ItsMe20333
New member
I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my nose about 10 years ago. Now I have a spot on my arm that is probably basal cell as well. Up until a few days ago, I thought that I had an infected area, but now I realize that it is probably another basal cell carcinoma.
I don't have health insurance, so I would like to get this diagnosed and treated as inexpensively as possible, while still fully treating the problem. When I had my first basal cell carcinoma, I had to see my doctor several times while we tried to use Fluorouracil cream. Then he sent me to a plastic surgeon who removed the cancer, but he didn't remove a big enough margin, so I had to have another surgery. So for the first skin cancer, I had the cost of several doctors visits, plus the Fluorouracil cream, plus the cost of having the surgery done on my nose twice, plus the cost of having the biopsy done twice.
This possible cancer is on my arm, so the cosmetic aspect is not quite as important as on my face, so hopefully the doctor can take a wider margin in the first place and I won't have to get the surgery done twice.
Here is my question. I am going to call a doctor tomorrow, the question is which doctor. I have three to choose from. First is my family doctor. If he looks at it and thinks it is a basal cell, he might remove it, or he might refer me. If he removes it, that would probably be my least expensive option. Or I could go to a Dermatologist. If it is a skin cancer, he might remove it, or refer me to a surgeon. If it is anything else, he would probably be the best person to treat whatever it is. Or I could go back to my plastic surgeon. I figure that with my history of basal cell, they will likely remove this if it is a basal cell or not, so why not cut out the other middlemen (doctors) and go straight the surgeon. Of course he probably won't even see me without a referral.
So my question to you is who should I go see: My family doctor, my dermatologist, or my plastic surgeon?
I don't have health insurance, so I would like to get this diagnosed and treated as inexpensively as possible, while still fully treating the problem. When I had my first basal cell carcinoma, I had to see my doctor several times while we tried to use Fluorouracil cream. Then he sent me to a plastic surgeon who removed the cancer, but he didn't remove a big enough margin, so I had to have another surgery. So for the first skin cancer, I had the cost of several doctors visits, plus the Fluorouracil cream, plus the cost of having the surgery done on my nose twice, plus the cost of having the biopsy done twice.
This possible cancer is on my arm, so the cosmetic aspect is not quite as important as on my face, so hopefully the doctor can take a wider margin in the first place and I won't have to get the surgery done twice.
Here is my question. I am going to call a doctor tomorrow, the question is which doctor. I have three to choose from. First is my family doctor. If he looks at it and thinks it is a basal cell, he might remove it, or he might refer me. If he removes it, that would probably be my least expensive option. Or I could go to a Dermatologist. If it is a skin cancer, he might remove it, or refer me to a surgeon. If it is anything else, he would probably be the best person to treat whatever it is. Or I could go back to my plastic surgeon. I figure that with my history of basal cell, they will likely remove this if it is a basal cell or not, so why not cut out the other middlemen (doctors) and go straight the surgeon. Of course he probably won't even see me without a referral.
So my question to you is who should I go see: My family doctor, my dermatologist, or my plastic surgeon?