Basil cell carcinoma

I had a BCC (Lived in an hot climate for a couple of years) and had a triangular piece of flesh cut out of my ear lobe. It surprised me as I had only asked my doctor about an area of rough skin behind my ear. I thought I would have to grow my hair (which I normally wear short) but the scar and shape isn’t too bad. I was told that I would be able to wear earrings after the wound had healed (my ears were pierced),but I haven’t been brave enough.

I have had a letter to say my Dermatolgy appt will be approx Maech 2024!!

I had a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) removed from my eyebrow earlier this year. I'd ignored it for ages as I thought my eyebrow would give protection from sun (I'm dark-haired with strong eyebrows). The Mohs surgery to remove it was most unpleasant and left a big scar, which I have to say has healed well. I was shocked I needed surgery - I thought I'd just get the chemo cream. Wish I had had it looked at earlier, so I could have avoided surgery. I'm always careful in the sun but clearly it can happen to anyone as you get older (I'm 75). Surgeon said once you've had one you are more likely to get another, because your skin has already been damaged enough to get one in the first place. Anyway, lost half my eyebrow so now draw it in every day to look 'normal'! Moral: if it looks odd, especially if it itches and doesn't heal well, get it checked asap!

Good news. Take care everyone.

I had one on my cheek removed a few years ago. I was told it is safest kind to have but it will reoccur. So I keep an eye on skin - face particularly. Just had something non-cancerous scraped out. Factor 50 All.

Having had a BCC removed from his forehead several years ago on the nhs my husband then developed one on the tip of his nose. He should have seen someone sooner than he did so, when he got round to it, he decided to see someone privately to avoid waiting too long. MOHs surgery was recommended because the tip of the nose is one of the most difficult places to operate on and was carried out by a top class surgeon. The tissue is removed in layers until there’s no sign of malignancy then reconstruction can begin. It can be a long process as you have to wait for lab results. Fortunately his was clear after the first layer was removed. However we weresurprised by how extensive the initial bandaging was to the extent he couldn’t get his glasses on. His ear was also bandaged because of cartilage removal making him look like a cross between a mummy and Van Gogh. He missed our granddaughter’s birthday party because he thought he would frighten tge children. A year on all’s well but the moral is, as everyone says, sooner rather than later especially with facial BCC and try to get the best surgeon you can.

I had a procedure done for bcc on my forehead about a year ago, when I went to work the next day (I work in a preschool with brutally honest children) one of the little ones pointed at my bulked out plaster on my forehead and shouted 'ergghh what's that' so I decided to take the register, and I told them this is what happens if you don't put sunscreen on when you go outside, It definitely sunk in as parents told me there children where telling them they all need to put sunscreen on or you'll be poorly like 'Tracy'

Marydoll

Primrose53

Marydoll

karmalady

BCC is the safest carcinoma to have

BCC was a secondary cause on my mother's death certificate.

She refused treatment and it ate away half her face, encroached into her eye.

Please don't take any chances. safest carcinoma, is an oxymoron!

Quite right. They used to be called Rodent Ulcers because they eat away.

I used to work with a woman in the late 70s who had returned from living in South Africa where she got badly sunburned. Over a very short period of time I witnessed the rodent ulcer going from a small mark to a massive oozing hole in her nose.

What is even sadder is my mother was a ward sister and knew exactly what is was, but was in denial.

exactly and very important that people don`t get so scared that they turn to denial

Once a bcc is removed then it is highly unlikely to leave remnants of cancer cells in the bloodstream. Anyone with a bcc and about to get treatment should not be afraid of this carcinoma

I had a very tiny bcc on my forehead, I knew what it was and had it removed privately. It was smaller than the size of a pinhead. That was in 2002

I've had 2 BCC's removed from my head. The first was very big and I had been picking at it (sorry 😔) for a few years. When it started bleeding and spreading I thought I had better get it looked at.
A smaller one started growing on the edge of the first one and that's been removed as well.
Fortunately I have a very good hairdresser so unless it's a very windy day no one will notice my large shiny 'dent'.
I'm very careful in the sun now and use La Roche Posay Factor 50+ fluid.

TanaMa

I have had a letter to say my Dermatolgy appt will be approx Maech 2024!!

It took them nearly 4years to do mine so I had to have a huge lump cut out of my nose and then a skin graft. See photo above. I tried and tried to convince the GP and consultant that it was a BCC, it started very small but as I had already had one removed I recognised it straight away. Unfortunately the ‘experts’ disagreed.
It was done 2 months ago.
I spent my childhood in hot countries where, as a freckled fair skinned child I often burned.

I had MOHS surgery for a BCC on my nose about 4 years ago. It was fine and worked but I did have to walk about with a large dressing on my nose for a few days!

Now it is only a thin white line on my nose and no more since. Please everybody wear factor 50 every day even in the winter!

