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Bowen's Disease
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Friday, 10th December 2010
It looks as if I have Bowen's Disease on my legs. I understand this is a pre-cancerous skin condition. I am waiting to have a biospy. Has anyone had this condition? I believe it can be treated by a cream. Was this successful?
I can't think how I got this sun damage as I have been in maxi skirts for most of my life! I guess it just happens. -
Message 2
Posted by Prof Pepita in Wonderland (U3101721) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Furiousl.- I've just seen this.
I am afraid I know nothing about this condition- but I just want to say I hope it gets treated quickly and satisfactorily- and i'll be thinking of you.
P. x -
Message 3
Posted by Dunlurkin NL (U2675855) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Bums, locki.
I have never heard of Bowen's disease but it doesn't sound like much fun. You really don't need this.
I recall a senior General, still serving, telling me once that he had a "pretty young nurse" come in to the office twice a week to rub his legs. Any chance similar arrangements could be made for you?
Dunlurkin -
Message 4
Posted by ginslinger (U10123453) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Locki, I am not going to pretend I know anything about Bowen's disease (but I am hanging on to that vital prefix"pre-" and hoping that it is a nuisance rather than an embuggrance), but as a fellow maxi skirt wearer I can tell you that I have moles in places I am sure have never been exposed to the sun. Baffling. Really hope all goes well.
Gs -
Message 5
Posted by The Flea (U14601609) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
It does seem that - *if* *left* *untreated* - a small number of cases turn malignant (3-5%).
All the best with the treatment. -
Message 6
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Thanks for the best wishes and link everyone. The doctor tells me it is common.......Huum....perhaps someone on the MB will have experienced it.
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Message 7
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Don't worry, locki. I haven't had it but my best friend has. Partly because her father was a dermatologist and a bit of a scare-monger, she did have it surgically removed although it was still benign, but it was made clear that that was only one option and that she could simply use the cream (I forget what it was called) if she preferred. Possibly she too preferred to get it removed and have done with it, can't really remember. Anyway she got a nice six weeks off work while she sat around with her leg up (it was on her shin) and OH ( a relatively new OH I should note) waited on her hand and foot...
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Message 8
Posted by patchwork pattie (U6985101) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Hi Locki
My husband had it on his back (I noticed the patch, kept an eye on it and suggested he get it checked). It was treated with an anti-cancer cream, applied daily by me. This was more than 5 years ago, there has been no re-occurence, and no sign of any more patches so far (I keep a very careful eye on his very fair, freckly skin!) The only after effect was an increased sensitivity in the area of the treated patch.
Good luck, hope it turns out well.
pattie
Good luck w -
Message 9
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Thanks for your reassurance DD (love the nibbles) and Pattie. I have allocated this worry to fairly near the top of my list, but not the very top! I now have 4 medical conditions. I can see I am going to be a creaking gate. I must sort 3 out of them at the start of the new year. I was told by the surgery, they were adamant, that they would not be able to do the biopsy before Christmas at least but that I would probably need to have it done at the hospital. The very next day (yesterday) they rang at 5.30 to say they had a slot! I missed the call! Very annoyinng. I just hope it is still available on Monday morning. I actually had a biopsy on one of the patches over 5 years ago after a previous doctor diagnosed skin cancer.. The result was 'non-specific'. Yet another doctor said it was excema! I developed the second a few months ago. It is exactly the same. I don't know what to think. This time I was given some cortisone cream and told if it was excema this would clear it. It did nothing. If the first patch was non- specific I am hoping this one will be.
I actually went to the doctor about something else recently and just happened to mention the second patch. I was whisked straight off and slotted in with the skin specialist of the practice. That has never happened to me before!
It's all a little baffling. -
Message 10
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
"Creaking gates last longest", lockers.
Bowen's disease really is one you don't need to worry about except insofar as one's body doing weird things is slightly unnerving! -
Message 11
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Yes nibbles, may I call you nibbles? I am hoping that saying is one that is true. Trouble is, the last biopsy REALLY hurt! Ouch! I nearly shot to the ceiling and thought if I can't stand this, how could I stand something serious? The patches are on the front bony part of my leg.
Perhaps my posts may have informed some posters. I had not heard of this condition before. -
Message 12
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Locki, you have unformed me, and I am now wondering about a patch on my left knee. I did show it to a locum quack in September who poo-poohed it, but it is still there. Perhaps I should show it to my usual GP.
F-P -
Message 13
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
If you are concerned and don't trust the locum go and see your usual GP and get it checked out. But please don't worry unless you are given a good reason to do so.
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Message 14
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
lockers, you may call me whatever you wish
< chorus >
as long as you don't call me late for The Archers. -
Message 15
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
Oh dear Fire - Pig. Or should I be pleased if you take action about something that needs action? I didn't do anything about my first patch for a long time. And was even more complacent about my second as I had a biopsy on the first that proved inconclusive.. As I said, I did not actually go to the doctors about the second. However, I am glad I mentioned it. It may be easier to clear up than the thing I went about!!
