this post, you or a family member went in to the doctor and were able to either preempt a skin cancer situation or find out you had skin cancer of your own that desperately needed attention. In all my years of blogging, I’ve never been more impacted by your comments and stories (and again, your kindness). Thank you a million times over.
866 Comments on “On a Personal Note: What Happened to My Face”
Oh my gosh! Great job sharing your story. I’m going in next week for the exact same thing on my nose, just a tough higher. This is my second mohs, the first time was on my lip and the doctor didn’t get it all so I had to go back for a much for intense surgery.
Thank you for sharing! I’d love to connect and share my journey with you!
Mel,
Found this page because I’m surfing the net looking for MOHS stories. I’m going in for my 3rd and 4th MOHS tomorrow morning. This time all three spots are basal. Two will be removed with MOHS and the third I have to use topical chemo for 6 weeks. It will ulcerate. I’m not thrilled about it. One spot is right between my eyes. Can’t hide it! My first round of cancer, back in 2012, was squamous along the side of my nose and the scar healed nicely. Second time, was basal cell on my scalp (yes, protect your scalp too, ladies) and I have a nice chunk missing and a small bald spot. I tell people I had a lobotomy. Just so you know, microneedling can help over time to break up scarring. It has helped me. I just want to say that you are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing my story. -Kara
Thanks for sharing your story. I just had my 3rd surgery to remove basil cell from my face. I blame my tanning bed obsession from back in my 20’s. I was given the option of Mohs or excision by a plastic surgeon. I chose the plastic surgeon over Mohs every time. The scars are very small (about 1/2 inch) and a pathologist is in the OR to verify margins are clear right at the time of surgery. My mom has had Mohs and was left with much larger scars. I advise anyone having facial surgery to make sure you know all your options.
Loved reading your story as I myself just had the same operation yesterday and due to very similar reasons, no sunscreen was used back in the 70 and 80s.
Loved reading your story as I myself just had the same operation yesterday and due to very similar reasons, no sunscreen was used back in the 70 and 80s.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I just got the same diagnosis today, also on the nose. You story gives me hope.
I am scheduled for a Mohs procedure next week and appreciate your story. I am in my 60s and keep telling myself that the important thing is to remove the cancer and that what my face looks like really isn’t that important. I’m not buying it. It does matter to me, even at my age and I am worried. Seeing your pictures form surgery to recovery were very helpful. You look lovely. I may not look so lovely when all this is over, but it is encouraging to hope that I will look like myself. Thank you, Barbara
Barbara,
What part of your face did you have the skin cancer? Have you had the surgery yet? I would love to connect with you about your experience. I’m 30 years old and just got diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma under my right eye. I’m so nervous about the scarring. I’m also upset/angry because I’ve taken great care of my skin and I’ve never been much of a tanner kind of person. I’ve rarely burned and I wear sunscreen and sunglasses when planning to be in the sun for a long time. So, I’m baffled that I got this right below my eye.
Hi ELizabeth. I have just had a tumour removed from my lower eyelid december 10th was 1st stage and 2nd stage on 15th. The operation was successful and they removed everything. It was an uncomfortable procedure but each day gets better. I’m still very bruised and swollen but it is getting better each day. It’s still early days but I’m applying the ointment 3 times a day and hopeful there won’t be much scarring. If any there will be a small scar ro the side of my eye where they cut to pull the skin over. I’m sure it will fade in time. Hope all goes well with your surgery.
I stumbled across your blog following mohs surgery on Wednesday, my story replicated yours…..I was thinking a small scar and like you it was a shock to see the large crater prior to the surgeon putting it all back together. Seeing your photo diary has really helped so thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you you for sharing your journey, I am at the beginning of my nightmare. I had Mohs surgery on Monday to remove Lentigo Maligma from my cheek that just looked like just a little pigmentation/sun damage l. Was shocked to find out it was cancer. I had reconstruction on Tuesday by a plastic surgeon, but as there was not enough skin to close the wound, he used a skin flap rotation method. The scarring was extensive. Yesterday I was told at my post op consultation with the plastic surgeon, that the Mohs surgeon had just informed him that actually they had not removed all of the cancerous tissue, despite being given the all clear on Monday. Apparently they sent the samples off for analysis somewhere else after they had been looked at and cleared in their lab. That makes no sense to me. So yesterday the plastic surgeon took more tissue to try to get a clear margin. One side of my face is now distorted (not enough skin to close again so nose and lip are pulled to one side) as well as the scars. I look like a monster. Am waiting for the all clear next week and hopefully then can continue with reconstruction and look a bit more normal asap. What an absolute nightmare. I am devastated.
dear clare, i just want to let you know that you can heal and look much more normal again. try to be patient. i’m sending you patience and peace of mind while you wait for what the doctors can do and healing.
I stumbled across this just a couple days before my surgery. It helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. My SCC was smack dab on the top/tip middle of my nose. The area removed was the size of a penny and did go deep. My surgery was this morning and, as I write this, I can feel my face swelling up! I look like I got hit by a freight train! I know it will get better. Although I will be hiding out for the holidays too. Thanks for sharing your story. It should bring about awareness .I thought I was careful… hats while gardening, protected my face while enjoying the sun, sun screen even in winter etc. Be safe!
Thank you so much for writing this article. I go in on Nov 23, 2021 to have one removed that they feel will be larger under the surface. you have given me an idea of what to expect if it’s large. I really appreciate that
Pat
I had mohs on the 23rd as well. Mine was big and deep. I went back in to remove a lower edge. It was awful. How was your experience?
God Bless You!
I’m so relieved to read about your beautiful additude and outcome. I came across your post by accident as I was searching for Mohs pictures to compare my surgery to. It was a double treat to find your blog as I love to bake and cook. Your words and pictures show that you are clearly beautiful inside and obviously outside.
What an amazing story! Your face looks totally normal after all that! No more jiggles from your son I suppose?
This is really a testament to how important sunscreen is. We often talk about it as an anti-aging measure. But this story really shows that it can be a lot more serious than that. Thank you for sharing. We’re sharing on our FB and Twitter!
I had the Mohs procedure a month ago for basal cell found right next to my nose. I knew the Mohs surgery requires cuts until clear margins, but I had no idea I would walk out of that office with a 3 inch incision down my cheek and another 1 inch incision down to my top lip. I was thankful it was removed. That basal cell had to go. I have been pretty mortified with the scar to be honest. So to see how nicely you have healed is a consolance. I as well have become a huge advocate for sun screen and skin care. It is so important! Thank you for sharing.
I had Mohs yesterday for two spots on my nose (a tiny sore like yours that would not stay healed, and another spot that was itchy and looked irritated). I was horrified at how awful the wounds (which surgeon left unclosed, to begin healing on their own for four weeks, then probably a course of Efudex, a topical chemo drug for surrounding precancerous areas) looked right after the surgery. Today, I’m feeling downhearted about what the future holds. I know there was no alternative to getting treatment, and would not change my decision. But, how to proceed optimistically now? I am struggling with that. Seeing the photos of your recovery is helpful, so thank you for your courage in posting the details of your story!
I found your blog after getting mohs surgery on my nose today that ended up MUCH larger than I expected. I’m getting reconstructive surgery tomorrow, and your pics are helping me feel less terrified. I honestly was not prepared for the size of this hole when it started as a tiny dot. Thank you for being so vulnerable. It’s helping me cope.
I just had this procedure last Wednesday, I’m on day 5 of healing. It was directly below my lip, so I have stitches from the bottom of my chin up through my lip. The swelling is awful! I am thankful for the procedure and glad it’s over. I’ve lost a few pounds since I can’t eat well (bonus). I stayed away from googling until today when I wanted to look up when the swelling would subside. That’s how I came across you! So basically I came here for the basal cell story and will stay for the recipes 🙂 Thanks for sharing your story! And thanks to all those that responded with a similar story.
Thank you so much for sharing, your story brought me to tears. I just had a fine size area on my eyebrow removed in a slow Mohs procedure. I happened to mention the spot to my MD and asked him to look at a spot that appeared over night, rhe size if a dime. Biopsy showed Melanoma in situ LM. Had it reached a depth of 0.7mm (1/32 of an inch) the Dermatologist said it would be a different story. You story gave me hope that my face will recover in time. I am usually a calm and centered person, during the second appointment when the closed the surgical and placed a flap, I was shaking. I am thankful to God my MD listened, looked and made the referral. One rhe sutures are out and people see my face. I will gladly stress the importance of sun protection to help others not go through this. It is nonetheless a blessing that the outcome was not worse indeed. Thank yiu again and God Bless you. My scariokd like a V and a straight line to my hairline. My name is Vickie do the V is kinda of funny.
Thank you for the photos and tagging of the article so I found it. Done the MOHs yesterday and now waiting reconstruction. Your pics give me hope it will turn out ok. Thank you
I know this might sound strange, but you definitely helped me. I’m always looking for quick meal ideas. Through a web search, I stumbled upon one of your pasta recipes. It looked delicious! I browsed the site for a while and then went back to doing something else. For some reason, another web search produced a picture of you with your stitches. I’m guessing it had something to do with my browsing history of your website. I was curious so I decided to come here and read. There has been a strange spot on my arm for a few years but I had someone look at it when it first popped up and they said it was a wart. I didn’t think anything of it but noticed that it was getting darker.. and larger. I kept telling myself not to worry. Then I read this story and thought ok, maybe I am paranoid but it doesn’t hurt to get it looked at again. I made the appointment and sure enough, it came back as a melanoma. I probably would have continued putting it off but when this popped up out of no where, I kinda took it as a sign. Thank you for being brave and sharing!
Hi Mel, I came for the recipes but stayed for the skin cancer story. I’m 34 and had a little chunk of melanoma removed from the back of my upper thigh (which hardly ever sees the light of day!) earlier this year. My sun care history is a lot like yours. Pretty good at covering up once I turned 30, but in my 20’s I was a little careless, and as a child I know I blistered and peeled quite a bit. No family history of skin cancer, and never did tanning beds or intentionally tanned. So scary, but nice to know we’re not alone in this ordeal!
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I had Mohs surgery for 2 lesions on my forehead and left temple. I’m doing pretty well. Cancer free! Waiting the outcome of my incisions. You have know idea how much your post is helping tonite. You’re beautiful, and you had great results post-op. It gives me hope. For reference, I’m 70, and had surgery a week ago.
God Bless you.
Thank you so very much for sharing with photos!. I have a similar Mohs surgery sized hole in the back of my hand from surgery 5 days ago with no sutures due to the thin skin there and it’s location over large veins.. The prior sample hole for biopsy was dime sized and like you in 90 days healing I could hardly tell where the hole had been. I’m really hoping this surgery heals similarly although I know it will take a lot longer. We are blessed to have such great technology in our lifetime and such good doctors.
Hi mel ,I had a bacil carcinoma removed from my nose quite close to my eye 2 weeks ago and for such a small spot it caused some destruction to my forehead and nose as a skin flap procedure was used .I got an awful shock when my own gp took of my dressing last week, I asked could it stay on for another week but that didn’t happen but I have to say I’m improving every day ,my forehead is still very tender and red but I’m prescribed anti cream so I’m hoping it will heal a bit quicker and that the skin flap on my nose reduces in size as it’s a bit raised. I have to say and I’d say yo will agree that it very scary in the early stage of healing with how disfiguring the face looks. I have to say looking at how good you look now has made myself feel a lot more at ease and thank you for sharing your story
God bless you for sharing your story. I have a very small spot that looks just like your BCC did and in the exact location. My Mohs surgeon believes mine is bigger than it looks and has referred me to a head/neck plastic surgeon so that I can be scheduled for 2 surgeries, one to remove and the other to repair. Your story and photos of your recovery have encouraged me that God willing, everything is going to work out just fine. You look beautiful!!! Thank you!
Thank you for your story. I just had MOHS surgery this week and when I took the bandage off needless to say I felt the same way as you. I couldn’t believe I had this Frankenstein scar on my face!!
My stitches is just like yours. You have made be feel better with your pictures through your healing process. I feel a lot better about my healing outlook.
And YES is hurt! I will be wearing a hat every time I venture outside.
Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! Because I had seen this post I did not hesitate to get myself to the dermatologist when my nose began to bleed at church when I just scratched an itch. My MOHS is scheduled for this Tuesday but it is comforting to know that you healed well and I will too. I’m braced for impact, so to speak. Thank you Mel. PS- I’ve bake your whole wheat bread recipe every week for years. You’ve made my life better, lady. Thanks a million. Your family is gorgeous!
It’s so heartbreaking that you had to go through such a terrifying and scary journey with skin cancer 🙁 I wish you healing, recovery and remission now and in the future…I hope you’ll try to locate a naturopath who can treat you with holistic medicine since there could have been potential metastasis to distant regions that may or may not show clear signs in the future…please get treated with intravenous therapies and injections by an integrative doctor so that this does not recur again..once you get this cancer, it’s there forever…
Hi, Mel:
It’s my first time here. I was browsing and saw your post in a search.
I experienced the exact situation as you in regard to skin cancer on my nose. Went to a dermatologist and was referred for surgery. I’m not one to be squeamish about surgeries, small or big. After I was numbed, the surgeon cut for what seemed like a long time on my little nose! He had to keep cutting three more times. I was starting to panic. He then sent in a PA that he referred to as “the stitching guru.” I went home with a bruised and very sore face, covered in gauze. My incision was almost as long as your’s! The initial spot was bigger around than a quarter, with a “tail” that ran down to the bottom of my nose. Like you, I’ve healed beautifully… and I’m much older than you! God’s handiwork creating the human body is almost beyond belief.
The unfortunate part was that I had to attend my mother’s memorial just three days later. ♀️
I join you in encouraging others to be diligent about sunscreen. Thank you for posting!
Phyllis
(I’m going to check out some of your recipes, too!! )
Thank you this post. You look beautiful. I know how har this was to go through. I lost my whole nostril and had to have the flap. I was surrounded by people who love me like my children otherwise I would have crawled under a rock. I needed to see that someone went through this and came out shiny like a diamond. Thank you for posting.
Hi, I just came across your story as I was looking for before and after pics of mohs surgery. It’s only been a couple of days but I can’t even stand looking at my stitches it looks so bad 🙁 Your story is just about identical to mine as of probably many thinking how can such a small spot turn into half our nose cut out :(. I have to go to work next week and wondering how I’m going to ever cover my face now :(. I feel like wearing a bandage until it completely fades away but I know that’s not going to be for a long time. I’m even googling make up to cover scars etc but I know it’s going to be so noticeable! Worse thing is I’m a twin and I know what everyone is going to say now, oh she’s the one with the big scar on her face 🙁 It has been nice that so many people have gone thru the same thing, but at the time it’s a horrible thing for an individual to go thru. Also understand it could of been worse and feel for people that do have bigger ones 🙁
Btw I hope my scar heals as good as yours xx
I just got Mohs Surgery yesterday–red bump on side of the nose but they took so much skin off it–and a plastic surgeon stitched the wound all the way from the bottom to the top of my nose. It’s red. I look like Frankenstein’s Bride. Even my dog is a bit shocked when he looks at me. I hope it goes away soon. Thank you for your very real, uplifting post!
OMG. This is me! Had my surgery July 26. Was telling everyone my nose now looked like a football complete with the grip right down the middle. Totally underestimated what the reconstruction surgery would be like. Kudos to Mel for her incredible post. Based on the responses it’s really obvious we’re all looking for some sort of hope that we’re on the right track. Healing thoughts and love to all going through this.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I had Moh’s surgery 6 days ago and feeling very sorry for myself. I have been vigilant about sunscreen for many years but the first 20 years does a lot of damage and had no sunscreen then. You look fabulous and I know life isn’t all about looks, but I hope to be able to look in the mirror soon and see a nose that somewhat resembles my own! I can’t see that right now! Teresa x
Hi Mel. i have been trying to post to you on your site but I never see my written comments to you with everyone else’s. Would you please let me know if you receive this?
Thanks so much!!
Corinne
Hi Corinne, yes I’m receiving your comments!
OMG!!! I had mohs done yesterday for a spot on my nose identical to yours! Wouldnt heal but got smaller after the biopsy. Ended up with “too many stitches go count” along the entire side of my nose. Havent taken off initial bandage yet. Now worried how to care for it with least amount of scarring. Guess thats a lost cause. Hopefully I will heal as well as you did. Tx for sharing your story and pics! Gave me a little hope.
I Cried after reading your story about the mohs surgery because I think my nose looks horrible but you have been through more hell then me!
My plastic surgeon botched my nose first with stitches ,,then with laser!Now my nose looks even worse!
I,m 79 years old and having a hard enough time
dealing with wrinkles and old age,my nose was just fine,now I look like a witch with a big wart on it! I,m so angry! He keeps saying “I,ll FIX IT”
I DONT TRUST HIM NOW!
SO WHERE DO I TURN?
GOD BLESS YOU,you are a very brave young lady!
Thank you for sharing your story with pics. I am awaiting path results which are certain to come back BCC based on several factors. I was shocked to see how small (like mine) your initial spot was, and how big the excision had to be. I’m bracing myself for this and am encouraged by your “final”pics in which you look beautiful with no scarring apparent. Also, like you, I am online reading way too much and absolutely looking at way too many pics…but am glad I stumbled across your story. I hope you have remained BCC-free since your successful surgery. Thank you for bravely sharing your pics.
Can you please message me on Facebook messenger. Was wondering how many slices they took to pathology from that area?
FB is Lynn and Leslie Hopper
Also have Insta of shegon_racing77
Thank you for sharing your photos. I had surgery this week and thought I had picked the wrong doctor. My incision looks much like yours only my nose is more swollen than yours initially. I now have hope that one day I will look normal. Thank you!
Can you message me or tell me how many slices they took from your nose. Thank you
479-659-2758
pinkiehopper@gmail.com
I just found your blog when looking at your recipe for slow cooker tender beef and clicked on the “more about me”. Was really happy to see that you had the courage to write about your skin cancer experience. You have a wonderful platform to get the word out and I’m sure you will help many readers. I will be 69 next month and have had 7 Mohs surgeries (face, legs, hands – you name it). Unfortunately as a young red head growing up in Southern California, I burned every single summer trying to get that evasive tan everyone else had. I didn’t stop as a young woman either and it wasn’t until I was 34 and a co-worker told me my hands looked like an 80 year old’s, that I finally went to a dermatologist. 35 years later I still see the doctor every 3 months and more often than not, the appointment involves biopsies, most of which are squamous cell. One was so bad, that Mohs would not help, so I endured radiation for 5 weeks, which was absolutely no fun. I am a big fan of Coolibar clothing and sunscreen is automatic 365 days a year. Thanks again for sharing your journey with so many.
What type of sunblock do you use? i wish you good health & healing.
Hi, Thank for writing about your skin cancer. I had mohs under my left eye. Only been a month but I’ve very upset too. I’m a 68 yr old guy but I guess prettyvain. I was an actor so my face got me jobs. I’m sick from this scar. I hope it improves. Looks like zoro but a z on my cheek.
I have another one right where yours wad. I’m not doing it. I know that’s dumb. I just can’t face another mohs surgery. TRying to burn it off!
ANYWAya, glad you’re on the mend. E
Thank you for doing this. I’m
In week one of nose reconstruction. A flap from my laugh line and cartilage from my ear is being used. I honestly look like a monster under the bandages. Praying I can look as good as you after. How many months before you looked like this? Mine begin as a tiny pimple.
Thank you for sharing! You give me hope!
Thanks for sharing “on a personal note”…I had a similar experience last week. Its nice to know there is light at end of tunnel. Thanks again.
Thank you for sharing this with photos. I was told today that a small spot on my nose is likely to be a BCC and I’m awaiting a referral to a dermatologist. It’s been there a year! I’m terrified after looking at photos of people with masses of stitches all over their faces for such small spots, so seeing your photos of how you look now has helped me to feel a lot better. I’m astounded too at reading how it’s caused by sun exposure when I’m the queen of factor 50… still in denial here
Thank you so much for sharing your story and the photos as well. Can you please tell when what you used to help the scar heal and when you were allowed to start putting anything on it. I had open heart surgery and have a long scar down the middle of my chest.
Hi Marilyn – good luck with your recovery!! I kept my scar super moisturized to the point of being greasy. I used aquaphor and mederma but also used essential oils. I used coconut oil and rose hips oil and used frankincense, helichrysum and lavender.
Be careful with lavender oil when it comes to sun, it is photsensitive, so it can increase the danger of UV light! I think it is not a HUGE concern, but better safe than sorry!
This was after the stitches were removed?
I have been there having all four of the worst ones but I have had many more Basal, Squomis cell TCell pre melanoma and Melanoma
I was never a sun worshiper but stayed outside a lot riding horses, bikes, playing ball my mother thought you needed to be outside to be healthy but not so much we found out years later. A MOES surgeon did two places on my right arm one about four inches long and very deep BCC the Melanoma was a small place on the back of my right arm it was never a sore place no itching nothing but went to see about another place and the tech saw it looked suspicious. So she called the doctor in and biopsies both sent off and called to tell me I would need to see a MOES surgeon about fifty miles from where I live he did my surgery my melanoma was in the first to second stage and completely taken out got labs to be sure nothing in my blood. If that young lady had not noticed and the places were not bothering me it could have been too late. Now I am checked every three months to be sure none of my other moles are not changing or new places come up after a while every six months. So if you have any places go let someone check them because all of them do not bother you or
look like anything I thought would be a problem. Don’t wait these places can be benign but not always a
tiny place under your nails or bottom of your foot can be very dangerous. My dermatologist has removed
all of the other places but the two on my arm were very bad long place up the back of my arm for six inches
so never say it is nothing when it’s just a small mole or as one BC was a small red spot I had had a long time.
Glad you are doing well your nose did amazing my husband had the same thing on his nose and you would never know he had surgery a friend told him after healed to massage it often and it healed so well. Get checked often for any places you have on your skin, better safe than sorry.
Hey dear.I am grateful for all of your story. You are a brave mum. Currently waiting myself to go to dermatologist to check out one spot on my nose which appeared around 6 mth ago… I was stupid enough to send phone taken pictures to dermatologist who just said ah looks like spider angioma.. But keep in mind it could be close to basal cell carcinoma.. If you do think it is smth that could be go and see your dermatologist.. Yeah, thanks dude.. Have the check up on Tuesday and dreading it! So anyone reading this comment, make sure you guys NEVER do the online consultation with some derm who is not even in your country.. Better off going to the one you trust.!
So enjoyed reading all the comments as well as your description of the MOHS procedure. I’m visiting my surgeon today, 2 months after procedure almost in same area as yours. I have a skin graft that he needs to check today. I think all is well but will be glad to hear his opinion and tell me how to continue to treat the area. Thank you again!
Mel, thank you for sharing this difficult experience. I’m 30 and was diagnosed with a BCC just above my upper right lip the beginning of March. I was a sun worshiper in my teens and early 20s and even foolishly laid in the tanning for several years – boy,, am I kicking myself for that! The BCC ended up being much more invasive than anticipated, but by the grace of God my dermatologist was excellent! I’m now 7 weeks post-Moh’s and it’s healing wonderfully – dealing with a bit of “snarl” effect that I’m massaging down daily – but I can reiterate other comments about the mental and emotional turmoil experienced during the immediate recovery process. I too don’t consider myself a vain person, I just wanted to know I could look like “me” again. I wanted to not live in fear of it returning. I want to enjoy my life! Your pictures bring me such comfort, I’m confident the Lord led me to your page for this purpose. I would recommend Jeremiah 30:17 to everyone: “For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord.” Again, thank you for sharing your story!
Kind Regards,
Jordan
Hello! My story is very similar, I had the surgery in the same spot 8 months ago. My question for you is.. do you still have one side of your nose swell or hurt? I have had cortisone shots to try to help and am scheduled for laser but nervous about that. My scar looks fine but the swelling tends to bother me. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.
Your post has literally saved me today, I’m 2 days post surgery and so traumatised it’s horrendous, you have given me hope that someday I will leave the house again or look in a mirror.at 36 nobody wants to go trough this. Thank you for sharing X
How are you now?
Hey , i just had surgery on my nose in Jan , how did you get your scar to heal so well ?? what do you put on it ?
Thank you very much for sharing, god bless you and your family. You look great , wishing you all the best
I can’t believe you’re the same Mel from Thin and Crispy Oatmeal Cookies. They have been my go to cookies for years now. I like to add Heath Toffee Bites to them for a little extra something. My favorite part is that my name is Mel (Melanie) so when I print it out for people it looks like the recipe is my own – but of course I tell them no, I am not the Mel from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe…. And now I am faced with Mohs surgery next week on my left temple and of course I ‘m doing lots of research on it. Scared but hopeful at the same time. Thanks for sharing your story with all of us ! I give this recipe five stars !
Thank you for sharing your story. I am one week since having Mohs on my forehead and so needed to hear a positive outcome with such a long journey of recovery ahead of me.
This is a great story with a happy ending, however please see a plastic surgeon, forthe procedure as dermatologists do not do surgery. They diagnose not repair
Mohs surgery left me with a nickel size hole in my nose! Plastic surgeon did flap reconstruction…I’m two weeks past surgery and the 27 sutures are out…I’m hiding my nose with steri strip bandages because it’s way too soon for makeup. You are all life savers! I was so depressed; I’m sorry there are so many of us; but it’s nice to know I’m not alone.
Hi Susan I too had the flap surgery. I was trying to see how people handle this huge difference in my face by searching the internet. They had to cut my nostril off and reconstruct it. It’s hard to tell u less your super close to my face. I get depressed sometimes. How are you handling it.
Thankyou so much ! This really helped me I just had a Basel call removed under my eye Tuesday and so it wouldn’t pull my eye down he did a skin flap by cutting the side of my nose
Hi Sherry ! I just had the same thing 2 weeks ago…Amazing how common this is! So traumatic…The basal cell left a nickel size hole in my nose. Had a plastic surgeon do the reconstruction..I”m very depressed but reading all these posts makes me feel like I”m not alone. I’m wearing steri stip bandages because it’s much too soon to wear makeup and they do a decent job of camouflaging the area
Thankyou Susan for the info . The plastic surgeon was onsite thankfully when o had mine done . The stitches I have are dissolving stitches . My whole eye/ right side of my face was bruised and swollen but thankfully it’s starting to go down . I finally showered today ! Yay ! Felt good . I Came back on here to see what the name of the scar cream was . I hope you’re doing well !!
I’ve just had 2 small BCC’s found on my nose & I’m absolutely sh!tting myself about getting them cut off/out next week. I thought I’d see what I was in for & I’m glad I was able to find & read about your experience as I am kind of feeling alone. It’s scary! Thanks so much for sharing.
Annette , I’ve read your comment. I will be praying for you. I just had mine removed Tuesday.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I had an identical experience 3 weeks ago. My MOHS is the same area, eye pulling, similar scaring, everything. It’s kinda creepy how much your story sounds like mine! Even how you ended up there in the first place for something different.
I’ve been very scared, in pain, and still only 3 weeks out- finding myself asking “Dr Goggle” about healing and pictures. My eye is still pulling, as is my forehead and cheek. It just feels tight all the time. I get sharp pains, nerve pains I think. And it itches. I think all this is probably normal- but still makes feel so much better every time I read your story. (Which is 3xs since my surgery 3 weeks ago lol)
Thank you for sharing and give me hope and patience in this journey.
Wow I am 3 weeks post surgery and feeling very sorry for myself which is not normally my character but I am being reassured by all these comments and the face in the mirror gradually returning to my new normal. I didn’t think it would be such a big deal but I was wrong. Hope you all are healing well.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I have needed to go to the dermatologist because back in October all of a sudden I had this odd little bump come up on my nose and it’s never gone away. And for some reason I have never had breakouts or pimples and now in my early 60s my nose has four red spots besides the other raised one. After reading your article when I am finish with this post, I will call my dermatologist. Unlike you, I was a sun worshiper until 45 years old. Thank you God bless you
Hi Mel,
I’ve just had squamous cell carcinoma removed from my lower eyelid. My eye is stitched closed for another 3 weeks. I lost 60 percent of my lower eyelid.Reading your experience has made me feel that I’m not alone in this. I have always worn sunglasses etc so I wasn’t really expecting this to happen. I tell all my family to wear sunscreen etc and get checked regularly. Thank you for telling your story.
Hi Mel!! I’ve followed your blog for many years. You are my go to for my house. Thank you again. I remember when you came out with this blog post. Fast forward to now, I just had BCC removed from my nose today. I’ve cried at how ugly it looks wondering if I’ll ever look normal again. Your post gives me hope. Thank you again. Prayers, healing, and blessings to everyone who finds this post in the future.
I too just went through the same procedure Friday and look like I’m right out of a horror movie. You give me hope that it will be better and a plastic surgeon did mine.
Hi Mel-I ran across your story while searching for reconstructive surgeons to fix my eye pulling from a recent basal cell removal from the side of my nose next to the corner of my right eye. My stitches (six in total) are due to come out in 6 days and your story has given me hope that I may not need a second surgery to relieve this pulling. Thank you for sharing your story. How soon did you begin to use the Mederma after stitch removal? By the way you look great!
I just had this surgery 3 days ago. I’m in the swollen, black and blue stage. I was put to sleep for mine cause the dr was planning on a skin graft from my cheek. He didn’t need to after all, but he took cartilage from my ear. Your post and pictures give me hope that in a few months I’ll look so much better and back to myself. Thank you for your post. You are beautiful.
Thanks for sharing your story – it almost could have been my own! About 3 months ago, I had moh’s surgery for squamous cell cancer on my nose, and ended up with 25 stitches. (Mine were between my eyes, too, so I understand about the glasses thing. And with covid, not being able to wear a mask for awhile was difficult.) You are very beautiful and brave for sharing your story and posting the pictures of the stitches and bruising. (I have similar pictures of myself but not quite ready to share yet) It is so encouraging to see how well it healed. I am hoping mine continues to heal as well. You mentioned essential oils for your scar and I am interested in the types of essential oils you’re using. I am so thankful for the doctors who can perform these surgeries to remove our cancers and fix us up so well! Although I am hoping, as I’m sure you are, that I don’t need to go through it again.
HI Cindy
I JUST had this surgery 2 weeks ago–nose flap reconstruction and 27 stitches by a plastic surgeon. Sutures are out and my nose is in Steri strip bandages which I will be in for a couple of months I think.. I live in NYC. How have you healed?? Susan email: susan@quidprovideo.com
Was your Mohs and plastic surgery the same day?
