update on my eyelid problem

[Cja1956]

Hello, all. I don’t know how many of you saw my previous post a few weeks ago when an ophthalmologist suspected basal cell carcinoma in my eyelid. I had a biopsy and yes he was correct and now I have to have eye surgery to have it removed. I know this is not the site for that, but I thought I would mention it because we are on medications that tell us we shouldn’t be in the sun so much and some of them even say they cause skin cancer. Unfortunately, I live in Florida and it’s hard to avoid the sun. Plus, I never thought I could get eyelid cancer and I ignored some of my symptoms for a long time, thinking I had an infection. Just suggesting that when you’re in the sun, you should wear sunglasses and a hat and protect yourself.

[hunter5582]

Good advice given the risks we have with MPNs.

Wishing you all the best with the surgery.

[Cja1956 in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you.

[MaggieSylvie]

I had one in my eyebrow. The invisible stitches go right down into the outer crease of my eye, so a bit disappointing. If you've got one actually on your eyelid, I suspect they may want to take some skin from elsewhere on your body to make the repair. I hope it's just a small BCC and your surgeon is as good as mine. If you have to have skin taken from your thigh or somewhere, the recovery from that is likely to take longer than that for the eye. Do let me know how you get on, Cja. 🤗

[Cja1956 in reply to MaggieSylvie]

Yes, the doctor that does the repair told me he may have to take skin from my upper eyelid. He’s an ophthalmologist/plastic surgeon. To tell the truth, I’m more worried about my appearance than anything else. 🤔

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Cja1956]

It is very understandable that you are worried about your appearance, and your doctor knows that, even though he probably hasn't said. He will do the best he is able, and will probably hide the stitches in a natural crease. You don't mention taking the skin from anywhere else, so it shouldn't be an issue at all; mine was touch and go because it was a large BCC that had obviously been growing for a long time. You can't notice the scar but I have difficulty getting my sparse eyebrows to match because the scar goes through the eyebrow and the hairs don't grow there anymore. They're sparse anyway, due to my age I suppose. People tell me they don't notice any of my BCC scars. They are very fine and heal quickly. I hope it all goes well for you.😊

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Cja1956]

He will have to cut out the BCC, and they always occupy more space than we actually see. It is understandable that you are worried about your appearance but if your doctor is both an ophthalmologist and a plastic surgeon, he will be skilled at making the best of the job. He may even hide it under a natural crease. I lost this message and wrote another one, so please forgive any repetition!

[Cja1956 in reply to MaggieSylvie]

No problem. Thanks so much. He did say he may have to take from my upper eyelid to replace what he’s taking from my lower eyelid so we’ll see.

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Cja1956]

Ah, so the BCC is on the lower lid! I guess you spotted it fairly quickly, as it would have been quite an annoyance at the very least! So don't worry; he will take from a section that is mostly invisible. What a delicate operation! I'm sure it will go well.

[Cja1956 in reply to MaggieSylvie]

Actually, I think it’s been growing about a year, but it just seemed like an eye infection to me. There’s not anything to spot, except that I was losing my eyelashes and my eyelid was just irritated.

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Cja1956]

Oh well, so long as you haven't irritated it too much, it should still be quite small. I get why you thought it was an eye infection.

I had that one on my eyebrow that I thought was a zit, because even though I was well over 50 I still got the occasional one, and I had been squeezing it. It wouldn't go away. That's cue. Other ones left more obvious scars or nothing at all. Other ones that were found at the same time were on my heel and on my shoulder, and then in my cleavage - and the dissolvable stitches didn't dissolve, so that had to be attended to. Actually, none of them are obvious now.

[mhos61]

Hi Cindy, I’m really sorry to hear this. It’s a good job you followed it up. Hope the treatment isn’t too invasive, and recovery is quick.

Thanks for posting too. Anything related to our condition and treatments is so helpful and therefore this is certainly the right site.

Keep us updated! X

[MaggieSylvie]

It's not the medication. People living in Florida should be taking all the precautions you know about. Unfortunately, you may already have sun damage in other places because BCCs are slow growing and you think they are just a little spot until a doctor tells you they aren't.

They don't all require you to go under the knife; there are other treatments but it just depends on the type of lesion it is. You don't usually have a choice.

If you live in a sunny place and are liable to get sun damage, then taking certain types of medication makes it even more likely that you will get BCCs or other things. In Florida you should be wearing Factor 50 every day. There are many you can buy online. Isdin is good and you can put make up on top. There are also tinted Factor 50, and I have been wearing it, but I have decided I don't like it, that I can't put enough of it on to make a difference, and I prefer to go make-up-free most of the time. When I have finished it up, I shall just use plain Factor 50. I only need a spot of blusher and some eyebrows, anyway😊. The older you get, the less is more. By the way, don't forget any bare skin is at risk, not just the face.

[Bears23]

sorry to hear this, good luck with the procedure,

[Cja1956 in reply to Bears23]

Thank you.

[KLCTJC]

I see this all the time in my practice and people do very well. Mohs surgeon removes the cancer and we have an awesome oculoplastics locally that does the repair. Patients do great! You will be ok. They will take good care of you! If you have any specific questions or concerns will be happy to try and answer if I can. Good luck!

[Cja1956 in reply to KLCTJC]

Thanks so much! Yes, that is the plan. I feel a lot better after reading your post.

[KLCTJC in reply to Cja1956]

I am so glad. I know how much the words “it will be ok” means. ❤️