Dermatology advice in Home Depot

Owen Lucas

Owen Lucas

$100 Site Donor 2023
Joined
Sep 5, 2021
Messages
3,634
Went to HD today to buy more plumbing parts and somehow got into a random conversation with an older HD employee in the garden department.

We got talking about sun damage and working outside, she mentioned she had a mole on her hip that is has been increasing in size.

I watched the below YT video the day before about the ABCDEs of moles / skin cancer so the info was fresh in my mind. The mole was larger than 6mm according to her with irregular borders.

She also mentioned having a stage 1 melanoma mole cut out of her arm a while ago but didn't think anything of this one because it's flat and not raised like her melanoma mole. I told her it does not have to be raised and to see a derm / primary care doctor ASAP.

Asymmetry is when one half of the mole does not match the other half.

Border irregularity means the edges are uneven, scalloped, or poorly defined.

Color that is not uniform, with shades of brown, black, tan, red, white, or blue, is a warning sign.

Diameter greater than 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser) is a characteristic of concern.

Evolving or changing in size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching or bleeding, is the most critical sign to watch for.

 
OP, you did the right thing...sometimes folks need a gentle nudge....I had a Merkel cell cancer removed from my arm a couple years ago...its rare but aggressive. Glad I brought it to dermatologist's attention...it looked like a small mosquito bite...he almost didn't want to do the biopsy....no sign of spread so far.
 
mdtn952 said:
OP, you did the right thing...sometimes folks need a gentle nudge....I had a Merkel cell cancer removed from my arm a couple years ago...its rare but aggressive. Glad I brought it to dermatologist's attention...it looked like a small mosquito bite...he almost didn't want to do the biopsy....no sign of spread so far.
Click to expand...
My mother in law had Merkel cell on her forehead. It started has a pimple and got large. It was a 2 hour surgery to dig it out with plastic surgery to move a skin graft from her abdomen to her forehead and then 6 weeks of radiation. Now, we're dealing with the side effects of the radiation on her eye. Glad that you caught it early. Terry Bradshaw had it and it took Jimmy Buffet out.
 
I didn't know about Bradshaw...my reading says about 3500 new cases a yr. in US...thats not many. The radiation to my arm was worse than the wide excision surgery. Brutal. The best online source of info for me was merkelcell.org All the best to your mother in law.
 
Haven't had skin cancer. Yet... fair skin, burn in minutes, when I was younger it was easy to see the Irish in me. It's a matter of time. I've probably pointed out the same mole/freckle a few times each time on my yearly physical. Doesn't bother me, it's their job to know if it's a problem (or not).

In high school I started buying SPF 50. Zero shame. In college, on a couple of spring breaks, guys would be looking for an SPF 3 or 4, and I'd offer my 50... they'd be like "that'll turn me white!" I haven't kept in touch but I wonder what it'll be like in a couple of decades.
 
gfh77665 said:
I have battled skin cancers for years. Mohs surgery 4x. Worst was a 57 stitch surgery on my shoulder.
Click to expand...
Wish I could still count the Mohs procedures - more to come …
Only a few states would have Mohs surgeons in small towns …
(Texas farming communities for example) …
 
gfh77665 said:
Here is my group.

https://www.dermsurgery.org/about-us/dermatologists/

I have Dr. Asadi. Just excellent!
Click to expand...
I know Dr Anna - she is Greek - one thing I try to learn everywhere is “good morning” - that always gets a smile from her. One day whilst waiting on the lab results and stitches - she said the lab tech recognized my name from a clinic in Sugarland - I laughed - but it ain’t funny 😳
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom