Urgent advice requested : skin cancer - painful and bleeding

[Ganador]

Hi folks. I need to get liquid nitrogen spray for Basel Cell Carcinoma urgent, before I leave Bangkok next week. I had this procedure four months ago in Penang, but this was not successful and the BCC has grown back. It is only the size of a match head on my ear cartilage, but it is bleeding and painful.

Yes it is urgent, so any useful info about BCC nitro treatment, cost of this procedure, recommended doctors, clinics and hospitals here in Bangkok truly appreciated.

[NeverSure]

Are you leaving for your home country? I would want mohs surgery on that since it's come back. Basal cell hardly ever spreads to other parts of the body and is almost always curable, but you do have to get it all including if it has actually grown into the cartilage.

I wouldn't do freezing again because it didn't get it all the first time. Mohs surgery finds it all and proves it's gone while they do it.

[Ganador]

No, I am going to another location which does not have the liquid nitrogen spray. Thats why I want to get it done here in Bangkok this coming week.

Thanks for the info about Mohs surgery. I googled it to find out more. But can you give me some idea what hospital or clinic does this Mohs surgery here in Bangkok... and what I might expect to pay for this? Thanks in advance.

[lopburi3]

As you already found that is not 100% effective - and frankly surprised it was used if they knew you had BCC. Normally it is for areas that are suspect to become such in my understanding - and in Thailand few hospitals seem to even have it as an option.

I have no idea if/where Mohs surgery is available or cost - my and wife experience with known BCC have all been wide margin surgery removal - and all tested as completely removed.

Thailand is not at forefront of such medical treatment as few with Asian skin develop (although my wife did so it is not unknown). Sorry can not be of more help.

[nzexpat]

Consult one of the Dermatologists at the Bumrungrad .

https://www.bumrungrad.com/thailandhospital

[Sheryl]

Dr. Niyom at Bumrungrad is trained in Mohs. Agree that liquid nitrogen would not be advisable under the circumstances.

[NeverSure]

The only reason I know anything at all is because I had one on my arm. The dermatologist referred me to a surgeon who actually removed it. He didn't do mohs surgery. He removed what he thought was all of it, and then he took another thin skin sample from my arm all the way around it for lab tests. The lab tests proved there was no cancer beyond what he took. That was about ten years ago and no problem since.

If I knew then what I know now I would have taken charge and gotten mohs surgery. In a way it's similar to what I got but it's done in real time and if it isn't all gone they know it and get it all before they close. In my case if the lab had said they didn't get it all I would have needed additional surgery and that seems silly when mohs is available.

[ajahnlau]

Have had numerous spots removed including 1 in ear. Cost should be around 6=8000baht.

[enigma]

Any suggestions for a GP doctor in Pattaya who can surgically remove a BCC from my face?

I don't need to have Mohs procedure, just cut deep around it and send to the lab to make sure it's all gone is fine with me.

I've had BCC surgery several times in Australia, where it's a common procedure, but when I enquired at the hospitals in Pattaya, it seems to be considered expensive major surgery.

I know it's a BCC, I've had more than 20 of them removed by various means over past years, but this one refused to go away after two 28 day treatments with Efudix cream.

[lopburi3]

This is not normally done by a GP here (which is actually almost non-existent in Thailand in any case). BCC I have had were removed by dermatologist/surgeon and plastic surgeon here (both myself and wife have had removals). If done by plastic surgeon expect a rather high price (I paid 25k and done in OR of hospital) - wife had done by regular dermatologist for about 5k or so (and doctor talked the plastic surgeon into stitching it up - but done in normal clean room rather than OR). This was in Bangkok at lower/high price hospital. Also had done at another hospital here years ago and for that a general surgeon was used.

[NickJ]

Mohs has been around for many years. I would go to St Louis Hospital in Bkk. Not only will the cost be a lot less than at one of the Big4 hospitals....but the atmosphere is better.

[Sheryl]

In Pattaya, Dr. Anna at BPH is recommended. US trained (Stanford) and U.S. board certified.

https://www.bangkokpattayahospital.com/en/doctor-profile?v_id=7&depid=2

[wpcoe]

+1 for the recommendation for Dr.Anna. She's pretty blunt and open with her diagnosis and recommendations. (Excellent English, I might add.) She will refer you to an appropriate specialist if she feels she's not competent to treat it.

[uptheos]

BCC is usually diagnosed by biopsy and the type of removal (small or big incision) depends if it's BCC Infiltrating Type. Not dangerous to your health as such, but it can spread enough that removal can cause disfigurement, depending on where it is. If it's BCCC IT, a plastic surgeon needs to be in the planning of its removal if its on the ear, nose, close to eye, lip etc.

[enigma]

Thank you all so much for your helpful advice and suggestions.

I will do as Sheryl recommends and contact Dr Anna at BPH.

St Louis Hospital in Bangkok is good, I've been there before, but now I live in Pattaya and I know I will get more of these BCC things in future, so I need somebody local who can remove them.

I just wish that the Thai hospitals would simply cut it out and lab test the removed specimen. At my age, I really don't need a plastic surgeon to repair the blemish!

[BKKdreaming]

Thank you all so much for your helpful advice and suggestions.

I will do as Sheryl recommends and contact Dr Anna at BPH.

St Louis Hospital in Bangkok is good, I've been there before, but now I live in Pattaya and I know I will get more of these BCC things in future, so I need somebody local who can remove them.

I just wish that the Thai hospitals would simply cut it out and lab test the removed specimen. At my age, I really don't need a plastic surgeon to repair the blemish!

I go to St Louis hospital to get "zapped"

but if you want them to cut it out , ASK THEM , and then ask them if there is any reason not to do it (there may be)