I just had nearly the same surgery in the same spot 2 days ago. Your article was helpful so I thankyou, especially when I saw your result pic. I have something to ask you because I really hate using petroleum products on my body as they are so bad for your system but that is what my doctor is telling me to use. I would like to use essential oils or something else on this new stitched area. I am well into essential oils and have at least a hundred different ones on my shelf but I’m not sure if it’s something you would use when you’ve just been stitched up. What did you use? Thank you in advance.
Mel, I was searching for Mohs surgery stitches questions and stumbled upon your story. I have been following you for years and made so many of your recipes over and over again (chicken tortilla soup is my fave). I joined the Mohs surgery and scar club a couple of weeks ago. I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy. I know my surgery wasn’t as deep as yours and mine is healing well. Sunscreen for the win!
Thank you for posting your journey. I have a spot on my nose that I will have biopsied on Monday. I know it is basal or squamous, as I have had both and I just had a spot removed from my forehead The scar is long. I am worried about how bad my nose will be. You have given me much courage.
I’ve ordered a larger sun hat. 🙂
Take care!
Denise
Hello – I just read this article you wrote. Thank you for sharing. In it you mentioned not only you healed with the help of prayers, you said essential oils and Mederma. What essential oils did you use? Your info will be greatly appreiated. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing. I had the same thing 9 days ago and it is quite traumatic, to say the least. I had a skin graft, don’t actually know what my nose looks like, they changed the bandage yesterday, I’m not ready to see it. You are really am inspiration and your face looks beautiful. Thanks again!!!
You have healed up great. How long had that been. I had a same surgery 4 weeks ago and am still having pain in my sinus area and dealing with a clef as a result of the surgery as it went to the very front of my nose. Did you have any sinus pain. Lee
I had Mohs surgery 4 weeks ago on the tip of my nose for squamous cell carcinoma. It was a very small dry spot. Nov. 12th I had the Mohs surgery then later that day I had plastic surgery. My nose looked just like yours. Now healing like yours except for excruciating pain since surgery. The pain is between my eyes at the bridge of my nose. I had X-rays a week ago. No findings. I’m in so much pain! Has anyone else had that? I don’t know what to do.
Thank you for posting this information! I just had the same surgery only I waited too long and require ” the flap ” surgery to repair my nose. Thats a large chunk of forehead pulled down to fill the hole. The funny thing is, my spot would heal over for several months then return, I thought my glasses where causing it, until my dermatologist asked how long it had been there. Now I am scaring children.
Hi. I too had the flap from waiting too long but it’s healing nicely. Really difficult to look closely in the mirror but it could have been worse. Are you okay ? You message me if you want to talk about it.
I am having the same surgery soon. I had an identical spot on my nose and wasn’t sure what it was. I have yearly skin checks due to surviving a stage 4 melanoma 10 years ago. This one on my nose is a base cell carcinoma with a tumour underneath. I am terrified how my face will look. Your story has given me hope. Could you please let me know what essential oils you used. I am a huge fan of essential oils. Thank you for sharing your story, I am glad I found it. PS. Needles in the nose are the most PAINFUL ever. Regards Tracey
Hi Tracey, I’m sorry you have to endure a surgery after already having a past melanoma history. I hope all goes well. And I agree, needles in the nose are just about the most painful thing ever. Yikes! For the oils, I used frankincense, lavender and rose hips oil.
Just got home from my dermatologist and she agrees the tiny pin sized white pimple on the end of my nose is likely basal cell. Waiting on my biopsy results but will likely need mohs. I can’t tell you how empowering it is to hear about other’s journey with this and see photos of recovery. Thank you and everyone else commenting for sharing!
Hi There – just wanted to say “THANK YOU” for posting your BCC / Mohs experience. I just had my procedure for a BCC on my nose yesterday and I was able to walk into the appointment informed and empowered to take this on. A huge part of that is because of you, and other brave women, for sharing your experiences online. I cannot overstate how helpful reading and seeing the experiences of other young women has been for me. I wish you all the best!
In Gratitude,
Bridget
I just had the Mohs surgery and I’m all to Hell. Could you email me please.
Please email me pinkiehopper@gmail. com
I had it to
Hey, I’m from the UK and just found your blog after searching for information on skin cancer (cheery, right?!)
I am having Mohs tomorrow for BCC on the bridge of my nose, and am booked in for a skin graft on Thursday because they already know its an infiltrative type that spreads within the skin.
Due to COVID have been waiting for this surgery all of 2020. I have to admit, I’m terrified, mainly because I am squeamish and a wimp. The thought of having so much of my nose removed and rebuilt is scaring me!
Its reassuring to see how well you have healed – thank you for sharing your story!
Leanne
Hang in there. You look terrific. I have Gorlins syndrome and have had many basal cells removed from my face that heal quickly and invisibly…but just had my first nose basal cell removal and Wow different ball game. Will take much longer to feel like myself again. Xo
Hi Mel, I found your post last night after having had Mohs surgery to remove a rather large whitish spot of basal cell carcinoma from the tip of my nose. Two years ago, I fell at a campsite in the middle of the night smack on my nose. Although the bruises up and down my legs showed up quickly, I only noticed the white squarish spot on my nose much later. In the few months after my fall, my left hip worsened enough (probably from the fall) to where I had hip replacement surgery (Jan 2019). It was months after that that I noticed the spot on my nose. Thinking it was a scar from the fall it eventually grew and got harder. It was only at my yearly determatologist appointment in September, that it was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma and a spot on my arm was diagnosed as state zero melanoma….I had that removed last week.
Yesterday’s Mohs surgery was, as it was for you, much more traumatic with the needle in the nose…ouch!! In my case, the doctor did a skin graft as opposed to the flap approach you had from your upper nose. She discussed it with me very quickly and only mentioned the forehead flaps (which I had already read about). I wish I would have discussed the nose flaps now. She ended up taking skin from just under my jaw line for the skin graft, which means I now will have two scars rather than one on my face. Your nose looks just amazing to me!! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! And I thank God that both of us got the help we need before things got worse.
Btw, I will pass on your blog to my hubb, who is the cook in our family and an avid Chops fan. 🙂
You most recent photo looks wonderful. I had similar cancer in exact same spot. MOHs surgery last week using a graft from inside my ear! So I still have a ways to go, but your photos give me hope! Thanks!
Hi Mel.. I came across your story on the “eve” before my mohs surgery tomorrow a.m. I have had multiple basal cells cut from me, one last year was a melanoma.. I’m a bit intimidated right now as mine is in the exact same place as yours.. Thank you for your honesty and pics as I’m thinking I might look just you did initially..
Just had the same surgery on the same area. Your pictures made me click on your blog from my internet search of how healing nose Mohs surgery looks. I’m so grateful to see how great your face looks now. Mine looks pretty scary right now and even tho I’m also like you, not a vein person, I too cried all the way home because I NEVER expected 30+ stitches! It really was exactly how you explained it. So emotional leaving that office! Thanks for putting into words exactly how I feel too and helping me feel not so alone right now.
I recently fell and ripped open my nose in the process, leaving me with six stitches and a scar very similar to yours. I’m only 22 and I’m so ashamed of my nose that I don’t want to take photos with friends if I can’t photoshop my scar out. I won’t go to any function with other people without a full face of makeup. It’s been 4 months since the accident and I can tell it’s healing well with all the Mederma and vitamin E I slap on it, but it’s hard knowing it might be a year or more until it’s less noticeable. This gave me hope that my scar could actually look as good as yours someday.
I’m getting a skin graft for this weird growth on my foot. I Just Hope It Goes Well!.!.!.
Yesterday I had a bcc removed from my forehead, have not felt pain like it when it came back to life, I am so scared for tomorrow and taking off the dressing. You have given me a little bit of hope, and confidence to do it. Thank you so much for sharing your experience, you are helping so many people. Hopefully soon I will feel like myself again x
Hello Mel wow wow,
I was googling basal cell carcinoma and found your blog. I have a very pin size dot on my nose on the left side too. My PCP doc just sent me to a dermatologist and he did this weird thing and gave me a shot in my nose and then gave me the gell to put on it 2x a day. He said to make an appointment to come back in a month and that if it is still there then he needs to biopsy and then …perhaps surgery. This doc is very old (well experienced but very zanny and maybe it seems in his eighties… I don’t know but, I’m concerned since it is right in the middle of my face. I’m really not vain but this is our nose. So, I’m very glad to see your post here. I want to make sure I always wear a hat and or screen from now on…. I never was a sun worshiper but I guess I didn’t keep sunscreen on my face like I should have. I’m fifty-two but everyone thinks I’m more like 38 or maybe 42. So, I really want an excellent doc like you had and maybe a woman….because now that I’m thinking about this tiny red dots… I have them sorta all over the truck of my body and a few on my arms and legs. I am planning to go to my PCP tomorrow 9.22.2020 and talk seriously about what is going to happen to me. This is all new to me. God bless and I’m so very glad you are doing okay now. You look beautiful. Did you have to have plastic surgery? By the way, I’m 50% italian and was adopted and just now getting my ancestry.com info. I want to see what may be genetic with these little red moles and dots too. Love and Light, Lyn-Dell
I just spoke to my doctor and am going to have a similarly stubborn tiny red spot on my nose removed. They said its probably nothing but are biopsy-ing to check as sometimes when I wash my face with a flannel I catch it and it can bleed. Pretending I’m fine with it but also really nervous and freaking out bout scars. Fingers crossed!! Thank you for sharing your story xxx
Hello Cathryn, I pray and hope all will be okay with your procedure. I was just in the doctor and dermatologist’s office about a tiny red dot on my nose too. They may be doing a biopsy sometime soon. Hope it goes well.Love and Light, Lyn-Dell
I’m glad you have healed so well. I am going through this right now and not healing well my nose is so deformed I feel discouraged
Its OK. Its whats on the inside that Counts!
I think you healed very well and look beautiful
Thank you so much for posting your mole story just had a similar experience. Just yesterday I didn’t even take the Dr’s call for fear I would just be crying on the phone. Your story gives me hope !!! The body will heal
Hey
I was searching the Internet for people in the similar situation to me your story is practically the same as mine so pleased to see that you are healed so well it’s so reassuring and thank you for sharing. I am just two weeks post up and Feeling Like I am disfigured for life but seeing your post has really helped me to say that it may not be as bad as it seems right now.
HI,I just stumbled on this as I was looking up info on skin grafts. This is my second MOHS treatment.The first was a small spot on my nose that he froze of a few times over a two year period. Then it would bleed,he did biopsy and went in for treatment,very happy they got it all in one step. So last fall had a scabby spot on bridge of nose, he froze off and it healed with no problem. Starting in March of this year it came back and bled and formed a scab,again and again. First I thought it was (this years latest fashion trend) from mask or maybe reading glasses.I moved my yearly visit up to the end of June. The biopsy showed basil cell.I thought no problem since we caught this much quicker than the other run,that i would be done after one layer! It took 4 layers and a skin graft from the area between chest and shoulder. As of yesterday I do not have to keep covered,but I did while sleeping. The spot is bigger than a nickle but smaller than a quarter,but shaped around my nose like a taco!. I loved your healing pictures but I am wondering if it will match my nose color,I never thought of that,I was thinking less pores less pimples!. Thanks for your story I hope I heal up as good as you,you look stunning!
Hi Lisa,
Are you doing well now since your procedures back in the summer. I have to probably get a biopsy in the next week or so. I have a tiny dot on my nose and I have ignored it. It’s scary but I was more ignorant than scared. Now as I read this blog it is opening my eyes to how this could be more serious…since it is on my nose. Ugh. I hope you are well now. Lots of love and light, Lyn-Dell
Hi Mel
Wellll done!! . I’ve just come across your blog on Pinterest and I think you look even more beautiful now – your inner strength, beauty and courage are shining through.
You’ve been through so so much – particularly as you’ve had cancer previously and are STILL smiling!
I myself had breast cancer twice – 16 years apart – this time requiring a double mastectomy and was then diagnosed with BRCA2. But, like you now, always feel there’s a chance it could return – somewhere or sometime.. But.. then again I could get run over by a bus while worrying about it .
I’ve searched your face and have yet to find where your eye is drooping. We women take ourselves apart and seem to only find “issues” – where there are none to see or find. Whereas, men’s vision of themselves always seem to be a little bit blind/blurred. And I don’t mean that unkindly – they always see the best in themselves. As we also should!
Try accepting you are beautiful and be proud of yourself and enjoy your battle scars – what’s left of them, because, at the rate they’re fading, you won’t have them for much longer!
You are absolutely amazing and strong. Love, hugs and prayers and a very long life to you ❤️, Marian
Thank you for sharing .. your story has helped me, since I had same (eerily the same) experience 5 days ago .. same spot, similar surgery (no extra skin needed though, so that was awesome for me!) and yes, went alone & drove home nearly 2 hours in disbelief that I had went alone ♀️ The beak is starting to feel better- I looked the same, like I lost a bar fight or got mugged… better today, still very tender and sutures come out Tuesday.. thanks again for sharing your experience.. those tiny spots that do not heal are definitely the time to get to the dermatologist.. Mohs is a great way to keep as much healthy tissue & assuring all those nasty C cells are gone. Julie
Thanks for sharing your story. I’m reading this after having Mohs surgery for a small spot on my nose, like yours, that didn’t heal. I just had skin graphing today to close the hole. I’m in intense pain and your exdryperience helped! Thanks
Leslie,you are not alone,just got to keep my bandage off! Still sore!
Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Im a 30 year old female from Australia & just had 3 removed from my face.
Ive spent the last 2 months just grateful they were only BCC not Melanoma.
11 days post surgery, I have just had stitches removed & its a little hard to not be vain. The tears have started & horrible thoughts of this ia me forever now.
After reading your post, seeing you photos & reading comments below. I have hope again that this really will be ok.
Only question I have, my Plastic Surgeon suggest I dont do a single thing to the scarring for the next 2 months & let it heal naturally. Would you suggest otherwise? As someone who has been through this ordeal & healing so well!
Thank you again for sharing x
I have been through Mohs 4 times – my mom and sister both had the exact nose experience and it was frightening. After those two with their nose we knew there had to be a better way. Fortunately I was introduced to a plastic surgeon who was certified in Mohs Surgery. What a God send!! Please anyone going through this there is a significant difference in a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon trained to do Mohs. I had one come up on my face and honestly there is not even the tiniest mark. The recovery too was significantly different and Ofcourse the scar. Mom has three she needs to have removed next week all on her forehead/hairline. But years ago she had a disastrous mohs done on her nose by a dermatologist and had to go to a plastic surgeon to reconstruct her nose it was heart breaking. When we discovered there were plastic surgeons who could also do this work and it was covered by our insurance we will never have a dermatologist operate on our face. I know this post was older- but wanted to share this with those of you who commented recently wishing you all the best! Ok to go to a dermatologist to diagnose, but please please check out for a mohs trained plastic surgeon especially if you have a basal on your face!
Thank you for sharing your story! I just had a Mohs procedure last week in practically the same location. I would love to hear what oils/ treatments you used to help with scarring. Also having the same issue with contacts & glasses! Thanks again for sharing your story.
Hi Rhonda, I made a paste out of rose hips oil and extra virgin coconut oil and added about 15 drops each of: frankincense, lavender, and helichrysum.
Thank you so much. I just had a biopsy done yesterday and I was so frightened about what I would look like afterwards. You have given me hope. ❤❤❤
Please see my post above about mohs trained plastic surgeons. My heart and prayers to all of you who have gone through this recently! Whether this note reached you before your surgery or not the Lord is the ultimate healer regardless on who operates. Try colloidal silver gel on your scars too it is very helpful. Please say prayers also for my mom who is having 3 removed from her forehead. Although I have so much confidence in Dr Rooney we are not worried. She is a gifted plastic surgeon and has a great love for her work in helping alleviate the fear of a deep basal especially on your face. The key is the type of incision they make, they consider your face, skin, and the basal together while performing mohs its just they are so much more experienced with surgery and scar prevention.
Tasha. Would you mind sharing where Dr. Rooney is (city).
Can you please email me. I went to a dermatology surgeon and oh my God
pinkiehopper@gmail.com
Hello Mel ,I had the basil in the same place as yours. I just had the surgery on Wednesday I had no idea the surgery would be so intense all I could do is pray. I was searching online to see if I could find some answers, on the healing and thank the Lord I ran across your site. You have gave me inspiration for my healing and seeing the photos was WOW! Now I know what really went on during the surgery. I thank you and God bless you!
Thank you for sharing your story. I pray that you are feeling better these days. You are such an inspiration to others!
I am sitting hear reading this with tears rolling down my face and a huge bandaid dressing on my nose. I had Mohs surgery this morning and of course I googled all the various images and checked out all the worst-case scenarios. But it is hard to be prepared for the outcome. I am so happy to be reading your post and seeing your photos. Thank you for sharing your story. It gives me hope about the healing process. I have never felt like I was a vain person but when you are faced with such this new reality that leaves you with half your nose you need to reach deep into yourself to muster up the strength to get past the part where you feel extremely sorry for yourself.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story. It means the world to see hope thru your words & photos. Donna, your words are EXACTLY how I’m feeling. I battle celiac issues which is hard, but I lean into God and prayer to keep me moving fwd. I saw Dr yesterday, 90% chance BCC on my nose, right in middle of face. Biopsy of nose taken. Honestly, the word cancer doesn’t scare me at all, but thought of my face disfigured makes it hard to breathe. It sounds SO vain, which I’m not, but given world problems, feels shameful to say. I’ve googled 2 days, but your story & pics have given me most hope rt now. Praying this 2 yr long battle with wound can be healed. I know Gods plan will prevail, but I still pray that plan has me looking somewhat pretty. Is that awful to say? I’m just emotionally worn out. Biopsy left me quite sore tbh. Leaves me thinkin..if we had no mirrors what a diff world this would be. I’m ok until I change bandages..it looks 100% worse than before I saw dr. I hope I did right thing going, not making it worse. I’m going to go re read your story. I’m so grateful u shared this..thank u so much for being brave. It helps..Erin S.
Thankyou Melanie
You have given me confidence that my face will heal.
I have just had the same surgery and our scars and bruising virtually identical.
.I too hate going out because if the way I look but the main thing is my surgeon for all the cancer.
You’ve given me hope that I will look normal again.
I can’t wear glasses either, it is too painful so have difficulty reading.
So glad you have recovered and thanks for making me feel better
I know exactly how you felt during your experience. I went through MOHS on my cheek three years ago and just had a biopsy done on my nose three days ago for a scab that wouldn’t heal. I’m sitting here with swelling under my eye from said biopsy hoping I don’t have to go through MOHS again. I’m fairly certain that’s exactly what is in the cards for me again. People like us who have a history of basal cell are, unfortunately, more prone to have more pop up down the road. Thankfully, these dermatologists are cosmetic surgeons as well and know how to piece together your face with minimal scarring. It’s a long road to healing, but letting a basal grow could lead to more devastating deformity down the road.
I have had 5 MOHS surgeries for small BCCs on my face and very strongly suspect that MOHS was unnecessary, Doctors still offer it because it is presumed the “gold standard” and for financial incentive, but the shave biopsies themselves often remove most if not all the BCC.
For the last last BCC I had on my forehead 3 years ago I refused surgery due to the bad previous experience. I chose Aldara instead. The Aldara failed to produce a reaction at the site, a strong indication that the BCC had already been removed by the shave biopsy. My recommendation for treatment of small superfical BCCs is shave biopsy and Aldara. Surgery is unnecessary.
I just had a biopsy on the 1st of July as well and got the results today July 6, 2020. It is Basal Cell on my nose and forehead. Thanks to your post I’ll be prepared for the surgery. Reading all the comments below tells me I’m not the only one. I’m keeping positive that all goes well and praying for your continued healing and healing of all the others in the comments. Please keep me in your prayers as I await for my surgery date.
I posted my post as a reply. Lol. But reading your post Dennis is making me rethink this. My Derm gave me Alders a few years ago for a spot on my forehead that he thought was pre cancer. It took care of that. No biopsy. I still have some left and am thinking of using that to see what happens before I have the Mohrs. The 2 I have are bigger spots so I’m thinking that is why the Mohrs is recommended. Ugh. Hard to tell what to do. Glad all worked out for you
Be careful with Aldara. I had Mohs surgery on my nose and cheek, excisional biopsy on a forearm, and Aldara on my other forearm (all after shave biopsies diagnostic for incompletely removed BCC). The Aldara reaction left a scar every bit as bad as the surgeries but without the reassurance of histopath to prove full removal of the BCC.
Hi! I just signed up for your recipe letter and read your story about your cancer. I was told, today, that I have the same thing. I thought it was a huge stubborn zit on the edge of the inside of my nose but it is basal cell. Waiting for approval to go to the dermatologist to confirm and make a plan. I wanted to thank you for telling us about your cancer and the pictures. You are absolutely beautiful! I know about the healing power of prayer, so I’ve got my family on it. If it turns out that I have to have a big section removed, I know I’ll be okay. I will remember your pics and know that you came through it and you are beautiful, inside and out. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story. You are incredibly brave and beautiful. I am going through a very similar experience right now.
I went to the Dermatologist for something else too and just had him check the little spot on the tip of my nose, which turned out to be Basal Cell Carcinoma.
I am 4 days out from Mohs and 3 from closure with a bilobed flap. When I removed the bandages yesterday, I was somewhat prepared for the incision and sutures. I was not prepared for the tip of my nose being pinched up and the deformed nostrils. I couldn’t stop crying.
My surgeon called this morning to reassure me, that as the swelling subsides everything should slowly fall back into place. He also assured me, he will do everything in his power to make me happy with the outcome. Apparently, handholding is a big part of his job and I am extremely grateful for his kindness and patience.
Seeing and reading your story gives me so much hope. I cannot thank you enough. Continue to be safe and healthy.
Wishing all of you peace, love and happiness always.
Katrina
I just discovered the exact same wound on my nose.
Did your doctor mention and did you consider other therapies (cryosurgery, curettage, Aldara) ?
Hi Dennis – my doctor never really mentioned any others…I suppose I should have asked but I just went with the MOHS surgery.
Hi Joely, I wanted to encourage you to find and occular-plastic surgeon. The Mohs surgeon should know of one in your area. They specialize in only around the eye and should be very familiar with Mohs closures. Just know that everything will heal and thank goodness it’s a BCC. We are all rooting for you! Gab.
I need to send this message to let you know how your story has helped me. Such a scary thing to go through but knowing you aren’t alone makes such a difference.
I also had a spot on the tip of my nose. I had no idea that it was skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma). I kept thinking it would go away. I finally had it checked last April. They did a,biopsy and told me just to watch it. Well time goes on and so after the holidays I noticed it changing a bit. Harder to cover with make up.
So I went to another dermatologist who said he thought I should have Mohs surgery along with a plastic surgeon. So my husband and I scheduled an appt with the plastic surgeon. He was super nice and told me right away he could fix it. BUT then he talked to me about a paramedian flap and showed me before and after pics. My husband said my face went white! We both were in shock about what I would have to endure. I was scared to death! I wanted everything fixed but the thought of cutting up my face was not an easy thing to face. (No pun intended)
We scheduled everything. I would go on April 15th to the dermatologist office where he would cut out the bad stuff, then he would bandage me up and I immediately would go to the hospital ( it was literally a block away) I knew it was going to be a long scary day. I cried for about 2-3 days right before my surgery date. And prayed. Oh and not to mention right in the middle of this covid 19 thing.
I took a sedative the morning of…I’m not going to lie I was petrified!!!
The dermatologist was awesome. He got it all on the first round. I was lucky so far. He bandages me up and off I went to the hospital.
My plastic surgeon came in before the surgery to talk over my options. He said he would try and not do the flap but if it was necessary was I on board with it? I told him whatever he felt was best for me. Do what needs to be done.
I woke up in recovery and immediately felt my forehead. It wasn’t cut! I asked the nurse and he said NO HE DIDNT NEED TO DO THE FLAP! Omg even though I was pretty groggy I was so relieved.
The first couple days I was pretty sore but I did have pain pills. I only needed two thank goodness.
So here we are now and I’m going to see my plastic surgeon on Tuesday and hoping he will remove the stitches then. I’m curious as to the whole scar thing but I’m also relieved to have the cancer part gone!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. IT HELPED ME SO MUCH.
If you would like to share this please go ahead. I know how scared I was and if it can help someone else I would welcome that.
I’m so grateful….
Laura K Arthur
I just happened upon your story about your MOHS surgery, which I went through in late January, 2020. I had the same experience, feeling pretty sure it was just a minor issue and hadn’t even expected the Doctor needing to do any additional shaving. But it took three times waiting for the results and then going back in to cut out more tissue–all in the same long afternoon. Like, you I was shaking and distraught after the whole experience and really worried about what my appearance would be. I’m finding it’s taking a long time to heal–still numb, itching and sore. Mine was in the same spot and the surgery result mirrored yours, except on the my right side. Really appreciate your warning everyone about sun safety. Also, hadn’t realized I might be more susceptible in the future. Thank you so much for sharing your story! Wished I had found it sooner. Take care and be safe! Linda Going to check out your recipes now!
You look gorgeous now!
Thank you for sharing your experience. I just came here from Instagram to get your oatmeal cookie recipe to make during quarantine (if I can even get off my phone, that is ), and I am always interested in reading people’s “scary experiences.” I guess I had to get their by way of your bio, and I’m a fellow Church member and mom of 4 from TX, who went to BYU, and recently moved to Gilbert, AZ. Anyway, this is something I will now be more aware of, because not only have I been terrible about not wearing or making my family wear sunscreen, but because we also live where the sun is even more scorching hot and, for the first time, we have a backyard pool…which we haven’t used once set since it has been warm enough between Thanksgiving and now. I will sure be more mindful of our exposure in the future because I read this! About 2 years ago, I had a mole removed from my face (that I had had for about 30 years), so I remember how painful it was to have that stuck with a needle (it was very close to my nose), and it bled a lot! I can only imagine what you went though. I am a 6-year survivor of breast cancer, and while many times people dismiss skin cancer as not as serious as other types of cancer, seeing your surgery pictures (because I’m not squeamish and will still be making those cookies!), really reminded me of my own cancer journey. And I was thankful my “crater” (one of them, anyway) was only in my armpit and not in the middle of my face. (I understand the self-consciousness, though, because I did lose all my hair.) I just want to say that you are a warrior, and I am glad that you have healed so well and are sharing your story. Thank you! (And thanks for your recipes that I can’t wait to start trying!!!)
Hi Mel, good on you for being brave enough to put this up on your page.
I have been through a very similar bcc removal and repair except they did a cheek flap.
That was 4.5 weeks ago. My nose is still numb and sore to touch (very weird how it can be both at the same time lol ) . What i wanted to ask is did yours stay cold to touch ?
Mine has been since the surgery plus i have a lump on the inside of my nostril. Ive contacted the dermatologist but ive had drouble getting an appointment due to the corona virus going round at the moment. So waiting for 6 th week checkup. Not sure if ill get a reply from you before i see them but it would be great to find out if it happens . Glad your all mended now Thanks Tracie
Hi Mel
I’ve just been told by my Dr that I have a bcc on the side of my nose very close to my eye.
I know that’s it curable, but emotionally I feel wrecked I think it’s the fact it’s
My face and I’m u sure how they will deal with it being so close to my eye so I’m waiting for referral and go from there. Finding your blog has helped reassure e me a little so thank you for sharing
Joely
Not sure where you are in your procedure. I have had 4 BCCs on my face … and need to now schedule my 5th one in the coming months. It is a very emotionally draining process (scary, isolating, and one that really stays with you) and you have to allow time to heal. Scars run beyond the physical. My suggestion for your eye …similar to above …is to see an ocular plastic surgeon for the reconstruction. Most important that your eye lid, blinking, etc is not disrupted during the process. Likely you will need a graft to fill in the hole and you should talk about where he/she will pull the skin from. My surgeon used skin from behind my ear and it is a little thicker. Kinda wish I had discussed before. Mel..your nose looks great!!! For anyone reading this … there is also the option of having laser post surgery to improve the scarring. I had several laser procedures after mohs on my nose and I think it really helped. Can be expensive but it is your face. No one really can understand what this is all about until you go through it. Good luck everyone. xoxo
I had Mohs Surgery on my nose two days ago, and am so stressed out about all the stitches and possible degree of scarring. Thank you for sharing your story! It is so reassuring to read about another woman who has gone through the process, and the roller-coaster of emotions Your pics of early on look so,similar to mine, so it has helped me to read about your stages of recovery. I will be thrilled if my final results look,as beautiful as your last pic shows.
I just had Mohs on my forehead last Thursday. The big bandage and stitches are coming off Wednesday. I’m so nervous since I don’t really know what to expect, but reading about other people that have been through this or are dealing with it now helps tremendously! You look great- I can’t see your scar on your nose…Thank you so much for sharing.
“Scars run beyond the physical,” stated by one of the replies. In 2 days I will have my 50+ sutures removed from my tiny nose. They run from between my eyes all the way down the length of my nose. Still bruising under eyes and cheeks. Pressure everywhere, though swelling is improving. At this point, left nostril is higher than the right. I was absolutely in shock when I removed the pressure dressing. Cried for days…and still. I am hoping that once the sutures are out things will relax and look more normal. Your story bring hope. Thank you for sharing it. As you said, it’s not life threatening, but it is life altering. April
I am so glad I found this post! I had a SCC on my lip removed via 2 lots of surgery, one being Mohs, in 2017. I then had 6 weeks of radiation. The scar runs from just under my left eye to my top lip. Late last year my dermatologist asked me about the “sore” on the right side of my nose. I said it has been there for years and sometimes it bleeds. He did a biopsy, BCC was the result. I have just seen a surgeon and will be booked for more Mohs in the next month. He is going to use a skin graft from the front of ear and I am very anxious. I was told I could have just a local however I have elected general anaesthetic due to my anxiety plus the length of time he has estimated it will take. Seeing your results have really eased my mind and I hope my surgery, and recovery, goes as well as yours.
Thank you for your brave and helpful post. My biopsy showing nasal cell was the size of a pencil eraser and had healed, so I was not prepared for 2 inches of stitches under my left eye after Moh’s surgery. My uncle posted a picture of him holding baby me on the beach in the 60s. All I could think was, put a hat on that baby!
I am grateful for Mohs. My surgeon is one of the few who do it in our area. He told me a new patient of his first went to a dermatologist and plastic surgeon. They operated, stitched him up, sent him home, a week later, called to say they didn’t get it all. He went back and the same thing happened. Only after that did he find a Mohs surgeon who checks the slide while you are still in the office. You look great and give us all hope.
My BCC subtype is nodular and infiltrating. The rubbery little iceberg really does have a lot of activity underneath.
