It has been eleven years since my Mohs surgery. How time flies! It seems like so long ago, yet it is fresh in my mind.
I had a birthday last week, and now we are in holiday mode, but I know others are worried about being newly diagnosed with basal cells. I had a dermatologist visit the other day for a check up, and I've been reading heartbreaking posts on a Facebook group about Mohs, so I decided to write an update. Any bit of hope I can give others is a gift to me, and I see the suffering on those posts and can sympathize.
The good news for me is that there has been nothing to report. No more incidents, no more surgeries, no more issues. I have had regular dermatological visits throughout the years and have not had any recurrences. That includes this last visit, thankfully. I now only go once a year, unless I notice something unusual, which hasn't happened.
The scar on my nose is barely noticeable. It looks like a natural indentation on the side of my nose. If I look closely, I can see the scar, but it is faint. I wanted to mention this, because at first I thought the scar would be more noticeable. It's not. Really.
I have, of course, been careful about not being in the sun without protection. I wear sunscreen and hats if I am going to be outside for extended periods of time. But I don't worry too much about it, like I did at the beginning.
I don't know about anyone else, and I'm not a doctor and I'm not giving advice, but I have found what works for me. I have had a steady regimen of Vitamin D throughout the years, along with other vitamins I take, although not obsessively. I believe it's the Vitamin D that has been wonderful for me. I have no proof, just that I was so very low in this vitamin when I developed the basal cell. I made an effort to get my levels up to normal and try to maintain them now.
Bottom line: So far, so good. I wanted to share that with you all, and fervently hope that you are doing well also.
Best wishes and happy holidays to you all!
