Mohs Procedure

HobieMarty · 02-03-2026, 08:38 AM

Well I have a squamous cell carcinoma on my forehead, biopsy confirmed a couple of weeks ago. Today I am having the Mohs procedure performed to remove the cancerous skin, in fact, they just finished the scraping/cutting and I am in a waiting room awaiting the results of the examination of the skin. They take a sample and examine it under a microscope here on site. Hopefully all will go well. I have another spot on my shoulder that will also be removed at a later date. Has anyone here undergone a Mohs procedure?

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rfuerst911sc · 02-03-2026, 09:03 AM

I haven't gone under that procedure but I wish you well .

Crowbob · 02-03-2026, 09:03 AM

If I may, what do these lesions look like?

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I don't know anything about it, but I hope all goes well.
Any chance you'll get a sexy scar from it?

Neilk · 02-03-2026, 09:14 AM

My stepfather has had at least 50 of them. He's in his early 90s and played a lot of golf in his teens when they didn't know what sunscreen was. They are pretty straightforward, just follow the aftercare instructions.

Doctors used to do multiple sites at a time but then Medicare/insurance reduced the reimbursement rates for second and third sites, so now they tend to spread out the procedures and only do 1 or 2 max.

Did they give a reason for not doing the shoulder at the same time?

herr_oberst · 02-03-2026, 09:16 AM

Wishing you all the best.

John Rogers · 02-03-2026, 09:18 AM

That is how my battle with cancer started. I had a cut on my forehead and it was skin cancer. it was cut out and less than a year later was found all throughout the right side of my face, so surgery was done and then two months of radiation. The radiation nearly killed me I.E. went from 220# down to 170# in 6 weeks. Then 1 1/2 years later it showed in the upper part of my left lung. My oncologist said that Sharp Healthcare just got an immunotherapy medicine from the Danny Thomas Children's Hospital and would I want to be the test case....I said yes and in 5 weeks the cancer had become a scar that I spent two years coughing up weird stuff that the meds had killed.

Still getting it and my doc says I should keep getting it as long as I live. I guess being old (80+) and having Medicare pay for it is good! I hope you have a good oncologist or will get one and get PET scans every 3 to 4 months to catch any cancer that has shown up somewhere new?
John Rogers the oldracer

Zeke · 02-03-2026, 09:21 AM

Not Mohs but I do appreciate the training and talent those that do this have. I had a big scoop taken off my neck and the damn scab that resulted drove me crazy. I can't see a scar and IDC, but it a stitch or 2 would have helped that heal faster, I would have preferred that.

Reading the explanation of Mohs it seems what the dermy did to me was more or less an all-in-one deep scoop. Why fool around? They did the biopsy after I left and he got it all. Well I guess odds were with him since it felt like he dug in a 1/4 inch. Whatever, there was no skin left so the scab was the size of a nickel and lasted 3 weeks.

With thin skin on the forehead I can see where that is not possible. Still, I'll take the stitches over a large scab.

astrochex · 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Well I have a squamous cell carcinoma on my forehead, biopsy confirmed a couple of weeks ago. Today I am having the Mohs procedure performed to remove the cancerous skin, in fact, they just finished the scraping/cutting and I am in a waiting room awaiting the results of the examination of the skin. They take a sample and examine it under a microscope here on site. Hopefully all will go well. I have another spot on my shoulder that will also be removed at a later date. Has anyone here undergone a Mohs procedure?

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I have had moh of that procedure than I would like to admit.

You will have daily maintenance on the wound site that is important to keep up with. The doctor should clearly explain what that entails. And if you are not already, you will need to be extra careful with sun exposure. Periodic (e.g., semi-annual) visits to a dermatologist should also be in your future plans. They will be able to catch potentially cancerous sites and treat them much simpler than via a mohs procedure.

KFC911 · 02-03-2026, 09:27 AM

I've had it done ... been along with dad for many more.

Don't worry ... if they don't cut again... done.

Good luck Marty!

KFC911 · 02-03-2026, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrochex

I have had moh of that procedure than I would like to admit.