Thank you for your encouraging post. I am in day four with a 12cm scar from my eye to my mouth. Feeling like a monster?…absolutely….feeling like hiding away and taking down all the mirrors in the house?…every one of them. However your post gave me light….hang in there I shall….
Thank you so much for this post and for being so brave as to post it!
I noticed my BCC in December 2018 and went backwards and forwards to the doctors for 12 months as he thought it was an infected pore and just gave me antibiotics. Eventually I went for a private full body mole check (I’m in the UK) and the dermatologist wanted one abnormal mole removed ASAP and said I needed to get booked in for MOHS for my nose. Same place as yours, and I had it removed almost 3 weeks ago now. I’m in the early stages of healing but my scar looks great. My concern is that the skin flap itself is raised and doesn’t fit the original contours of my nose. The surgeon took skin from my cheek, so the scar sits in the shadow of my cheek when I smile, so below where yours is.
Really hoping it settles down soon, as my face is so different. I’m only 39 and the surgeon apologised to me for having one of these so young. I was in the waiting room with 70 year olds!
My 7 year old cried when he first saw me without the dressing and it’s getting easier now that the scary stitches have long gone. I’m using a silicone gel to try and prevent too much scaring so guess I will just have to wait it out and hope for the best..
Hi! I just went through a similar situation and am starting the healing post-stitches. Any tips on your scar therapy I can learn from? Your results are amazing and I’m hopeful mine will turn out well too. Have to say it was more traumatic than I expected..
Just read your blog about your BCC/Mohs journey. Was searching the internet about why my scar is twitching after Mohs surgery and your blog came up.
I so appreciate you sharing your story. I had surgery almost a week ago and never dreamed that it would be this emotionally draining. Reading your story gave me hope and makes you realize you’re not alone. I’m a few days away from the stitches coming out. I can’t wait to get these things out of my face.
Thanks for sharing your journey. It’s a fascinating surgery that I’m super grateful for but had no idea how overwhelming it would be to recover. I’ve told my friends the same about being out in the sun with long sleeves, sunscreen and an umbrella!♀️ Many blessings,
Tammy Young
Thanks to Google for posting Mel’s experiences at the top of their list. I am close to 80 and scheduled once again for facial MOHS – too much sun and too little sunscreen/clothing.
Reading all the suggestions and reactions from everyone encourages me to remain active rather than give into the temptation to hide, fearful my blotchy, scarred face will repel everyone.
Wow. I just had the same surgery on the right side of my nose nostril today. I’ve had mohs before on my forehead and lots of their big skin cancers removed. This was way different. I really wasn’t prepared in my head for what happened. I had no idea that the skin from around the area would need to be stretched over. My eye is already swollen and black. In hindsight maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t have too much advance know,edge. God willing I never have another one is such a bad location. Your end pictures give me hope, your early pictures give me insight into the next days to several weeks. Thank you.
Can I ask you what pain meds they gave you? I am super paranoid and OTC meds barely make a dent for me.
I just used ibuprofen and tylenol. Sorry not more help!
I’m about to go through this procedure in March 2020. I am really nervous about the scarring. It has been about 4 years since your procedure. Has your scarring/discoloration lessened? Would you please post an updated picture?
I am from the US but not currently living there. I live in a culture where deformation is looked down upon. And there is no skin cancer here due to their darker skin. This is why I am so hesitant.
Thank you for your posts! I pray that you are fully free of cancer!
Words will never be able to express how grateful I am for your honesty. Just two days ago I had MOHS surgery on the exact same location. I showed my husband your post and at first he I thought it was something I wrote . Your description of the ride home was literally everything I felt. God Blessed me with finding your blog. You have given me so much hope. From the bottom of my heart thank you.
I just had basal cancer removed from the side of my nose, same spot as your picture. The dr had to keep cutting bigger and deeper til the biopsy said I was clear. It went all the way thru my nostril. The dr didn’t tell me until my next visit. She could see how anxious I was getting laying on the table! Instead of the MOHS surgery she used placenta tissue for skin graft. It is what they are using more and more now. It’s also used on diabetic patients that have the leg wounds that won’t heal. Anyway, after having 3 placenta graphs my nose still has a nasty scar but after reading this post I will purchase that Maderma to lessen the scar. And I got the lecture about taking better care of my skin too. Buying hats and sunscreen and wearing them! Even in the winter! Thanks for sharing and caring Mel! Love your recipes, keep them coming!
Thansk for the read, I’m due for surgery tomorrow and somewhat anxious! More so coming home to my two children and not really knowing how I will be post surgery. I’m young also and it’s quite scary to read average age for surgery is 68-70!
Thanks for your words and it’s helping me prepare for tomorrow
Thanks
Bec
Australia
My dermatologist counseled dermalmd scar serum and I use this scar serum after surgical procedure to put off a melanoma. The scar left on my neck turned into huge and rough. After the use of Dermalmd serum for approximately 3 weeks the pores and skin changed into so clean the scar has disappeared.
Thank you for sharing your story, photos and timeline. I had a Mohs procedure last week and was feeling isolated and unsure until I read your story and everyone’s comments. I laughed out loud when I saw the last comment was left 2 days ago – your surgery was literally years ago! This told me there are other people out there needing information, looking at your photos, maybe comparing your stitches to theirs, (That’s what I was doing) wondering if things are healing correctly…anyway, thank you for showing all of us how awesome your skin looks after 3 months. Also, thank you for the humor in your story. I feel lighter for some reason. And I needed that. I have faith it will all turn out the way it’s supposed to but I’m also human and wondered if I was progressing normally. Now I know I am. Now I know I need to look into essential oils! Now I also know I need to stop complaining about sleeping on my back. You didn’t complain once in your story and your incision was much longer than mine so again, thank you. Complaining is not a good look and really, I am grateful now. I wasn’t. But I am now. And I feel less alone. Thank you again.
Wow, you healed very nicely! I have had 5 mohs procedures and just found out after 5 years of being cancer-free, I have a squamous cell on top of my nose. Worst place ever. But looking at your images, I feel a little better. Glad you healed and hope you don’t have to have anymore procedures!
I had mohs surgery on my nose in September. It was a huge area, and they grafted skin from behind my ear. It doesn’t look normal and it doesn’t feel normal. We’ll see. Thank you for sharing your story. Like you I had no idea how invasive it was going to be, and I’m still in shock that I may look like this for the rest of my life. But it appears they got all the cancer cells.
You look beautiful and write beautifully!
I came here for the molasses bread but I read this post. It takes a lot of courage to share something like this. I have a dog-bite scar on my face. I have often questioned whether that is all people see. We are all so much more than our jobs, our pasts and our scars. The healing of your scar is really amazing. It looked gruesome at first but it really is hardly noticeable- it looks more like dry skin than a scar 🙂 I’m happy you got through that, shared it with the people combing your site for good eats. I really felt this, thank you.
Wow you have healed very well. It brought back memories of one of my procedures . My eye went so black and swelled so much I couldn’t open it for a week.
My first skin cancer was a malignant melanoma on the inside of my left calf muscle ( luckily I had gall bladder problems and was in shorts when I seen this gastroenterologist, he seen it while I was laying on the bed in his conciliation room) He did an excision right there. Called me back 5 days later and it was Clark level 2 and no invasion to lymphatic system in my groin. Five years later I had a BCC on my right ear lobe. So got the call back and that visit I lost all of my earlobe, kinda cute little pixie ear on that side. 4 years On and an invasive BCC with invasion to my nerves was found on the right side of my nose close to my eye. I had a full thickness skin graft and a round of radiation to make sure it was clear. Now 6 More years on I am booked in on 20th December to have a spot excision on the right side of my nose, ( just down from the last one , I just hope it’s not a reacurrence ) doc said she knows what it is and won’t bother with a biopsy there. That day I also am having a shave biopsy on the back of my right shoulder and a core biopsy on a spot on my right boob. I never once ever sunbathed, my 2 older sisters did with reef oil so they would burn And they have never had a skin cancer. Yet sunburns I still managed to get have come back with a vengeance. I never let it get to me, I don’t sweat the small stuff but oh boy the healing process the week after is so painful.
Happy healing to everyone.
Harpy
My dear, you are so very lucky. I am a retired esthetician and worked as a medical assistant to an Atlanta dermatologist. Everyone – WEAR SUNSCREEN – but make sure it is natural and free of the harmful chemicals.
I had a similar experience this summer – blessed with excellent and caring doctors who took me from a similar before photo, thru stitches, to a new after picture. So grateful for them, for the body’s healing ability – wish I had known all this when I was 16! and baking in the sun!!
Hang in there. You look terrific. I have Gorlins syndrome and have had many basal cells removed from my face that heal quickly and invisibly…but just had my first nose basal cell removal and Wow different ball game. Will take much longer to feel like myself again. Xo
Thank you for sharing that.
I’m glad that the wound healed. You look prettier then ever 🙂
I would suggest everyone to get them selves check by an ENT specialist on monthly basis. You never know when something bad/allergic might get you.
I have been showing myself for the past 8 months to a ent doctor in great neck and trust me it feels great. I can feel my immune system doing all its work and I have not been sick for the past 8 months. Before that I always had some sort of illness walking to me to say hi!
Mel, you are beautiful inside and out! You healed up beautifully; God is so awesome, nothing is too hard for Him! My husband has had the MOHS surgery 2 times for bad spots on his bald head; it has been somewhat traumatic for him; my heart goes out to you both. All the best, Rita
Your nose Mohs post has been tremendously helpful to me. I had mine in late September & it’s 5 weeks after. Mine was basal cell carcinoma, too. It was small, but my nose is tiny. You look great now! So enjoyed your story & you know I sgare your pain. Mary Wilson
Thank you Melanie (and others too!) for sharing your stories. I’m so glad I somehow stumbled across this online. Melanie, my BCC (and reconstruction) was almost identical to yours, and right now I’m still in the grotesque bruising/swelling stage, so I can’t tell you how comforting it is to see your “after” photos of your beautiful face and amazing recovery. I am grappling with feelings of self-pity (I was a model for over 20 years, so my face/appearance was literally my bread and butter), shame and guilt (why oh why did I spend all that time in the sun as a young person?!), as well as anger at myself for being a “baby” (I’m a Registered Nurse and see people every single day who must undergo things far, far worse than this). Anyway, thanks again to everyone for sharing your personal stories – definitely helping me have hope and get perspective.
Great that you healed!
I have been reading many of the comments and my heart breaks for all of us that have had to endure the surgeries and being disfigured. I had my first when I was 27 years old. I was always the youngest person in the waiting room full of 70 year olds. I knew NO ONE in my age group that had skin cancer. There was no social media to find kindred spirits and share our stories. Now I see so many of you and I am so sorry for pain and trauma you all have had, I have had so many over the years that it should be a natural part of my life. My face has done fine the last couple of years with the yearly Blue Light treatment, mineral sunscreen daily and other preventive means I have found. Unfortunately, later this month at 67 years old, I face having two places removed from right under my bottom lip. The only thing I can figure is that area was more prone to lose the sunscreen with meals and water. I probably should have reapplied every time! I wish when I was younger I wore mineral sunscreen and sun protective clothing every single day. Now I even got a great real hair piece to cover my scalp when outside which can be as short as to and from work, lunches and errands. You can’t always wear a hat! Don’t forget your hands, ears, and chest in addition to your face, The word cumulative means that one day that next dose of sun radiation may be all that is required before the cancer shows up. You can’t let your guard down for second. Take my advice and change your life to improve the odds that you will not see more and more as the years go by,
BTW even at my age, I care greatly how I look and it is still a pain to interrupt my life for the ordeal ahead!
Thanks for listening.
Thank you for sharing your story and being brave enough to share all the photos! I hope everyone will take skin cancer seriously. I would like to see much more research done on additional preventive measures we can take – Blue Light, 30% Vit C, Niacinamide 2x a day, Etc. How soon did you start the Mederma? What did you use from the Mederma.com?
Thank you in advance!
Thank you for posting this. Just had my 7th 8th ones removed from my face and neck this week. Wasn’t expecting it to be a big deal. Now I have stitches from lower lip to my jaw. With swelling my smile resembles someone who has had a stroke. I know it will get better but it is not an easy place to walk through.
I’m due to attend a work meeting in another week so I am going to remember you and the courage you displayed putting these pics online
Lisa, I hope you are doing better. I can really understand how you feel about your face and work. Having had serious skin cancer for 30+years, it never gets easier especially with the face. It is impossible to face the work environment with bandages and scars . It
Seems worse if you are a women!
I am so relieved after looking at your pictures and reading your story..I had my surgery yesterday on my nose…didnt quite expect to look like this…Dr said he was so happy with the results and I was like what the heck…seeing how great you look gives me hope..thank you….
Sharlene
I am so sorry that you had to experience something so scary! I have had a surgery of my own. I used to be so insecure about my nose. My nose was too big. I decided it was time to do something about it. I was so tired of getting made fun of, so I bit the bullet and got a nose job. I found Dr. Sadrian on the website Sadrian Plastic Surgery. I have heard nothing but good things about this doctor, so I set up a consultation. I ended up proceeding with the surgery and I don’t regret it. However, this surgery is not for everyone. If you are feeling insecure about yourself, I suggest looking into plastic surgery or other things that can make you feel better about yourself. My big nose was very embarrassing for me to walk around with, but I found the solution for me. If you have any questions about the surgery or the process, feel free to ask!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I am 3 weeks post op for BCC on my nostril. It was just a little cut that wouldnt heal, did not look like cancer at all. Well 2 biopsies and 2 mohs surgeries Over the past 2 years later left me with no nostril. I had reconstructive surgery using a flap from my cheek, and just recently had the flap removed. I am so swollen that I cannot even tell if the nostrils will match. I may need future “revisions” and treatment to the scar tissue. I kick myself for the sun worshipping I did as a teen and am constantly after my teenagers to use sunscreen.
Thank you so much for this post. I’m having my first facial Mohs procedure next Thursday. I’ve had one to a basal cell carcinoma on my chest, but this new one is on my nose, pretty much exact same spot as yours, and after unadvisedly googling images, I stumbled onto your post which gives me some peace of mind that I will survive and it’s not the end of the world. Not going to be fun, I know. But again, thanks for these encouraging pics and posts. If we don’t share the lessons we’ve learned going through the tough stuff, the the tough stuff has no value and was just tough!!
I am so happy that I was brave enough to read your blog. I am in tears right now because im freaking out about having Mohs Surgery and how big of a scar it is going to leave on my face above my lip. I was just diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma and having my consultation next Friday. I am so frightened and out of my mind. I am quite sure I will need plastic surgery. OMG dont know what to do!!!!!I I am a 68year old female and had 2 mohs surgery 2 years ago one on my back and one on my shoulder. I was so nervous they had to give me Valium. I cannot imagine having Mohs Surgery on my face!!!!I guess its do or die!!!!
I just had Mohs surgery 10 days ago on my face between nose and lip. It was terrifying and much more traumatic then I was prepared for. Your comments were perfect!! Never thought I was that vain either but was already starting to get self conscious of getting older and now this! Definitely feeling sorry for myself but reading all these stories help. I do think across the board that mohs surgeons need to prepare everyone better especially when it is on our face. Hoping for good healing for everyone!
Hey Mel,
Thanks so much for documenting your healing process. I am amazed at how fully you healed in such a short time.
I just had a mole removed from underneath my eye 1 week ago. I am freaking out a bit because it is super red, gnarly, and looks like it might scar.
Can you give any advice as to what essential oils you used, and how often? Did you dilute them? I tried using a drop of Frankincense straight from the bottle, and I think it is too strong and maybe better used when the would is more healed (it irritated my skin and made it redder).
I would love any advice you can give. I am freaking out a bit, naturally.
Thanks and take care,
Katie
So I just had mine done (left tip of nose) two days ago. Both eyes black and blue and swollen (left worse) and today even my lower face is red under the skin. Bandage is so big my nostrils are almost covered and I can hardly see for the bandage. But my doctor and nurses were great. 2nd day and I feel almost worse than yesterday (no energy, slightly nauseous which could be the antibiotic). Is all of the severe redness on my face to be expected?
The first few days are awful! Don’t get too discouraged…it’s amazing how the body heals over time. Be patient with yourself and your body. I had a lot of redness as well.
Hi! I had a very similar story to yours, including the crying car ride home. I thought it was no big deal until I saw the crater in my face and my nose looks like Frankenstein’s monster. Thank you for sharing this. You are beautiful, before and after, but I am so freaked out right now and I feel like you just have me a little arm squeeze and told me it is goi g to be just fine.
I’m so sorry, Amy! These first few days are the roughest – hang in there! It will get better!
I so appreciate this blog post as I just had surgery this week to remove a fairly large squamous cell carcinoma from my face. I consider myself a pretty tough guy but I gotta tell you it was a bit humbling to look in the mirror and see the 4-5 inch line of sutures across my face and all the redness and swelling associated with it.
It was so good to read your realistic but positive story and it really helped me put things in perspective…the cancer is out and this is something that I can handle. Thanks again for sharing your experiences with us. You
AM
Thank you for sharing your story, Mel! I just had a very similar surgery done this week, and seeing your amazing recovery gives me hope. I was going to write a similar post to share with my network, but you’ve done such an great job documenting your journey that I feel I have nothing to add.
Like you, I am not a beach or tanning bed lover and have an office job. Even my genetic testing results said that I have lower than average risk of skin cancer. Lower but not non-existent, I guess.
I used to cringe when I thought of using sunscreen daily, but I am now discovering that there are new generations of sunscreen products with much more pleasant textures that are al lot easier to apply and don’t look greasy. Skin protection will be my new priority.
It is not the sun that gives cancer.
It relates to what is going on inside the gut and dumps out into the skin, which as you know, is our largest organ.
Cancer is the result of an immune system failure –
And refined sugar (along with fungus in the body) suppresses the immune system and feeds cancer cells.
also- you have many moles (eyebrow – cheek – forehead) and that might be related to a clogged liver.
Think gut health
Just some things to consider
peace and grace to you
🙂
Your nose Mohs post has been tremendously helpful to me. I had mine in late September & it’s 5 weeks after. Mine was basal cell carcinoma, too. It was small, but my nose is tiny. You look great now! So enjoyed your story & you know I share your pain. Mary Wilson
I’ve also have several basal cells removed (starting in my early 30s). I don’t even like the sun, but I have lived in several sunny areas. I avoid being in sun as much as possible, but it still got me. The first one was behind my left ear, the second under my right eye, and the third was on the left side of my nose. The first two were within a few years of one another and both times I actually went in with a different skin concern but then did (just like you) the “oh, and this spot is weird…” The one behind my ear was scaly and bled, but the one under my eye looked like a tiny pimple. The third time (10 years AFTER the first two), I had two growths on the side of my nose. One was nothing, one was cancer.
The first dermatologist I had commented on the fact that quite a number of basal cells on the left side of faces and necks because of the amount of time spent driving and the sun exposure from that alone. Made sense to me!
Glad your face healed up so nicely! I am currently sporting a big hole on the side of my nose and I hope it heals soon.
I’m sorry to hear about your story. I just want to make it clear that sunscreen is magnitudes more harmful than the sun. Sun does not cause skin cancer. Sunscreens however, do cause cancer. The battle between mainstream and alternative sources of information will have you believe otherwise.
Hi I to had a BBC removed from my nose on the 10th of July this year I am paranoid about it I still have to have a further 2 operations on the same spot I also have a big history of cancer cells I had them in my stomach my cervix and my breast so there is a big history of this I my family so I am understanding what you went through I couldn’t accept to look at my face at first I have since accepted it although it’s been so hard I have been through so much this past year and in previous years I am here to tell my life story this has been and still is a difficult situation for me to handle but people like you give us hope to get through it
I’m sorry for all you’ve had to deal with, Marina!
I’ve been following your blog for a long time now. I too had a spot on my nose and cheek and finally got into a dermatologist today. Basal cell carcinoma. Got a biopsy and will know on Friday if I need to get MOHS surgery next week. I’m petrified and scared out of my mind after seeing the pictures of your ordeal. My 35 year-old naive brain didn’t realize the MOHS procedure was so aggressive. But I am grateful for you being candid and open about this topic. It does give me hope that this can be treated. I may have to make a bunch of your recipes to emotionally eat through all of this. Thank you!
Oh man, Callie! I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It is really, really hard to deal with and don’t feel guilty about any of your angst…honestly, looking at it on the other side, I’m amazed at how my face has healed. It’s amazing how the body repairs itself AND what the medical community can do to help. Good luck! Keep me posted.
your story has given me hope! Our stories are so similar it’s almost like reading about myself. Here I sit post op day number 2 after having basal cell carcinoma removed from the left side of my nose. I’ve been very emotional since removing the bandages and I can say with 100% certainty that God brought me to your page. Not only do I have hope after reading about your journey but faith that everything is going to turn out ok! Thank you so much for being open and sharing your story!
Can I ask when you started to apply the Mederma? Thanks in advance
Hi Stephanie! It’s amazing how many people have had basal cell in that same spot on their nose! Must be a popular spot for the pesky cancer. I started applying topical scar treatments like mederma after the stitches came out. Good luck with your recovery!
Melanie,
Thank your for sharing your story !
I too have had MOHS for Basal Cell Cancer (right upper nose) back in December of 2000. I remember looking a lot like you did in your images, only I ended up with two black eyes, most likely because of the area of my BCC. I also had a small flap and came home that afternoon with 57 (a number I’ll always remember) tiny sutures on my nose. I had the procedure done on December 9th and later regretted it because I was still looking and feeling pretty crappy at Christmas that year. Thankfully, over time and with the help of Mederma it healed perfectly and now (19 years later you can’t even tell I have had it done.
The bad news is that I now have a second basal cell on my upper lip *mustache area” and it’s spread into the top of my L upper lip. I had NO clue this was going to be another BCC as it looks totally different than my first one. This is is a Superficial Basal Cell. Totally different then my first one, which was very much like yours. I thought that was actually a pimple and I used to pick at it, thinking it was a pimple, but it kept coming back. My Family MD noticed it when day, while I was there with my son for a check up. He told me right away it looked like a classic basal cell and referred me to a Plastic Surgeon.
I consulted with the Plastic Surgeon, and she did a shave biopsy, the path comes back that this one is a Superficial BCC and now they are recommending I have it treated by Radiation and have referred me to a Radiation Oncologist the work with who specializes in skin cancers. They originally thought they would treat it by “Curettage and Electrodesiccation” but after she shared my case with a fellow Plastic Surgeon and a Dermatologist, all three felt that and MOHS was not the best option and want me to see the Rad Onc, who I meet on August 12th. Because I thought this was a rash (looks like a scaly/peeling rash (almost of Eczema), I ignored it for some time. It’s now approximately 2 cm and involves my lip, which it what makes it so complex. From what I’m learning the lip is such a delicate area and doing any type of excision, makes it much more difficult and hard to achieve great result without scarring. This is why she no longer wants to try to “Excise” it (even with MOHS).
Ironically, I am also now battling Stage IV LC, and have already experienced radiation to my lung tumors, and did not care for it. I can only imagine what that would do to my face and it scares me even worse then surgery, even though I am not a big fan of surgery. I also have been through a specialized type Radiation for a Brain Met. It too was successful, but as someone who has severe claustrophobia it was a very difficult procedure for me to go through.
I am not happy or excited and had hoped it would be easier to treat. Apparently, it’s a very tough area to do MOHS on they feel I’d have much better results if I had Radiation.
Just wondering IF you have noticed if many of the several hundred people who have commented have mentioned having Radiation as their treatment. I honestly can’t find lot of info out there and like to research all my treatments. My consult is on August 12th.
Thank for any input you can provide. I found your blog from a fellow LC patient who also had Radiation for a BCC on his lower nose with good results. Feel free to email and thank you for you time.
Best wishes,
Lisa
I am in my 3rd week of a 4 week radiation treatment for basal cell carcinoma on my nostril. I was told MOHs was my only option by my dermatologist, but my research showed that MOHS is 94-97% effective and radiation is 92-95% effective. I will have no scars but the area may either be lighter or darker 6 months down the road. It takes less than 10 min a day. (About 45 sec of radiation and the rest is lying down and the nurses getting things ready. If the spot comes back I still have the option of MOHS later, but I didn’t want to risk it a few months before my daughter’s wedding. I also have other medical concerns that makes surgery not a great option for me so I avoid it if I can. Check with a radiation oncologist if you think surgery might not be for you.
Be careful in picking someone to do the radiation. I had that done in the 90’s and thought great no stitches and bandaids, but it was a nightmare in the oozing
etc and today the Discoloration (white) necessitates me having to wear a lot of coverage make-up to hide the white spot on nose.
OMG I’m getting nervous. Had a biopsy on tip of nose and have been seeing how invasive MOHS is. My mom had one behind her ear, so scar is hidden and other in crease of nose. I go for a consult soon. This is scary. I have another spot on my leg and will probably need surgery on that too. I’m nervous how much they need to do. Praying for something not terribly invasive.
I had MOHS done on my nose on 7/9/19, they went in 3 times to get it all, the area looked pretty deep to me but I was “lucky” that no cartilage was involved. Two days later I had a skin graft with skin from behind my ear. I had the stitches out 4 days ago and cried and cried. The graft is front and center on my nose, very, very red and the surrounding skin looks uneven . There is a fair sized depression on the left side where the most tissue was remove – that upsets me a lot. My nose seems flat, like a boxers “cabbage nose”. I’m so upset by all this. the plastic surgeon says once things heal there are things we can do, but i think anything discussed to improve the appearance will be considered cosmetic and not covered by insurance. There’s no way I could afford it. There’s only so much makeup is going to be able to do. It’s very hard , right now so soon after the surgery, to not concentrate on how awful I may end up looking (forever!). I want to be resilient and be grateful that the cancer was removed, but I feel like a cupcake, ready to crumble.
I think those feelings are totally valid and normal – give yourself time to mourn! I’m sorry you have to suffer through this. It is more traumatic than one would think, especially when the affected area is on your face. You might ask your surgeon or doctor about insurance coverage – I’ve had a couple of laser treatments on my MOHS area of my nose to lessen reddening and several other things to reduce scar tissue and all have been covered under insurance because it was related to the prior MOHS surgery.
Mel, what type of laser did you have? Did that flatten out the area?
Thank you for sharing your post. Last August I had surgery to remove, what I thought, was a mole just beneath my mole. It had grown and bled every time I washed and dried my face. I t turned out to be basal cell carcinoma. I wasnt even worried about the basal carcinoma! I was told it is normally noninvasive, that it didnt typically spread to lymph nodes. Imagine my surprise, when I woke up, and had stitches all the way down to my lip. As it healed their were 3 small blister looking bumps. I was told to massage them several times a day and they should disappear. At first they got bigger though. July 3rd I had a second surgery. The cancer had come back. July 15th I went to the doctor to have my stitches removed. I was in a great mood. I was ready to have the stitches removed and be done with it once and for all. My husband and I were shocked by the news! The pathologist found cancer still. So yesterday, July 18th, I had my 3rd surgery in less than a year. The first 2 surgeries the scarring wasn’t too bad. This time he cut all the way through my lip and cut a wedge, like a pie, peice out of my lip. I have a lot more stitches, though nothing compared to yours.
I took the first 2 surgeries in stride. Not this time! I go back this coming Friday and I’m really scared.
I sincerely thank you for sharing your story. It gave me the courage to tell mine. It also helps to see your nose has healed beautifully. Sorry this reply is so long. I just had to get that off my chest. God bless you.
I am so sorry and know how you feel. How are you doing now?
Deirdre, God bless you. I felt your anguish as I read your post. I’m 7 weeks post-Moh’s on my upper right lip. The BCC ended up being much more invasive than anticipated the dermatologist cut 3 times. He did an excellent job on the surgery as it’s healing so well. While I’m so grateful the wound is healing well, I’m battling living in constant fear of it returning in the same area… thus, my deep empathy for you having to endure your trial with this. I return for my check up mid-May and am hopeful if it does return, that it will never again require such an invasive surgery. Deirdre, I pray for healing and wholeness for you and recommend Jeremiah 30:17: “For I will restore your health to you and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord.” I meditate on this scripture often. I hope it brings you peace. Again, God bless you and I hope you are doing well and finally cancer-free since this post!
Living this nightmare right now. Had MOHS on my left cheek on 7/8/19 and I look l have a very angry snake coming down my cheek. The bruising and swelling were the part that scared me the most. I also am having problems closing my left eye completely. You have given me hope that not only will I survive this horrible dream but I will be stronger because of it.
Thank you for being so brave and sharing your story. I am grateful to know that I am not alone.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. My husband just went thru similar Moh’s surgery on his face this morning. Your story is very comforting to read! Thank you for sharing. You Look Beautiful
I had surgery (removal and cauterization) on a ‘small’ spot on my nose on Wednesday morning – it is now Saturday morning and the blue bruising is gradally being replaced by yellow bruising! I sort of knew what to expect as a friend of mine had similar facial skin cancer – but not on her nose. My eye started closing up a few hours after surgery and then the whole right side of my face became swollen. I think there are 20 or so stiches including dissolvable ones under the skin. I didn’t have a skin graft but the surgeon sort of did things to my cheek, which I won’t see the extent of until Monday when I have the stiches out. I have always used sun screen but years ago I lived in the Seychelles for a couple of years and it was incredibly hot. So, from a tiny spot at the top of my nose, I will have a scar running from there to level with my mouth. I am not too phased about scarring as my friend’s scar faded very quickly… I am 66 and have enormous scars on my right arm from a motor bike accident and scars on my tummy from having my gall bladder removed and further scars from breast cancer. The one thing that bothers me slightly is that I don’t want to upset my 3-year granddaughter. I might make a joke of it or put make-up on. Her other grandmother is dying of cancer and has dementia so I want her to know that, hopefully, I am still around!
I had a BCC removed from my eyebrow by a MOHS surgeon and I honestly cried for a long time. I’ll never look the same. I had another BCC on my nose and had radiation that time. To the person who commented that radiation treatment was not offered, you have to understand that radiation is the gift that keeps giving. The area where the radiation was done, well, the skin is reduced in size. Hope that makes sense. I still look like me with the exception of the eyebrow MOHS surgery, but it was so tough to deal with both times. Mel, I think you look beautiful and I so appreciate that you shared your experience, it really does offer so much hope!
