Regencorr AK / Scc concerns

Hello everyone. I decided not to create a new topic and if the author of the topic does not mind I will write here. My situation is as follows: I have a relapse of a basal cell tumor on my nose. There is a scar one year after surgery, but it is not very visible, the operation was micrographic. I look in the mirror and can not understand whether the tumor relapse grows from the scar, or next to the scar.
I just recently started a course of regencorr. I thought, what if I start the first phase of the treatment according to the recommendations written in the " note"? As I understand, in that section, the course is written for those who have complicated cases, and I have a relapse on the back of my nose, and I think I have a complicated case. I'm very concerned about that.
Do you think it's possible to do this? To start applying the cream under the patch right away for 30-40 days, twice a day, is that acceptable at the beginning of treatment? Isn't it too excessive?

Hi Lindalah and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I'm sorry to read that you've had a recurrence of your basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

As none of us are medics, it's very important that you follow the instructions that you've been given by your consultant. If you feel that you want to alter the treatment from what you've been prescribed then you must speak to your consultant first.

Cancer treatments are tailored to the individual and your circumstances might be completely different to someone else here so it could be very dangerous not to follow the treatment path your consultant has devised for you.

x

Hi latchbrook. Thank you for your reply. I agree with you, another person's experience may not be suitable for me. But, at the same time, it can also be useful. Even if the odds are 50/50. Recent events have taught me to be critical of everything, especially doctors.                          

     I listened for a long time to the doctor who treated my husband for covid. And when my husband got very sick and was put on oxygen ventilation, it turned out that our doctor did not treat him as he should have been. My husband was saved by another doctor.                                                                                                                                                              I believed when I listened to the doctor who assured me that they would remove my tumor in a special way, that there was almost never any recurrence after such removal and there would be no trace of the scar. Now, I draw conclusions from different people's opinions.

In such a question, you need the opinion of someone who has experience in treating BCC with the cream, especially the recurrence on the nose. If you search, you can find the skin cancer forums and the experience of those who have used regencorr for a month under the patch or the film, and it is quite effective. But the variant when you apply the cream twice a day for more than 30 days under a patch is certainly too much if we are talking about actinic keratosis. Although doctors say that BCC is a very stubborn tumor to treat, this would probably be justified. The immune response in the skin would probably be very intense. Need at least a three-day pause in treatment, after 4 weeks of this mode of application of the cream, and then continue as in the instructions. How big is the relapse?

That's the problem, the tumor recurred on the back of my nose. The type of recurrence was diagnosed as the nodular tumor, and before treatment, it was nodular ulcerative. I will also be applying cream to the edges of the scar, preventing it.  The size of the recurrence is small, but I am concerned that the tumor may have deep growth. Many people write about this possibility in the forums and the instructions mentioned. what does an intense immune response in the skin mean? Could there be side effects?

Hi lindalah

I've recently had a basal cell removed from my nose.

Initially I had a bad response from dermatology so I can understand your reluctance in trusting the doctors.

However if this is a definite relapse it's important to see the surgeon who treated you. I'm guessing you had MOHS?

Hi Puckettyboo . That's right, I had the tumor removed with Mohs. That's the problem, I went to the doctor who did the surgery. I went to him when I saw that there was a small lump on the back of my nose, at the edge of the scar. The histology showed that there were cancer cells in the tissue. I cried, I was a little emotional. I asked the doctor how it is, after all, before the surgery he told me that this type of surgery is the most reliable. And he was absolutely calm, telling me that I was too delayed in going to the doctor and that's why there were such difficulties, and then began to say that this is not a recurrence, but another tumor, ie, it is a second nearby growing tumor, which has nothing to do with the removed tumor. So I was made to feel guilty about everything.   When I calmed down, I remembered about Hugh Jackman and a lot became clear.

What were your initial difficulties with the dermatologist?

When I first saw the dermatologist three years ago she very bluntly told me it was nothing to worry about and that at my age I shouldn't expect to have perfect skin. She said I was leaving the hospital skin cancer free.

Fast forward over a year I asked my GP to refer me again as it had changed. She didn't want to be seen as if she was arguing with the dermatologist. However, at my insistence she did refer me.

Six months later I saw a different dermatologist who was that quick diagnosing a basal cell on my nose my friend hadn't even parked her car. No explanations just that as it was on my nose I'd be seeing a head and neck surgeon.

So this had been slowly growing all the time. I finally had it removed June last year.

I have to add that the surgeon was lovely but I did complain to pals about the original misdiagnosis 

It's very easy for your surgeon to say that you delayed in going to the dr isn't it?

It's usually a few weeks before you can see a dr and then it's a several weeks or months referral wait.

It's not your fault as you'd automatically think it's a recurrence given that you had clear margins.

So will you be having mohs again?

No, I'm not planning any more mohs surgery on my nose. With the surgeon who operated on me, I have nothing more to talk about. I asked my GP why I had a relapse, and she said that relapses are infrequent and I was just unlucky. So the outcome of such modern surgery also depends on luck. The thing is, I am reminded of my own aunt. More than 15 years ago, an ordinary provincial surgeon removed her basal tumor with an ordinary scalpel. The operation was so accurate that she was left with a barely visible scar. Not a single recurrence in all 15 years. The cost of the surgery was not high and was fully covered by health insurance. Although classic surgery has many drawbacks, my aunt's example shows that it all depends on the competence and talent of the doctor. Mohs, it's an advanced method and many are very happy with it, but my impression is that due to commercialization, this method has been adopted by a large number of self-confident dilettantes.      I sincerely wish you never to experience a relapse and always be surrounded by kind and talented doctors.