It began as a small itchy crater on my forehead, near an eyebrow. A biopsy showed skin cancer. I was warned that there’d be swelling and that an eye might swell shut.
Last week, Dr. Joshua Wilson performed Mohs surgery on it, carving a round chasm a little smaller than a dime. One of the advantages of Mohs surgery is that you know your results right away. You usually don’t leave your appointment until all of the skin cancer has been removed.
Mohs surgery is considered the most effective technique for treating many basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common types of skin cancer. Sometimes called Mohs micrographic surgery, the procedure is usually done in stages, including lab work, while the patient waits. It allows the removal of all cancerous cells for the highest cure rate while sparing healthy tissue and leaving the smallest possible scar. Dr. Wilson removed all three layers the first time.
The surgery was developed by Frederic E. Mohs, MD, in the late 1930s. In the mid 1960s, Perry Robins, MD, studied the procedure with Dr. Mohs took the technique to NYU, where he established the first fellowship training program to teach dermatologists this skin cancer surgery, called Mohs surgery.
Before they discovered how to flash freeze tissue, this took more than one day. After waiting only about 45 minutes for the lab work, Dr. Wilson’s assistant, Taylor, announced that the cancer was gone, then talked about stitches. But how could they stitch the sides of a circle that large? She made a diagram of V-shaped cuts Dr. Wilson would make below and above the crater, borrowing neighboring tissue to suture together. Skin tissue is alive and malleable, and begins to heal itself right away. Just amazing.
Here’s a patient video of the Mohs surgery. I wish it had talked about the placing and stitching of the incision around the original spot.
The pictures online show how a pretty good sized excision can turn into a nice straight hardly-noticeable scar, but I guess my old author photo will have to do for Meadowlark Songs: A Motherline Legacy.
The whole thing took just a couple of hours, then I kept busy at home icing the area so it wouldn’t swell much, although bruising might show up later. The photo is from two days after surgery, when I was allowed to take off the original bandage. Very little swelling! I’m so grateful.
This skin cancer is probably from detasseling corn, earning my first $100. 1958. The surgery will cost a bit more than how much I earned that entire summer.
An interesting tidbit: Dr. Wilson’s grandmother, age 92, rode on RAGBRAI for years, retiring from it just a few years ago!
Glad to hear it all went well, Joy. When I had Mohs, I came home looking like an aardvark!
Swelling? Yikes!
Gosh, sorry you had to endure this. But as always, you turn it into an educational opportunity and share with all.
I’m amazed and fascinated by it all! Stitches out Thursday.
Bless you, Dave. I sure enjoyed your “eggy” story in the current Ruralite!
It’s amazing what modern medicine can do. However, we know that the real healer is the Great Physician! Praying your recovery is complete with no scarring.
I thanked God for that right away, knowing that my body began knitting things together before I left the office. There may be a faint scar, but it should give my face more character, eh?
Well I don’t think you’ll be needing Harry’s invisibility cloak. That looks like it will heal well.
Good one, Eilene! Even if it doesn’t, my face will have more character, won’t it? Unless I look like I’ve always been a frowner.
I’ve learned that scars are evidence of a battle won, so wear it victoriously! I was praying and am so grateful it went as well as it could. Also, they have this fancy things called “Photoshop” now, so you can easily take a new author’s photo and cover/change anytime you want to! 😊 Or maybe even a tattoo of a corn tassel??
Corn tassel! What creativity, Lynne! Just so it doesn’t make me look like a long-time frowner. (I’ve already used an app to “age” my picture!)
Smiling because I am on the side of a happy, healthy YOU!
Bless you, Annette!
Thank you for sharing. Prayers for you.
Thank you, Tim.
Cheers to stitches coming out soon! So glad to hear you’re healing well. Sending hugs…with a reminder that you already have super powers! 🥰❤️🥰
Sometimes it takes another encourager to remind me, huh! Thanks, Vicki!
Much love to you, Joy! 🥰💕🥰
Thank God for modern medicine! So glad they got it all first go. The scar could provide a teaching moment! 🙏🙏
At least a Harry Potter moment, huh! Yes, thank God for modern medicine. I certainly enjoyed researching a little of this history of this one.
I’m glad the surgeon was able to remove all of the cancer, and you’re healing nicely!
Thank you, Liz. I’m surprised that the scars turn out so whispery! Most you’d hardly notice.
You’re welcome, Joy. Even better!
Glad they got it all, and the scar won’t be too noticeable. Another badge from the journey.
Badge, huh? At least it was a fun blog post to do! Thank you, Bob.
You don’t need Harry Potter powers, because you’ve got the power of sharing stories! I’ve enjoyed your books very much.
Thanks so much, Kelly. The new one is due out this month!
So glad everything went well, Joy. You might want to make up a sword fighting story in the interim.
Maybe light sabers? That’s a different series!
Take care and rest up Joy. Glad you’re getting your stitches out soon.
Thanks, Dave!
Glad it turned out well. Sounds like an annoying procedure, but to walk away with the results right then sounds like a good thing.
It became a one-day procedure when they discovered how to flash-freeze the tissue in order to dye it and have a look at it. Amazing, huh!
The surgeon did a wonderful stitch job pulling your incision together so evenly. I’m glad they were able to remove all the cancer cells in one fell swoop. The Harry Potter lightning bolt must be the scar of choice when you’re an author. 🙂
Perhaps they should advertise it? ha
Another word of praise for modern medicine. I can understand why you would want to know your status right away. Too much waiting and wondering lets your mind go to places you don’t need to go.
Yes!
It’s good that the procedure went well and will probably result in a minimal scar, Joy.
Thanks, Tim. Just so I don’t look like a frowner. ha
So pleased they got all the cancer Joy and I am sure that scarring will be minimal especially with a little concealer… Thank you for detailing the procedure as it is important for us all as skin cancer is on the increase. Speedy recovery ♥♥
Thank you, Sally. Stitches out a week later!
[…] Find out more about this disease and the treatment: Joy Neal Kidney shares her experience with skin cancer […]
Glad it all went well Joy. <3
Thank you, Debby!
Scary stuff. My husband had same. 🙂
I’d had this one a while but we were exhausted from so many appointments to get my Favorite Guy’s newly-discovered blood disorder under control, which took months. So now we’re still exhausted (he also has Parkinson’s and I’ve lived with fibromyagia for two dozen years) but still so thankful!
God bless. <3
Thank you.
My husby and my sis both had Mohs, for squamish cell. Kind of scary.
I’m sure grateful it’s available. Thanks, Jacqui.
How much we owe to the invisible people who work in laboratories, either doing the research or working hard all day testing to find out exactly which of the many variations of malignant cells we might have. I know quite a few people who have had various patches of their skin treated, often years ago. The trick for all of us is knowing when to get checked out!
Thank you, Janet. Now I’m to go for a checkup every 6 months, but I’ll go earlier if I have another itchy little crater pop up!
I have had a number of keratoses which is a precursor to skin cancer. We didn’t worry about the sun when I was a kid. I’m glad it all went well.
When I was in college, the girls tried to get as much sun as they could! Thank you, Roberta.
I never did that purely because I burned to a lovely red that never went brown. Lucky for me.
Same here!
🤗
oh that certainly sounded scary!
I hope your Harry Potter skills and powers grow.
My husband had mouth cancer and the scaring initially , my children commented, made him look like the Joker.
Glad all went well and continues to do so
Thank you, Sue. The stitches are out and the scar looks hopeful so far!
Both my parents had had skin cancers (basal cell in both cases) removed, although using different techniques, with good results. I’m sure yours will heal very well, as it is already doing. Thanks for sharing such important information, Joy.
Thank you, Olga. I was so fascinated by the history of Mohs that I wanted to share it, then the quip by my son made it fun!
I’ve not come across Mohs before, but it sounds wonderful to know that they can remove all the cancer on the same day. I had a small cancer on my nose and the first specialist I saw told me they’d have to use some of my forehead to patch it up afterwards as well as possibly using skin from my leg. The hospital were marvellous, removed it all and were able to stitch it up simply by fiddling with the skin on my nose. It’s great to hear your positive take on a topic that most of us fear, and I doubt you’ll even be left with a frown line. Happy healing!
I wonder whether they used a form of Mohs. It’s amazing how malleable our skin is. Thank you, Trish!
Great news! Congratulations to a full recovery! Best wishes, Michael
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