Thanks for adding your experience, Francie! So very helpful.
just had squamous cell mohls surgi on the tip of my nose very small spot, I wish someone could of told me of the horror you look like afterwards, and the pain , was it all worth it, my family ask me to cover it up .looks like a freek show nose , dr said this am looks to red and purple, double the antiobidic, what was I thinking could I have used the raditation instead , not even mentioned.??? I am a avid outdoors person and will continue to be , but can not even go out of my house for fear of being laughed at. what the heck is going on in the worlds air? I will never be the same looking after this ,I did have a nice beautiful nose , very sad
Thank you so much for posting this! I had that same odd spot (in the same exact place on my nose!) and ignored it for too long. Got the dreaded lidocaine needle already for the sample- lab came back basal cell with infiltration. Met with MOHS specialist today and she did not mince words…feeling afraid of what’s next. Consult with plastic surgeon scheduled for end of the month to prepare for the “repair” job day after the MOHS procedure. Talked about skin grafts from the inside of my ear. Your photos…I needed to see them. This is scary but your outcome makes me feel so much better!! It’s amazing. Going to be a long haul, my face IS going to be messed up, but seems like maybe it will be ok after awhile. I hope my surgery turns out as well as yours. Again, thank you- I really needed this.
Good luck to you, Laura – it’s hard to hear it so directly from the physician, but it’s better to have it straight and honest. I know your surgery and recovery won’t be easy – don’t be afraid to take the time to feel all the feelings, but I also wish you a speedy recovery and hope your body heals quickly.
Hi thanks for sharing. i know was a few years ago , and hopefully you are still online. Just wondering how you got rid of your scars ? Would you recommend anything for faster scar removal ? i have a big scar on my nose very similar to yours and have taken a month off to let it heal/ disappear however it is a very obvious and strong scar atm.
Thanks in advance. cheers
Hi Gale, I used some essential oils and some derma gel, but mostly, I kept it very well moisturized and let it heal on its own.
Just had MOHS surgery and reconstruction 5 days ago on my nose (same location as yours) and feeling rather sorry for myself as to what the future holds for my face. It looks pretty horrendous right now.
But stumbled across your website and like the countless hundreds of others who have commented felt the need to thank you for sharing your experience. It gives me much hope.
Thank you so much.
Mel…I must share this with you…you are keeping me from crying a river of tears. I am three days out from my repair from BCC, side of nose near bridge. Without all the details, my plastic surgeon needed to cut across the bridge of my nose, between both eyes, and down the side to close my wound. I was so upset. Today I took off my bandage for the first time to change it and I was devastated at what I saw. I’ve been crying all day. I stumbled across your story, with your first photo after surgery looking very similar to mine except in a different area. When I looked at your recent photo, I cried tears of joy. You have no idea the hope that you have given me! I felt like I was never going to heal and now I know that with time I will heal! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for sharing this with us. I will finally be able to sleep tonight!
PS: I know that I should be happy that the Mohs surgeon got all my cancer, and I AM, it’s was such a shock to see my face like that.
Oh gosh, Bella! It is so very traumatic and you are entitled to ALL the feelings! I’m so sorry you had to go through this, but I’m so happy that this post (and hopefully reading through the comments – there is a lot of comfort there!) has given you hope. It’s amazing what the body can do!
First time on this site, commenting about the skin cancer, you are an a amazing person to go through this , very strong , I’m very happy that you have made progress and healing well , prayers for you to stay strong
Thank you so much for sharing your story—your honest feelings about all this and the journey. I’d just been poking about on the Internet looking for something else when I read this and, as I have an odd little spot beneath my eye, well, guess what?! I am going to see the dermatologist to see what’s up now. Thank you so much~
I hope all is well for you~
Good luck, Brenda!!
Dear Mel,
I just had Mohs surgery on my forehead! The thought of being disfigured had me searching online for people having gone through the same and worse, and I came upon your website. I am so grateful to you for having posted your experience as well as your photos! You are so kind and generous. You give me hope! God bless you and your family!
God bless you! I’m so glad you are ok. Many thanks for sharing your story with others! ❤️
Thank you for posting pics of your experience. I cannot tell you how much comfort your healing process has given me. I just had moh’s surgery yesterday on my forehead and I thought it was going to be a small little procedure and instead I have 10 stitches and my left eyebrow is irregularly arched — truly I look like Frankenstein. I am newly divorced with a new boyfriend and I am scared to death he will run for the hills. I am so frightened that my eyebrow will not return to its normal position and I will need plastic surgery. I can only pray I heal as beautifully, both inside and out, as you did. Thank you again. You look gorgeous.
Hi Mel! I found your blog by searching for the ‘healing stages of MOHS facial surgery.’ I am in day 2 after MOHS with bruising under and around both eyes and as many stitches. It is shocking to see my face in the mirror and I, too, have cried all the while thanking God that He answered our prayers and that it wasn’t much worse (and it surely could have been). I wanted to see photos of the stages of healing to know that mine will heal too, and yours gave me hope. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for posting this. I had my MOHS surgery this past week for basal cell near my eye. The plastic surgeon used a flap from my forehead for reconstruction. I was feeling sick wondering how long recovery will take and what my final appearance would look like. I look very much like your second set of photos. I am quite relieved to see your March photos and and how wonderful you look only four months. I am going to relax a bit now and be grateful I only had basal cell. Thank you again for posting.. This helped me a lot.
Mary, and all others who are considering radiation.
I made my decision, and yes, I am going with the radiation. There is no way I am going to go through with the
Mohs surgery.
My reasons:
First of all, this is a very small spot on my nostral. It looks exacty like the photos on Mels nose.
Major reconstructive surgery, 100’s of stiches, flaps, 2 years of recovery, not to mention the missery of all of that. No F–king way.
So, Mary, to answer your questions:
The cure rate is equal to that of Mohs. This is documented in all the studies.
There is a new type of radiation called Brachytherapy
Google it. Also Google the new machine. Its called: The Esteya electronic brachytherapy system
Here is the link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4300364/
I have already started this treatment, and will post my results here.
I just went thru this surgery. Your story gives me hope!
I just had basal cell surgery on my nose, NOT MOHs….(5-13-19). I look EXACTLY like you. God Bless you for posting this along with all your photos. You truly give me hope. I still have a tiny spot of cancer the surgeon could not get. She recommends radiation after the incision heals. I have heard pros and cons about radiation. Do you or anyone have any thoughts? Thank you so much for your courage. Wendy
I just saw the plastic surgeon yesterday.. I can hardly look @ myself in the mirror. Thank you for posting pics.. mine is Elmo’s exactly where yours was.. & you look beautiful ❤️❤️ Thanks Jamie
I had a little bump under the skin above my eye and below my eyebrow. I was ONLY at the dermatologist because I want to remove a Pilar cyst on my scalp. He said it was probably just as little cyst and so it’s up to me (it would leave a scar). When I I went in for the Pilar cyst I told him the bump felt bigger – little smaller than a pepper corn – and lets remove it before the scar gets to big.
When he revived it he didn’t know what it was. A week later pathology identified it as Merkel Cell Carcinoma. It’s very rare & the most freaky cancer.
It was between my eyes and they needed to make a wide area margin for safety purposes and remove lymph nodes in my neck. Yeah – they take Merkel seriously.
Thank God, the lymph nodes were negative and they were able to get a decent, but not optimum margin. My cancer was only 0.7cm which is stage 1.
I had the forehead flap procedure only 3 days ago Andrew Haven needed any pain meds.
They want to let this heal up for several weeks and then do radiation (I said… You take Merkel seriously). Then when that is complete they will remove the pedicle which is the artery from near your eye brow that they use to provide temporary blood flow.
It is amazing how well the face heals. My face and neck scars from the first surgery are barely viable after 3 weeks.
Hey – ask your dermatologist about EVERYTHING! I want going to mention mine, but as he was walking out I said, “By the way, it’s this anything?” Because it was UNDER my skin he never noticed it. That one question probably saved my life – yeah, Merkel is very, very bad.
Wish everyone the best who goes through similar events
Hi Joe: After reading numerous posts about skin cancer on face; yours truly hit home. I had a basal cell removed from my nose Monday 5-13-19. Plastic surgeon did excision. scar is a perfect “3”. However, there is STILL a tiny spot of cancer remaining. UGH. My surgeon suggested radiation to treat the rest. However, my daughter in law had Merkel Cell on her leg and had radiation. She is begging me NOT to get radiation since it can be devestating to brain cells, affect taste buds, eyes, etc. I would like to know your experience with radiation. Thank you so much for posting. Wendy
Your story sounds like mine. I had a small spot that I could cover with make up. Going to have it removed didn’t concern me as I didn’t think it amounted to much. Well I was wrong. It’s almost one week, my nose is so red! I look like Rudolph! I have shed many quiet tears so that my family wouldn’t know how insecure I’m feeling about the future. I am a TSA Officer so I am in close contact with the public. At this point I don’t think I can return to work. But the thing that upsets me the most is I didn’t know what they were doing until it was over 6 hours later. The inside of my nostrils remain so sore and tender. I can’t blow my nose and I know this sounds insignificant but for me it has worked on my nerves. I was stupid for not asking more questions but the doctor kept telling me how good he was and it wasn’t any big deal. Maybe it wasn’t for him but for me it was a really big deal. I caution everyone make sure you understand what should happen and what could happen. I’m normally not a negative person, I just needed to vent my anger and frustration. You look amazing and I’m hoping for something similar.
I realise this is 3 years old but thank you. I have just been diagnosed with bcc on my nose. I am awaiting punch biopsy then expect to be referred for punch biopsy. I have found that people around me dismiss this as a simple cancer that will just be cut away then end of story. I am floored. This thing is in the middle of my face and I’m terrified that it will be deep and cause bad scarring. I feel quite lonely and desperate. I hate the waiting time for the next stage and I don’t even feel like I can tell people “I have cancer” because bcc is not taken seriously.
Sorry should have said refered for Mohs surgery!
Those feelings of loneliness are normal, I think! I remember feeling the same way…good luck as you wait for your biopsy and then MOHS surgery (if you end up needing it).
Adrienne, I felt the same way! Most people dont take a “small spot” of bcc seriously. So I felt uncomfortable to refer to it as cancer……until 2 days ago. The night before having a THIRD surgery, in the same are, I called my churches prayer chain. For the First time, I publically called it cancer. Everyone was so surprised I had “cancer” .They hadnt thought of it that way. Its comforting to know I’m not the only one that has gone through it. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures and story. I have had the same surgery in the same area this afternoon and am terrified about the healing process and about how I’m going to look. Your scar has healed fantastically and I hope I can be as positive as you. The only thing stopping me crying right now is the fact I can’t get the dressing on my nose wet!!
I hear ya, Katie! That honestly was the thing that stopped me from crying, too, but I still shed plenty of tears eventually, and it’s ok if you do, too. It’s amazing how the body can heal – even though it takes time. Good luck with your post-surgery healing!
Katie, I had this surgery yesterday. On my nose…they took flaps from forehead and nose. I am in the crying stage, but this post gives me hope! Funny but what concerns me most is my nostrils are lifted (think miss piggy) and before the Mohs you could not see them straight on looking in a mirror. Wishing you all healing! Erin http://www.eatpraygetwell.com
Hey Erin,
I just had a BCC removed from the center of my nose 2 days ago and my nose has also been pulled up and it’s really bothering me …..
I really hope it drops down when the swelling does but I’m skeptical.
Hi Erin and Louise
Sending you both healing vibes! My nose is lopsided rather than pulled up but I’m really hopeful that a lot of the issue is swelling and that it will settle down looking more like it did before. Fingers crossed for all of us this is the case.
I’m not a very patient person but I think that seems to be what is required!
Love to you. Katie
Update – I am at week 3 and I am so very happy, starting to look very much like my original nose 🙂 I will be posting about my experience with pictures this month. All of you have hope – it’s scary but they can really do wonderful closures nowadays! Erin http://www.eatpraygetwell.com
I too had a spot just like yours, went to dermatologist for a different spot and two weeks later sitting in the surgical chair. I was not prepared to say the least! They did the flap on my nose from 2in into my scalp folded around to cover half my nostril on the right side of my nose! When he showed me a similar patient, I lost it! I cried during the whole procedure, he had to give me valum! I am currently in week two, headed to the final surgery to close it all and just now starting to feel, it is what it is, the shock was horrific! I like you stay home at all cost! Praying it looks half as well when healed, as yours! I feel your pain dear! I also have the same opinion of sombrero! Just call me pale woman because the Sun is no longer my friend!
Now if I can get over just how my scalp on the end of my nose is going to know not to grow hair. Already picking out tiny barbie bows! lol (I gotta laugh to keep from crying)
Thanks for sharing, thought I was the only one who lost all my sense of control!
Bless you for having such a great attitude despite really hard circumstances! I wish you the best as you heal and recover!
I am in the same exact situation. I stumbled on this web page, and I have read all of your post, looked at all of your photos, and read all of the reply’s. My basil cell is in the same location as yours was. It also looks exactly the same as the very first photo, before you had the surgery. So, why am I writing this. Well, Its time for me to have the 100 stiches, and the aftermath that will take several “months”, before I “start” to look like my old self.
Here is my question: I have been offered an alternative to all of this. Radiation. Yes, that’s right. No surgery, no knife, no stiches, no scar, 99% cure rate.
The radiation doctor said the only possible downside to this is I might have some slight discoloration.
Has anyone out there opted for the radiation? And, If radiation is an option, Why would any one not do it that way. Currently, only about 10% of basil cells are treated with radiation. I want to know why this is. This is also the very first question that I will be asking my doctor.
Hi. Have you had your radiation yet? I am also considering that — actually planning on it if the doctor thinks I am a good candidate.
I had Mohs on my nose just yesterday and my nose looks almost exactly how Mel’s did. (She gives me hope!) But the worse problem for me is that I had two additional spots that could not be removed without pretty much removing my whole nose. Even the surgeon said it would be nearly impossible for me to ever look normal again, so we are considering radiation for those two spots when my nose heals from surgery.
I can tell you a few reasons more people don’t use it.
1) the cure rate is much lower that that of Mohs (I have looked at a lot of studies and I have never seen anything that showed 99 percent)
2) it is hard to determine the depth of the skin cancer, so it is impossible to know if has been completely removed unless you have gotten Mohs. With radiation some cancer cells could be left under the surface to return later, and some research suggests that the cancer that returns will be more aggressive.
3)If you have a recurrence of cancer in the spot where you had radiation you cannot have further radiation. I have also heard that surgery on the radiated site would be more difficult and might not heal, so it’s kind of a one-shot deal, whereas Mohs can be repeated if needed
For this reason, some doctor reserve radiation for people in their 80s and 90s. I am in my 50s and trying to decide what to do. I am a little afraid of radiation for the aforementioned reasons, but I think I am more afraid of losing my nose to surgery.
Best of luck with your decision.
Feels like i am looking at myself reading this article and looking at the pics. I had the Mohs surgery on the same spot this January and my scars look almost identical to yours. I have been i total utter shock since those surgery’s and have a hard time imagining that i will ever look beautiful again. And i also feel shame over being so obsessed about my look but i think the change is the biggest challenge. My nostril is more messed up than yours so i will probably(hopefully they can do that) have to have a plastic surgery to fix it , but that will be later. I had also imagined that the Mohs surgery would just be small and i would just have a small scar but when they went in there for the third time on the same day (after 9 hours of surgery and waiting) i knew it would be messier than i thought. I am also not a big sun person and i am very surprised i got this. Mine was BCC morpheaform type. I feel better after reading your article and seeing the results on your beautiful face. It is always good to know you are not alone with your pain and to know that you have to hear from people that have experienced similar things. Thank you for this article and bless you. Lina
I totally understand many of those same feelings! I never thought I was that obsessed with my appearance until I had this MOHS surgery…I know it’s easier said than done…but as someone who is a few years out, I encourage you not to feel badly about feeling that way! I think it is justified and completely, totally normal. I am so sorry you have had to go through this and I hope you can find the next set of doctors to help you fully through your recovery. Best of luck and speedy healing to you!
Such an uplifting post …. thank you!
Just had Mohs surgery yesterday for a spot in middle of my cheek. Compression bandage covering the left side of my face on until tomorrow. I was too nervous to ask about the number of stitches, but know after complete healing it’s SO worth it.
Good luck with your recovery, Andrea!!
This was such a bittersweet post that made my day! I’m still rather young, being only in my mid-teens but seeing how important protecting my skin should be is eye-opening! I have a very pale complexion and burn rather easier, but seeing that sunscreen even though it may be a little bothersome is actually important, ill definitely be trying to protect my skin more now. Your nose healed fantastically, and I totally dig the no makeup, you look amazing!
Thanks so much for your comment, Madison! I wish all teenagers would take skin and suncare so seriously. You are amazing! Sunscreen makes a huge difference especially in younger years!
Hi I have a Basel cell carcinoma I have had it for about 4years and its got deep into my skin it wasn’t cancerous but now it is I am scared I know they said it doesn’t spread but I have had trouble swallowing and with my ears for the past 9 months and been so sick I am waiting to see the facial team soon
What essential oils did you use? You healed great
I was recently diagnosed with Melanoma on my chest just at the base of my neck. Surgery left a 9CM incision, 30 stitches internally and 21 on the outside. Everything you said about making life changes to keep your skin healthy is a revelation I am recently becoming acquainted with. Thanks for sharing your story!
I had the same situation, and our scars are alike
This was 3 weeks ago, so thanks to show me that it will be much better then it is now!
Just had nose Mohs 4 weeks ago. How did your nostril end up looking? Is it the same as the other? I’m not so worried about the scar (can be fixed if needed) I’m worried about the uniformity of the nostrils.
If I over examine them, I can tell that my nostrils aren’t completely symmetrical or uniform like they used to be, but it isn’t glaring, and I don’t think most people would notice.
Thanks for your post and pictures. I just had my fourth reconstructive nose surgery due to an accident and nothing to do with cancer. I got an infection on my last surgery that left me about 10 scars from the 12 stitches the doctor put on my nose to hold the bridge while he operated. I am very concerned about my nose that I cry at night just thinking how my nose will look after it heals. After seeing this post I feel much better and thankful that I don’t have to endure what many people are going through and I will start praying for all people that have to gone through MOHS surgery. May God continue to bless you always.
Same to you, Oneida! Thank you for your comment. I wish you a very speedy healing and recovery. Hang in there. It will get better!
I go in on friday. I am not afraid of the procedure ….so afraid of the recovery. Thank you for being so honest and sharing your journey.
What a beautiful post and such honesty about your surgery. I had MOHS surgery on 2 BCC’s on my scalp and under my nose last Thursday. The plastic surgeon was able to close up the scalp defect but had to do a local graft under my nose. You articulated all my fears about healing and what it will look like. Being able to see how well yours has healed gives me hope for my future. All the best, Natalie
Very best of luck in your road to healing, Natalie! There’s a lot of support in this comment thread from others who have experienced similar things.
Thanks for your post and pics. I’m 42 and just had MOH’S. How long was it after the surgery before you could use foundation/concealer to camoflouge the scar?
I think I waited several months to let it fully heal.
I cannot believe how your story has helped me! I am only 4 days post Mohs reconstruction to the bridge of my nose and I feel like I am reading my own words. I cried with my sister yesterday after showing her whats underneath the bandages. I question myself- “should I have done this?”. Its seems the cure is worse than the disease. I dread going back to work next week- I work in healthcare as a manager and not in the background where I can hide my face. Part of me feels selfish and egotistical- there are so many people with cancer that are dying, why should this bother me? Thank you for sharing your story. I hope I heal as well as you. You look beautiful!
Thank you,
Oh, hang in there, Stacey! You are not selfish or egotistical at all! I think we have to own that this is a difficult thing to endure no matter if others are going through harder cancer battles. Reading your comment, I remember feeling ALL of those things and crying so very much. Of course now with the lenses of hindsight, I wish I could have told my post-surgery self how remarkable my body is in its ability to heal. It has been a long journey and there are still things I notice on my face (like how my nose puckers funny in this one spot due to the surgery) but I never thought it would heal as well as it did.
Mel, I needed this message as much as Stacey, so thank you. When my surgeon told me I need a 3rd, and more aggressive, surgery I cried all the way home, on and off throughout the day, and cried myself to sleep. I never shed one single tear the first 2 surgeries, couldnt sto crying about the third. I kept apologizing to my husband for being a big baby. He assured me i had a reason to cry, that most people would be taking it as hard. My surgery was yesterday and I’m still struggling. Thanks again for your insight. Stacey, praying for a speedy recovery.
Hi Mel,
Thank you so much for this post!
I work with Friend for Life Cancer Support Network, an organization that connects people diagnosed with cancer and caregivers with trained volunteers of a similar experience. I’ve been struggling to find a support match for a woman having repeated Mohs surgeries on her nose, and she’s also had a couple of skin grafts. She desperately wants to talk with someone who’s gone through these treatments, to help her manage this experience emotionally. One challenge – she is not online. So, if anyone on this blog would be willing to talk with her on the phone, please email me – thank you!
Judy Kasey Houlette: judy@friend4life.org
I just had Mohs surgery on the side of my nose two days ago. My last episode was 20 years ago and a plastic surgeon operated after a referral from my dermatologist. There is a faint scar there. But replacing the bandage last night and seeing the stitches and swelling this time was a shock. It took 3 tries before the pathology report was clear and was far more invasive. I am 67 and yes, a little vain, so googling your story has brought me tremendous relief. You are a beautiful young woman and your story and photos do help and give us all hope for a successful recovery. Many thanks and God Bless.
Good luck with your recovery, Chrissy! I don’t think you are vain (or maybe we all are to an extent??)…surgery on your face is traumatizing no matter what! I’m sorry you are having to go through this again 20 years later. I wish you much healing!
Dear Mel,
I had a similar operation to you two days ago and am pretty upset by my appearance. I am not as young and pretty as you plus I have other health issues so am worried my skin won’t heal. I am due to have the stitches out next Friday. Did you have yours taken out that soon and how long between your op and the final picture you posted where you can only see a slight scar? Also, how long did the swelling, pain and bruising last? I’m not on Facebook etc so could you possibly email me? I would attach photos but don’t think I can here. Many thanks. Sonia x
Hi Sonia – good luck with your recovery! It seems hopeless at first, and even within the first month or so I felt like my face would never heal, but it did…and I bet you’ll be surprised at how well your body will take over and help heal itself. I had my stitches taken out probably right around a week to eight days after the surgery. The swelling pain and bruising lasted several weeks.
Many thanks for your reassurance. It is very early days for me so I shall have to be patient which I’m not very good at. I have a bottle of Bio Oil at the ready for when I can start applying it to the scar tissue. Unfortunately, I have another BCC on my eyebrow which requires removal and a skin graft by a dermatologist so more surgery to come. I hope you have had no further issues and once again, thank you.
Thanks so much for writing this, Mel. I’m glad you recovered so well, you’ve ended up really beautiful again. I only found you because I googled “confidence shot to pieces after scarring from bcc surgery”. I had a basal cell thing on the side of my nose removed 3 weeks ago. It was only 5mm, but there were stitches and now scars from between my eyes, around the side of my nose and a big ridge in my skin. Nose lop-sided and left nostril an odd shape. You’ve given me hope that things might improve, but I’m twice your age so recovery likely to be slower. Also sad that a best friend saw me once and doesn’t seem to want to come back – I can understand how he feels because I know I look a mess, but confidence has taken a knock. All the best, and thanks again. Sybil
Hi Sybil – I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this and very sorry you’ve felt discouraged by the reaction of a dear friend. That is difficult! Take hope in knowing that the body can do miraculous things in the way of healing. It definitely isn’t an easy process, and I remember feeling many days like my face would never look normal again – even though it isn’t exactly the way it looked before the cancer, I look back and am amazed at how well it healed. I wish you utmost healing in this journey!
My husband had mohs done on his nose in december. We now have go to a plastic surgeon because it was done badly by someone who was highly recommended by several Dermo dr. The nightmare is just beginning for us. I hope anyone who goes thru this procedure gets a couple of opinions from other drs. The damage done to my husband will involve major reconstruction. I am glad you were so blessed.
I’m so, so sorry to hear that, Margaret. I hope your husband heals quickly and the reconstruction is successful.
I had the MOHS surgery as well approximately 4 years ago in the sidebar wall of my nose. The dermatologist had to pull my cheek into my nose since I didn’t have loose skin like older people do, she said. I have the scar starting from my eye going along side the length of my nose and down around my nostril. I’ve been having irritating switching at the scar site for about 3 weeks. I was wondering if you’ve experienced this at all? I did in the beginning but it’s been a few years now and the twitching is annoying. Sometimes it twitches so hard I feel on the other side of my nose.
I haven’t experienced that, Monica – that sounds frustrating! Has your dermatologist had any feedback?
Hi Mel, When researching Mohs in the last week I came across your blog and adventure through surgery. I started with a spot slightly higher than yours on sidewall of my nose and just had surgery yesterday. I ended up with 4 slices and a crater also. I had a rhomboid flap and like you stitches from my cheek up my nose to corner of eye. Seeing your progress pictures helped me so much! I have never written on a blog but felt the need to tell you how much I appreciated your frankness with your progress. I was very prepared mentally because of your help. My husband could not believe how well I handled the surgery. Thank you from bottom of my . I will sign up to try your recipes. Glad you are doing well now. Sincerely, Kim
Thanks so much for your comment, Kim! I’m sorry you have to go through this! I wish you a very speedy recovery. It’s amazing to me how the body can heal itself – several years out and I can hardly tell I had such a traumatic skin cancer experience (except for a little puckering on the side of my nose). I hope all goes well for you!
Thank you, seeing your pictures gave me courage! My husband couldn’t get over how I have been handling this and it is thanks to you! I am st day 3 so much like your first picture! Hoping I can get as close to your last picture as possible regarding healing! You are very lovely inside and out! Kim
I found your blog while googling “spot on my nose that won’t heal” (mine had been there for over 3 years-good grief). I had never considered cancer and although I knew it wasn’t going to be cancer, I mentioned it to my doc anyway. Fast forward a month and a half…
I type all of this while sitting in a recliner with ice on my face bc I’m sporting a new shaped nose and sort of squinty eye.
So thank you for your post. And thanks google for leading me to this post. And thanks God for sharing of stories that can inspire and encourage and comfort in the midst of life-yuck. 🙂
Good luck with your healing, Jensine! I’m so sorry you have to go through this – hold comfort in knowing the body is AMAZING in its ability to heal.
I am going to have to have Mohs surgery. I am so scared. I am crying as I write this. I am so fearful of being deformed. I am a humble and grateful person and so I will say this in that spirit: I am not average looking. Strangers will stop me on the street to tell me how “beautiful” I am. Unfortunately, this blessing has always made me over-aware of my looks. I love to swim; pool, ocean, bay. My husband and I own a boat. The only time of year that I like is summer. I am devastated and scared. I have two jobs. It is January and I need to work the second job at least until April to pay off some bills but the job is a cashier at a retail store. They won’t want a stitched up freak greeting customers. My “real” job is at City Hall. I am so scared. What if I don’t heal up like you did? I don’t think I will be able to go through this surgery wide awake being so afraid as I am. Thank you for letting me talk about this. Pray for me.
Hi Stephanie –
I just read your post and felt terrible and wanted to know how you are healing? I too just had Mohs surgery on my four head, and I am so afraid I’m going to look disfigured. I had the surgery yesterday and I am frayed to take the bandage off, when I saw my face in the mirror at the dermatologist office I screamed inside and cried all the way home. It legit looks like Frankenstein. I had no idea I would spend my summer healing. I wish I waited until the fall !!! Anyway, please check in and let us know how you made out.
Thanks for your post. I recently suffered a traumatic injury when my dog bit me in the face/nose and ended up with 9 stitches. Stitches were removed 3 days ago and looking at your healing process has given me much peace! Can you share a bit more what essential oils you used and the regimen you did during the healing process?! Thanks in advance. how long did it take to heal completely? You are beautiful!!!
Hi….your blog about your MOHS really helped me. I am 7 weeks post MOHS on my nose and had a very similar wound as you. I am having some stinging sensations now and wondering if that could be nerve reguvination…..you didn’t mention what yours felt like 6 to 8 weeks post MOHS and I was wondering if you too had these uncomfortable sensations. Your pictures give me hope…..and I would be so grateful to hear back from you. My email is lori.auger@yahoo.com……thank you so much!
Lori
Hi Lori – I remember feeling some pain and stinging sensations right after the stitches came out but I don’t think I was feeling them after the first couple weeks…however, honestly, it’s hard to remember. I’d suggest calling your doctor’s office to ask if that is a normal feeling! Good luck with your recovery!!
Hi Mel! I wanted to thank you for sharing your journey. I’ve been searching for pictures and outcomes similar to my situation without a lot of results. Although I cannot relate to having cancer, I suffered a severe dog bite to my nose and my injury/repair is very similar in size and shape to your MOHS surgery. Your story gives me hope that I too will also look “normal” again.
I’m so glad you have healed well! Thank you again for sharing.
Oh wow, good luck, Mia!
Hi Mel, Your recipes look great! I just received a slow mohs surgery on my face. It’s 20 stitches across my left cheek. It came back with clear margins so that is the most important thing. How long was your healing process? Thank you for sharing your story. You look beautiful and healed so nicely. How did you keep up your spirits? I have three young children and I’m a third grade teacher so I will keep it covered for a while.
Enjoy the holidays and I look forward to trying some of your recipes!
Tina
I just had a lesion removed two days ago and I’m freaking out I hope I heal as well as you. Not sure if it’s cancer .. if it is have to go back let’s hope not and that I heal well. Also on my nose so I was looking up before and after pics and stumbled on this page!
Good luck, Heather!!
Hi Mel, I just wanted to thank you so so much for sharing your story. I have had BCC removed from the side of my nose and have ended up with a significant wound. I just keep looking at your post, and how beautifully you have healed, and I am just keeping fingers and toes crossed that I do the same. My surgery was 2 days ago and my face feels tight and sore to say the least. My skin feels pulled…did you feel the same? I am just hoping this all relaxes in time. You look absolutely gorgeous and thank you for sharing the photos with us. It gives me hope! Xxx
I’m so sorry you are going through this, Lucy!! Good luck with your healing. Yes, my skin definitely felt pulled and super tight. I think that’s probably normal but if you have questions, I’d definitely suggest calling your doctor to make sure. I wish you the best in your continued healing! It’s amazing what the body can do to heal itself. Get a lot of rest!
Thanks Mel. I have seen your later posts now and have seen how you have continued to heal beautifully. Skin cancer is a bigger journey than I ever expected, but you are an inspiration to me and thousands more I am sure xx
Hello from Switzerland ! I just had a mohs surgery on my nose with a huge scar and your testimony is very helpful for me. I’ll go check your page every day since i’ve been operated. Just to remind me to be patient and confident with the result in the next week and month. Many thanks Mel for your courage to share your experience with us. Kiss and love Pam
Good luck with your recovery, Pam!