It wouldn't do any harm to have your GP to look at it would it? Better to be sure. My first GP didn't poo poo mine. She got her book put with full colour pictures of Skin Cancer!! I remember standing outside the surgery waiting for OH in shock and feeling very cold. It was all so out of the blue.
The biopsy did not find it to be cancer.
Actually I have many moles and various patches now I am in my 60s! -
Message 16
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Saturday, 11th December 2010
I don't intend to worry unduly, but will mention it to the GP sometime when I am going to see her.
F-P -
Message 17
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Sunday, 12th December 2010
That's good Fire Pig. Knowledge is reassurance.
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Message 18
Posted by paurina (U14364960) on Sunday, 12th December 2010
Just found this.
I have had Bowen's disease. It really is nothing to worry about, but you should have it treated. My GP recognised it as what it was, i.e. a pre-cancerous lesion and referred me to the Dermatology Dept at my local hospital. There was no urgency and it was ages before I got an appointment which was for some weeks ahead. The diagnosis was confirmed by the consultant just by looking at it, and I was given the choice of having it removed there and then, or using a chemotherapy cream. The removal would have involved having stitches, and as I was going on a trip to the middle east shortly afterwards I decided I preferred the cream option (didn't want to have an actual wound in those conditions).
I had to apply the cream twice a day for 4 weeks. During that time the lesion and the area around it became inflamed, and developed some scabs. However by the time of my follow-up appointment at the hospital, 4 weeks after I finished the chemotherapy treatment, it had cleared up completely, although the area remains discoloured.
In the meantime I've identified another lesion and have decided just to treat it with the cream. It seems to be following the same pattern.
Oh, and years ago one of my sisters had the same thing and had it removed, no problem since.
Hope this reassures you Locki, and anyone else reading. -
Message 19
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Monday, 13th December 2010
Hi paurina. Thanks for your post.
After being told on Thursday that I could not have a biopsy at the surgery until after Christmas, I had a call late Friday afternoon to say they had a slot! This morning I was gien an appointment. Instead of having a biopsy my patches have now been cauterised. The doctor said that biopsies in the over 50s often become infected and as I had a negative biopsy some years ago on the first patch he would prefer to try cauterisation. The jabs to deaden the area hurt and there was a worrying smell of burning!
I don't know whether to be satisfied with this treatment or not. He said I would have a biopsy if the patches return and that he delay will not matter as the cancer they could develop into is not serious. Hummm. I suppose it's OK ! We are in their hands arn't we?
I was pleased to be spared the biopsy but did not avoid needles! -
Message 20
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Monday, 13th December 2010
Still did not have a definite diagnosis! This second doctor said he 'thought' it was Bowen's Disease!
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Message 21
Posted by paurina (U14364960) on Monday, 13th December 2010
>> Still did not have a definite diagnosis <<
That's strange - as I said, my diagnosis was made simply by looking, no tests or anything. And no appointments during the treatment phase either, instead the consultant checked that what he would have expected to happen (inflamation, scabbing) did happen.
On the whole I'm glad I chose the cream treatment! it takes longer, but isn't painful and seems to work fine. Also, it doesn't do anything to healthy cells, so if it isn't Bowen's disease then no harm done, but if it is then it resolves it. Sorted.
Good luck with whatever comes next. -
Message 22
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Monday, 13th December 2010
paurina. I am a little uneasy about my treatment. The only thing that reassures me is the non-specific result on one of my patches although this happened at least 6 years ago. I would have preferred the cream but I have to assume the doctor knew what he was doing.
Does anyone know if cauterisation will cure Bowen's Disease? -
Message 23
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Monday, 13th December 2010
I have just googled cauterisation of Bowen's Disease and it appears to be one of the accepted treatments. We shall see.
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Message 24
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Saturday, 18th December 2010
I went to the GP yesterday. AS I was getting dressed I wondered whether to wear tights if I was going to show off my knee - then studied the knee - the patch has almost gone! It has been there since August until last week when Locki started this thread. I did wear tights and did not mention the knee.
Knees are funny things!
F-P -
Message 25
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Saturday, 18th December 2010
That's good Fire PIg. I put the hex on it! I often do!
Things come and go on my body all the time. Usually, given enough time they give up the ghost. Particuarly if I make a doctor's appointment!
I now have two scabs at the bottom of my letgs. They seem to be healing..... -
Message 26
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Sunday, 19th December 2010
Locki, I hadn't made the appointment just for the knee, I was seeing her anyway.
She was due to go to Lubeck yesterday for 4 days, I wonder where she is now?
F-P -
Message 27
Posted by Now Locking for a house (U3261819) on Sunday, 19th December 2010
F P I don't even know where Lubeck is? So she could be anywhere!
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Message 28
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Monday, 20th December 2010
Locki, I THINK it is in Germany, her husband is German and she said family time!
F-P
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