is a small recurring scab on ear edge likely to be a rodent ulcer?

[Coderooo]

Dad has had some ( removed) but i know ears are popular places for em
have made Gp appt - bit nervous

[Coderooo]

.

[Malificence]

I had one under my eye a few years ago that resulted in removal and a skin graft, I'd had a recurring scab that bled when knocked for ages beforehand. For years before that it had looked like a litle hard whitehead.

[Coderooo]

no its just a normal tiny scab. could be dermatitis it says on www.
no bleeidng nothing
not like pics on web

[Fliight]

It could be one of these or (very unlikely, but still) possibly another type such as squamous cell or even melanoma.

It is good he is being checked out. Don't panic just yet. Basal cell is by far the most likely if it is any kind of skin cancer, and doesn't spread, and won't see him off

[Coderooo]

no its ME not him
aargh am dying

[Coderooo]

its tiny and has been coming and going for a year or so
ok it has bled once delicately " removed"

[cyb]

my dad has had a couple of those removed, was melanoma but caught in time so fine

where on ear is it

[Fliight]

Good it is tiny

you won't die

it sounds slow growing if persistent. Get it orf and see what they come up with...all v interesting at least. I bet it's nothing scary.

Our HT had one off her forehead and is still functioning.

[Coderooo]

ta all
is on edge of ear

[CMOTdibbler]

BCCs and SCCs are quite common on the edge of your ear as it is very sun exposed. They need removing surgically, or with topical chemo cream, but are v v slow growing and not a risk to your life unless you ignore them for years and years.

My GMIL has had loads removed, and no more side effects than sulking cos they wouldn't do her an eye lift when removing the one by her eye - she was 95 at the time, but never short of an opportunity to look better

[Coderooo]

oh THANKS
how reassuring
so what will dr say on thurs then?

i am a teeny bit worried

[Coderooo]

will they cut my ear into spock style?

[cyb]

you wont notice ANY diffrencce I promise

[Coderooo]

dont - colleague has had rodent ulcer cut off and has MASSIVE spock ear spikey thing

[CMOTdibbler]

The Dr should refer you to a dermatologist to have a good look at it. If it is tiny, then surgery to remove it should be fine, but if you are worried about how it will look, then it's worth asking about alternatives - the chemo cream or radiotherapy (only 5 treatments or so, and it doesn't have any side effects, but depends on just where it is on your ear, and what your local radiotherapy department can do)

[Coderooo]

thanks dr.
seems pretty likely to be it now

[sandripples]

I had a basal cell cancer removed from under my eye several years ago. It was v. straightforward and it did give me a bit of an eye-lift! Pity it was only on one side! NO further problems with it. I went back to work in the afternoon after I'd had it removed. Thought this was quite brave at the time as I did have a few stitches!

[Malificence]

Sandripples,I had a bright yellow dressing stitched to my face for a week to enable my skin graft to heal, it looked like a big yellow caterpillar had taken up residence below my eye!
It's about the size of a penny and other than being very pale skin ( because it was from behind my ear), it healed very well, it must be ten years ago now and people don't seem to notice it.

[Fliight]

Coddy,if it is v small don't worry they will not remove half your ear.

Basal isn't a risk like melanoma would be.

The derm will take it out with a tiny bit of surrounding tissue (hate that word) and then biopsy it, to see wtf it is.

Then they might go in for a bit more but tis unlikely much damage will occur. If it were a melanoma they would take more but I doubt it is.

[sandripples]

Malificence - that's impressive! No caterpillars were hurt in the removing of my basal - it must have been a small one I never think about it but have just looked at the scar - it is minute - perhaps half a centimetre and very finely done. And when I look it does slightly younger than the other side due to face-lift effect but its not noticeable and no-one has ever commented or anything. perhaps everyone is just too polite!

[Fliight]

That's true Shiney.

However I would advocate not leaving the GP's office until you have that referral, and once you are with the derm, don't leave till they have removed it (and not by shaving it off - punch or excisional biopsy, please. Or the results get fucked up)

I say this because my best mate was told she had a skin infection for a year and actually it was melanoma, and she died. So I am careful with all my friends now and nag them shamelessly...can't afford to lose any more.

If it is nothing you will at least know for sure.

[Coderooo]

thanks all
cybil was mEAN to me and i have a strange ear fgs

yes might be derma thing.
thurs am i am in

[Fliight]

Thurs it is

will sit and wait for you to come out

[Coderooo]

aw