Thank you so much for sharing this. The photos are incredible. You have healed beautifully. This makes me feel so much better about the moh’s surgery I have scheduled next week for my forehead.
Good luck and many prayers for you, Diana!
Hello. I’ve been obsessed with trying to find an outstanding plastic surgeon that specializes in reconstruction of the nose, may I ask whom your provider was? I just went through hell the past 6mos. I went to a plastic surgeon for a mole removal that was suspicious of skin cancer, had it removed, biopsy came back negative, thankfully. I had to have an FTSG to fix the hole that was left from the biopsy, I am trying to improve the scar from that procedure as it’s very difficult to conceal it with makeup, I’m pretty sure that I need scar revision surgery with the use a forehead flap??? I humbly asking you for your help with your providers information, please. I have read your story and very inspired by your willingness to share your very personal and private experience. I’m so happy to hear you are feeling much better than before, your physician did amazing work, your scarring is minimal and blending in very well. Thank you for your time and effort to help anyone that may be facing this situation.
Hi Mel I just wanted to tell you that, like so many of your readers, your post gave me the knowledge to get a suspicious spot on my nose (that wouldn’t ever heal) checked out at my first ever dermatology appointment, and it WAS a basal cell carcinoma. I just had my MOHS surgery two days ago. The doctor was able to get all the cancer out on the first swipe, which I know isn’t always the case, and for which I’m very grateful. Anyway! Thank you for posting your experience, because it truly is blessing lives! I almost certainly wouldn’t have had it checked had I not read your story. I hope you’re doing so well ❤️
Oh my goodness, Meg – thank you for your comment! I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Just hearing about your experience brings back all the memories and feelings from my own surgery. I’m so glad they were able to get the cancer on the first go round. I hope you heal quickly!! Thank you so much for letting me know.
Hi, thanks for sharing. I have to have a BCC taken out of my nose next Wednesday. I’m really nervous. Not to mention that we due to go on an overseas holiday in a month’s time. After a month, could you get away with a good concealer and look not too scary? Just worried I’ll get a lot of looks and want to be able to make the most of our holiday despite the circumstances. Thanks for sharing your experience, I feel a bit more prepared on what to expect xxx
Hi Carolyn…good luck with your surgery! After a month my scar was still pretty swollen and red but everyone’s healing is different so you might have a more speedy recovery especially if your surgery ends up being less invasive.
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I will be having MOHS Surgery on my nose this Friday, September 7, 2018. I have been absolutely terrified of doing this. My spot is in the same place as yours on my nose, same size, and same side. After reading your story, I feel relief. You are absolutely adorable and you healed up really nicely! I, too, wear glasses and that has been a concern for me, as well. After reading your post, I will be wearing my contacts (I am darn near blind without correction) to the surgery. Question for you. Did they have you sleep sitting up after and for how long?
Hey Missy! Good luck! I will be praying for you knowing you have surgery this Friday. Please keep me posted on how it goes! I wish you speedy healing (and only 1-2 scrapes!). I didn’t *need* to sleep sitting up (the doctor told me I was fine to lay down) but comfort wise, my face hurt so badly and was throbbing so much that I slept sitting up the first night. After that it was better laying down.
Hi Mel!
Well, I made it through the surgery. It was a lot more than I thought it was going to be. My own blog is linked to my name so if you have time, please come read about my experience. I am so glad that it is done! Thank you for the prayers and good thoughts!
http://www.mylifemakesmelaughconstantly.com – I liked it incorrectly above
Hey Missy! Just hopped over to your blog…so happy your surgery is over and you are recovering! The swelling will subside (and the pain, too!); hang in there! It was interesting to compare your detailed surgery pics with mine (I didn’t post some of the more gruesome ones here). I’m amazed at how well your doctor was able to use the skin from your cheek to repair the area taken during MOHS. Good luck on your recovery!
I found your blog off a search about skin cancer. I appreciate your candor and your bravery in sharing beyond words. And you just look fabulous, btw. In any case, I came for the skin cancer story, but I’ll stay for the food – love this blog! Serendipity works in happy ways.
Thanks so much, Court! 🙂
I felt like I was reading my own story. I looked the same as you but it was the other side of my nose and instead of my eye pulling a little it was my nostril (oh happy days). My healing looks about how yours does also, but my nostrils still aren’t even (ugh). I went into hibernation as well and stopped playing tennis. I never wore makeup either but now keep trying different concealers in an attempt to blend in the white line of the scar. It has been two year without a re-occurrance but always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I live in the south so it is difficult to hide completely from the sun but I gave up tennis as I sweat off the sunscreen. Skin cancer sucks and I applaud you for putting it out there!
Good luck with your continued recovery, Mollie! I agree, skin cancer sucks! I hope you don’t have any reoccurrences!
Thanks for posting your story..getting ready for a re excision on cheek….what oil s did you use? Thanks. Mary Ann
I used frankincense, lavender and rose hips oil. Good luck!
So, I read this blog initially when you posted it and it prompted me to have a spot on my face checked out. I thought it was a stubborn zit that just kept coming back over and over again. Turns out the dermatologists’ PA felt it was precancerous so he froze it off. Hooray…easy-peasy, done deal. Not only was it easy, but then that annoying bump was gone; nice and flat. Until it came back. I went back in, fully expecting them to freeze it again, but this time he wanted to biopsy it. I got the call about 20 minutes ago. It is basal cell carcinoma, and I am being referred for MOHS surgery. I’m 40 years old. THANK YOU for sharing your personal story which prompted me to get my bump checked out.
I am so glad to find your blog about your experience with basal cell cancer on your nose and your willingness to share the beauty of your journey. I will be undergoing MOHS on July 3, 2018 for a small red spot on the side of my nose which I’m told is infiltrating basal cell. I’ve since learned infiltrating means that the red spot may be just the tip of an iceberg and who knows how large the iceberg below the surface could be. Your journey of healing gives me hope.
I also have just started using essential oils and would love to know any oily combinations that helped with your healing!
Hi Becky – good luck with your surgery!! I’ve used a combination of frankincense and lavender on my skin/scar to help with healing.
i wanted to ask you if there any vitamins or supplements that you took to help treat your basal cell?
I too have one on my nose and its been 7 months and still has not healed Currently there is a hole on the side of my nose.
He said for some reason my skin is not healing as well as others or healing slowly He suggested DHEA but it has these weird side effects
Let me know what you think? and congrats that you finally got relief
thanks
Amy
Hi Amy – I didn’t take any supplements. I’m so sorry you are going through this!
Glad you are doing fine, Mel! I’ve been one those “tough” guys who didn’t use sun cream, because that’s not how “real” man act. I am super happy that I actually googled a bit about skin cancer and now sun cream is my best friend for life 🙂
You look amazing. Can I please ask the time lapse between the surgery and your final photo? I need to have some deep tissue removed on the very tip of my nose (thankfully a relatively small amount) but I’m still so stressed about it and the healing time. I don’t want to have to hide my face in pictures all summer and I’m feeling really self-conscious about it. Mostly because I like my nose and don’t want it to change.
I think the time was about 4-6 months. Good luck! This can be a really difficult process, but it’s amazing how the body can heal. I hope all goes well for you!
Hi, my name is Donna and I am a mom in North Carolina. Thank you for your long post. You see I had the identical surgery as you on the left side of my nose on 2/16/18. I was stunned when I figured out I had skin cancer on 2/5 when I looked up pimple that would not heal. I went to the deramotologist on 2/6 and got a biopsy. That took a week to get the results and I pressured my way into the 4 month wait mohs clinic and had two mohs surgeries plus the “repair” , so three surgeries in one day.
As you I have been shocked by this ordeal and traumatized. The stitches came out on Friday and now I have Steri Strips on my nose and cannot take them off for a week.
Then I am allowed to do any scar treatment that I want and my dr prefers silicone gel.
There are pricey options which I am fine about spending I just want to do what’s best.
I am considering NewGel + E, Dermatix, Peureauty and La Mer. and possibly do more than one treatment, not sure at all.
I always thought I was an attractive female and now I think I will maybe be disfigured I have never healed well.
I just found this post and am very thankfilk for it. I had a BCC in the exact spot as yours. I’m only six weeks post op. MOHS was not available in my area so I had a wide local excision. My post op looked just like yours. I’ve been told to now use silicone sheeting or gel to hopefully flatten my bump. Thanks for posting this encouyrahging post. Joyce
I am freaking out and so scared I have my opt this wendsenday with dermatologist and last wendsenday my doctor said I have bcc I am beyond freaking out! Thanks for putting that story out there
I’m new to your site and so happy to have found it. I’m especially excited that you are a Christian as it adds to the connection to you and your site and many of your followers. I especially want to thank you for the reminder of the damage the sun can cause. I’m now retired and grew up in sunny San Diego, CA. not a place for a red haired, blue eyed, fair skinned freckled face little boy to grow up. I remember having so many blistered sun burns followed by the horrible itching as it healed and the skin starting to peel. It was the worst of the sunburn itching all night and crying from the pain of the burns. They didn’t have sunscreen in those days, so I’d have to use zinc oxide on my nose and lips, but I couldn’t put it on my entire body. Thank goodness by the time I was about nineteen years old sun screen came on the market and I began to be a faithful worshiper of sunscreen and hats. I have to tell you that I was teased by my own family and my wife’s family when we were at a pool or beach as I hid under the umbrellas to stay out of the sun. Sorry to say that each one of them have had cancer removed from their faces and bodies, back in their thirties; every one of them except me, and I’m 65. So, it doesn’t matter when you start protecting your skin, it will pay off in the end. I’m sure that if I live long enough I’ll eventually have some type of skin cancer, with my complexion, freckles, blue eyes and red hair, I have the highest probability of skin cancer, especially melanoma than any other human on the face of the earth. I should get something for being such a minority with the sun.
The point is, that I’ve been able by God’s grace to have avoided years of damage and heartache all of these years by protecting myself. So when the day comes I may have to undergo what you have, I can at least say I did my best, and certainly avoided years of pain and agony that I might have had if I not protected myself. The doctors have told me that should I get skin cancer, it will be the result of my over exposure when I was very young and burned so frequently. So protecting your children as I did mine will definitely make a difference with reducing their odds as they grow older.
Thank you for sharing your story, and for your mom’s white bread recipe, I’ve been looking for one like yours for years. Once I bake it, I’ll post a picture. I look forward to your emails. Thank you!!
Thank you so much for your comment, Red! Your advice is so true: it’s never too late to start protecting your skin from the sun. I wholeheartedly agree! I am happy to hear that you’ve been able to avoid skin cancer and any treatments so far. Wonderful news!
Hi. My daughter just shared this blog post with me. I had MOHS surgery for basal cell that was right in the center of my nose 6 days ago, and I’ve been devastated and in morning ever since. Thank you for sharing your photos. It has brought me some hope that my nose may not be this hideous forever and that I may once again actually want to look in the mirror (or be seen in public).
Also, for those who may need this surgery in the future, they actually make special ‘suspenders’ for glasses, to keep them off your nose while you heal. They are the geekiest looking things you’ve ever seen, but for people like me who need bifocals, they’re a life saver! I found mine on Amazon, but there are other places that sell them as well.
If you are looking for cosmetic dermatology services, I would like to mention that I had a great experience with SuttonCosmetic.com. They offer great medical & cosmetic dermatology service. I felt like my personal safety and medical treatment was their top priority. Everything was well-documented and explained to me before anything started.
Thank you so much for posting your story, you look and are a beautiful person for sharing your experience. I recently underwent mohs surgery for a bcc on the center of my nose. My stitches started between my eyes, down the front of my nose, and over to the left side of my nose. I am on week 3 of healing, each day there is improvement, I am optomistic, but I have had my fair share of days of crying. The reality is that mohs is psychologically traumatic. Going into the procedure a person has no clue how far the cancer has spread, and the mind can torment us. I told my mohs surgeon I was a nervous Nelly. He prescribed me three ativan, one for the night before surgery, one for surgery, and one for reconstruction. This helped me immensely, I have some memory, but nothing overwhelming. I encourage others to discuss with their surgeon ways to help calm. I also used the phrase ” is what I am worrying about useful” in regards to my mind thinking about scary outcomes. I am so grateful to my mohs and plastic surgeon. Again, thank you.
Thanks so much for your insights, Nina! And good luck with your healing!
Wow! You do look amazing. I had basic cell 4 years ago, had the same surgery as you and this d— needles were horrible. Had the flap and my scars don’t look anything like yours. So now, I find myself in the 2 to 5% recurrence group and have to go through it again. This time, I am being put under and spending the night in the hospital, then I have to have radiation and plastic surgery and other procedures. Continued luck with your healing.
Oh my goodness, Leilani, I’m so, so sorry to hear that. Best of luck with your involved surgery – I hope all goes well!
I wish I had found this before I had my surgery this summer! I was in for routine exam with PA at dermatologist and she asked about something on my face, a little bump. I told her I had been scratched by a dog 5 months earlier and she said she didn’t like it and was going to biopsy the thing. Turns out it was a basal cell carcinoma. Made the appointment with plastic surgeon to do Mohs. It was so small!! That said after 2 and a half hours it was still coming back with positive tissue. I was st my wits end and because itnwas so close to my eye doc said let’s stitch you up and see how this impacts your eye and reschedule second round. So 30 plus stitches later and 3 plus more hours of surgery it’s all done. The scar is still new so it looks awful. I wear a bandaid over it all the time. I think I was most horrified by feeling liquid running down my face and realizing it was my blood. The procedure didn’t hurt but that freaked me out . Thanks for your post.
If you’re going for MOHS please take Arnica the day of your surgery and the days after (5 tablets of 30C three times a day) and take good quality buffered Vitamin C (buy it at a health food store) starting at least a few days before surgery and continue taking it through the healing process. Both supplements help with swelling and bruising. I had MOHS and a nose flap reconstruction (done the next day by a plastic surgeon) and I experienced no swelling or bruising on my face and minimal swelling and bruising on my nose. During the weeks before your surgery, cut out alcohol and as much sugar as you can. Mix Amazing Greens powder into your water, I didn’t use Bromelain (pineapple enzyme) after my surgery for swelling and bruising because I forgot to buy it, but it’s also
recommended by some plastic surgeons.
Thankyou for sharing your experience. I really appreciate it because I had bcc on the left side of my face between my nose and my lip. It has only been about a month since my surgery and I still feel devastated by the scar. Mine started out as a little pimple and I didn’t get it looked at until it started bleeding. The cancer had spread under the skin and I had mohs in three stages to remove it. My surgeon closed with a skin flap. I had at least 30 stitches on the outside and more under the skin. I am having a tough time because of the scar. I drive a bus at a teaching hospital and wear a hydro colloidal bandage to hide my scar. I encounter hundreds of passengers every day so I am very self conscious about it. Your story is encouraging and gives me hope that my scar will heal as well as yours. You look great by the way. Thanks again, sincerely Sherry Ferrell
Oh, Sherry! I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. Everything you said resonated with me. I felt the same way – I honestly didn’t know if I would ever be able to go out confidently in public again. But I have been amazed and humbled and astounded by how amazing the body is and how it can heal. It IS a long road and it’s taken months and months (over a year, really) for me to feel that way, but if you keep your skin out of the sun and treat it well, I think it will heal amazingly well. Thank you for sharing your experience…my heart goes out to you and your recovery and well-being will be in my prayers!
Please could you share your recipe for the oil? I can’t see it in the comments I have recently also had surgery on my face so would be very grateful for all the healing help I can get 🙂 thanks so much you look amazing xx
I’ve somehow misplaced the actual recipe and can’t find it online (I’ll keep searching) but I used a combo of helichrysum, lavender, rose hips oil and frankincense.
You look great! I just had Mohs surgery on my nose and went through use what you went through. I was afraid I would never look normal again, but I do, thank goodness. Thank you for blogging about it so we know we are not alone.
How long was your recovery, Marcy? I’m so worried about mine! My surgery will be the tip of my nose but I just really want to fast forward and be done with it all. :/
Dad Mel, thanks for sharing your story. I admire your brave candor! A church friend shared your post with me since I recently received a dx BCC with Mohs Surgery scheduled for next month. I am petrified! Glad to see how well your recovery process appeared and appreciate you promoting healthy skin practices. We’ll see how the removal and stitches go with the three spots above my brow. Any tips for enduring the actual procedure??
Hi Gretchen – good luck with your upcoming procedure! You know, I went into my MOHS surgery so naive to what could happen, but if I had to do it again, I’d bring something to distract me and pass the time (while waiting for the results on each biopsy). The wait was hard for me because I wasn’t prepared for it. If you have a good friend/family member, consider bringing them along. It might sound strange, but I’m really glad I have the pictures of my procedure. I had to ask the doctor and nurse to take them for me (they wouldn’t have otherwise). Some pictures are fairly gruesome (I didn’t post the ones where my face was cut open), but seeing them now has given me a greater appreciation for how well I’ve healed. Let me know how it goes!
On i cannot thank you enough for being so brave and posting this. I just had my moh s surgery done 5 days ago and in my search of “just had my stiches taken out of my nose” branded i still have 8 days before the 23 grusom stiches come out… I have been on a search for some that looked almost exact as mine along with swelling and the healing process. Unfortunately but fortunately we were in the same boat. You have given my huge amounts of hope with healing outlook. I cannot thank you enough for being brave and posting. I too bad taken pictures of the surgery hole OMG it’s so surreal and it’s me, an eye opening experience i pray to not have to go through again. My journey went very similar to yours with the cutting hated the numb shots but blessed it was given. Then the wait… My Dr was brilliant, comforting as well staff. I did have to go back after roughly two hours and have two more layers taken and a cartilage scrape… Ouch 2nd set of shots in already wearing off 1st round then stiches reopen ‘d battle wound grrrr but they got it all! He said much longer it would had been a large part of my nose taken… Eeeek thank God I was lead to a Dr. Who recognized what I had growing and penetrating deep. In all I can ramble.. I’m pretty sure you understand. Thank you!! You are one of my hero’ess’s maybe one day I can also be that no makeup wearing girl lol you are a natural beauty inside and out girl can’t thank you enough for your courage to post!!
You are amazing, Karmen! Good luck with your recovery – I don’t know you, but you are beautiful inside and out no matter what!
Hi Mel–
I was looking at your Cuban pork recipe because I have a large pork roast in my freezer that I need to do something with– think I’ve finally found the answer– thanks.
I noticed the link you had about cancer and since I’m facing basal cell surgery next month, thought I would check it out. I did the melanoma thing four years ago. Anyway, I was just wondering about the essential oils you mentioned in healing. Just wondering how you used them and what kind. I’ve haven’t jumped on the essential oils thing yet so am totally ignorant of their use.
I surely do admire you and you have taught me a lot via your blog.
Hi Deloris – good luck with your upcoming basal cell surgery! I used a combo of helichrysum, lavender, rose hips oil and a few others. I’ll try to find the actual “recipe” I used and link it here (actually it might be above in the comment thread).
Just stumbled on this blog and I’m glad that I did. First of all, you are so beautiful. I’m so glad you got the seemingly innocent spot taken care of.
I’m adding your blog to my favorites ASAP. I’ve already seen many recipes to solve my “What’s for dinner?” problem.
You’re awesome!
I have had MOHS too, and on my nose- but up close to my eye. No stitches- healed by granulation thinking a zplasty might be more problematic. Age 60
Thank you for your story. I cannot imagine how traumatized you were and thank you for sharing with strangers. Thank you for the accurate pictures. So sorry you had to go through that. Glad outcome looks so good.
OMG!!!
Thanks to god that you overcome and pass that terrible days and wish you all good things are waiting for you in near future. You showed real courage there!!!
Mel,
What a journey for you and your family. My father’s side of the family has a long history of cancer. I sometimes just feel i am waiting for the shoe to drop!
Thanks for the advice on sun protection. I was a avid sun worshiper in my youth. Ugh.
Keep up the positive attitude.
Ellie Fuhriman
So grateful for your post!
Thank you for being brave enough to post this. I am going to have surgery tomorrow and have been terrified thinking about it for the last month. Your post was very helpful to me and I wish more people had the courage to share their stories and insight.
Wow, Claudine! Good luck with your surgery! I’ll be thinking about you, and I hope all goes well.
Firstly Mel, I cannot begin to tell you how amazing you are to post those pictures of yourself. You have completely blown me away. My oldest daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer straight after the birth of her sixth child. Her oldest was just 12. She went through 3 months of chemo, major surgery and radiation. All the while she determinedly took good care of her kids. We are six months after treatment, but there is after care and injections etc. Pls pls through you wonderful website continue to persuade people to take good care of themselves. Thanks for being you and for a truly wonderful website
I just read your story. It is almost exactly like mine! My experience started at the beginning of last year. I had a “freckle” the size of a pencil eraser on my left cheek about two inches below the out side corner of my left eye. They doctor had to excise an inch around and make an incision to my ear down the front of my ear around the bottom and about three quarters down the side of my neck to fill in the gap they took out. I am a mother of six and my two youngest were also afraid to look at me (was kinda scary looking). Needless to say I became a bit of a recluse also, don’t wear my hair up any more and pretty much keep the sun screen companies in buisness now. The scar has lightened up dramatically. An am thankful that I was kinda being vain about a “silly” little freckle. I wish I could post some pictures of my scars before and after. Anyways I just wanted to say I understand exactly what you are going through. Good luck on your journey. We are alive and that should be good enough right?
Hi Mel,
I love your site!
I had Mohs for what felt like a pea sized pimple on the side of my nose. They took out a 1/2 inch deep section, size of a silver dollar. Four years later with probably 6 inches of scar on my face, people tell me they don’t notice, but if I do say something. “Wow, I didn’t even ever notice” are mostly the comments I get. I hope your healing continues well! It will be ok. Even though that scar is there, you’re still the same person. People see you for who you are and what is or is not on your face!!
You are loved!
Dear Mel-I have been a reader a long time and you have turned me into a cooking machine for my family. We LOVE your bourbon chicken, freezer burritos and roasted vegetable orzo salad (along with tons of other recipes too). I’ve never commented before but I had to tell you a story related to this post so you can understand what a powerful thing you did by sharing your story so publicly. My sister-in-law was complaining of a sore on the side of her nose that wouldn’t go away. She was more annoyed about it than anything and thought it was an unsightly pimple that just wouldn’t heal. An alarm went off inside me and I showed her this post. She decided to make an appointment with her doctor and discovered it was indeed basal cell carcinoma. Honestly, had I never read this I wouldn’t have thought twice about encouraging her to get it checked. And had she not read this, she wouldn’t have made that appointment. All I can say is thank you for your bravery and for sharing. You are an incredible woman and I’m so thankful for you and your blog!
I know exactly what you went through and what you are still going through. My surgery was 2009 for the nose 2010 for the tear duct.
Dear Mel, you’ve used your deep readership to good use! My sun history is similar to yours, and yet I fear at some point I will be in a dermatologist’s office in a similar position you were; being very fair-skinned has meant a lot of accidental sunburns over the years. And the worst of those was a second-degree burn after skiing–oh that thin, high-altitude air! I’m determined not to let it happen to my kids, even the ones that turn brown in the summer like little roasted nuts. We all have sun hats, everyone wears sunscreen, and I’m really glad I didn’t do the tanning thing when it was really really cool to do so and people frankly laughed that I was so white next to their (you said it) pretty shades of not-white. (My brother said I blended in with the wall, my sister said she liked sitting next to me because it made her look darker.) And living in a mountain state, yeah, you do get more direct rays than I do in Minnesota; nevertheless, you can still get sun damage on a cloudy day. (And lack of a sunburn doesn’t mean lack of sun damage.) Anyway, I applaud you loudly for using something scary to warn others. And your healing is just amazing. Your last pic doesn’t even show much of a long-term scar. Blessed surgeons! p.s. Mederma is my favorite scar healer–being fair, I also scar easily, so this is a must for me!
Dear Mel,
I commented when you shared this story with all of us by telling you that some close friends had the same thing happen. Little did I know that it would be hitting so close to home. Yesterday my daughter had to have a spot on her face removed and the doctor is pretty sure that it is basal cell carcinoma. He thinks he has clear borders but we have to wait for the pathology report. If the borders are not clear she will have to have the MOHS done. Praying that hers goes as well as yours!!
Oh my goodness, Janet – thank you so much for letting me know about your daughter. I’m so sorry she has to go through this; I’ll be hoping and praying the pathology comes back with clean borders. I truly wish her the best – please let her know that. Thankfully she had it checked and removed! Hang in there. I hope it is very minimal.
I’m at the beach this week wearing a long-sleeved swim shirt/dress and a brimmed hat, both from Coolibar. I have been told that I look like a little old lady, but thanks to your post, I don’t even care. (Well, maybe a little, but not enough to take it off!) I am very fair-skinned and often burn even with sunscreen, so I know that a similar story is coming for me, if it’s not already growing beneath the surface. Sidenote: I’ve been pleased with this sunscreen: http://www.cerave.com/our-products/sunscreen/sunscreen-face-lotion-spf-50. It has “invisible zinc,” meaning it blends in better than most zinc sunscreens. Thanks for being vulnerable.
I love that, Laurie! You and me both. I wore my long sleeve swim shirt and ankle length swim leggings to the pool again today and even though my kids don’t bat an eye – I got some strange looks. Oh well! Thank for the recommendation on sunscreen. I’m still looking for a great one. Thank you!
Hi Mel,
I mentioned after I read ths post that my husband was having a spot on his nose checked out by a dermatologist. As it turns out, he has carcinoma ( I assume basil cell but he couldn’t remember, but I’ll find out). ) It sounds like we will have pictures similar to the ones you posted . We know that he has had this spot for much longer than you, so we’re hoping and praying that it was, and is, a slow growing cancer? I ‘m preparing myself for a deep and far reaching procedure to remove it, but will b grateful if his incision is like yours. Who would have thought that someone would aspire to look like you did after your surgery That has to strike you as funny ! His surgery should be scheduled in about 4 weeks. The doctor didn’t seem to think it was urgent? In any case, it was your brave post and honesty that made us make the appointment ( or should I just say I made him make the appointment ). No need to respond but I will keep you posted on what happens after he has the surgery. Thanks Mel❤️
I sent you a personal email, Linda. 🙂
Hi Mel – Thank you for sharing your story. I am very cautious of the sun and thought I better give these Coolibar hats a try. My order arrived and the hats are too small. They are so cute and great quality. Any referrals for other SPF hats.. for larger domes? *wink wink.
Love your recipes! Thanks so much.
Darn, Breanna! I’m bummed they didn’t fit. I’ll look around through my notes of what others recommended and see if any are for larger hats and let you know.
Mel, thank you for sharing. I’ve been reading this blog for years now (first brought by the honey chicken recipe!) and I feel like I know you. I was telling my husband about this post, and he immediately knew I was talking about you–“Mel with the good recipes”–and I want to thank you for sharing. You’ve helped people feed their families, and you might’ve helped someone save a life with this post. Thank you! 🙂
This was so similar to what happened to me in Dec of 14! I went in for a spot on my back (ended up being nothing bad) and said, “Hey, what about this thing on the corner of my eyelid?” Two weeks later I had my MOHS surgery and plastic surgery on my eyelid because of the great choice my cancer made in where it had settled in.
So, if anyone reading this has a spot that doesn’t seem to want to heal and bleeds every so often, run to the dermatologist! Almost a year and a half later, I honestly can’t even see where my yucky scar was. Thanks for sharing this!
I’m a little late coming to this “party”, but I haven’t been getting online lately due to bad internet connection in my rural area. Thanks for sharing! You are a truly courageous person and an inspiration to all of us. I will keep you and others fighting this battle in my prayers!
oh – and thanks for the wonderful recipes!!!
Hi Mel,
Did I see somewhere that you were going to do a sunscreen post?
Thank you for all you do!
I hope too soon, I just haven’t gotten around to it (and wanted to try some new sunscreen products that were recommended first).
I’ve been a silent admirer of your blog for many years now, and your amazing recipes have truly made me feel like a rock star in the kitchen. Thank you! On a more personal note, I wanted to thank you as well for this post about skin cancer. I’d had a nagging feeling for months that I should see a dermatologist, and reading this post made me finally pick up the phone and set up an appointment. It turns out I have basal cell carcinoma as well. So grateful you had the courage to write about your experience and inspire so many others to get checked. I really can’t thank you enough.
I haven’t visited your blog in awhile, and I was trying to figure out what to cook for my family so I popped by for a visit. What an incredibly brave women you are for sharing your story in hopes of helping others. I am so glad that you got it taken care of and that you are able to post about it looking as beautiful as ever. What a scary scary thing and it reminds us all to take skin care seriously.
Hello from Egypt. .
I am a fan of your site for 2 years now but never actually been a commenter …I felt pain for the tears in your eyes and just want to wish you complete recovery and happy life with your family …continue to smileostomy you are gorgeous
Good for you for being brave and sharing your story Mel. So many people blow off tiny little spots like you had! It’s certainly a lot to go through – mentally, physically, emotionally. Happy for you that things turned out well! You look beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your experience this has become more and more common it seems. So glad everything turned out ok the area of the surgery is barely noticeable. Still a beautiful and courageous woman.
thank you for sharing your story and pictures! we recently moved right on the equator, and while i started out as a stickler about sunscreen and hats for my son (he’s biracial, black and white), i have eased off because none of the other parents (who are all doctors) use any sun protection on their children. but your story has reminded me how important it is! thanks so much and God bless you!
You are beautiful, Mel! Thank you for being so courageous and sharing your post. I have used your blog regularly for the past two years to feed our family of eight. I have been thankful for your talent in the kitchen and now I am thankful too for your brave heart. May God bless you!
I am so happy for that you asked the doctor and it was taken care of. Thank you so much for sharing. Bless you and your family
Dear Mel,
How happy I am that you are healing up so nicely. It is easy for each one of us to forget our skin is a big vital organ just like our heart! I, too, am very fair skinned and got sun poisoning once in college. That completely changed me. I wear sunscreen every day now. Thank you for having a kind heart and sharing your story. I hope you will not have to go through that again! I appreciate you and all your hard work.
Take care!
Leah
Hey Mel,
I’m so sorry you had to go through that, especially driving yourself home.
I came to the site today to double-check your taco recipe, but now I think I’ll make a dermatologist appointment because I’m long overdue.
Thank you, and good luck with your healing. The last picture of your face looks really good.
-Liz
Oh! I’m so sorry you had to go through this! But glad that you are better now. Thank you for telling about all this. And you are lovely, inside and out!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Can I ask what oil you used to help heal?
