Follow
Share

My Mom can’t walk, speak coherently and has very limited understanding about her environment. She has two growths on her skin which may be squamous cell or keratosis. One of these growths is painful to her. She would need to be transported to a dermatologist to have these spots treated by either freezing or surgical removal. This could be very uncomfortable for her and confusing.
Any advice about how we should proceed? Thanks

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
My mother's regular PA would remove her wart and other skin tags on a regular basis for her. You can also Google search 'traveling dermatologists' and see what comes up. OnSiteDermatology is a traveling group that goes to LTC facilities here in Colo but is not affiliated with the Memory Care ALF mom lives in. It would be up to YOU to research such a resource and hire them to go to the SNF where your mom lives.

The OP is saying her mom is having PAIN due to these growths; she's not worried about 'cancer' but removing the growths to get rid of the pain associated with them.

If you can't find someone to go into the SNF to address mom's issue, then you have to weigh out which is more painful: the growths or the trip out of the SNF to get them removed.

Good luck!
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

I would not subject her to the surgical procedure or the transport.
The next time the facility doctor is in ask the doctor to look at the one that is causing her problems, you say it is sore. Maybe a topical cream or lotion might help. Even something to numb the area a bit.
But again I would not do much beyond that.
If you truly want to have a dermatologist look at it call around and see if there is one that will make a visit to the facility and treat her there.
BUT..if that happens there will be a wound that will have to be cared for and the question then is will mom leave it alone or will she be picking at it or rubbing at it. Sometimes after care is more difficult than leaving well enough alone.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Maybe this is insensitive to say--but mom, at age 96 and with Alzheimer's--do you really want to subject her to what might be a fairly painful procedure?

I remember well, picking up my FIL from the hospital one night after a 2 weeks stay, taking him home and turning right around and hauling BACK to the selfsame hospital where he had a dermatology appt early the next morning. When the dr asked him of he'd been hospitalized 'recently' dad replied, "no". The doc had the records right there. So he said 'You were in the hospital yesterday!" To which dad replied "Well, yeah, but that was YESTERDAY".

To the day he died, dad aggressively fought any and all skin cancers. It was painful for him, but that's just who he was.

I would not take my mother to the derm dr in the state she's in now. I think it's kind of like painting a fence that fell down a long time ago--what's the point?

Perhaps a call to the dermatologist to see what you can do for her 'in house'. They sell stuff that 'freezes' off warts and such that can be used in home. I've burned off a few age spots myself with the OK of my dermatologist.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

My mom's NH had a dermatologist who came in once a month or so see patients, but all procedures had to be done in his office.

Mom had a growth on her face that the NH doc AND the dermatologist thought was likely a melanoma (mom had had Mohs surgery for a melanoma several years prior).

I consulted with the doctor and he agreed to do a punch biopsy in his office in an attempt to get all of the growth. If he didn't we agreed that we would deal with that afterwards. I was not going to put my mom with dementia and anxiety through Mohs surgery.

We hired medical transport and an aide from the NH. I believe mom was given a bit of prn anti anxiety med that AM. The aide accompanied her in the medical transport van with the aide. I met them at the doc's office.

The punch biopsy was done and it was a aquamous cell cancer. The dermatologist gave us the option of Mohs surgery to get what was at the margins or a chemo cream. We elected the chemo cream.

Find a dermatologist who is willing to work with you and hire the approoriate support.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter