Would I have to give up photography and sell all my equipment??? (Page 2): Thanks for the encouraging comments and experiences. Although the dates aren't set in stone

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Thanks for the encouraging comments and experiences. Although the dates aren't set in stone - early December -, the Mohs would be the first day and the oculofacial surgeon would do reconstruction the next. He'd put me out for that, something that I haven't experienced since getting 6 teeth pulled as a teenager. The dermatologist got his degree in OK and did residency at U of Alabama, and the surgeon (started out as an ophthalmologist) got his degree in KS and did residency at the Mayo Clinic. Surgery is going to be at Washington University and both are instructors there, so I think they'll have the skill set to do whatever needs to be done. I'd never had an MRI before yesterday....loud and took about 45 min, mostly for the "normal" scan and then they gave me a shot of something that sounded radioactive to detect any pathology and took the rest of the pics. They had my head in a cradle and a cage over that and put me all the way to the middle of the machine...good thing I discovered I wasn't claustrophobic!!!

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

terryMc wrote:

I am naturally left-eyed, and cameras seem to be designed for the right eye.

It would seem the opposite. Best example are the Sony A6xxx series and the Canon GX series.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

planepics wrote:

I was recently diagnosed via biopsy with basal cell skin cancer between my nose and my camera eye (left). I had an MRI yesterday and will get the result (probably) on Tuesday when I see the dermatologist who will do Mohs surgery, tentatively scheduled for early next month. If the worst scenario occurs, how will I continue taking pictures? I tried to look through my right eye as an experiment and it just seemed too weird.

Mohs offers the best chance to remove the cancer completely with minimal collateral damage. Fortunately your doctor believes that your lesion is at a stage where Mohs is possible.
Wishing you the best.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

I know it's scary. I had to face prostate cancer 30 years ago and have done reasonably for these 3 decades since. The fact about human life is that we can adjust to practically anything that comes our way. God bless.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

planepics wrote:

Thanks for the encouraging comments and experience... (show quote)

Sounds like you have an excellent team of doctors. Can't beat that!

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

planepics wrote:

I was recently diagnosed via biopsy with basal cell skin cancer between my nose and my camera eye (left). I had an MRI yesterday and will get the result (probably) on Tuesday when I see the dermatologist who will do Mohs surgery, tentatively scheduled for early next month. If the worst scenario occurs, how will I continue taking pictures? I tried to look through my right eye as an experiment and it just seemed too weird.

That is interesting that you are left eyed. I thought everyone used their right eye with the viewfinder. You can probably get used to using your right eye. After the surgery heals up you will probably be able to go back to using your left eye. If I understood it correctly a Mohs surgery entails a skin graft and should heal back to "normal" but it may take some time. Year or more? Wishing you the best. Keep us informed.

John O.

Do not sell your camera equipment! Basal Cell cancer is the most common form of cancer and on the outermost layer of the skin. My wife, myself and many friends have had Basal Cell a couple of times for each of us and no big deal. My wife had the same surgery you are scheduled for with no problems or after effects. That special surgery had to be done because of close proximity to the eye. Very shortly everything healed just fine for her.

gouldopfl

I had Mohs surgery about a year ago. Once healed, I was good to go. I haven't had any issues. Healing time depends on how deep they need to go. They take thin slices and then check the margins to make sure that they got it all. They got mine with two slices. It is time consuming because after each slice, it has to be prepared as a frozen sample to have the sample read. That can take 1-3 hours depending on how busy the lab is.

Michael Gould

gouldopfl

If they catch it fairly early it shouldn't be a problem. I had mine under where my glases hit my nose. I went a year before my wife said you need to have that looked at, I don't think that is your glasses causing that. When I got to see the dermatologist she said it was stage 1. I guess they grow very slowly at first.

pendennis

A number of years back, I had cataract surgery, and my eye dominance changed from right, to left. However, with the adjustability of the eyepieces in my Nikons, it's no longer an issue. It took a bit of time, but it now comes very naturally.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Basal cell of the skin is rarely very invasive, but it can spread locally. There are books and books on closing defects from Mohs surgery skin deficits (holes). It can be frightening sometimes. But the body is amazing and surgeons at a large teaching hospital will routinely manage cases like yours with complete return to normal function. If you are worried about basal cell invading your eye socket, that requires a massive tumor which is very very rare for basal cell CA. Best wishes.

Boris77

planepics wrote:

I was recently diagnosed via biopsy with basal cell skin cancer between my nose and my camera eye (left). I had an MRI yesterday and will get the result (probably) on Tuesday when I see the dermatologist who will do Mohs surgery, tentatively scheduled for early next month. If the worst scenario occurs, how will I continue taking pictures? I tried to look through my right eye as an experiment and it just seemed too weird.

I am very right-orientated, but equally lazy now. I, as the driver of a car, started taking pictures out of the open car window instead of getting out. After a half dozen trips thru the Park and sitting at traffic lights, I have learned to compose and shoot with my left eye. Now I occasionally shoot left eyed on the normal out and about just because it is handier, or less obvious.
Beyond what seems an easy adaptation for subjects not moving fast, what about the viewing screen on the back of the camera. This would be an excellent time to learn to use a tripod.
I have had 4 skin cancer patches removed (not on my face) with no after effect. Now I cover up; no problems for over ten years.
Boris

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

John O. wrote:

Do not sell your camera equipment! Basal Cell cancer is the most common form of cancer and on the outermost layer of the skin. My wife, myself and many friends have had Basal Cell a couple of times for each of us and no big deal. My wife had the same surgery you are scheduled for with no problems or after effects. That special surgery had to be done because of close proximity to the eye. Very shortly everything healed just fine for her.

Actually, Squamous cells are on top, basal cells are on the bottom

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrEqs44RlllcpAOsMxXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3BpdnM-?p=basal+vs+squamous&fr2=piv-web&type=E210US0G0&fr=mcafee#id=27&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Ffiles.differencebetween.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F02%2FBasal-Cell-and-Squamous-Cell.png&action=click

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

gouldopfl wrote:

If they catch it fairly early it shouldn't be a problem. I had mine under where my glases hit my nose. I went a year before my wife said you need to have that looked at, I don't think that is your glasses causing that. When I got to see the dermatologist she said it was stage 1. I guess they grow very slowly at first.

Mine was where my glasses were (are), too. Sometime before my first cataract surgery my eye started itching really bad. I rubbed it raw but thought it would eventually heal. I started wearing glasses a few years earlier (at 50). I try t avoid doctors whenever I can so it probably went too long before getting it checked out. When I went on vacation to France last year, one of the tourists happened to be an ophthalmologist, his one son was an optometrist and his other was in medical school. He said I should have it looked at, then my endocrinologist (I'm diabetic), then my regular physician called the first dermatologist and it snowballed from there. I've never had any issues with my right eye, other than the other cataract ('11/30 for the left and 1/21 for the right. Both my parents also had cataracts.

druthven

Having endured 6+ Mohs procedures on my face and scalp I would be more than just optimistic that you will have no problem using your camera with the left eye.