Hi Sara – I used a blend of frankincense, lavender and helichrysum (made into a salve with rose hip and coconut oil).
Hi, Melanie!
I posted several times because I didn’t realize my comments were posting at the bottom of the list and awaiting moderation! Feel free to contact me if you want more information about coconut oil. Or go to Leslie Fife’s Facebook page “health by coconut” for more info. Best wishes to you and your family!
Hi, Melanie,
Thank you for your courageous post. I read “The Coconut Oil Miracle” by Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D. I learned so much about the health benefits of coconut oil and red Palm oil. I think skin cancer is more about eating vegetable oils like soybean, canola, corn, cottonseed which go rancid when exposed to heat (like the sun). Switching to coconut oil which does not go rancid when exposed to heat can protect your skin. I recommend all his books. Best wishes!
I had a bcc removed from my forehead when I was 20 via MOHS. It is was traumatic experience and the hole left was gaping for me as well! I rarely wear sunscreen but I am very aware of how long I am in the sun. I have never been to a tanning bed and only “laid out” a handful of times. Be careful. Although it wasn’t a HORRIBLE cancer to have I’d rather not go through it again.
Thank you SO much for sharing! I’m usually great at sunscreen for myself and my kids if we are spending a day at the pool or beach but don’t remember it as often as I should if we are just in our backyard, or walking in the city – I’ll slather it on us all from now on – for you (and you are beautiful and amazing!)
Mel…My goodness!!! I don’t know how I didn’t see this post of yours until today when I was looking through older emails. You have been through an ordeal for sure. How shocking it must have been especially since you really didn’t think the spot on your nose was much of anything. I’m glad you were prompted to ask the doctor about it and all turned out well in the end. Yikes! Very scary though. I’ve had a dry patch on my nose forever that I never checked out. As a matter of fact just this week, I starting applying Frankincense essential oil to it (I was wondering which essential oils you found helpful for healing the skin). Now I’m thinking…I better RUN to the dermatologist! Thank you for sharing all of this with us. Love ya lots! Valerie xo
You are amazing. I got teary while reading this post. I’ve always loved your recipes and now I love you even more! I’m recommitting to sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen.
A friend of mine sent this post to me. This is EXACTLY what happened to me, minus the spot on my back. I am 34 years old (I think I was the youngest person in the dermatologist’s surgery center by at least 25 years), and I was shocked when I saw the hole in my nose after two rounds of MOHS. The doctor sent me across the street to the plastic surgeon, and when he looked at my nose, he decided to put me under general anesthesia the next day to close it all up. So now, eight months later, there is a faint line from above my eye down to the inside corner of my nose. Good for you for posting this!! I never thought I was vain before this, but when your face is swollen and bruised for weeks, and your eye has that fancy “eyeshadow” on it, it changes your tune! I am glad you have it taken care of, and I am TOTALLY with you on the wide brimmed hats. I have been sporting them at every opportunity! When my eight year old looked at my face after the surgeries, he said, “At least you aren’t pregnant.”. Ha-ha! Yes, at least that! Good luck to you, and here is to praying we don’t have to go through. This again! (Toasting our bottles of sunscreen)
Thank you so much for sharing- I so needed this! I’ve had two spots on my face for a few years now and never knew what they were, or really thought anything of it. Just booked an appointment to get them checked out. I’ll definitely be slathering our fair-skinned kids in extra sunscreen this summer!! You look amazing by the way!
I’m so sorry to see that you had to go through this. That looks painful!
The sun is healing. Exposing your skin and eyes to the sun at solar noon will negate the effects of the harmful type of UV light. You also need a healthy omega 3:6 balance to capture UV light for energy in your cells. I know indoor living causes disease. The situation has been exacerbated the past few decades because of too much blue light from screens and nnEMF.
I will not fear the sun. I do not wear sunglasses and I expose as much skin as possible during solar noon. There’s a lot to know/relearn since we’re so far removed from nature in modern times. Light, magnetism and water are the most important for health. More important than food!
I have an annual checkup with my dermatologist next month. I was considering canceling because going to the doctor is such a pain! But now I think I’ll go. Thanks for sharing your story! Glad it turned out the way it did.
You are brave! Thank you for being willing to be vulnerable for the greater good and share your story.
The body is amazing in its healing powers. Thank you for sharing your story. You are brave and inspiring.
I am a MOHs technician and work processing tumor tissue daily and have been for years. I love your story and pictures! People don’t understand the importance of protecting your skin! Basal cell is the most common cancer in the world & It can be a real bad actor when left alone too! I’m sure this will help others to make changes to their sun habits I hope! They did a wonderful job on your nose! You look beautiful!
I’m so proud to call you my friend. Love ya, Mel! The world is a better place because you are in it. 🙂
Oh my goodness Mel….thank you thank you thank you for posting this!! Your story has hit really close to home…my goodness….you were going through all this and we didn’t even know!!! I hope you know that you were supported through all this in spirit! I am going out tomorrow and getting myself and my kiddos hats and getting new sunscreen!!
My step daughter is 24 and has stage 4 melanoma which is in her lungs. At 21 she had a mole on her ear that the dermatologist kept scraping and would come back. Last year he removed it and was positive for melanoma. During this process she noticed swollen lymph nodes on the same side as ear, so they did a biopsy, which came back positive . From there they removed a majority of her ear and 28 lymph nodes. Only 2 nodes came back positive. Ear reconstruction went well and we thought we were done, until at her one ur scans it showed up in her lungs. And he we are now doing immuno therapy and hoping to avoid it spreading. I too am one that is naturally dark skinned and am in the sun all the time. I now make sure I am wearing sunscreen and my son too. Please always get anything looked at that you feel isn’t right.
YOU LOOK AMAZING! Cancer has no boundaries and it has touched nearly all of our lives. Thank you for sharing something so personal!
This is a wonderful post and very much needed! So many times I myself, as a teenager in the 70’s and 80’s spent too much time trying to get a sun tan the quickest way possible. I had a spot/mole removed on my back a few years ago that turned out to be basal cell carcinoma as well and I know the fear that it brings. Thank you for sharing this very moving post, the pictures are graphic but much needed to wake us up and make us all realize that sun damage is a dangerous thing and we need to do everything in our power to keep ourselves and our families healthy and able to enjoy the beautiful life that God gave us. Blessings!!
Mel, I just read this post. I’m just a little Utah mom and you are my go-to for recipes. You are so humble, brave and wonderful to share this with everyone. I felt like I should send this link to you. I’m in the process of watching this documentary series on cancer and it is so informative, about exactly what cancer is, why it comes back, and what you can do to prevent and cure it. My husband had a tumor a few years ago, and it awakened in me a desire and need to know more about cancer, because it is so likely his cancer will come back later. This documentary is the best thing I’ve found, with interviews with tons of doctors, cancer conquerors, and experts. At the risk of sounding pushy;) I really think you should watch it. I’ve just been amazed at what I’ve learned.
There are 9, 75 min episodes. They are airing them for free, just this week, one at a time, and are on number 6 right now. You can also buy the series. It’s called The Truth About Cancer.
I think you are so wonderful and inspiring and super cute. This is my email address should you want to correspond that way: Kiarahtaylor@gmail.com
Here’s the link to the first one:
https://go2.thetruthaboutcancer.com/agq/episode-1/
Hi Kiarah – thank you for sharing! I’ve actually been watching this series and have been amazed by the information. It’s incredibly eye-opening!
Thank you for having the courage to share your experience and the journey this trial has sent you on. It is always strengthening to hear how God works in the lives of others and what a great opportunity to turn your trial into a chance to inspire others. I loved hearing that you used essential oils to aid in your healing, I LOVE my Oils! They are amazing
Thank you for sharing your story that reminds us all to protect ourselves and our children from the sun.
Mel, I agree with Heather–your Dr. did an amazing job–you look wonderful. Your courage in sharing your story is a great service to all of us with skin (fair or otherwise). We all need to be vigilant in using sunscreen and wearing hats. Thank you for being the caring person you are and reminding us all that we need to protect our skin.
Oh Mel. I love you. Like a crazy amount of love for someone I’ve never met. Thanks for sharing and being vulnerable… I feel even more like we’re “bosom friends” than I did before. (I’m trusting you know that reference, otherwise that probably sounds super awkward.) And I totally validate you on the no-makeup-train. If you’d just posted that last picture in a random recipe post, I wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss. Anyway, thanks for telling us–I’ll definitely be more careful in the sun!
Wow Mel, so glad your ok. I myself have only become a stickler about it in my 30’s. Sounds like you have had an amazing dr!
I have been for skin checks and feel the derm barely looked….
Need to schedule another. Fair skinned girl over here with history of blistering burns early in life and my teens. Sad…
Thank you so much for posting this. I always think I look better with a tan as I’m sure most people do. But with sharing your experience you have just taught me how unimportant it really is compared to healthy skin. I do always wear sunscreen when in the sun for long periods of time, but I may have to now start bringing the hat. So very happy that you made a complete recovery!!
Thank you for sharing, Mel. I promise, PROMISE to slather on the sunscreen & don the wide-brimmed hat all.summer.long. Such bravery to share this with us.
It takes great courage to share stuff like that. Way to go! And thanks for inspiring many. Glad you’ve healed up so well. God is good!
Your doctor did a great job. Thanks for being so brave about telling your story. Hopefully you can help others – we mothers take everyone else in the family’s problems seriously but our own. Good lesson to be learned.
thanks for sharing…i dont read many blogs. if not for Decor Chic and her transparency, I would not have had the knowledge to fight my fight. Your courage to be available and encouraging others thru your battle is kind-hearted. My aunt when through the same ordeal and it was tough but like you came through. Heres to you big brim hat and matching cover up…blessings.
I have lived in sunny Southern California all my life and sunscreen is always something that I have but sometimes forget to use. Thank you for sharing what must be a very hard experience for you. Thank you for reminding me that the need to protect ourselves is very real every day , not just sunny days but every day. Thank you and I think you look great.
Mel, thank you for your story. I have shared it on my FB page.
You don’t have to lay out in the sun to get skin cancer. I had a sore that didn’t heal some years back on my thigh. It turned out to be skin cancer. Luckily, it was on the surface and they removed it.
Since then, I follow the World Health Organization guidelines and get checked every 6 months to a half year. I go every half year because I just don’t seem to do it myself. The doctor checks me.com head to toe. I have had several moles just to be on the safe side. People have died of cancer that started as skin cancer
Thanks for the reminder about the sunscreen. I moved back to sunny Southern CA and had gotten a bit lax.
Love your blog, and love you for sharing this story. Take care!
PS. I avoided the sun growing up. I think this was from driving in the car, wearing shorts a lot
I know you probably won’t believe me, but you look great. Your MOHS surgeon did an excellent job! I had one MOHS procedure done on my eyebrow and I consider myself disfigured. You really look good. I had another basal cell in just about the same spot as yours and this time opted for radiation which has its own risks. Thank you for sharing your story. I truly understand what you went through and the aftermath of MOHS surgery.
Love your blog and admire you for sharing your story to put attention on skin cancer and prevention. I’m a nurse and can say that your healing looks great. You are beautiful inside and out!
Thank you for sharing your story. I’ve never had a skin check…and you’re making me realize I really need to take care of that. So, good job, you. I’m glad you’re feeling better.
Bless your heart!!! Thank you for sharing!
What an unbelievable inspiration you are!! My mother showed me a similar story when I was in my mid twenties and it completely changed my outlook on sunscreen and sun protective clothing. My children know how much I love your blog and recipes, and now I will share this story with them. I cannot imagine how many people you have taught or “reopened” their eyes to the dangers of too much sun. Thank you thank you thank you. You are beautiful both inside and out!
What a beautiful and courageous post, thank you so much for sharing! I try to be crazy about this with my kids, but will be even more vigilant! Thank you so much, and you look absolutely beautiful even along the way, but I’ve had face surgeries before and it is SUCH.A.TRIP. Emotions ALL OVER the place, not to mention swelling that sticks around for so long. I’m feeling this so much right now. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for writing this. I lost my 34yo sister two years ago to a five-year battle with melanoma. Her experience made me paranoid about every little oddity in my own skin, but after the second time I asked I was made to feel like such a hypochondriac. Thanks for this reminder to keep asking and to take wise precautions. Love your blog even more now!
Mel,
I meant to respond when I first read this post (the day or two after you published it here), but I was on my phone and got up and got busy…we all know how that goes. Yet, despite the distractions, I haven’t forgotten your bravery to not only tell your story but to show your beautiful face as you have healed. You said you weren’t looking for compliments, which is good, because now I feel free to dish them out! The truth is, you ARE beautiful. Your honesty, vulnerability and heart shine through that porcelain skin and those gorgeous eyes – and your honest words. Thank you so much for sharing something that is already helping so many of us! The other thing I wanted to say, and I feel it is almost more important, is that what you do here every day goes far beyond sharing recipes. You are bringing families to the dinner table. You make mothers, whose work is The Hardest, much easier. You bring a smile to her face and to the face of her family. By bringing us the the dinner table, you invite prayer, conversation, laughter, connection. When we have a God-given gift, when it has been a part of us and in us all of our lives, sometimes it is easy to feel like it isn’t all that special. Please know that what you do here is important and valued. The lemon blueberry cake was a huge hit at Easter, and we are having baked shells for dinner tonight. Your recipes are reliable and delicious and I use them all the time! My prayers are with you as you continue to heal. XO
Wow Mel! When I first saw the picture of your face I thought you were in a car accident. Thank you so much for having the courage to post this and for caring enough to do so. It confirms to me I should continue to cover up, use sunscreen, etc., especially on my little one who has fair skin like his dad. I thought I was being overly protective and paranoid so thank you for sharing your story. It is very much appreciated.
Oh my!! So glad you’re ok! Yes I will be a stickler about sunscreen from hence forth!! And wow, that healing process was amazing!
You precious thing!! I’ll make that appointment I’ve been putting off. Hugs!
Holy crap. Haven’t read the whole post, but I will later. This freaks me out. Poor thing. I was scheduled to get that same cancer taken off my nose by my eye two weeks ago. But changed my surgery for September. Ummm, now I’m thinking I need to schedule sooner. I just didn’t want to do it before summer. I will be put under general anesthesia. You look great now. I will read details later when I’m not cooking your recipes. So much love sent your way.
Thanks for sharing this. You look great Mel! Glad to hear your story had a happy ending 🙂 you are the best!
Thank you so much for sharing such a personal story. It was both a reminder and a welcomed wake-up call to protect not just our skin, but our bodies and lives in the choices we make. I am so sorry you went through what you did. Thank you for posting so many pictures! The body is truly amazing in the way it heals, inside and out… though not always at the same pace. You look great! Can’t wait to more recipes, the occasional video, and maybe a family shot every once in a while. Thank again, Mel!
Mel,
This very thing happened to my husband. He looked the same as you. We didn’t plan well either, because we thought this small dot can’t really harm anything. Needless to say it was a giant wound, just as yours. Sadly, we didn’t plan well because our daughters baptism was three days later. He was black, blue, puffy, and had his giant bandage on his nose. Let’s just say the pictures are memorable!!!!!!!! You look amazing, and I want you to know you are doing much good in the world! More than just a food blog.
I had you in mind all week after reading this and made sure to go get sunscreen for my son. This is the time of year when i always forget to apply it because it’s still a bit cool. So, thank you for the reminder!!!
Thank you, Mel for sharing! We are all thankful you are OK.
My oldest sister had Basel Cell in the same spot you did. She lost a quarter-sized chunk of her already small nose, plus a ‘forehead flap’ to aid in the healing-not pretty, she thought she looked like a Clingon (?) from Star Trek! She also had a dimed spot taken out on her cheek. I got checked out after that & had 2 small pre-cancerous spots burned off both right & left cheek. Typical little spots that were like a tiny sore or pimple that seemed not to heal=BIG RED FLAG! The last time I was in the sun on purpose without sunscreen was about 1984. The spots were found only 3 years ago at age 50. Staying out of the sun with tons of sunscreen & big hats could not take away damage done many years before. Thanks again, Mel, its a reminder for me to make an appointment to get checked out again!
You are so brave, thank you for sharing your story with all of us – you are an inspiration and beautiful inside and out.
I have never posted before either, but wanted to thank you so much for your post. It’s like the pebble you drop in the water-you never know how many lives you have touched and possibly saved) by being open and honest with your readers.
I have also had MOHS surgery twice on my face for basal cell and once on my arm for a melanoma that was in situ, caught in the very early stages, in additon to at least 2 dozen other removals over the years. Even with my history, I am still lax about using sunscreen. Thanks for the reminder.
Dearest Mel,
It takes someone extra special to be able to deal with something of this magnitude, and then have the courage to share it to help others. You truly are a rock star!
For all the people whose lives you’ve made happier and healthier may God bless you and protect you and your family!
One more reason that I like your blog! It was good, and brave of you to share your story, and pictures. I grew up the same lotionless way, and in November had a basal cell removed from the top of my ear. Again, good of you to share, and, you healed beautifully!
Thank you for sharing this. I’ll have a spot on my cheek checked out later this month thanks to this post!
Reason 4,552,781 that I like you and your blog. Hang in there!❤️
I’m curious which essential oils you used on your scars???
I made a blend of frankincense, helichrysum and lavender (after doing some digging online) – with some rose hip and fractionated coconut oil.
Thank you! I’ve had 5 basal cels myself and I’m only 38!
Hi Mel, is there anyway you can tell me how you blended these together i just had a tumor removed form between my eyebrows and now have an ugly scar…i’m just 3 weeks into it but would love to start treating it. many thanks
I lightly melted the coconut oil and then just stirred everything together. Does that help? Good luck with your recovery!
What a super reminder I’ll be much more aware – thank you for sharing !!!
Hey Mel, I just wanted to say thankyou for blogging about this serious health scare, I’m so glad it was caught early and that you have healed up so beautifully. I truly love this blog, and I am so grateful to you for the amazing recipes you share. Thanks and I will be more vigilant with the sunscreen from now on!
Oh my goodness! I read your story this morning (ok I skimmed it because yikes!) and have been thinking about it all day. I once heard that the majority of sun damage happens before age 18, and that checks out with what you said about becoming vigilant about sunscreen as an adult. Time to go put some sunscreen on my kids! Thanks for sharing this, Mel.
Thanks Mel! I also have been postponing a visit to the dermatologist to check out a spot. It’s been years and I keep making excuses. Who has time when you have a family to care for? After reading your blog, I finally made the appointment. I will see the doctor tomorrow! Thank you.
Bless you, sweetie. We all hurt for you and love you – especially those of us who have had to cope with the cancer issue. I use so many of your recipes and am so thankful for them. Who needs a cookbook? Best of luck and prayers for your continued healing and well-being.
I love your blog and thank you for posting this! I too am fair-skinned and burned a lot when I was a kid. I get myself checked often and we are also pretty militant with our kids about sunscreen and hats (more challenging as they enter their teen years, but we do our best). You surgeon did a FANTASTIC job, wow. I can’t even see a scar, despite the close up of your (very pretty) face. You are doing a great service with this post, thank you!
We are very careful about sunscreen and shade. I’m Hispanic so growing up I’d barely heard of sunscreen but my husband is a red head. For his dad it started with a spot. Last may his father was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. His type had a 98% recovery rate. He died six months later. We are very careful about sunscreen and shade.
So, I also thought I was healing up nicely from surgery on my nose. That is when the plastic surgeon informed me that it takes at least a year for the swelling to go away even if you think you look like you are back to normal. Who knew!!
Also, my husband and I are both militant on the sunscreen thing since day one with the kids. SPF long sleeve swimsuit and the whole bit. I do the same for myself but cannot get my husband to put on sunscreen. I worry.
Wow, you look so great in your “healed up” picture! I had to have stitches in my face at the age of 19 and I worried too, but I got used to the minor scars and accepted them as part of me. Most people never notice them. Thank you for this article. I’m going to share it with my 19 year old daughter who loves the sun and won’t listen to my warnings. I love your blog. You really make me feel I know you as a person and I’m glad you shared this with all of us readers.
Calling the dermatologist today, thank you!
It is hard to put your pride aside! Be ever diligent even if the doctors say you are in the clear. My best friend’s mother died from Melanoma after a heart wrenching battle of five years. She had a spot removed when we were in high school (around 1992) and then she had another removed six years ago. Her doctor told her he had gotten it all, did a final scan and sent her on her way. However, she then passed out at the wheel while driving. She had cancer in her brain, which wasn’t part of anything scanned from previous skin removals! It has been a tragic loss and I cringe when I think of all the freckles I have from being outdoors all summer as a child. No one is to blame, but it can be prevented. Because of your popular blog, you can be an excellent spokesperson!! Best wishes and prayers!
Hi, Mel! I’m so glad you highlighted this issue – and that you’re recovery has gone so well (you look beautiful!). My skin is super-sensitive to sunlight, especially my face (due to rosacea). I have product recommendations. Non-chemical sunscreens work great!! They also are gentle to skin. Key ingredients are titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. I use CoTZ Face (spf 40) on my face; they also make a body sunblock (spf 50). Another good face product is Cera Ve Sunscreen (spf 50). Also, California Baby with 11% titanium dioxide is excellent; my whole family uses it. Check out Sun Precautions (for clothing, face masks, scarves, etc.) at http://www.Solumbra.com. I’ve used their products for over a decade. I love your recipes, and owe you big time for all you do. Hope these recommendations help. Best wishes!!
Wow! You are the second person in a weeks time that has shared a scary skin cancer story! Praise God both of you are just as beautiful today as you were before! I really needed to hear/see this as I am wintering in Arizona and have been spending lots of time outdoors and never gave it a thought until now. I will be putting sunscreen on daily from now on, and this summer I will have the grandkids every day and they will also be protected! Thank you so much for sharing something so personal…and scary!
Thank you for sharing!! You look as cute as always, honestly… I can’t see the stitches on the last picture. Thank goodness for great doctors! Also, thank you for the reminder. I’m dark skinned and never worry about this (although I should), and it makes me a very forgetful mother when it comes to protecting my children’s skin. My husband is fair skinned, and my children are as well… I need to be better! Thank you again. It must take a lot of gut to share something so personal with all of us, but it can prevent a lot of grief.
I had a similar spot on my forehead and it was Squamish cell carcinoma. 27 stitches later, I looked like Frankenstein! I really thought I would be disfigured forever. My Dr. told me most of the damage to my skin happened before I was 18. I slather my kids up with sun screen even if they’re just going out in the backyard.
As a fair skinned red head, I have been there, done that. Three big Mohs wounds on my neck left me wishing I should have had a face lift during the surgery. It’s no fun! Glad you are flawless again! Me, too.
My friend just shared this post with me, I have tried looking online for post MOHs treatment and everything was SCARY and extreme and very doom and gloom. So I really appreciate this post so much! My story/background sounds just like yours and I have a blog, too! Except, I just had this done last week, same side of the nose but was able to do the skin graft. They removed the bandage a week later and my nose looks like a scary movie/zombie horror! I have so many mixed emotions, thankful it’s gone and guilty for being so vain! I am so thankful you posted this so that I can have a little more perspective in regards to the healing process! Your nose looks so normal after only a matter of months and it gives me so much hope!! Thank you a thousand times!
Mel,
Thanks for sharing your story. We had a close friend go through a similar situation this fall. Having grown up in the lake country of Minnesota, I think I will be making that dermatology appointment.
You are truly beautiful inside and out!
Oh Mel, thanks for sharing your story. I’ve too, had a brush with skin cancer and had a wide excision done near my ankle, also for a mole that I thought was going to be nothing. That was in college, and everything ended up checking out ok (thankfully!), but I won’t lie, I haven’t been back since then for a skin check. Thanks for inspiring me to make an appointment. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your personal story with all of your fans. We ALL need reminded to take this issue more seriously. I am grateful to have read this post. You are beautiful inside & out.
While we don’t “know each other” – that is neither here nor there. Because I love you! Thanks for sharing. I’m so glad you’re doing better!
Mel, thank goodness everything turned out well and your lovely face it back to normal. What a scare you must of had and glad you are back to your good self xoxo
I am so grateful you shared your story. I am a mom of 3 and am ashamed at how lax I am with sun exposure. Thank you for helping me to make healthy changes! All my best to you! #youaresobrave
There are so many comments to this post that I doubt you’ll get to this one! First off you look amazing and the incisions have healed wonderfully. Merderma is magic in cream form! I hurt my leg a few years ago…like tore all the layers of skin off my shin (no pics to follow). It was a pretty large area on both legs but as soon as it healed I started to use Mederma and now you have to be looking for the scars to find them on my leg. I had to use it two times a day for 18 months but wow…magic.
Mel, we love you at our house! So glad that you are alright and that you are healing well. Thanks for the tips on keeping safe in the sun!
It takes a lot of courage to share something like this in the image obsessed world we live in. Thanks for caring about the well being of others so much! And I think you look completely adorable and the scar is not detracting from that in the slightest!!
You look great! It has healed so well! My 89 year old great aunt underwent a similar MOHS procedure last year that was even more extensive. It required a separate surgery where the created a flap on the side of her face that was there for quite awhile. Then she had to have another surgery to attempt to turn the flap back into a nose (they pretty much cut off her entire nostril with the MOHS). As a result, her nose is essentially terribly disfigured. Given her age and the extensiveness of the procedures we did not want to attempt any further procedures for cosmetic reasons, but it is terrible to see her so disfigured. It is a long road, but really, you look great!
Thanks you for sharing. I’ve had all three types of skin cancer and falsely thought the only ones I really needed to take seriously were the 3 times they were melanomas. I thought I was well informed but you made me aware that all need to be taken seriously. Good luck in your healing and future skin checks. so glad you have healed so well to date. You look awesome!
I love you for posting this!!! Thank you for having courage in order to bless my life and others!!!
Today, I went to the doctor for something I have been avoiding. Time will tell how it will all work out, but I finally had the courage to set and keep the appointment.
Good job taking care of yourself and encouraging the rest of us to do the same!
Thanks for being awesome Mel!!
You are still amazing and beautiful. Thanks for the sun safety reminder.
Oh sweetie, thanks for sharing. I have two big scars (arm and leg) and appreciate your advocacy. I can’t imagine the pain you experienced due to your location. But I must say, you healed much better than me! Anyway, it’s a lifelong thing. My leg was at age 20 (after I “won” ten free tanning bed treatments), my arm was December 2014, age 32. Again, thanks for sharing! PS can’t wait to try the cookie bars you shared today. Yum!
Thanks for this, Mel. I live in New Mexico, Ground Zero for skin cancer. We lost a member of the House of Representatives to squamous cell skin cancer that started on the top of his ear, an area unprotected by most men’s hats. It was an object lesson in being more careful.
I’m a fitness walker, and I always wear UPF 50 protective clothing and a good sun hat.
Looking forward to your suggestions.
This is my first time visiting your site, came here through Pinterest. I read your story with interest, your doc is amazing ! Now you’ve made me think seriously about seeing a dermatologist I too have a few areas to be checked. Funny how you start out about food and end up helping people and possibly saving a life ! Thank you so very much.
Hey Mel! I’m so glad you got that taken care of. And, in my opinion, it healed very nicely. Thank you for sharing.
You are a rock-star, Mel! And a superhero! Thanks for sharing this.
Much love, Terry
Thank you for sharing! I went through something similar in December 2014. Mine was high up on my cheek, under my eye. I was pregnant at the time too and totally freaked out. I had to wear a bandage on my face for two weeks at work, which was so difficult. And I had a crease in my face that I was positive would never go away. Well, it did, and now you can’t even tell I had anything done. And now I’m very vigilante about sunscreen and time in the sun for me and my kids!
Good to have you back!!!
My auntie went through something similar a couple of years ago, An emotional rollercoaster as well as much physical pain!!! I really wish all the best for you and your family, and no more cancer!!!!!
Mel,
SO very glad that things turned out as well as they did. I’m sure it was a very difficult ordeal to go through, however, and I give you SUCH credit for sharing your story and for keeping your chin up! It was a long process but the end results look amazing (just like you)! This is a good lesson for everyone so THANKS! (I’ve not blogged before but will take this opportunity to tell you how much I love your site!)
This is such an important post and I cannot believe how similar our situations are. 5 years ago, a mole on my back turned out to be melanoma. I was 8 mos pregnant and was whisked into emergency surgery a few days later where they removed lymph nodes to test and removed a large portion of my back…I tell my kids the 6 inch by 1 inch scar is a shark bite. Luckily, it turned out to be stage 1, but I have since had a melanoma on my leg and a basal cell under my eye removed by mohs. I just had another basal cell on the left nostril discovered as well that is very small, but I have been putting off having it removed by MOHS until our insurance improves this summer. But your story inspired me to make the appt now so it doesn’t get worse in the meantime, so thank you!!!! And I second everything you say about skin checks and sun prevention! I have never been tanning and always been a stickler about sunscreen. Genetics are huge…everyone should be checked.
Mel,
So sorry about your ordeal. Thanks for sharing your experience and for sharing your photos. I’m sure you’ve helped countless individuals catch their cancer early by sharing your story ! And by the way, you were still beautiful even with that nasty scar on the side of your nose! My husband made an appointment to see a dermatologist next month for a “spot” on his nose. Hopefully, it won’t be cancer? I can’t believe how brave and courageous you were and that you had to go through this all by yourself It is remarkable how quickly and beautifully you’re healing. It really is miraculous how fast our bodies heals ! What a miracle. I wish you all the best going forward and thanks again for the important information and warning. I love your blog and your recipes !! Happy Spring!
You healed wonderfully. What a truly amazing example you have been to your children! My wife works for a company dealing with cancer and genetic mutations, it can all be so scary. I admire you so much.
Mel, thank you so much for this post. My Mom went through a very similar thing, and the body is amazing with how it can heal! Her scar just kept improving over time. I forwarded this to my husband, after years of encouraging him to wear sunscreen. I think your post pushed him over the edge, he is committing to daily sunscreen. I appreciate you and your delicious recipes! 🙂
Thank you for sharing, and for the reminders about sunscreen! I am so glad that your story has a happy ending.
Mel, thanks so much for sharing this! I feel as though I jump into your kitchen every time I make food from your blog and I felt as though I was just chatting with you in your kitchen again while reading this. You have been through a lot and have healed amazingly well. You would never know this happened based off your recent picture. So glad it all ended well. Thanks for the great post and great reminders!
I am always delighted when your emails pop up in my inbox, and I often go to your website for recipe inspiration. Last Friday, you delivered a different kind of inspiration!
Thank you for sharing your story, you are an awesome lady!
