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I'm scared and need advice
by TaxiJan, Oct 03, 2007 05:45PM
I have what I believe to be skin cancer that has been going on for at least several months now. I'm sorry if this ends up resembling a dissertation but I want to be sure to give you as much information as I can.
Several months ago I got a few sores on my left forearm. I'm the type that can't leave things alone, so I irritated them repeatedly. For a while they seemed to bleed excessively when irritated. Most of them ended up healing, but leaving a dark coloration (I'm caucasion) with a lighter colored center area. The surface remains dry and slightly scaly. One of the spots became raised with a scaly surface. Again, me who can't leave things alone kept trying to remove the scaly top. I was under the impression that the "bump" was a result of scar tissue building up. A couple weeks ago while peeling the surface, I exposed a cluster of white spots just under the skin. I cut open around one of them and with tweezers pulled out a hard white ball that seems to have been attached to a blood vessel. The surrounding at this time was too sensitive for me to try to get any more of the balls out.
It was at this point I decided I needed to start doing some serious research. I didn't think much about the non-healing aspect before then because of my history (an 8 month period) of smoking ice-meth, which commonly affects people with sores that don't heal well. I have been clean for about 1 1/2 years now, but figured this non-healing could be a residual effect of the prior addiction. While addicted I did have problems with persistent sores that had been caused by over itched bug bites, however, those did not bleed excessively, they simply didn't want to heal. My research led me to believe non-melanoma type cancer, and because of my lack of knowledge assumed I didn't need to rush to the doctor. After about another week or so, I noticed the white ball cluster was no longer at the surface. Still I didn't think much until last Saturday when someone told me she lost a friend to (not sure of spelling) squamish cell that had in time internalized resulting first in losing an arm and lung. Since hearing that I have been in panic mode. I called my primary who referred me to a dermatologist. They cannot get me in for two more weeks.
Needless to say, with my new found fears I have been examing my condition much more closely. A new spot that got cut on my left arm bled more than it should, and is not healing. If the scab gets irritated, it bleeds. Today I paid special attention to a lot of little white spots on the back of both hands and some on forearms. Some of them are dot shaped and some are linear in nature. I noted that I didn't remember having that many scars from cuts/scratches in the past. I'm not sure how long those have been there.
I've also noticed that the surrounding area around the worst spots on my left arm is very slightly puffed and and feels just a little squishy under the skin when lightly poked. Over the last couple days I have noticed a slight numb feeling in the forearm and back of the hand down to the knuckes.
I would like some input as to how scared I should or shouldn't be at this point, and whether waiting two weeks to see a dermatologist is ok or if I should be seeking immediate professional help.
Not sure how much info you might need regarding current life style... in a nutshell, I drive a taxi 13ish hours a day (keeping me seated in the same position for much of that time), don't get enough exercise, have poor/irregular eating habits, smoke cigarettes and have coctails after work before retiring. Thank God I don't still use that drug. I was totally drug free (except for alcohol and cigarettes) before that since age 16. I'm 48 now.
Thanking you in advance for your reply,
Janet
Several months ago I got a few sores on my left forearm. I'm the type that can't leave things alone, so I irritated them repeatedly. For a while they seemed to bleed excessively when irritated. Most of them ended up healing, but leaving a dark coloration (I'm caucasion) with a lighter colored center area. The surface remains dry and slightly scaly. One of the spots became raised with a scaly surface. Again, me who can't leave things alone kept trying to remove the scaly top. I was under the impression that the "bump" was a result of scar tissue building up. A couple weeks ago while peeling the surface, I exposed a cluster of white spots just under the skin. I cut open around one of them and with tweezers pulled out a hard white ball that seems to have been attached to a blood vessel. The surrounding at this time was too sensitive for me to try to get any more of the balls out.
It was at this point I decided I needed to start doing some serious research. I didn't think much about the non-healing aspect before then because of my history (an 8 month period) of smoking ice-meth, which commonly affects people with sores that don't heal well. I have been clean for about 1 1/2 years now, but figured this non-healing could be a residual effect of the prior addiction. While addicted I did have problems with persistent sores that had been caused by over itched bug bites, however, those did not bleed excessively, they simply didn't want to heal. My research led me to believe non-melanoma type cancer, and because of my lack of knowledge assumed I didn't need to rush to the doctor. After about another week or so, I noticed the white ball cluster was no longer at the surface. Still I didn't think much until last Saturday when someone told me she lost a friend to (not sure of spelling) squamish cell that had in time internalized resulting first in losing an arm and lung. Since hearing that I have been in panic mode. I called my primary who referred me to a dermatologist. They cannot get me in for two more weeks.
Needless to say, with my new found fears I have been examing my condition much more closely. A new spot that got cut on my left arm bled more than it should, and is not healing. If the scab gets irritated, it bleeds. Today I paid special attention to a lot of little white spots on the back of both hands and some on forearms. Some of them are dot shaped and some are linear in nature. I noted that I didn't remember having that many scars from cuts/scratches in the past. I'm not sure how long those have been there.
I've also noticed that the surrounding area around the worst spots on my left arm is very slightly puffed and and feels just a little squishy under the skin when lightly poked. Over the last couple days I have noticed a slight numb feeling in the forearm and back of the hand down to the knuckes.
I would like some input as to how scared I should or shouldn't be at this point, and whether waiting two weeks to see a dermatologist is ok or if I should be seeking immediate professional help.
Not sure how much info you might need regarding current life style... in a nutshell, I drive a taxi 13ish hours a day (keeping me seated in the same position for much of that time), don't get enough exercise, have poor/irregular eating habits, smoke cigarettes and have coctails after work before retiring. Thank God I don't still use that drug. I was totally drug free (except for alcohol and cigarettes) before that since age 16. I'm 48 now.
Thanking you in advance for your reply,
Janet
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Having gone through the experience timing is very important. Catching it as early as possible helps a lot. I'd talk to your physician and see if they can take a sample.
Good luck.
poe
When I posted this question, I really was in panic mode, and even more so when I could not see your reply or the dermatologist right away. I had my appointment a couple weeks ago, and it turns out that I had a bacterial/staff infection that got into my system since it was left unchecked so long. I'm being treated for that with antibiotics and antibiotic ointment and slowly but surely, it seems to be working.
Guaranteed... next time I see a persistent problem that I don't know what it is... I won't wait so long to have it checked out :) I was so scared I was actually mentally preparing myself for the possibility of losing my left arm... or more.