Strange Growth On My Head

from JoeUser Forums

After I shaved my head for the Summer I noticed a large growth on top of my head. It's over an inch long. As it's on top of my head, and I was concerned it might be skin cancer, I took a photo of it so I could see it better.

It doesn't look like any photos I've seen of skin cancer, but I haven't a clue what the hell it could be. I do know it's quite ugly and I'll be seeing someone about getting it removed as soon as I can afford the time and money to do so.

24,881 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

It looks like a basal cell to me but the only way to be sure is to biopsy it. It definitely doesn’t look like a melanoma though. 

If they scrape it out it cost around $300 and has a 5% chance of coming back. If they cut the skin out it has only a 1% chance of coming back but that’s going to cost around a thousand.

Also scraping a larger area like that is going to take 2 to3 months to heal compared to a week with cutting it out.

If it’s gotten that large since last summer it’s not something you want to wait too long to take care of.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
It looks like a basal cell to me but the only way to be sure is to biopsy it.
It definitely doesn’t look like a melanoma though. 
If they scrape it out it cost around $300 and has a 5% chance of coming back.
If they cut the skin out it has only a 1% chance of coming back but that’s going
to cost around a thousand.
Also scraping a larger area like that is going to take 2 to3 months to heal
compared to a week with cutting it out.
If it’s gotten that large since last summer it’s not something
you want to wait too long to take care of.


Thanks, after looking up basal cell carcinoma I agree that is what it looks like. I'll look in to having it cut out and tested.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ugh, yea get it looked at asap! Good luck.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ugh, yea get it looked at asap! Good luck.


Yeah, I plan to see someone as soon as I can manage it. I still have that brown patch on my cheek I want to get checked as well. I suspect it's probably something along the same lines although not as ugly. Thanks.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Gnarly.  I won't repeat everyone else's encouragement for haste.  You know the deal.

 

But that isn't what I responded for.  Sorry I haven't mailed that thing to your Mom yet.  Things got crazy around here and I just plain forgot.  I pulled it out of the "out of sight out of mind" room.  Will try to get it sent soon.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yikes. Glad you are on top of it, though. (I think there's some pun to be made here about it being on top of you, haha)
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree with everyone else. It is ugly and you should get it taken care of.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Gnarly.  I won't repeat everyone else's encouragement for haste.  You know the deal.


Yeah.

 
But that isn't what I responded for.  Sorry I haven't mailed that thing to your Mom yet.  Things got crazy around here and I just plain forgot.  I pulled it out of the "out of sight out of mind" room.  Will try to get it sent soon.


No problem my friend, it's not like you aren't doing it out of the goodness of your heart or anything :LOL:
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yikes. Glad you are on top of it, though. (I think there's some pun to be made here about it being on top of you, haha)


:LOL: yeah. I guess it's a good thing that I shaved my head or I really wouldn't have realized that it was anything more than a large mole or something.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree with everyone else. It is ugly and you should get it taken care of.


Yeppers, it's ugly alright.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've had two Basil Cell cancers taken off my nose. They have a localized out-patient procedure that they can do where they take it off, test the surrounding edges to make sure it is all out...then patch you up. The first one only took one cut. The second one was bigger and they not only had to call me back in twice (they cut and sit you in the waiting room while they test...if more cutting is required they call you back in) but they had to cut a plug of skin from behind my ear to put a graft on my nose. The one behind my ear hurt more than the one on my nose. The two were a year apart and it has been 7 years since the second one...no returns yet. The good news is that if ya gotta have cancer, basil cell is the least dangerous one to have. Get'er fixed and get back out there.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've had two Basil Cell cancers taken off my nose. They have a localized out-patient procedure that they can do where they take it off, test the surrounding edges to make sure it is all out...then patch you up. The first one only took one cut. The second one was bigger and they not only had to call me back in twice (they cut and sit you in the waiting room while they test...if more cutting is required they call you back in) but they had to cut a plug of skin from behind my ear to put a graft on my nose. The one behind my ear hurt more than the one on my nose. The two were a year apart and it has been 7 years since the second one...no returns yet. The good news is that if ya gotta have cancer, basil cell is the least dangerous one to have. Get'er fixed and get back out there.


Thanks. I'm hoping they can just go ahead and cut it out and be done with it.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

Ran across this looking at old posts and wondered if you ever got this taken care of?  I sure hope so!  Moving on to other, lighter things.  Yes, i am bored today.

 

judy

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting notronaj, reply 13
Ran across this looking at old posts and wondered if you ever got this taken care of?  I sure hope so!  Moving on to other, lighter things.  Yes, i am bored today.

 

judy

 

LOL. I had it checked out, it's nothing to worry about.