Knowing how much your readers love you, I do believe that you have touched our hearts and struck a cord with the reality of skin cancer. Seeing someone go through this (even through your blog pics) can be a catalyst for change. Thank you for that. My mom had a chunk of her nose removed the same way and healed as beautifully as you have, so I am the mom who chases her kids with sunscreen and carried a tube of zinc in my purse. Thanks for keeping your blog so real and heartfelt.
You’re beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I am glad you were able to get it taken care of and were inspired to visit the doctor!
I worked for a Dermatologist for many years. It was life changing for me to see how many people (many who were in their 20’s and 30’s) who had developed skin cancer.
It is wise to to schedule a yearly full body skin check. A good way to remember to schedule an appointment is to call sometime around your birthday each year. Your doctor probably wants you to come in more often due to your skin cancer history.
Don’t underestimate the amount of sun exposure you get through the drivers side window of the car.
So glad you were able to catch that when you did. It looks like it is healing up nicely.
Wow, that was an amazing story to go with those scary photos. You have been through a lot and I admire your strength. Thank you for sharing this story. I had a golf ball sized lump removed back in November that was not cancerous. But it had grown over the years and I am grateful to have it gone. Its still frightening the odd things our bodies can do. I appreciate your post, its a very personal thing to share with all your readers. We love you here in my house, your famous. And now I think I will go make an appointment to see a dermatologist!
Oh, Mel! I can’t hardly believe all the while you were going through all this you were just acting happy and sharing great recipes with all of us. You are so brave to share your story (and go through everything!) and you have inspired me! I put sunscreen on before my run this morning, which is not my habit. I just want to reach out through the internet and give you a giant hug. Love you!
I have been the beneficiary of your blog for a couple of years now! I’ve never commented but feel impressed to do so. Your blog is amazing. You are amazing. I love your sense of humor, your amazing example of serving your family and for sharing your story. You have healed beautifully and I appreciate the reminder to take care of myself and family better. I have loved ALL your wonderful recipes and great tips in the kitchen. Your blog greatly blesses me and my family. I’m so glad you are healing well and thanks again for sharing your story! You are an inspiration and I’m grateful to have found your blog.
Love and prayers Mel!!! Miss you and your family so much. We had a struggling young man over to watch General Conference today and made him your Green Chili Enchiladas and I told him about you and your cool family, and now I read this.
I have had a few basal cell and squamous cell spots taken off my noggin over the past few years and will need to be very vigilant myself.
So glad the healing has gone well. I had almost the same surgery/scar on my nose for the very same reason about 3 years ago. It’s pretty hard to see now, but I always wear a hat and sunscreen now. Not a fun thing to go through. A reminder like yours is good to remind everyone it can happen to them. Thanks for posting about this.
Thank you for sharing this. And I’m so glad you’re healing so well!
I was scared into wearing a hat and more sunscreen a few years ago (nothing as serious as what happened to you), but I stupidly have slacked off as the years go by. Not any more! Thank you for the important reminder.
Wow Mel. That’s scary but I’m so glad it’s healed well. I’m a nazi on sunscreen with my kids but I’m there with not having it much as a kid myself. You’re brave!
Your healing has been REMARKABLE!!! Wow!! Thank you for sharing – we needed to hear it. (((Hugs))) my friend.
Mel I’m so glad you are ok! Thanks for sharing your story. So much love to you and your family.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Skin cancer is very scary stuff.
Oh Mel, you are golden! Not only do you offer up delicious family meals, and wonderful tips for children’s gifts and toys, all while raising a busy family, you are courageous enough to share something very difficult and scary for you personally. I am so very thankful you checked it out and did what was necessary! You are lovely through and through. I thank God for another loving Mother raising a family.
Thank you for sharing such a personal experience. We just had a scare with my husband in January. A little spot on his chest turned out to be melanoma, caught it early..leaving a two inch reminder. This has opened our eyes, having been sunworshippers growing up on the beach. Your site is my “Go To” if I need a quck, easy, great dish. Sending you prayers for quick healing and recovery.
Oh Mel! What an ordeal! Thank you for the warnings and I will definitely be taking sun care more seriously! I have a wicked case of melasma that never goes away, and I’m super self conscious about it. You’ve also inspired me to pay a visit to a dermatologist. Thanks for the heads up, your stitches healed beautifully!
Thank you so much for sharing such a terrifying yet personal experience. I know many will take this lesson to heart and I’m certain it will help those who have been delaying a doctor’s visit. I have always enjoyed your cooking blog – not only for the cooking, but for the genuine person you are. I really am amazed at how well you have healed!
Thanks for this post. I needed a boost to keep up with skin protection with the weather warming and keeping up with littles who love to be outside.
Mel,
I have enjoyed your blog over the years, but have never written. Wish I had known the struggles you were going through so I could have kept you in prayer! So sorry you had to go through it all! The extent of the cancer growing under the surface must have been shocking!
I am so pleased for you and what a great job your doctor did to free you from cancer and save your beautiful face! I can’t even imagine how scared you must have felt post operation, with all those stitches! Thank you so much for sharing your story and the photos!
Blessings to you and your family!
Julie
Mel, did I ever tell you that you’re my hero? Thanks for being real and sharing such an important life lesson with us. I have two littles and I promise I will be so much more careful now. Thank you and God bless!!
Knowing you, you have probably already done a ton or research on sun protection, but if you would like some help deciphering all those products out there, as a pharmacist I would be happy to help. Thanks for all you do!
Hi Liz – thanks for the comment. It took me a while to read through all the comments on that post and I wanted to respond to yours because I actually would love at little help! I’ve done hours and hours and hours of research as well as talked to all my doctors and several family members who are doctors and to be honest, I’m still a little uncertain. Do you have any insight into the controversy between mineral-based sunscreens and chemical-based? The minute I think I will only use mineral-based for the rest of forever (even though they are less idea because of the white layer and inability to absorb), I read or hear something that some of the controversy is focusing on scare tactics and “regular” sunscreens may not be that bad. If you have any light to shed on the best sunscreens to use, I’d love it. Thank you so much!
Hi Mel, I’m so sorry about your experience with a skin cancer! It can be scary. I work for a dermatologist currently and we recommend sunscreens with zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is a “physical blocker” meaning the sun rays essentially “bounce off” your skin whereas chemical blockers are absorbed and they break the UV rays before they reach your genetic material. Zinc oxide blocks the largest amount of UV rays and therefore provides the greatest protection. 🙂 My moisturizer has a sunscreen already in it which makes my skincare regimen in the morning that much easier! I use Elta UV daily and I love it! Thanks for sharing your story!
Mel, It would be great if there was a guest post on sunscreens, what to look for and the difference! I also had a basal cell carcinoma. It was removed off my lip. It took me 5 years to go back to have it checked though. I was “busy” being a mom. I just recently went back and got a clean bill.
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I’m glad they got you taken care of. Also, your doctor did a wonderful job. That’s a lot of potential scar tissue and I wouldn’t have noticed any of it just looking at the last picture. Thank you for sharing.
I have never left a post, always come to you when I’m stuck for an idea for dinner. I felt that I must leave a comment this time. Mel, you are truly brave and inspirational. Thank you for sharing something so personal. If it helps just one person to stop putting off that appointment with their doctor, or a reminder how important it is to protect our skin from the sun, it is so worth it. You are very beautiful (from one non-makeup wearing gal to another)….wishing you a speedy recovery. You are a life saver….more than you know! Big hugs! Thank you again.
Thank you for sharing your story. If you can save one life or prevent skin cancer by your story, you’ve done well. I am glad everything is okay! Happy and healthy thoughts are sent your way! <3
So sorry you had to go through all of this. But, I am grateful you asked, that you had a good doctor who knew how to help you, and that God was watching over you.
Mel, you look great! What a miracle you caught it when you did and another miracle that you healed up so nicely. You continue to inspire me in so many ways! Thanks for keeping it real on your blog!
Amazing! Divine intervention indeed! Always go with your gut, even if it feels a bit silly.
Mel, you are amazing. You inspire me to serve my family yummy, healthy food and to enjoy my life as a mother and wife. Thank you for sharing yourself on such a personal level. Although you do not know me, you have been known by first name in our house for years now. You look beautiful! The body is an amazing thing that really does heal so miraculously.
I’m so sorry Mel! This was really vulnerable and brave of you to share. It must have been so scary, and also hard waiting for things to heal. Thanks for being willing to share to try to help others! It also helps us as readers to connect with you. I have a couple of moles I think I’ll get checked!
I honestly thought you were going to say you had an accident with your pressure cooker!!! I am so sorry about this!! Scary and concerning for sure. I just had 6 moles removed and a few were precancerous a few years back. I lived in a tanning bed during my high school years and early college. Did you know Ohio has more per capita than any other state mainly because of how overcast it is here? Well I had been really good about sunscreen since then for a while then I totally dropped the ball. I have a 5yr old, 3, 2 and 5mo old so I was too lazy saying how can I possibly put it on them all the time every time they want to go out which is every day? But your post has certainly made me realize I better come up with a plan of action – for my children and for myself (I have a huge flower garden that I spend a lot of time in). I do want to thank you for your website. I’m a busy homeschooling mom and last year was overwhelmed with doing the basics…cleaning and cooking. Flylady helped with the former and you have been a God-send with the latter. Christmas dinner which I hosted was all you. As was Easter. We have not eaten out one time since the first of the year and I thank you so much for the time you spend to post (and not OVERpost!). For simple yummy healthy recipes. Breads, desserts, mains, sides, tips and how-to’s…thank you from the bottom of my heart for modeling for me what I’ve always wanted to do for my family. they thank you too:). From a loyal new follower:).
Bless you, dear Mel! I’m so sorry you’ve gone through this, but your story really is just the push my husband and I need to make an appointment with the dermatologist to check out our moles! Thanks for being so brave and vulnerable in sharing your story! You are, as always, the best!!
Mel-Thank you so much for sharing! I had basal cell carcinoma on a chicken pox scar that kept opening up. I went in to have it removed and they called later in the week and said that it was larger than anticipated, and that I would need MOHS surgery. Luckily, they were able to get it after the first removal. I was only 37 at the time, and I still have a scar on my forehead with bumps on the top and bottom from the opening they cut to open it up. It doesn’t bother me as much anymore, but is my new normal, along with one eyebrow that makes me look like I’m mad all the time;) Your scar healed up beautifully, and what a blessing to have checked. I would also love a “favorite things” (as another commenter mentioned) on your favorite sunscreens, sun hats, and long-sleeved swimsuits. Thank you for all you do and share, you are amazing:)
I’ve never left a reply on a blog before, but this post compels me to do so! I have been postponing a dermatology appointment … too busy, not important enough, etc. However, I have a large history of melanoma in my family. Thank you for being candid. It’s the push I needed.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. You are an inspiration and sharing this has helped many including me! A great reminder to all of us to take care of ourselves! You look amazing and wishing you continued recovery!
Thank you! I am grateful for your candid sharing and so sorry you had to go through all that…!! I really think it is great you shared and recently just got some good face moisturizer with spf and agree with you on the big hats and such. Last summer I wore a long sleeved rash guard swimsuit and loved it…I wish I would have known all this 20 years ago…:) thank you again!
Wow! You just scared me into making a dermatologist appointment for myself! I had a doc (a few years ago) remove my basal cell mole but I never got the MOHS surgery. He just removed it, sent it to the lab and then had his nurse call me back to let me know that it was basal cell. Should I go back in and see if there is more basal cell on my skin? I thought I was good…
You healed really well! That must have been scary for you. Thank you for sharing, I think I’ll call my dermatologist for a check up!
I work for a derm, so if they didn’t have you come back for further removal than most likely all the cancer cells were removed with the first biopsy. BUT…having said that since you made a BCC then it’s an indication that your skin has reached enough sun exposure to do so and you may very well make more BCCs which is the reason why regular check ups (every 6-9 months) are so valuable in catching it early. 🙂
I don’t usually post, but I had to reply to this.
I am NOT a vain person but in 2002 I had a lot of skin tags around my neck and other spots. They would catch on a fine chain I wore. So I went to the dermatologist. He got rid of the skin tags, but he also checked me out. There was a black round spot right in the middle of my back. Looked nothing like the skin cancer pictures. He did a biopsy and it turned out to be malignant melanoma. Thankfully, he just had to remove it and that was it.
Moral of the story, go see a dermatologist. You never know.
Barbara
Thank you so much for courageously sharing your story! Best wishes for continued healing!
I’m new to this website and already love the things I’ve tried. Thank you for sharing your story and the pictures. It takes a lot of courage to post your story. In the velveteen rabbit story, the toys didn’t become real until their hair was loved off and they were well used. I feel like the older I get the more “real” I’m becoming. Take care and know that all of us out here reading your blog will be the other ones on the lake with big straw hats and lots and lots of sunscreen.
Thank you so much for having the courage to share your story. I had the same experience last fall but in my hair part. I thought I had a blemish that would not go away. My dermatologist looked at it and did a biopsy immediately and it was basal cell carcinoma. The MOHS surgeon was able to remove all the bad cells leaving a two inch scar. I used sunscreen but never thought to put it on my scalp. The surgeon said I was fair, blonde and my fine hair didn’t do me any favors. Hopefully your readers will tell other people and make everyone more aware of the early warning signs and what we can all do to prevent skin cancer. My dermatologist recommended a tinted sunscreen that adds a little color to my face, even when I don’t use makeup that contains sunscreen. Thank you again for sharing and keep those regular dermatologist appointments. You have healed beautifully!
You are so beautiful. Truly, I’m crying a bit. Thank you for sharing this online – that took a lot of courage.
Thanks for your story. May the Lord bless you as you continue to heal. And, thanks always for all your wonderful recipes.
I love your delicious blog with all the wonderful recipes. What’s more important though is that I admire your bravery in exposing all the pictures along with your experiences of dealing with a dangerous cancerous growth. Kudos and accolades to you for sharing all this information. My appointment to the dermatologist is coming up in 2 weeks. I hope others do the same. Thanks so much Mel and best of luck to you.
Mel,
Thanks sooooo very much for sharing your story. I am so sorry that you had to go through this, but feel so fortunate to read your reminders about safe sun care. I had a BCC on my face treated about 6 years ago. Thankfully, no MOHS surgery, but treatment nonetheless. It was a bit of a wake up call for me about being more diligent about using my SPF.
I’m so happy to read (and see!) how well you’re healing. I’ve contacted you before about how much I adore your blog (I have a family where we all eat differently and your recipes work well for us). I’m a big fan and thrilled to hear that you’re feeling better.
Continued healing & best wishes,
Beth
Thank you for using your platform to promote safe sun use! My father is a melanoma survivor–one of the blessed few. It was an eye opener for all of us. I must admit, following the sunscreen recommendations for children is a daunting task: getting them to hold still, applying the recommended amount (which is copious), and reapplying every 2 hours they are in the sun is a time, sanity, and money drainer. I do the best I can: we stay in the shade most of the time, which thankfully is not hard on our tree-laden acreage. I feel sorry for the mamas who have little shade to hide their kids under 🙁 On another note, what an ordeal you went through, especially when you weren’t prepared mentally for that. You still look beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am certain you’ve learned so much about yourself and being healed in so many different ways. 😀 I love you!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I have been going back and forth over whether to see a dermatologist about a spot on my nose…I made an appointment yesterday after reading this! You healed up beautifully. Thanks also for a wonderful blog – its my favorite!
Thank you for sharing this. You’ve healed so beautifully. Your website has been such a gift to me and my family (sitting down to a yummy dinner with teenagers is priceless) and this is just one more gift. Thank you for the reminder.
You look beautiful! What an amazing gift our bodies are! Thank you for sharing this. I got a little emotional empathizing with your feelings throughout this. Thanks for the reminder.
Oh, Mel, I love you!! I wish I could hug your neck!
Thank you for the advice to lather up my kids! I am really bad about that. I am sorry you had to go through this. Glad you are healing and spreading awareness 🙂
My mom is a melanoma survivor (had a mole in her late teens), and last year had a basal cell carcinoma on her nose as well and her experience with the skin graft, etc. sounds like exactly what you went through. It was so hard in her emotionally, and she still talks about it months later. I’ve been going to the dermatologist for years since my family history is not in my favor, and since I, too, wasn’t careful in my 20’s. Now a hat is mandatory everytime I spend time outside, and Eurcerine body lotion with SPF is a good base for every day, but sunscreen is added when there is extended time outside. Thanks for sharing your pics. I live far away from my mom, and she was so self conscious about going out after her surgery, but I really didn’t understand how it looked. Fingers crossed for both of us going forward!
Dear Mel, Ever since I found one of your curry recipes online, your blog is the only cooking blog I subscribe to. This is because I can count on your recipes to be tasty and not too complicated. I enjoy your writing and even if I am not interested in a particular recipe I enjoy reading what you have to say. It was brave of you to share your story in order to help others. Thank you for this story and all the others you share as you tell us about cooking.
Mel, I’m a long time reader but this is my first comment – thanks for being brave and sharing this story. My dad had a similar experience a few months ago, and it’s very sobering to say the least. Sending good vibes for continued healing and health. I appreciate your courage and your message!
Well. That made me cry. I feel like a best friend has had a serious illness for months and I didn’t know about it. You are a staple in our household. There is only one Mel around here. I wish I could have shipped you a meal or 10. I am so grateful your healing, although painful physically and mentally has been wretched, I am so thankful the scarring is so minimal. Thank you for sharing your story. It is something I do not take seriously enough for myself, also being a 70’s/80’s gal who tans gloriously. My kids and husband do not though and I am vigilant about their sunscreen. I will try to do better for myself because of you. I will also make my husband a dermatology appointment this week. I just educated my pale youngest with your photos…you will be happy to know I showed her your most recent photo first (as she gets jiggly tummy too) and she said “I don’t see anything, what are you showing me?” Then I scrolled up. It made an impression. Thanks for sharing your story with us. You may have just saved some lives. Love to you and your family.
Dear Mel,
You are brave and beautiful and such an inspiration! Thank you for all you do.
Dear Mel,
Thank you so so much for sharing this, it is so very important and I know I have neglected putting cream under the sun as well as my family…this will change now !
God bless you, you are so incredible and such an inspiration to me…not only in cooking ! =)
Praying for you and thinking of you
Lots of love and have a great w/e
Mel, I read your blog everyday, your recipes are my go-to’s. Thank you for sharing your story. Hearing about your journey with skin cancer is stark reminder that we all need to be vigilant. I am with you– wide brimmed hat, umbrella, long-sleeved bathing suit, head to toe sun screen and all! Take good care.
Thank you for sharing your story. You look wonderful…and of course, you are now healthy which is the most important. I just took a friend for surgery for the same sort of thing on her cheek this week. I am going to send her a link to this blog post so that she can read about your journey. Wishing you continued good health.
I just wanted to say I love you! Thank you for everything you do for my family and I! We are truly blessed by following your blog!
I have the same cancer history as you and just discovered a new nodule on my vocal cord (along with a vicious family history)…it’s nerve wracking, but I’ve been offered, and will take, genetic testing to see what I’m most at risk for going forward and how best to protect and screen myself.
It was a shock having cancer in my thirties, even though I’d lost a good friend to breast cancer just before diagnosis. It can happen to everyone, and I’m sure your message will make a difference to someone.
Thank You for sharing Mel! Very brave of you! Unfortunately this is the 4th time I’ve heard this story from people I know, well I don’t really know you, but you know what I mean. Young people. Very scary.
Thanks so much Mel for your vulnerability in sharing your experience. I take it as a good warning as it runs in my family. I remember my grandfather on his death bed with half a nose. I’m so glad you’re feeling better about it all now. We are blessed by all your recipes. I hope you experience a return on your investment in this blog in many ways!
Thank you so much for sharing this.
I had a small spot of Basal Cell removed from my nose about 15 years ago.
Thanks for sharing your story. My doctor recently told me I should go have an all over check at the dermatologist. I, too, was a non-sunscreen user in my teens and 20s and had many burns. You’ve inspired me to call the doctor on Monday and make an appointment. BTW, the doctor did a great job with your stitches. You can hardly see where they were!
After following you for years, I was just wondering last week why I hadn’t seen any posts from you. You are one brave woman to put those pictures out there for everyone to see! And sharing your story with all of us will give some that extra push to their doctor’s office to have that “little” bump or scab looked at “just in case”. So, I’m taking the time to thank you in advance, for all of us who might be saved because you took the time to share, and scare us into action, with your selfies. Blessings on you and your family.
My sister had a similar experience on her forehead. It was shocking. We aren’t sun bathers either, but grew up on property in florida, and were always outside playing something or other. Thank you for sharing your experience and reminding us all to take care of this one body we have.
I am so sorry! I tell everyone you are my best friend blogger. I will pray for you and your family. Cancer super sucks. I am so glad they got a margin. Love you! Thanks for all you do.
Mel, I’m very empathetic for what you have gone through, God bless you.
I just put face sunscreen on my need list because you were brave and shared.
My daughter just had basil cell removed from her face, she said it hurt like the dickens for days and days. Hers was near her neck.
You are so sweet Mel. So sorry you’ve had to deal with this. Bless your heart. I don’t know you personally but your blog has turned my kitchen upside down (in a good way). My family will be forever indebted to you for that! One small suggestion? I’m quite the stickler for sun exposure in my family (trying to make up for years of tans in my youth) and I would absolutely love it if you did a “favorite things” blog post on your favorite tried and true sun protection products…from sunscreen to wide brimmed hats to rash guards, etc. Both for you and your kiddos. I would love your opinions!
Oh Mel I’m so sorry! My mom had the same kind a few years ago and it’s nasty stuff. It was around Halloween and she joked and took it in stride making it her “costume”. Healthy wishes for you and proud of you for sharing! You are as beautiful as ever! Take care <3
Thank you for sharing something so personal. It’s always good to be reminded about sun exposure. The pictures really make it more real. I have been more lax over the years with sunscreen for myself (not my children, they are always drenched in the stuff all summer long). I will defiantly be changing my ways! You have made a difference today with this post. Thank you!! The body has such an amazing way of healing itself, I can’t believe how quickly you have healed! You look amazing!
I have been following your blog for a few years, I have loved all the recipes I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot!). You are amazing in the kitchen.
Oh, MEL! I’m so sorry to hear all of this! But thank you for sharing. I have gotten into a bad habit of only wearing sunscreen on part of my body when I’m out on walks. I even tell myself ‘yay vitamin D!’ But you’re so right–we all need to cover up, all the time! There are too many sweet babies we need to mother to mess around!
Let us know if you need anything! I wish you were my neighbor so I could bring you food 🙂
You are an angel. Thank you for sharing this. I know it changed the way I think about my own skincare (I am usually vigilant with the kids sunscreen and quickly slap some on myself – but not careful enough with my own). Now I am determined to just keep sunscreen with me in my “outing bag” when we go out. Thanks again for sharing! You really are an angel! And you have healed beautifully!
Oh Mel, I know exactly what you have been through! I was diagnosed with basal cell on the same spot of my nose almost 20 years ago, before MOHS surgery; I was 34. Needless to say, it kept recurring, although the edges were always clear when the surgeries were done. (It would come back every 6 months!) I finally had all of the skin from the right side of my nose removed and a double-flap graft done taking the skin over from the left side to the right. I had an incision that made me look like I had gone through a windshield! (Luckily after so many surgeries and remembering everything although I was given medication, my doc used an anesthesiologist for the last surgery. Those 60 sticks with a needle in the nose to numb it are horrible!) Okay, now I have not had any further cancer on my face and I credit that to wearing a hat all of the time and using Eucerin face moisturizer with 30 SPF. I also sat under an umbrella with a hat on during my kids’ ball games, doctor’s orders! Now I enjoy my grandchildren’s games and running, always with sunscreen. I also found that using vitamin E oil on the scar was much more effective than any other scar cream. Most people can’t tell I had extensive surgery and I am grateful I had a great doctor. We live in Arizona and I tell everyone to wear sunscreen. Every missionary that comes into our ward receives a stern lecture if I see them with a sunburn! Thank you for sharing your story. I know you will help many people. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your story, your experience and the photos. My husband has an appointment to have a “spot” checked out on his nose next month. Hopefully it won’t be more then dry skin. I know this post will help others to find cancer earlier so thank you. I have to say, you were still beautiful even with that horrid cut and stitches on your face! When I first opened your blog and saw your injury, my first thought was what kitchen tool or appliance did that to your face, and what do I need to know so that never happens to me! I am so sorry that you had to go through that all by yourself You are one brave and courageous woman! I am so happy to see how well you are healing and hope you will be 100% soon. It is miraculous how our bodies heal. Thanks for sharing yummy and awesome recipes. Your blog is my favorite! All the best to you and your family, and thanks again for sharing your story.
Wow! So sorry that you have had to go through this scary ordeal. It took a long time, but you are looking great in that last picture. Thank you for the warning and reminder. Unlike most of your other commenters, I have NOT been good at all about using sunscreen on myself or my children. So yes, you reached someone who really did need a wake up call. I’m going to change my ways and start saving our skin.
Also, thank you for all of your great recipes. You are my favorite go-to blog for good recipes. Although I have yet to make quinoa. Maybe I should get on that one too. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story. I am so with your little boy that said it gives his tummy the jigglie, however, your recovery progress is just amazing! I will be showing this to my husband as he works construction outside all day long and refuses to wear sunscreen.
Mel,
Thank you for sharing your post. I am so sorry that you had to go through that, especially since you were all alone:-( My husband is going to have a “spot” on his nose checked out next month. Hopefully, it will be nothing more them dry skin. You still looked beautiful even with that horrid looking cut and stitches on your face. When I first opened your blog and saw your injury, my first thought was what kind of kitchen tool or appliance did that to your face, and what do I need to know so that doesn’t happen to me!! I’m so glad to see that you are healing so well. You are very brave and courageous and I hope you will be 100% soon! Thanks for all the yummy and mostly easy recipes! Your blog is my favorite !! All the best to you and your family !
Mel,
Thank you for sharing your post. I am so sorry that you had to go through that, especially since you were all alone:-( My husband is going to have a “spot” on his nose checked out next month. Hopefully, it will be nothing more them dry skin. You still looked beautiful even with that horrid looking cut and stitches on your face. When I first opened your blog and saw your injury, my first thought was what kind of kitchen tool or appliance did that to your face, and what do I need to know so that doesn’t happen to me!! I’m so glad to see that you are healing so well. You are very brave and courageous and I hope you will be 100% soon! Thanks for all the yummy and mostly easy recipes! Your blog is my favorite !! All the best to you and your family !
Hi Mel! Thanks for sharing your story. I’ve had to have multiple surgeries for melanoma, so I can sympathize. I’m so glad you are healing well. As a fellow fair skinned gal, I am another person wearing the crazy big sun hat while out and about. Last summer I bought a sun umbrella to carry when I go for walks on my lunch break at work. After a while you really do decide it doesn’t matter if people think you’re crazy for using an umbrella on a sunny day, what matters is staying safe! Take care, and remember you aren’t alone!
Thank you for being so bold and sharing your story. I started wearing sunblock too, but this confirmed that I need to be even better with it. Hugs
Hi,
You look like you are healing very well -.yay! 🙂
The following comes from someone who has breast,bone and brain cancer – you never realize that you have even the smallest spec of vanity until you get cancer. It’s very hard to deal with your body/face changing – you lose your breasts,your hair (twice- ugh!) your eyebrows,your eyelashes,etc. I understand the wanting just to be “normal” or wanting normal back but that,s something that never returns-the old normal. The old normal is gone BUT the new normal will keep you here with your husband,your children and your family for a very,very long time. 🙂
I don’t comment much, but I love your blog and your recipes! Thanks for sharing your story – too bad I don’t live near you (I’m in Provo) – we could wear large sunhats and long sleeved swim suits together. I always feel a little out of place all covered up while surrounded by people in shorts and t-shirts with no hats. My poor kids get frustrated that I won’t let them outside in the summer between 11 and 4 and they MUST wear a broad brimmed sun hat. Check out coolibar – I love their hats and sunwear. I found it after my own cancer scare. I’m still shocked that I have skin troubles because I started being careful in the sun when I was about 13 (I have scars on my face that made me look funny when I got a tan). I guess there was my childhood running around outside and getting sunburned constantly!
I don’t comment very often but I’m one of your historical followers. Mel, thanks for sharing this with us today. Thanks for using your pain and struggle for raising awareness around skin cancer. Love you even more today. Love and Light 🙂
You look beautiful. What an ordeal. I found this wonderful product called Scar Go by Home Health. I used it when I had thyroid surgery and it looked like they tried to cut my head off. You cannot even see the scar and it took away any lumpy scar tissue that sometimes happens. Good luck and keep healing.
Thank you for being so brave and sharing a very personal experience with us. I applaud your courage.
As I started this post, I was really hoping it was just an April fools joke and not really real. Wow! You have been through a lot! And you are still an amazing inspiration to me. I am so very happy you have healed so well and that you have been blessed so immensely. You bless my life more than you know. I am a very dedicated reader, cooker, and sharer of your recipes and I would truly be lost without your inspiration, both in cooking and otherwise. Thank you for sharing and for being you. Always.
That healing is incredible! You are so brave. Thank you for posting!
Oh my gosh thank you for this post! I’m 25 with 3 kids and have definitely changed my outlook on sunscreen, you’re post just mademy thoughts more concrete and solid for the summer. I’m so glad you’ve healed so well!
I’m so glad you were a ble to get it treated. Your face looks great, and I’m glad you will be around to keep inspiring us in the kitchen!
You are so brave to share this! You are adorable, even with stitches.
Thank you Mel for your bravery, and humility to be willing to share something so personal as this. God bless your tender heart!
I had melanoma almost 6 years ago. I am so HAPPY that you shared this! I am doing well. On a side note my cousin had the same thing as you in about the same spot. She is a year out and her scare is barley noticeable. It was super similar to yours. You’ve got this….even better living with a visible scare is a great story-and a way to spread skin cancer awareness. I am really again so so glad that shared your story
I love you. I also love your chocolate fudge sour cream bundt cake.
So I feel like a lot of other people are saying the same things I thought about while I read your post. I’ve never commented on anything on your site but I’ve been coming to your blog and using your recipes for about 5 years now thanks to my sister in law who recommended your site to me. Your recipes have made my husband feel like I’m a good cook and boosted my self esteem in the kitchen and has helped me branch out of my comfort zone and today I’m a better cook for my family because of it, so thank you for that. I know you’re not fishing for compliments but as scary as all of that was your scar is healing so well and am glad that everything has turned out well for you! Thank you for all that you do and share in your blog because I’m sure there’s so many people that come to your site that don’t comment but are appreciative like me.