You will have daily maintenance on the wound site that is important to keep up with. And if you are not already, you will need to be extra careful with sun exposure.

We pay dearly for being young and stooopid ... and outside in the south

astrochex · 02-03-2026, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KFC911

We pay dearly for being young and stooopid ... and outside in the south

That is the truth. A history of sun burns is what my derm doc says is a causal factor to the later in life skin cancers.

You will be fine Hobie!

gacook · gacook's Garage

As a ginger who grew up in Arizona and spent most of my life outdoors, I know the day is coming. Really should go see a derm and get a checkover. Wife went today; they took a chunk off her nose to biopsy.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Well I have a squamous cell carcinoma on my forehead, biopsy confirmed a couple of weeks ago. Today I am having the Mohs procedure performed to remove the cancerous skin, in fact, they just finished the scraping/cutting and I am in a waiting room awaiting the results of the examination of the skin. They take a sample and examine it under a microscope here on site. Hopefully all will go well. I have another spot on my shoulder that will also be removed at a later date. Has anyone here undergone a Mohs procedure?

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I've has quite a few of those, usually at least 1 a year these days. always waited in the OR for the results to be cleared before release.

The worst was on a lower lip, I looked like something from a horror movie , but the surgeon was a genius, when it healed nothing on toward is visible.

I spent much of the first 50yrs of my life on the deck of a boat or on a mountain somewhere or a tennis court, surely am paying for it now.

Evans, Marv · 09:59 AM

I'm going to my first follow up in about an hour after having it done on Jan. 12. The surgeon had to make two passes at it leaving a cutout a bit larger than a quarter on my left temple area. I thought it might be painful afterwards, but it didn't hurt at all. I'm supposing he cut out the nerves in that area too. I've had to keep it moist with Aquaphor and covered with a bandage, and the skin is growing back nicely. I talked to the sergeon afterwards (Kaiser), and he said he did six that day. YOU'll be OK, it just takes some time. This is my first one, & I'm surprised I haven't had more before now after spending so much time at high altitudes ( 9 to 13K ft.) as a young guy.

HobieMarty · 02-03-2026, 11:35 AM

Thanks y'all. Everything went well. The Dr only had to make one pass and got it all. I have stitches and a big gauze bandage on my forehead at the moment. After 24 hours I will be able to change the bandage and use a regular band-aid.
I will have to make an appointment to have the spot on my shoulder removed, sometime in early March. Thank you for the well wishes, I appreciate y'all very much.

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pwd72s · 02-03-2026, 11:44 AM

I love good news...

HobieMarty · 02-03-2026, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowbob

If I may, what do these lesions look like?

They looked to me like a dry patch of skin. The spots would dry up almost like a scab and then start to peel at the edges or even crack and I would then pick at them to remove the dry parts and then they would be smooth. The one on my shoulder would sometimes be sore after messing with it like that but after a day or so it would be back to normal, then the whole process would start again and repeat about every 2 or 3 weeks.

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HobieMarty · 02-03-2026, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neilk

My stepfather has had at least 50 of them. He's in his early 90s and played a lot of golf in his teens when they didn't know what sunscreen was. They are pretty straightforward, just follow the aftercare instructions.

Doctors used to do multiple sites at a time but then Medicare/insurance reduced the reimbursement rates for second and third sites, so now they tend to spread out the procedures and only do 1 or 2 max.

Did they give a reason for not doing the shoulder at the same time?

The Dr pretty much said what you said, that the insurance requires them to do different methods at different times.

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HobieMarty · 02-03-2026, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrochex

That is the truth. A history of sun burns is what my derm doc says is a causal factor to the later in life skin cancers.

You will be fine Hobie!

Yep, growing up in the Florida Gulf Coast sunshine swimming, sailing, and fishing have taken their toll I guess. Sunscreen? What's that? We don't need no stinking sunscreen!!! Bring on the Hawaiian Tropic or Banana Boat stuff!!! Ah, but it was so much fun growing up outside!!!

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