I went to the skin doctor again today.
In January of this year I had two minor operations that removed basal cell cancer. One procedure was on the face. The second was on the shoulder. Both operations left a scar but healed really well.
I thought I was done with cancer of the skin along with any omnimous looking spots. A follow-up visit to the original operations was scheduled 90-120 days later to allegedly check the healing.
Here is my dilemma. I would really like to have the surgery inspected just to be sure that everything is okay. Because I don’t trust the motive of the doctors, I envision more medical procedures during the “follow-up”. More medical procedures this soon after surgery don’t make sense. It all has to do with the profit motive of the doctors.
My visit bordered on ridiculous. The doctor asked me why I was there and what I was concerned about. I told him that he scheduled me to check of the earlier surgery. He is the one who did the surgery. Then I had to describe the areas of surgery. Upon inspection, the surgeries looked good but he found 2-3 more suspicious skin spots that he treated with cryosurgery (use of liquid nitrogen). He literally destroys the skin by freezing it. New skin will replace destroyed tissue. Part of my dilemma is how serious were the spots that he “worked on”? It means more money for the clinic.
The second part of the dilemma is “I’m scheduled again in 3 months for a follow-up visit for the new surgery”! Do I keep the next visit.
My advice is to be vigilant to any changes in skin spots or color. You do want professional care because of family history. The judgement you have to make is the necessity of the care and quality.
Am I going back to the doctor in 3 months? I’m darned if I don’t. I’m darned if I do. It is a dilemma. Stay tuned.
Love,
Dad