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Introduction

I’m going to keep this article brief. The case shown in this article is my third episode of skin cancer but is my first episode of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). This article is intended to teach people (nearly 2 million of us!) what to expect if they get a similar diagnosis this year.

Although my case was minor and a relatively easy fix for my surgeon, we should all pay attention to this condition because it kills an estimated 15,000 people per year, with an estimated 1.8M cases per year in the US alone.

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Background

My first two cases of skin cancer were Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC). They occurred in 2011 and 2016. If you want to learn more about BCC, you can read this article I wrote to document the post-operative healing process.

Because I am of northern European descent with light skin and plenty of sun exposure over decades (athletics, field geology, cycling, etc), skin cancer is likely to be something I have to pay attention to for the rest of my life. Once you experience skin cancer, there is a 50% chance of another case within five years. Now that I have had three cases (one every 5 years), I think it is wise for me to be diligent in maintaining dermatological appointments and watching my skin very closely.

What is an SCC and How Do They Start?

I have attached a couple of screenshots that explain a few terms. I would recommend that you do your own research on SCCs if you get such a diagnosis.

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The Nose Job

The current case of SCC began as in irritation on my nose, right at the point where the top of a face mask contacts my nose (Figure 1). I thought it occurred because I wore a face mask so much over the past two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. I was wrong about that because the size of the bump grew over a few months when I wasn’t wearing a mask as much in late 2021.

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If you want to see the case, just click here to download a pdf that shows the SCC, the operative intervention, and the healing process. Don’t worry, the images are not gory or difficult to view.

Luckily for me, I detected the bump early and only one excision was required in the Mohs operation. My Mohs surgeon is also a plastic surgeon, and he did a great job repairing my nose. Also, the operation was essentially painless. The only noticeable discomfort I had was on day two, in which my nose felt sore, almost as though someone punched me in the nose.

About a month after the stitches were removed, however, I noticed a residual pain in the repaired area. I noticed that there were a couple of threads that emerged from the scab. These must have been stitches that were hidden within the wound. I had my wife pull these out, and once that was done, any residual pain in the nose was instantly gone.

Based on a tip from my dermatologist, I also used a product called Serica to help minimize scarring. I’m happy with the result.

Finally, pay attention to your skin! If you have a bump form that doesn’t seem normal, go see a dermatologist for an examination! The sooner you detect the problem, the easier the solution will be. In my case, the SCC looked almost normal but I could tell it wasn’t supposed to be there. Pay attention to the details to protect yourself and to minimize any spread of cancer.

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