Would I have to give up photography and sell all my equipment??? (Page 8): If you have a love for photography you will find a solution. Wishing you the best in your situation. Hope...

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

If you have a love for photography you will find a solution.
Wishing you the best in your situation. Hope things turn out well. I know what you are going through.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

planepics wrote:

I was recently diagnosed via biopsy with 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.

My wife had a basal cell skin cancer in exactly the same place except near the right eye. She had mohs surgery and it healed nicely. She is not a photographer but would have no problem using a camera and viewing through her right eye. Hopefully they will get the cancer in the first cut.

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

Jim Plogger wrote:

My wife had a basal cell skin cancer in exactly the same place except near the right eye. She had mohs surgery and it healed nicely. She is not a photographer but would have no problem using a camera and viewing through her right eye. Hopefully they will get the cancer in the first cut.

I hope so, but I got the written results of the MRI yesterday and there were some long-winded sentences/paragraphs about specific images...that worries me even though I didn't understand the terminology. My apt with the dermatologist is next Wed and surgery is scheduled for 12/5. My sister-in-law was trying to make me feel better yesterday (visiting sister from TN). She said if they have to take my eye, she'd buy me a pirate costume!

Randad Loc: East Bethel, MN

I went in for a yearly checkup and had all these spots checked. Doc said, nothing to worry about. Then I said, check this thing on my head. Hmmm, better take a biopsy of that. Got the call later that same day. Yep, same thing you have. I’ll go out on a limb and say, probably nothing to worry about. Don’t sell your equipment quite yet!

timbuktutraveler

Jimscaf2021 wrote:

I had the same thing 20+ years ago I had a bandage on for a couple weeks and my scar healed so if your dermatologist does a good job you'll have a scar but not very noticeable as mine did and full use/vision.
Good luck

I have had Mohs surgery 4 times. Not a big deal if you have a good surgeon.
I would think it will not be a problem with your vision.
What did your surgeon say and did you choose one who has done similar Mohs surgery
before, on that part of your face?

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

timbuktutraveler wrote:

I have had Mohs surgery 4 times. Not a big deal if you have a good surgeon.
I would think it will not be a problem with your vision.
What did your surgeon say and did you choose one who has done similar Mohs surgery
before, on that part of your face?

The Mohs doctor had this on his page, among other facts, "Fellowship: Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology" and "Sees patients for Mohs micrographic surgery, cutaneous oncology and aesthetic reconstruction. Treatment of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and other rare forms of skin cancer. Nail procedures. Surgical treatment of hidradenitis. Removal of benign lesions including cysts, lipomas and other growths."

The other doctor, an oculofacial surgeon (ophthalmologist who went for more school for plastic surgery) who said radiation wasn't an option has this "His areas of interest include thyroid eye disease, ocular oncology and eyelid/orbital tumors, orbital inflammation, cosmetic eyelid and facial surgery, eyelid malpositions, post-traumatic deformities and ophthalmic reconstructive surgery." Both are instructors at Wash U school of medicine and I think they probably both work at Barnes Jewish Hospital (just a few blocks away).

I'm confident that they both know what they're doing and will get rid of the cancer no matter what is needed. Their offices are one floor from each other. My sister-in-law said, if worse comes to worse, would you rather lose an eye, or your life? I guess that's how I need to think about it. Lots of people live productive lives with one eye.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

planepics wrote:

I hope so, but I got the written results of the MRI yesterday and there were some long-winded sentences/paragraphs about specific images...that worries me even though I didn't understand the terminology. My apt with the dermatologist is next Wed and surgery is scheduled for 12/5. My sister-in-law was trying to make me feel better yesterday (visiting sister from TN). She said if they have to take my eye, she'd buy me a pirate costume!

You are going to be just fine. You will look like you have been in a prize fight for a few days, but you can live with that.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

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 so sorry for your recent diagnosis “planepics.” If you have too, you will likely find your right eye quite workable. Hoping the best for you

ssmiller Loc: crescent city, ca

I send you my best wishes for a good outcome! Stan

kpsk_sony

You can get used to anything ... almost ... except death. Good luck with that. I bet you'll now take some of the best pictures of your whole life. A new viewpoint can be very refreshing.

Nukepr Loc: Citrus County, FL

MJPerini wrote:

I would say, first concentrate on getting better. As scary as a diagnosis like that is, wait for results and talk to your doctor face to face. I'll be the news will be better than all the concerns running through your head.
Not a chance you will have to give up photography. There will be a solution for that , tend to the important stuff first.

Sincere best wishes for a quick and happy recovery

I agree fully. First deal with the medical issue, which is more important, and then the camera issue. Best wishes for successful treatment and recoverey.

Finn Man Loc: wisconsin

Any kind of cancer diagnosis is like a kick in the gut. I was told they detected prostate cancer in me. I had a month of radiation treatments and my psa numbers are down now. I have to keep checking things every 6 months. Your photographic journey will go on and you will learn to adapt. Best of luck...K.A.N.

EJMcD

Frank T wrote:

It's weird now because your not accustomed to it.
Keep doing it and your body will adjust.

You posted the first reply which I believe is absolutely correct!

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

I had an appointment with the dermatologist today for a pre-surgical consultation. He offered an alternative that the plastic surgeon hadn't mentioned. A chemotherapy pill specifically formulated for basal cell cancer. If the insurance company (Medicaid) approves it, which the doc thought was likely, I would be on it for life, at different schedules of frequency and I could have side effects like hair loss, cramps and nausea, and I may still have to have surgery if the drug doesn't work or I can't take the side effects, but there's an 80% chance of it working and both docs think it's worth trying. At least I don't have to worry about being cut open and I won't have to take an extended leave from work! PS thanks for all the positive words! :)

rjnedimyer Loc: Altoona, PA

Unusual situation, but that IS LIFE. You did not mention any vision problems in the opposite eye. From your description, I believe your doctors believe you will be OK. However, it is always best to be prepared.
At this time I would suggest you practice.

I am left-handed and use my right to "shoot with" my left eye's vision is 20/400 {way worse than bad}. So you know I've used Veew cameras [5X7" sheet film], "Press Cameras [4X5" sheet film], 35mm range finder, full-frame 35mm SLR's [many models], Medium format [several models], Several models With success.

At first, it will be difficult to do the complete opposite of a habit developed over your lifetime; but if you have the desire to continue with photography and the worst happens you will learn to do it. After a while, the new system will seem normal to you. So, my suggestion is to Practice now and frequently for a while a few times a day for several minutes. So, when you have the surgery you will be able to do it well either way!!!