My 43 y.o. husband had a growth on his forehead removed. He noticed it and within a week was at the doctor.
The dermatologist, who reads his own slides, made a diagnosis of Squamous Cell carcinoma. They informed us of the diagnosis at 4:30 on Monday and said he must come in for Mohs surgery at 2:00 on Tuesday. We went in asking questions which he would not answer. He would not provide his biopsy report nor give us any details about how he made his diagnosis other to say that this was in the very earliest stage and that "any gorilla with some bananas could make the diagnosis of scc, it is that straightforward".
He also would not discuss any other option other than Mohs and then told us we are making a big deal out of nothing.
Needless to say we left his office seeking a second opinion.
What can a skilled reader of a biopsy slide determine? Can they tell how advanced, if it is well-differentiated, the depth, the "stage or grade"?(this was a shave biopsy)
Is it common for the dermatologist to read his own slides?
Is it common to misdiagnose SCC?
How aggressive is SCC and did we jeapordize my husband's health by not having it removed immediately? It will be 2-4 weeks before the specialist we have chosen can get him in for surgery if the second opinion agrees with the SCC diagnosis.
Is my husband now at greater risk for SCC having had one growth?
Is he at greater risk for Basal Cell? Malignant Melanoma?
What about a greater risk for non-skin cancers in the future?
I have read that SCC can metastasize. Is that a real concern, even if the doctor said it was in the "earliest stages"?
Anything you can share would be helpful.\
Thanks