I rarely, if ever, comment here but I felt like I had to chime in. Your scar looks great! Your dr. did such a fantastic job.
I had a flaky little spot on the end of my nose that wouldn’t heal, and after having it frozen off and reappearing, my dr. did a biopsy. Yep, it was a squamous cell carcinoma. It was about the size of a pencil eraser. I had MOHS done and she took out a crater a little smaller than a dime, but she only had to go in once. The skin graft came from behind my ear. I had to keep it covered for 8 weeks and a bandaid wasn’t large enough, so I had to use white gauze and medical tape. It looked like I had just had a nose job. I feel lucky. I haven’t decided if I’m going to have dermabrasion to smooth it out, but the surgeon has offered to do that as part of the follow-up. The tip of my nose is a little flat, and isn’t the same texture now and it kind of bothers me, but probably isn’t as noticeable as I think it is. This is the 7th or 8th squamous cell carcinoma I’ve had removed, but only the first time I’ve had MOHS. I do go in every 6 mos. and get a pretty thorough check-up.
On a little different note, I was prescribed zyclara (an imiquimod cream) which is applied topically to areas that have been exposed to the sun. I did the regular treatment–1 “pump” of zyclara that I applied to my chest every night for two weeks, then off for two weeks, then again for two weeks. It is supposed to make potential skin cancers come to the surface, then scab up and fall off. I had what the dr. called a “robust” effect. My whole chest was covered in scabs. They were painful and sore and my chest still is scarred. I finished up mid-December. After seeing my chest, the dr. decided that I’m NOT to apply to my face as planned, but do a 1 week on, 1 week off, 1 week on application to my hands and wrists. We’ll see what happens. I didn’t mean to be so wordy or write a novel here, but it’s interesting to see how many others have experienced something similar. Thanks for letting me share.
I really enjoy your blog!
You are awesome! I can’t believe you have still posted recipes! My family really loves your recipes and we have several favorites. I am off to buy some sunscreen now. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It will educate and help many families.
Mel, thanks for sharing your story. You have healed beautifully!! I have always been good about sunscreen,but this has been a good reminder for me to be more diligent with sunscreen on my kids.
From another pale-skinned gal,
Kate
you look beautiful Mel! glad you’re on the mend. any thoughts about a cookbook in the future? I’d buy one for everyone in my family! love to you & your family.
I’m so sorry this happened to you! But I’m glad it’s healing well – it already looks great! You don’t know me, but I check your blog so often my husband thinks I’m obsessed. But does he complain? No. Because he knows pretty much every meal and dessert I’ve made for him for the past almost two years has come from your blog – and he loves them (obviously, so do I)! Thank you so much for what you do. I hope you continue to have a great, complication-free recovery!
Wow, Mel! Thank you so much for sharing this story. What a scary experience to go through. I’m so glad that your healing has progressed well so far and I think it’s absolutely wonderful that you are taking this opportunity to encourage others to practice smart sun safety.
Please, PLEASE, if you haven’t already, check out the Environmental Working Group’s guide to sun safety and sunscreens. I’ve been a borderline obsessive sunscreen wearer for most of my life, but in recent years have learned that not all suncreens are created equal and many actually may do more harm than good. In fact, my preferred sunscreen for many years has consistently been rated by the EWG as one of the most harmful, which is quite scary to think about. There’s a wealth of information on their site. I hope you’ll find it helpful.
http://www.ewg.org/sunsafety/
http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/
How scary! I’m so glad you posted this, because I could totally see myself ignoring a spot like the one you ended up getting checked, and I’m sure there are many others in the same boat. I really appreciate your willingness to share and be vulnerable. Your face is healing so nicely, though! I was surprised to see how far the healing had come in such a short period of time.
By the way, I don’t comment often, so while I’m here I should tell you that I just love your blog. My sisters and I were talking about it, actually, a couple of weeks ago, and we all agreed that your blog is awesome not only because of the amazing recipes and pretty photos but because it’s fun to read, too. Your voice and humor really come through in your writing. Thanks for being such an all-around delightful person! 🙂
I remember a while back you mentioned a skin ordeal on your face – that you were going through – & am so glad you followed up with this thorough, pictures included, powerful msg. If there’s one person I trust completely about all the important things, it’s you. Thank you for bringing home such important info. I’m going to be paying close attention to all things sun starting now. Plus, I’m forwarding this to my sun goddess daughter, too, as someone else mentioned. You spurred on great suggestions by your readership, also, & for that I’ll be forever grateful. I took notes when I read through the comments, after being in tears seeing what you went through. Now I am in absolutely awe seeing that you currently look more beautiful than ever.
Hi Beautiful Mel, I know exactly how you felt because a few years the same thing happened to me. Just a tiny little scab that would heal and then come back. The Dr, didn’t think it was anything but they too did the MOHS checking it out and after 5 hours on the table they found basel cell and squamas cell carcinoma both in my nose. I looked like you with the bandage, It was terribly painful but he used stitches that don’t show anymore. I am sorry you had to go through that but you are looking wonderful. Best of luck in the future.
Oh, I’m so sorry you had to go through that! My 13-year-old son just had a partial rhinoplasty to fix a broken septum (thank you, recess football game!) – on his birthday, no less – and it’s just no fun to endure surgery of any kind on your face! He will have to do another surgery in a few years to fully fix the damage.
So glad you are healing up and want to share your experience…very scary!
Thank you so much for sharing this; especially the pictures. Everybody is scared of cancer surgery, because to save your life you have to let a doctor cut on you until the bad stuff is out, however much that might be. We think of it as a horror that can’t be overcome, so we don’t go to the doctor. Your post helps us see that it is so hard and scary and bad, but in the end, we can heal and be ok. I am amazed at your doctor, pulling skin from all around your face to close in the gaps, and voila, you have your face again. xoxoxo
I am so glad you told your story! I too have dysplastic nevi and have to go to dermo twice yearly. I am so glad you asked your questions and were your own medical advocate! GO YOU! The healing looks great, and all I wish is that we were neighbors so I could’ve fed you those two weeks! Glad you’re ok!!! I had no idea you had a cancer situation years ago as well. Was that skin cancer too?
Thank you for sharing with us. You look fabulous and in such a short time too! (I’m sure it seemed like forever to you) Divine intervention for sure. I will be extra sun cautious because of it.
I love your blog and recipes. I check it out daily because I can always, always count on everything you make to be fabulous. After many years of being yeast bread incompetent I have finally mastered fluffy wheat dinner rolls because of you. Thanks Mel, we love you!!!
Mel, I’m so glad that you have healed so well. Two years ago I was diagnosed with basal cell on my chest, in that nice little triangle on our chest that is exposed to all the sun. I now have a nice 3 inch scar that I refer to as my catapiller. While it was scary I know it could of been so much worse, thank you for sharing your story…
I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this! I, too, went to the Dr. last fall for something else but he zeroed in on a spot on my upper arm – half the size of a pencil eraser top. It turned out to be melanoma. Huge, huge scar later (makes your scar look quite dainty and pretty!), I’m intentionally educating, while inevitably scaring and disgusting my family, on the danger of skin cancers, covering up and getting check ups. Your son was able to kindly articulate his ambivalence. The first time I wore a short sleeve top my little 3 yr old granddaughter worriedly pointed to my owie. I explained that it was all better now and didn’t hurt any more. She gagged and asked me, with her hand covering her mouth, to cover it up. Ha ha – and I thought it was beginning to look better! It’s all ok, though. We’ll wear our scars proudly as proof that we’re survivors. Well, maybe not proudly, but we’re alive to tell the tale.
P.S. Love your blog and many if your recipes are staples in our house!
Oh Mel, I’m so sorry you had to go through that! What a tough trial, especially for a woman. I mean, we’re already naturally self conscious and things like that can just make it so much harder to feel normal and fit in. Glad you caught it and that the worst is behind you now. You are beautiful! I’m always grateful you share your amazing cooking talents with so many 🙂
Holy cow, Mel! That could not have been an easy post to write, and it certainly wasn’t easy to live. I’m glad you’re recovering and I appreciate your willingness to do something so uncomfortable in an effort to help others.
I’m one of your blog followers (love it) and as a teenager from the 60’s have so far, survived tanning with baby oil and iodine…but not unscathed! Basal & Squamous Cell Carcinomas are now part of my ongoing medical saga. Congratulations & THANK YOU for sharing your recovery photos. Heeding the warnings without visual proof is difficult. You are beautiful!!
Darling Mel. I am so so sorry that this happened, but thank you so much for sharing this with us!! I am only 18 but I look at your blog daily and have made countless of your recipes, all of which I love and have worked perfectly 🙂 In fact, I just had some friends over today and we made 2 of your recipes and I was raving to them that you are the best food blog in the world and that you have every and any recipe that you could ever want. So I just want you to know that I admire you and think very highly of you and that you are so incredibly talented!!! So thank you. And I’m so glad you’re okay and that you’re healing up nicely. This has also changed my perspective on the importance of sunscreen and how important it is to protect your skin. So thank you thank you!! And you will be in my prayers.
SO glad you had it looked at! I’m older than you are and I know that our parents back then had no information about how important sunscreen was. Every summer I burned and blistered. I’ve only had a few very short phases in my life where I even cared about a “tan”, and though I have loved how it looked, I know in the future the wrinkles are not worth it, not to mention skin cancer! But your doctor did a beautiful job and I’m so glad you are healing! Thank you for sharing your story!
What a brave thing to do – share your story and accompanying photos! I so appreciate your courage! While we are sun-screen wearers, it takes a while each early spring (like now) to remember to start using habitually again. I’m marching outside right now to grab my son and make sure he puts on sunscreen. You have healed beautifully. Thank you for the poignant reminder.
Mel, thank you so much for sharing your story! Do you know how many lives you have helped today? I try to be good about applying sunscreen but know I can and must do better. Your post will help me to accomplish that. I applaud your bravery – not only for what you have gone through but for sharing your experience with all of us.
I love your blog and was so glad to find a blog where the recipes are fabulous and my hubs has loved everything I’ve made. I don’t always comment, but I always read so I apologize for not commenting on what a great blog, what fab recipes you have , etc. I’m a breast cancer survivor and agree that the scars are hard to live with. However, it takes a lot of bravery for you to share these wounds and I applaud your desire to further educate us. Everyone also seems to think it isn’t anything, it won’t happen to me, etc. Trust me, it can and it will and as women, I believe we don’t always have things checked that need to be checked, even if they turn out to be nothing. So glad you got this checked and that you had it removed. I look forward to many more recipes when you are feeling up to posting them. Our God is such a good God!
Mel, that takes some courage to show all those pictures, but for such a good cause. With your huge readership I’m sure you’ll save someone from going through what you did. I’ve had the basal cell carcinoma also, actually 2, one on my chest (where exposed with wearing a V-neck shirt) and also 1 on my arm. They can show up just as a little reddish spot, not even as bright as yours was. I was so lucky, nothing to the extent of yours. Thanks for taking the time to write this. I’m in my 70’s and in my teen years and 20’s and even 30’s I was clueless too when it came to sunscreen. So many young people today lather on the sunscreen, so many more are protected.
Oh sweetheart, thank you for highlighting the fact that taking care in the sun really does matter. I live in Australia and was blessed to have parents that were sun savvy even in the 60’s and 70’s. My sister and I have good skin and so far have had no issues with sun cancers. As you said it’s all of the time you spend in the sun that builds up, you don’t even need to be a sun worshipper for a melanoma to occur. You had a very good specialist and I think it has healed beautifully. Thank you again for bringing this topic into the light. No pun intended!
Sending lots of love
Fi
I thank God you thought to have your dermatologist look at that spot! I use the highest number sunscreen but cannot reapply it until I go somewhere cool and my skin cools down. If I reapply while outside, I get a rash reaction that is painful. I grew up never using it (I am 63) and am thankful I haven’the had a problem yet. God bless you and keep being diligent about sunscreen
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I’m so sorry for what you have had to go through, but so thankful you found it in time! Thank you for the incredible reminder to protect my and my kids, and to go to the dermatologist! You are my favorite food blogger, and I am so thankful for you and your amazing recipes! Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with us and blessing our lives!
Thanks for bravely sharing your story. I agree that it’s important to share these personal issues to bring awareness to these things. The pictures def do the trick! I actually learned about this form of skin cancer from Hugh Jackman, the actor, who I follow on IG. He’s also had several bouts of this on his nose and has posted many pics and asked folks to please wear sunscreen. It’s sad that you’ve gone thru this, but you look great and remain healthy – which is most important.
I should really comment more based upon how I religiously follow your blog and have made (and LOVED) half of the recipes here. We truly would have cereal and Mickey Mouse chicken nuggets every night if it weren’t for you. Your recovery is incredible! If you had posted the last picture very first I would have never noticed anything. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I was a very carefree and sun loving teen and 20’s person. I always tanned easily and figured more was better. My small daughters have my same coloring and I am way too forgetful about their sunscreen. No more! Perfect timing as temperatures heat up down here in Texas. Thank you, Mel! You look great!
Thank you for sharing this experience with us. I am really bad about putting on sunscreen and have got sunburned a fair share of times. I’ve decided to recommit myself to wearing sunscreen after reading your post as well as getting my moles checked out just to be on the safe side. I love your blog! I am amazed that you were still actively posting during that whole experience, I check your blog often and I didn’t notice any lapse in posts. You’re amazing!
My sister forwarded me your post with a note saying she thought she was reading a story about me. I went through the exact same thing year and a half ago. Small spot on the side of my nose that wouldn’t heal. Removal surgery that left me with a giant hole in my nose and a massive amount of stitches from the top of my nose to the bottom. As I read your blog it honestly felt like the twilight zone. So much of what you recalled is exactly how I felt. I wondered if I would ever look normal again, if I would ever go a day without noticing the scar. Welcome to the hat world!! I to spend a lot of time wearing hats. Thank you for sharing your story and the pictures
You seriously look so fantastic! The healing was so dramatic! I’m so glad you had the courage to share your story. I have to watch myself carefully for skin cancer, and this is was good to read.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. So sorry you’ve had to go through this!! I’m amazed at how well it has healed in the pics! You look great!! And as far as the sun protection…..I’m all over it!! I had 2 pre melanoma (not the technical terms) removed from my abdomen last summer. But even before that, I wear a long sleeve rash guard (love mine from Lands End) AND a giant sun hat. No shame!! I’m not trying to impress anyone just trying to save my skin! Wish I would have been more careful in my 20s but hind sight is 20/20, eh?!?! Love u Mel!!
Thank you for sharing. I’m fair skinned… I always joke that I never tan- I just get a darker shade of pale… ba dum tss…. I am actually pretty darn strict with the sunscreen… I was actually looking at hats to wear when I work in the yard or hike. Even in Rainy Washington- I slather it on. 😀
Glad you are on the mend. <3
Oh, my heavens! How scary! And I’m so impressed with how well your wounds have healed! How impressive that doctors can sew so well. Thanks for the reminder about skin care as the sun gets ready to come out.
Mel, thank you so much for sharing this. I am so happy that things are healing well. What a journey to have to go on and I wish no one would have to go through something like this but I’m so glad things are looking well and you really do look great. 🙂 I would kiss those doctors toes, too! Thank goodness for modern medicine. And thank you so much for the reminder about the sun – for me and my family.
Thanks for being brave and sharing your story, Mel! It is amazing and I want to learn from you. I know that I am especially prone to this, and I have tried to make changes but sometimes I am lazy. Please update us along the way with products and tips you use and like.
Thank you for sharing your very personal experience with us. God bless you.
Mel, I don’t know if my comment went through because I have internet problems all day, so sorry if a repeat. Just wanted to say I am so sorry you had to go through this but am glad you are healthy. I have gone for annual skin checks since my early 20’s and luckily nothing has been found, but I go every year. My family uses the Elta MD and Skinceuticals sunscreen lines that my derm sells (although you can buy Skinceuticals direct from them). We use the mineral based (titanium/zinc) versions and love them. They are much better quality/protection than what you can buy at the drugstore. I also love the Skinceuticals vitamin C serums (C+E Ferulic) which is an antioxidant that protects against the sun, brightens the skin, and is a great preventive anti-ager. So happy you are well and you look gorgeous!
The healing looks as tho it’s going very well, I’m so happy for you. I too (and several of my friends, we’re in our 60’s) have had a MOHS procedure; not fun (the needles ARE nasty!) but so much better than the alternative, as they say, and it is. (Don’t beat yourself up too much; I’ve worn moisturizer w/sunscreen for 30 years—altho there was baby-oil slathering in my reckless youth in an also silly effort to tan my very pale Scots/Irish complexion. Hope springs!) You look very beautiful to me, maybe not “normal” to your own eyes any more but all of our faces change over time and yours is becoming one of courage. Let’s all invest money in sunscreen stock, and look forward to the day when pale becomes cool. (And totally no political statement here, no, nada, none.) What’s most important is that you’re here, and I know that there are at least 6 other immediate people that agree with me. Go hug them, while I send a virtual hug to you.
Hi. I never comment on blogs but this post made me want to say stuff. A friend told me about your blog a few years ago and I’m so glad she did. You have the best recipes. Not only are they so good but all of them are good. After making many of them I know that when you post a new recipe it will be good, worth making. It’s so nice to finally find a cooking blog that I can trust. Other blogs are hit or miss. Yours never is. If there’s a specific recipe I’m looking for I always check yours cuz I know I trust it to be great, exactly what I’m looking for. I’ve taken cooking classes in NYC and am knowledgeable in the kitchen. I love to cook and share my talent with others. You’re recipes have fed the missionaries, my boys and my neighbors countless times. So keep sharing, I love them. Love and kisses to you and yours.
PS I just took your chocolate quick bread out of the oven with the pan you recommend. Love. Oh and your ricotta shells feed the missionaries last night :). Oh and I’m going to sunscreen the crap out of me and my boys 🙂
your biggest fan from Pasco.
can I like a post on a blog? Dido! I agree 100% with what Lizza said and just wanted to say I don’t know you, but really do love you for who you are and the great things you do in helping us less fortunate/creative cooks in the kitchen for making cooking something I can do and actually enjoy because of your blog. Thanks! Keep your chin up too because this too shall pass 🙂
My mom just went through a similar experience earlier this year. It’s so scary! I’m glad you’re healing so well, and what a good reminder to be sun safe. Thanks, and much love!
Hi. I never comment on blogs but this post made me want to tell you stuff. I’ll be quick. A friend told me about your blog a few years ago and I’m so so glad she did. Finally a blog that gives consistently good recipes. Like every recipe I make of yours (and it’s almost all of them) have been so good! Other cooking blogs I don’t trust as much as I trust yours. Other blogs are hit or miss. Yours are always good. When I’m looking for a specific recipe your blog is the first one I check. I love to cook. I’ve taking cooking classes in NYC and feel like I’m knowledgeable in the kitchen. You’re recipes have helped feed the missionaries countless times, my boys and neighbors. Loves and kisses to you and yours. Thank you for being great and please keep sharing.
PS. I just pulled out your chocolate quick bread out of the oven with the pan you recommended. Oh and your ricotta shells fed the missionaries last night 🙂 Love.
Lizza
in pasco
You healed so nicely! What a scary ordeal. So sorry you had to go through that. I will keep you in my prayers.
Thanks for sharing. Bet you’ve helped many to remember what is so easy to forget.
By the way, Lands End has AMAZING long sleeved swim shirts. Cute and comfortable and they deliver to your door. I have one for swimming. My mother-in-law wears them at the beach, while walking, gardening, at baseball games, etc. Highly recommend.
Thank you for being so brave and awesome to share this! I’m so sorry you had to experience that, and I hope it doesn’t come back. I am amazed at how beautifully it healed, and I’m so glad for you. That sounds really hard. Thanks for having the best cooking blog on the internet and for sharing this very real-life truth with the rest of us. I’m sure you’re already doing this, but take lots of Vitamin D…5000 IU daily instead of the 400 IU in a multivitamin. It actually has amazing anti-cancer abilities. That’s about as scientific as I can get. 😉
So glad you shared this, Mel! People need to be educated and protect themselves. And, if it’s okay with you, I’d also like to remind your readers to NOT skip your mammograms. I am a breast cancer survivor, and like you, am trying to get the word out to anyone who will listen. My cancer was detected during a routine mammogram, so please don’t skip them! You look awesome, BTW!
Thanks for being so brave and sharing your story, Mel! I’m so happy that you’re cancer-free and healing well. I know your battle will inspire so many to be more careful; what a gift! Take care of yourself.
Thank you for sharing your story, Mel, and the pictures. I will show them to my family. Being disciplined about sunscreen is really hard. It’s such a pain–greasy, smelly, expensive. (I confess I do wonder about possible harm from repeated exposure to the chemicals in them, and try to use physical rather than chemical blocks when possible–which makes the sunscreen even more unpleasant, ugh–but I figure, the known harm of exposure outweighs the less known/unknown risks.) I also tend to feel embarrassed about big hats…but you are so right–it’s worth it. I will also second your comment on the amazing healing powers of the body–what a transformation!
There’s so much to say but I’ll keep it simple- I’ve never met you but I feel like I know you, and I love ya!!
just scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist! I’ve had a sore on my nose for like 6 months. Oops. Thanks for sharing your story. Definitely don’t want to mess around with skin cancer, huh.
P.S. I don’t tan but if you want the sun kissed look on your legs or face a can of Toma’s Air Brush self tanner does wonders 🙂 got from Sally’s. Easy to use and looks really natural.
You look beautiful and healthy. Thanks for sharing your story.
My dear Mel, your story was wonderful. I am so glad you asked about that spot. You and I have the same coloring. Every person in my family has had sports removed but me. My friends laugh at me that I have a full body check every single year. I don’t leave the house with out SPF 50 and my fair skinned children practically bathe in the stuff all summer. I think you healed up wonderfully. 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your story! My dad has dealt with basal cell repeatedly for the last 15 years. He goes in every 6 months to be monitored to avoid MOHS. My husband has also had an excision on his back and it was precancerous. He has a family history of melanoma. Skin cancer is always on my mind!
I’m glad you got the care you needed! Everything looks like it has healed amazingly well. I wish you the best on your journey!
Thank you for caring enough to share this with all of us!!! As a nurse, I see so many incidences of cancer; some of which can be reduced with preventive measures. Increased awareness is so important. I can only imagine how hard this must have been, but you came out winning. Feel better and thanks again.
I am so thankful that you shared your story! I also think that you look amazing, I can’t believe how well it healed. I hope that you continue to heal.
Mel, I am so sorry you had to go through this, but so thankful you are OK and look beautiful! I have had annual skin checks since my early 20s (I am 50 now). Thankfully no skin cancer, but I go every year. My derm sells a huge stock of very good sunscreen. My family only uses mineral based, not chemical. I love the Elta MD formulas, and they also sell Skinceuticals sunscreens as well, which are fabulous. I really also love the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic acid (vitamin C serum) which I layer on first, which protects against the sun. It is very pricey but lasts a long time and I have been wearing it since my mid-30’s. It is a great skin brightener and anti-ager as well. I am not sure if Elta is a derm only available product, but I know you can purchase Skinceuticals through their website directly. I think it’s so important to get very good quality sunscreen with high percentages of titanium and zinc and put a lot on very frequently. So glad you are healthy and beautiful! Thanks for sharing your story.
omg! I’m so sorry you had to go through that! I’m glad it was caught when it was but wow that’s a lot to go through!
I too am not a sun seeker. I use sunscreen like crazy. I cringe when I see people with a tan or worse a burn. And don’t get me started on tanning beds. Skin cancer is nothing to mess with.
I have been reading (and using, with so much joy) your posts for seven years now, and this is the first time I leave a comment. Maybe this time I can pay some of my “debt” to you – to let you know how wonderful (and beautiful, even with the scar!) I think you are, and to tell you I keep you in thoughts and prayers. Wishing you good health, just be careful with sunscreens (I read that some of them can be harmful)… Thank you for posting this story and every recipe!
Mel, you are so beautiful and are doing a tremendous amount of good through your blog. Don’t ever doubt that! Thank you for having the courage to share your story and to remind us to stay safe in the sun. Prayers for a continued, full recovery!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I will definitely be more diligent with using sunscreen, hats and long sleeves. Thank you again!
Wow, Mel. First, I’m so glad you had it checked out when you did and that you are ok today. Reading your journey made me cry; I can’t imagine what you went through. After following you all these years I can tell you’re quite private so thank you for being such a blessing to us all by sharing your experience. You are goegeous by the way!!
Thank you so much for sharing this story, Mel! My husband has had many brushes with various forms of skin cancer, and his back looks like he was a in a very active knife fight. Even though our children inherited my Cuban tan skin instead of his Irish skin that only tans when freckles grow closer together, they all wear long sleeve rashguards and hats whenever they are at the beach or a pool that is not shaded. They hate it, but hopefully it will save them from pain and worry down the road. Your face looks amazing, I’d love the details on which EO you have been using.
My mum had a similar procedure not long ago. The health warnings so often go over our heads until something happens to us or a loved one.
On another interesting note, sometimes we get slightly different warnings here in Scotland: not enough sun. Because we are so far north the days here are quite short during the winter and it is often cloudy and rainy no matter what the season so we run the risk of not getting enough vitamin D which is produced when your skin is in the sunshine. Such a shortage can have other health consequences (example: https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_weller_could_the_sun_be_good_for_your_heart). Now, they only recommend 10-15 min of sun without sunscreen a day.
Bravo to you for putting this up. I’m glad to see you are healing well. Thank you for wanting to help others with your painful experience.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey through this! Two years ago, I went to see a dermatologist because of a little spot below my eye, just above my cheekbone, that I’d noticed was never completely healing. He did a punch-biopsy of it, as well as on a little blue spot he found on my back. I was reasonably certain that the spot on my face was basal cell carcinoma, but I was completely terrified that the spot on my back would turn out to be melanoma. VERY thankfully the spot on my back turned out to be non-cancerous (a blue nevus mole). The biopsy showed that the spot below my eye was basal cell carcinoma, and I was scheduled for the MOHS procedure to remove it. It took two deep layers being dug out of my face before the doctor reached clear margins. I was HORRIFIED at the crater that had been dug out of the middle of my face, and I was equally horrified when I saw how my face looked after he had stitched that large area. I thought my face would be disfigured for the rest of my life. Thankfully it healed very well and is barely noticeable now.
The doctor said it’s likely that I’ll have more basal cell carcinomas show up in coming years. My mom has already had numerous of them removed from her face, including one on her nose very similar to yours, where pulling skin down to cover the “crater” was necessary. Unfortunately I grew up in a time when we didn’t use sunscreen, and we’d even apply baby oil, and sometimes iodine, to try to ATTRACT the sun to our skin so that we’d hopefully tan faster. :/ I also did two summers in tanning beds. BUT, I hadn’t laid out in the sun or gone without sunscreen since my late-20’s – and this basal cell carcinoma didn’t surface on my face until I was in my 50’s! Proof that damage begins in the cells beneath the skin LONG before it manifests topically. I’ve become a huge advocate for applying sunscreen and for NOT tanning. I also tell people to not assume that just because you get to the end of the summer and your skin looks good, no damage has been done. Bad gamble. Apply the sunscreen, dress wisely when you’re going to be out in the sun, and learn to be comfortable and happy with your natural skin tone!
So glad you’re healing so well! Thanks again for being willing to transparently share such an important message.
Thanks for sharing! My 16 year old daughter doesn’t think she needs sunscreen, so I forwarded this to her. Glad you are healing well!
Mel, I had the same procedure in 2010. Devastated when I left the doctor, but like you within months all was well. Six years later I really have to look to see the scar. Time heals all, but it is so important to use sun screen. I had never used ‘good’ sunscreen before. Now it’s the good stuff and with clothing that is UV protective. I’m sure that as I age more damage will surface from prior years damage but I’m doing my best for no future damage. To others headed in for this procedure, ALWAYS have someone drive you. I had a friend with me that I will always be indebted to for her friendship and support that day. Needless to say she drove home. You were so brave going it alone. Mel, it will get better. Be proud of yourself through all of this. Don’t hide. People are so understanding and it is a learning process for many. Maybe I was lucky I had to report to work 3 days later. It forced me to get out in the public. God Bless you and continue the amazing videos, recipes, and blogs.
Which sunscreen do you use? I’ve had a hard time finding a good one I like.
Thank you for sharing your story and photos! Such a great reminder to everyone about the importance of sun protection and using sunblock! I’m so glad to hear you’re doing okay now!
You are awesome for posting this. I’m right there with you, two elliptical excisions for melanoma and basal cell carcinoma where my earlobe meets my face. Spread the good word of sunscreen,no tanning beds, and regular skin checks!
Just wanted to thank you for sharing your experience. I also went thru your same adventure with my nose. It was quite an experience. Hopefully your story will help others to notice these small pimple like things on their noses that can be not so good. We have a tendency to say it is nothing. I hDmine for a lot longer than you did so you can imagine my repair work. Again thanks for sharing this and hope more will pay attention to the SMALL things.
Thank you for your candor, it was very brave of you to share your story. I can completely empathize with your background. I grew up in So Cal in the 70’s (need I say more about baking in the sun without sunscreen) and now am hyper-vigilant about using sunscreen and wearing a hat. Your story is a great reminder and I am glad you are healing so well.
I couldn’t help but cry reading your story. For some reason I feel so silly that here I was looking up recipes in your blog while you were struggling with this. But I’m so happy it has all turned out well and you do look amazing! Our bodies really are amazing healers. Thank you for sharing and I hope you continue to do well. And yes, I will cover up more this summer and will make sure to enforce the sunscreen on my kids even when they fight me on it!
I’m so grateful that you were able to get it all removed, that is a huge blessing. I have had several atypical moles biopsied and removed, and with a history of basal cell in my family, I am a sunscreen freak. I have an Aveeno moisturizer with SPF 30 that I love, in case you’re looking for a good everyday product. Thank you for sharing your story, you and your scar are so beautiful 🙂
Yes! You have touched me with your story. I’m a little lax when it comes to sunscreen for myself (all the while I’m slathering my kids from head to toe!) So yes! I will absolutely take better care. Thanks so much for sharing!
Yikes (your story, not your face)! Thanks for the reminder. Happy that you caught it in time and that you healed up so well too!
Thanks for sharing Mel.
FYI: Sunscreen has a ONE season shelf life. We’ve had some bad sunburns even though we slathered ourselves in an old bottle of sunscreen.
Thanks for sharing this. I’m so glad your are ok. The healing process is remarkable and you look great! I’ve been pretty good about sunscreen but I will be so much more diligent in the future. I’ve had a couple spots removed from my back