The skin biopsy I had last week came back positive for pre-cancerous squamous cell carcinoma, so I got the carbolic acid treatment last night and now I’m walking around with a funny-looking scab on my face. (The area where he used the acid is white.)
The thing about dermatologists is, once you have insurance, they want to biopsy everything. So I need to put the brakes on — I can’t afford all these co-pays.
I sympathize as one that has had severe chronic skin issues most of my life. I have been in pretty good care at a teaching clinic in Atlanta, but, I have had so many biopsies for lupus (all negative)that I just think I am being used for practice by the interns. 🙂
I am happy you were able to get treated before it became worse.
Partly, it’s that the doctors don’t want to be sued for malpractice in case another freckle later turns out to be serious. My suggestion would be to ask them exactly which moles/whatever they want to biopsy, and remember the inventory. (Depending how mercenary the docs are, maybe look innocent and say,”Gee, I need to know, so I can budget all the co-pays.”) Then just keep a close eye on them yourself. You know the drill: changes in color, ragged edges, harder texture.
I know the feeling, seems like every time I see the Dr. lately, something needs to be frozen off (well, at least nothing essential). No biopsies yet, thank dog. Keep the faith, Suzi.