BASAL, SQUAMOUS SKIN CANCERS AND NOW POSSIBLE ANOTHER ONE ON MY ANKLE. EVERY FEW MONTHS GETTING DIAGNOSED!

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This is really getting to be out of control and I cannot stop it! It started with "One" on my face which was a "basal cell carcinoma" near my right smile line which totally freaked me out because it was on my "FACE"! Then another one near my right "EYE" a week or two later and again on my "Left part of my face" and then I discovered one on my "Left Shoulder" which was the only one that was "Squamous Cell" Carcinoma!....All in a matter of months of one another! Now, my "Ankle" started to bleed on a small spot and I am thinking this is "Another one". This is really horrifying now and I want to know why my body is "breaking down"? I had MOHS surgery on all of them and thank God they were caught "early", but, every time I turn around there is another one! How do I STOP this? I take many vitamins and haven't been to the beach in years! You can't even prevent them from showing up!...Is there nothing new to prevent SKIN CANCER? I live in the New York City area. Thanks!

latchbrook 10 months ago

Hi SweetSpice and a very warm welcome to the skin cancer forum which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

It sounds like you've been through a tough time recently and I totally understand how terrifying it is to keep being diagnosed with skin cancers. You can read my 'story' by clicking on my profile but I basically started with a melanoma 8 years ago and then have had a couple of BCCs since. Then the icing on the cake was being diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago!

There isn't anyway of stopping skin cancers appearing if your skin has already been damaged, but these are the 'rules' we are given in the UK to try and avoid further skin damage:

wear close weave cotton clothing in the sun
wear long sleeves and trousers/skirts
wear a hat with a wide brim that shades your face and neck
wear sunglasses that give 100% UV protection
use a high factor sunscreen on any bits of exposed skin (SPF 30 or 50 ideally)
spend time in the shade when the sun is at it's strongest (usually between 11am and 3pm in the UK)
never sunbathe or use a sunbed

It would be great if you could put something about your diagnoses and treatment to date into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

I hope the 'spot' on your ankle doesn't turn out to be another skin cancer but, if it is, it's better to get it treated as soon as possible.

Sending virtual ((hugs))

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

jaysee 10 months ago in reply to latchbrook

In the last 22 years I have had cervical cancer breast cancer and in the last 10 years several basal cell carcinomas on my nose and chest , I am grateful that I am still able to live a normal life,The basal cell carcinoma on my face affected me most.

In the first few weeks I had people stand and stare at me and I struggled ,

After seeing other individuals with far worse scarring it made me realise that I am not what you see but what I am under the scars.

I do try and mask the scars but they are what they are and at the end of the day people do see past the scars. Friends tell me that now they dont notice the scars they just see me.

After many years I can assure those who are struggling with any cancer ,cancer is like grieving in that the fear of it never goes away but diminishes with time, Just live today as though its your last day

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BASAL, SQUAMOUS SKIN CANCERS AND NOW POSSIBLE ANOTHER ONE ON MY ANKLE. EVERY FEW MONTHS GETTING DIAGNOSED!