General Medical issues thread

[Barks]

Has anyone used radiotherapy (or brachytherapy) to treat a BCC? Good results?

I have one that been frozen off and come back, also used Aldara cream and it has come back again. My GP wants to excise it but I'm extremely apprehensive due to its location near my eye and nose... and I'm a bit of a coward with this sort of thing :shock:

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Well I certainly wouldn't have radiotherapy near my eyes. I would ask the GP for a referral to a plastic surgeon to remove it.

 

[love_the_life]

Well I certainly wouldn't have radiotherapy near my eyes. I would ask the GP for a referral to a plastic surgeon to remove it.

My thoughts exactly. A colleague had one removed from close to her eye and it is hardly noticeable at all.

 

[Major]

I have had one cut out from each side next to the eye, sort of at the end of the eyebrow. No problems with either excision.

My skin cancer guy did mention that if they were any closer to the eye he would defer to an eye specialist

 

[cgichard]

I had a BCC excised from close to the bridge of my nose several years ago and the skin that was stretched up to cover the hole has never fully recovered, but remains noticeably reddened and sometimes flaky - damage to the capillaries, I assume.

 

[Pushka]

I had a BCC excised from close to the bridge of my nose several years ago and the skin that was stretched up to cover the hole has never fully recovered, but remains noticeably reddened and sometimes flaky - damage to the capillaries, I assume.

Try bio-oil.

 

[whatmeworry]

Family GP rang us to remind my parents to get their flu shots. They got the flu shots and he also administered the shingles vaccine. Dad is in his 80's, so might have made a mistake on that but I wasn't complaining.

 

[Milboo]

Is PDT not indicated for it due to the location?

I had 2 PDT sessions on mine but unfortunately it recurred and in the end I had it removed by a plastic surgeon under local (nearly defaulted to having to be done under GA as was not responding to the local). Mine was a long excision as it was a wide BCC but it is barely noticeable these days.

Have done a couple of rounds of Aldara as there is some periphery still there despite margins being ok at time. Need to do it again but just waiting for right time (given its effects).

 

[Barks]

Thanks to all for the feedback and advice.

I wasn't even aware PDT was an option so will talk to my GP about it. My BCC is also quite wide (and getting bigger/wider) as I've left it for too long. Time to suck it up and get it treated!!!

 

[cgichard]

Try bio-oil.

Thanks, Pushka - I'll give it a try.

 

[JohnK]

Funny how we easily forget the recent past.

I have been going through and purging old emails. Noticed that I played very poor golf in July and August 2013 and in one of the golf reports it was mentioned that people had noticed that I was in pain through the round and glad the game was over. Another email to a friend end of August 2013 and I mention that I am on the 5th of course of antibiotics sine returning from Thailand in July 2013.

That sort of explains it and come to think of it I do remember that I was not feeling well. Obviously the mind tries to forget to ensure full healing occurs?

 

[penegal]

Liver function is affected by a wide variety of factors.

LFTs are a reasonably accurate, but fairly blunt diagnostic instrument. What I mean by that is the tests are reasonably reliable. However interpreting their results in a meaningful way requires much more than a quick Google. A good doctor will use LFTs as one diagnostic instrument alongside a myriad of other factors including a detailed patient history, presentation factors, and a physical examination. Generally significantly abnormal LFT results should trigger further diagnostic tests, usually an ultrasound of the liver is a good starting point depending on other signs and symptoms.

LFTs can also vary fairly quickly depending on the presentation. For example acute inflammation or trauma can send ALT and sometimes AST / GGT off the charts, but it may not be correlated to a hepatic condition at all.

The liver is a very resilient organ, which allows us to enjoy things like alcohol, but you should take good care of it. Regular AFDs (Alcohol Free Days) are recommended for everyone, alongside limiting the number of units of alcohol consumed in a single drinking episode (*cough*).


As always discuss your results with your doctor, rather than relying on Google for medical advice.

 

[love_the_life]

Try bio-oil.

Son is using it on the scar from front of ear to neck (modified Blair incision I think?) from the removal of the growth on the parotid gland. He says it certainly has helped the softening of the scar line but it's only about 5 weeks since the operation.

 

[Milboo]

Son is using it on the scar from front of ear to neck (modified Blair incision I think?) from the removal of the growth on the parotid gland. He says it certainly has helped the softening of the scar line but it's only about 5 weeks since the operation.

The silicon gels are awesome for scar healing and minimisation - applied daily and massaged to stop the scar going ropey. I used Strataderm and the results are fantastic.

 

[Pushka]

Oh dear. Now the rheumatologist has thrown scleroderma into the mix due to deteriorating raynauds (those ghouly white hands in Dubai love_the_life) and skin issues. Also have to have a skin biopsy so hi ho, back to the Dermatologist we go. Trouble is she says, I am showing symptoms of multiple auto immune issues and she can't define just one. One day they'll reclassify according to process rather than expression. A faulty immune system is responsible.

Anyone had experience with prednisolone? I'm supposed to call her next time I flare which I did recently and go on a course. Plus will need treatment for raynauds to prevent ulcers and then there's possible psoriasis. Most of these things can be treated with methotrexate. And steroi_s. Lucky I'm healthy. Well. Healthy when I started.

 

[love_the_life]

Not a wonderful result today then by the sound of it. Hopefully will get under control before you head off again. Sounds like you will need gloves to keep hands warm. I know you were thinking of psoriasis as well when we were away.

 

[Pushka]

Not a wonderful result today then by the sound of it. Hopefully will get under control before you head off again. Sounds like you will need gloves to keep hands warm. I know you were thinking of psoriasis as well when we were away.

Nana gloves? Mittens. I'd been working on reports this morning and hands got cold so she saw it full on. I think I was 'scolded' for not being in touch with her earlier - she prefers to know what's happening. I didn't go to the GP as really it's not helpful - for anyone, and you end up thinking it's a waste of time or a hypochondriac. I was actually more worried she'd tell me I couldn't drink alcohol! but she said all the markers weren't about liver function but general inflammation.

It's such an up and down thing. Classic butterfly effect. The GP reduced the thyroid meds a few months ago as he said the thyroid function tests showed I was tipping into hyper. So now those blood tests look 'normal' so he's happy but now I've got symptoms of being hypo. Like losing my eyebrows! So rheumatologist not happy and wants to screen and up the meds again.

I don't feel ill and certainly way better than I was in Dubai. So all good.

 

[love_the_life]

Nana gloves? Mittens.......

I wonder how fingerless ones would go?? You know the ones with the ends cut off but then that's the bit of you that goes white although if you could keep the rest of the circulation going they may not.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I wonder how fingerless ones would go?? You know the ones with the ends cut off but then that's the bit of you that goes white although if you could keep the rest of the circulation going they may not.

Didn't we discuss this last month ............

28th April 2017, 01:04 PM #62320 mrs.dr.ron

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Re: The totally off-topic thread

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Originally Posted by love_the_life

Possum fur and merino gloves are very warm Pushka; they might help the fingers a bit..............

I have these ! They are great - merino and possum fur - I wore these while taking photos on the last trip ​

love_the_life likes this.

 

[Pushka]

Didn't we discuss this last month ............

Did I mention brain fog?