medicals and skin Cancer

[bdy85]

have any of you guys had skin cancer while you had a current medical? if so how long did they take your medical for? What process did you take to get it back?

 

[2000flyer]

I've known a couple of pilot's that have had small areas removed or frozen with no problems with their medicals. I don't have any first hand knowledge how the FAA and AME's view skin cancer.

If you're concerned about it, call a local AME for advice, but definitely get it taken care of. A career is nothing compared to your health.

 

[Vector4fun]

I reported a couple basil cell carcinomas (sp?) removed several years ago and never heard anything back about it. Those are the most common and least dangerous type though. Melanoma or something worse, I dunno how they might act.

 

[Snakum]

basil cell carcinomas

A garnishment cancer?

(Sorry ... I couldn't resist. )

But about the Big C and the AME ...

According to the info I was given recently, Basal and Squamous tumors, once removed and requiring no further care, are nothing but a big ugly mole as far as the FAA is concerned.

If you have a malignant melanoma ... which by the time you find it, will likely have metasticized somewhere ... well, then you have full-blown Cancer and are no longer fit to fly. At the same time, a cutaneous melanoma is kinda iffy. You'll be checked from head to toe to see if any of these critters have released anything into your bloodstream. It'll be very clear to you.

If you're asking because you have it ... best wishes for a good outcome. And PM if I can help in any way whatsoever. Seriously!

Unchecked skin issues can be a heartbreaker, guys. Don't blow it off. By the time a non-cutaneous melanoma is becoming a big enough problem for you to worry and get to a doctor, bad things can have already happened. Those little beasts will shed cells into your bloodstream quicker than ANY other kind of tumor.

Minh

 

[bdy85]

Thanks for your replies.