Dr. Stoll:
I have read some of your answers on sebaceous cysts and where in the body they most often occur. I did not see anyone with a cyst in the area that I have one. I have one that I have had for the past eight years. It is behind my left ear. It began because my earring post , when I picked up the phone receiver, would "jab" into that area. it began very small and had only grown a tiny bit over a five year period.
About three years ago, I had a complete hysterectomy and have been taking Premarin daily. In the last couple of years I've noticed that the cyst has grown. Last year, I had it examined and needle biopsied. It was benign and confirmed to be a sebaceous cyst. The doctor sent me to an ENT for further examination and possible surgery.
I was under the impression that he could make an incision about an inch long and maybe drain it or just pull it out. He told me that he couldn't do that. He said the only way it could be removed was by "facelift" cut along the front of my ear and down in the fold of a wrinkle on my neck. I told him that was ridiculus especially since I don't have any wrinkles or folds on my neck. I pointed out to him that I would just have a large scar on my neck and face unkidden by anything.
I asked him why such a large cut for such a small cyst. I also asked him if plastic surgery could correct that type of scar and he said no. Needless to say, I refused to have the surgery for a couple of reasons: (1) I am African American and as you know, when we scar we scar dark and heavy or with keloids. I don't normally get keloids but since I've been taking premarin , I do scar and bruise more easily and the scars are darker and heavier than usual after healing. (2) I just didn't believe him. I felt he was trying to pay for his new mercedes by unnecessarily increasing the work done thereby increasing the cost.
I am beginning to worry about it because it is getting bigger. It is about 3/4 of an inch wide. When I wake up in the morning, it is smaller but by the end of the day it is large again. I've decided of late, not to were any type of earring and I had stopped picking up the phone on the left side many years ago.
I know that there has got to be another way besides this drastic surgery. In one of your answers you told the person to get back with you after they tried some essential oils. What are these oils, what do they do to the cysts, where can they be purchased?
I have tried to eat healthier for the past three years (I don't always succeed) and I've lately been eating more flax seeds, soybeen products and anything that is said to combat cancer. I don't think that the lump has developed into cancer but I'm a little worried and am afraid to have it biopsied again.
Follow Ups:
Re: Sebaceous Cysts
Posted by Jenny on November 19, 1998 at 20:29:29:
In Reply to: Sebaceous Cysts posted by C. Henderson on November 19, 1998 at 17:13:00:
Hi C,
For what it's worth, I'll share my experience with a sebaceous cyst on my shoulder, about where my purse strap rests. I'd had it a while and it was small and not a big deal. Last year, I seem to have aggravated it and it got larger, flatter, and much sorer. It was bothering me, and looked unsightly during bathing suit season, and I headed for my dermatologist to get rid of it. My derm told me the surgery would cost over $1000, and leave a big scar. I was shocked and disappointed.
Anyway, there was at that time some discussion on this board about the healing properties of castor oil, and I had a bottle sitting around, so I started rubbing castor oil into the cyst a couple of times a day--after my shower and at bedtime. Before applying it, I dry brushed the skin in that area vigorously, to stimulate circulation, and a few times, I put a hot compress on the area for 5-10 minutes. It took a few weeks, but the cyst gradually receded, and is now completely gone, leaving no trace!
You can buy castor oil at any health food store, and it's cheap. It might be worth a try. (The essential oils Dr. Stoll refers to are discussed in the health-related articles you can access from the main page.They are the essential fatty acids, such as those in flaxseed oil, fish oils, and olive oil.)
Best wishes,
Jenny
Follow Ups:
Re: Sebaceous Cysts
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 20, 1998 at 14:50:52:
In Reply to: Sebaceous Cysts posted by C. Henderson on November 19, 1998 at 17:13:00:
Dear C.,
Why not try the castor oil Jenny mentions? Let me know what happens since I have no experience with this. What I know for sure is that it can do no harm & is pretty inexpensive.
Having said that I will stick my neck out & say you were wise not to let that doc cut on you. Jenny was wise as well.
I have removed MANY sebaceous cysts in my office in my practice career. They took a little local anesthetic, about 15 minutes from sitting down to being done and 3-4 stitches.
Anyone contemplating this surgery should go to the library & look at pictures describing a sebaceous cyst. These are the simplest things to remove since one just makes a little incision and grasps the cyst wall with a forceps. It just peels out like the skin of a grape & the little incision is then sutured shut.
Once one knows what is entailed, they will not be victimized by greedy Dermatologists.
Cysts this size are not only NO WORRY ABOUT CANCEROUS CHANGE but are not resolved by essential oils. If the castor oil works, I will add that to my options beyond surgery which is the only thing I know that will work.
You might consider going to an old GP, out in the country, to have it removed surgically. He will do it like I described & charge you about $100. The largest sebaceous cyst I have ever seen (about an inch in diameter) required an incision abou 5/8 inch long.
Let us know how you do.
Walt
Re: Sebaceous Cysts
Posted by SW on November 20, 1998 at 20:52:37:
In Reply to: Re: Sebaceous Cysts posted by Jenny on November 19, 1998 at 20:29:29:
I had two sebaceous cysts on my scalp. One right on the top center of my head where my hair parted. It was the larger of the two(not huge but because of its location could be seen whenever my hair would part there. The other small on the back side of my head. They never hurt, or drained or anything like that, just became annyoing . I had them removed twice just as Dr. Stoll said they should be and the Dr. told me if he got it all, which he thougt he did they should not grow back. Several years later they did and he removed them again. Several years later back a third time and I went to a different Dr. This Dr. is actually a surgeon and said he doesn't think they will come back again, but they did come out quite easily and all in one piece so to speak(they are sort of encapsulated) anyway,
I can't remember what I've been charged in the past because my ins. has taken care of it, but I don't think it was astronomical by any means. I would certainly give the castor oil a try, but the procedure is really quite simple and between the two cysts I think I had 5 or six stitches.