This is the mildest form of skin cancer. I had it on my nose.

They do a punch biopsy. (for me the anesthetic did not take and it hurt like hell)

When it was confirmed, I had MOS surgery, or, as they say, "dig and check."

The objective is to cut away the cancer cells until you get a "clean margin," which means that they cut away a few healthy cells around the cancer site, and put it under a microscope. On my nose, it took 5 tries, and a patch of skin the size of a quarter. I had the choice of either having skin from my forehead cut away and folded down, or a piece from my front shoulder.

I chose my front shoulder. It turned out OK. I told the guy not to screw up and put my nipple onto my nose.

I do not have much feeling in that site, and it's not perfect, but good enough.

MOS surgery is not fun but, as I said, it's the "best" kind to skin cancer to have. On your leg? No sweat jan.

I hope that it's not basal cell carcinoma, but if it is, it's really not a biggie.

email me if you want to know more.

(hug)

Thanks danf, that's really helpful. I hope they put a nipple on my leg, that'd be cool. I could play with it while I'm waiting for the train.

The fact that this little thing has been there for months with no sign of any change makes me not overly worried. But from pictures online it does look suspiciously like basal cell carcinoma, judging from these pictures (warning, creepy, close-up medical pictures).

No experience; but if they suspect cancer aren't you supposed to get a very quick appointment with a specialist? Not that you shouldn't use your insurance, but I don't think the NHS is as delay-ridden as you think when cancer is suspected.

Yes, you're probably right, alto. But the BUPA cover means that I can free up a NHS appointment for someone else.

Huh, I have a very very similar thing on my leg! I noticed it show up a couple of months ago and thought it was a scab from something.....or, whatever. Suppose I should get mine checked out too. So, thanks Jan, for posting this, but really sorry you've got to deal with it.

Yeah, a friend had one removed from the bridge of her nose where her glasses hit. Sounds exactly like danf's description except that she could not wear her glasses while the thing healed.

No personal experience, but just good wishes for your continued health and well-being.

I could play with it while I'm waiting for the train.

It's that kind of spirit that keeps me coming back to MeCha. Don't forget to post us OMG Leg-nip photos!

Mom's experience was exactly like danf's--one spot removed from her arm and from her shoulder blade. In one case she had a graft; in one case she did not.

Good luck. I hope it's mild and quickly a thing of the past.

Indeed it does, ej, and that's good. I'm just hypersensitive to criticism of the NHS at the moment (not that what some criticism isn't justified), having read this MeFi thread.

Hope it all turns out OK - from what I've seen, BCC generally doesn't amount to very much, though it is technically malignant and can be quite disfiguring.

I don't understand why men even have leg nipples. It's not like we can use them for anything. What's up with that?

A favourite saying of my grandfather: You're (or It's) as useless as tits on a boar hog.

*ahem*

I'm glad you're getting attended to quickly, Jan. And that it seems to be a minor "thing". But being able to have a nipple on your leg makes it all worth while.

I would have to get my leg-nipple pierced, of course, although someone's already done it first.

I misspoke earlier. . .it's Mohs surgery.

yes, I had it, on my leg. Danf got the procedure right (but in my case it was tiny, so they just did a couple stitches, the spot removed wasn't that big.) All I can figure is it dates back to when I was very young and didn't wear sunblock constantly while swimming and whatnot. (mom is Sicilian, she was at a loss when it came to her sunburn prone pale daughter's skin).

The first thing the doctor asked me was if I sunbathed or had ever used a sunbed. I don't now, but I used to sunbathe on holiday and used sunbeds a few times in the 90s until I realised that for my pale, pale skin it's a very bad idea.

Now I use very high factor sunblock in even the mildest sunshine and generally stay pretty much covered up.

Hm, those pictures were not encouraging, I think I have one of those on my arm. GP appointment ahoy! And good luck EJ!

I was gonna make a joke about this being caused by cilantro....but I won't. Sorry you have to deal with this, but from what I understand, it's the best kind to have if you gotta have it.

My daughter has pale, pale, PALE skin (she's a redhead) and I never could convince her that she needed to be careful in the sun and as a consequence has had some pretty nasty sunburns. Even now she lives near the beach (but at least now slathers on sunscreen.) I hope she is diligent to watch her skin...

I expect it'll be cured by cilantro, bunnyfire.

Data point: I had a similar funky little thing on my arm, had the whole thing popped off in the office right away by my cautious doc, and it turned out not to be cancer.

So there's a good chance this is a false alarm, but if it isn't, this seems to be the cancer to get, according to everything I've read, including this thread. Not that anyone should ever volunteer for cancer, of course.

If you do end up with a nipple on your leg, you will share pics, right? NIPPLE! OMG!

(Good luck!)

If you do end up with a nipple on your leg, you will share pics, right?

Absolutely not! How dare you ask for pictures of my tit! I will wear a bra over it at all times.

(from what I have heard, my money is on the biopsy being negative. . .)

*trying to imagine what a leg bra would look like*

i've had 6 or 7 of them on my back. the last one was 3 months ago . if theyre small theyre really no big deal. my regular doc simply cut them out (requiring a stitch or two)and sent them off for biopsy lab work just to be safe and know exactly what we were dealing with . just remember that basal carcinomas arent anything to lose sleep over as long as you catch them early. just get your partner/friend/family and doctor to check you from time to time . it seems once you get one, you are suseptible to getting another one . also if they miss some of the roots from the one you have cut out and it could start to grow back .

most importantly, dont freak out about them . theyre benign . just get them quickly taken care of and you should have no probs