Very good news Multicolourswopshop. Out and about in 28°C arms, lower legs and face covered in factor 50 so I am heeding your advice.

labradorlinda33

I've had 2 BCC's removed from my head. The first was very big and I had been picking at it (sorry 😔) for a few years. When it started bleeding and spreading I thought I had better get it looked at.
A smaller one started growing on the edge of the first one and that's been removed as well.
Fortunately I have a very good hairdresser so unless it's a very windy day no one will notice my large shiny 'dent'.
I'm very careful in the sun now and use La Roche Posay Factor 50+ fluid.

A very elderly lady I know had a very large skin cancer removed from the top of her head. He hair was very thin due to her age and the sun burned her scalp over the years.

The surgeon had to remove a big section probably 3” square and graft new skin on which I believe they took from her back. She had a big dressing on it and was told to see a nurse at our Practice after a couple of weeks. She felt it was healing slowly, went to the nurse as instructed and the nurse started pulling the dressing off, she said “I don’t think you should be doing that, it doesn’t feel right.” The nurse insisted she knew her job and pulled the dressing off plus all the skin graft. He head was then red raw! She had to see the surgeon again and he was furious and she had it all done again.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12275455/JANET-STREET-PORTER-skin-cancer-ordeal-showed-deadly-dangers-failing-use-sun-cream.html

The surgeon had to remove a big section probably 3” square and graft new skin on which I believe they took from her back. She had a big dressing on it and was told to see a nurse at our Practice after a couple of weeks. She felt it was healing slowly, went to the nurse as instructed and the nurse started pulling the dressing off, she said “I don’t think you should be doing that, it doesn’t feel right.” The nurse insisted she knew her job and pulled the dressing off plus all the skin graft. He head was then red raw! She had to see the surgeon again and he was furious and she had it all done again.

Gosh what a pain Primrose! my mum had similar, the day before her hip operation a nurse came to give her her anti-blood clotting injection, she told the nurse she shouldn't be having that cos of surgery the next day, the nurse insisted she did, gave her the injection & she couldn't have her hip surgery. She never was well enough again

Great news !!! I have just come back from a day procedure on my BCC ...luckily an earlier biopsy showed it was not cancerous ......it wasn't too painful but the surgeon wanted to remove it as it was spreading ! Unfortunately she found another on my chest and has taken a biopsy of that one ! the BEST thing is she said NO ironing, no STRETCHING, and NO hoovering !!!! love that .....let it all pile up as I live on my own who is going to notice ! worst thing is I DONT like the hot sun and have never been a sun worshipper ....she said to use sun cream in future even though I never sit directly in it 1 lesson learned

Some good news here. Lovely to hear.

Every time I went to the doctor for 4 years I mentioned the small dot I had on my nose and told 3 different doctors that it bled about once a month and it was dismissed.Eventually when having a routine blood test a nurse
noticed it and said she’d seen the spot several times so I should see the doctor. The doctor said it wasn’t bad enough to be referred to Dermatology but I mentioned that I inject Methotrexate every week for severe Rheumatoid Arthritis she said that gave her a good enough reason to refer. 3 months later the Consultant confirmed a BCC and that it had grown up my nose so I had to have an 4 hour op to remove half my nose and replace it with a flap from my forehead. Huge scar from hairline to tip of nose. Please , please, insist on a referral or get a private consultancy with a Dermatologist if you have the slightest worry. Certain low grade Chemo drugs can make you prone to Carcinomas and probably other drugs may do as well so check side effects and slap on the factor 50. I always wear a hat to hide the ugly scar and protect my face then pay for a full body check by a Dermatologist once a year. Hope I haven’t scared anyone but if it makes one person check a worrying spot or mole with their Doctor it is worth it.

KathrynP
Perhaps we should have a meet up and compare noses. Mine looks awful!
Everyone (adults) tell me it’s not noticeable but I picked a young friend up the other day and her little boy said, “Oh you are the lady with the brown nose”. Out of the mouths!
I was worried that I might have to have a flap from my forehead but had a skin graft which the surgeon took from my neck.

I don't go out in the sun much now but used to in my 20s. What age do these carcinomas start to appear?

Any age but usually when you are older. I returned to the UK when I was 18 and had my first one at 40ish, this latest one appeared 36 years later.
A lot of men get them on their heads. It used to be very common in soldiers who had served abroad in the war.

ime locum GPs are more likely to refer.
if anyone has any dubious spots, try to see a locum.

PamelaJ1

TanaMa

I have had a letter to say my Dermatolgy appt will be approx Maech 2024!!

It took them nearly 4years to do mine so I had to have a huge lump cut out of my nose and then a skin graft. See photo above. I tried and tried to convince the GP and consultant that it was a BCC, it started very small but as I had already had one removed I recognised it straight away. Unfortunately the ‘experts’ disagreed.
It was done 2 months ago.
I spent my childhood in hot countries where, as a freckled fair skinned child I often burned.

I had the same problem, getting the GP to refer me. I had already had one BCC, so I knew what to look for. In the end I made an appointment with a new (young) GP at the practice and he referred me straightaway.

The consultant asked why I hadn't come for treatment before..... It was not through lack of trying.....

Rainbows perhaps they think we are just vain!
I think this is something that is getting more common so perhaps GP’s will recognise them better.
I did go and see a private dermatologist but she was also very dismissive. She was the one who cut my nose off!