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Basal Cell Carcinoma

(30 Posts)
Luckygirl Sun 01-Jul-18 14:53:30

Definitely a speedy second opinion. Whatever else, you might hopefully receive some tact and consideration if you pay for it. This guy sounds a bit over blunt, and you need careful explanations and details.

Having said that I know several people who have had a similar problem and their facial scarring healed very quickly and is barely noticeable. Good luck with all this.

SueDonim Sun 01-Jul-18 14:52:43

I'm wondering, Travelinsil if the surgeon meant it would be disfiguring whilst the treatment was ongoing? I know someone who had what sounds to be a similar op. They used skin from the forehead to make her a new nose. The skin had to be moved bit by bit towards her nose through several procedures until the final op. It wasn't pretty but also wasn't horrific either while it was happening, plus she had a dressing on it.

Today, two or three years on, you couldn't possibly tell that anything had ever happened, it's healed brilliantly.

I'd definitely ask for much more information and possibly a second opinion, too.

I hope you're soon on the road to recovery. flowers

Eglantine21 Sun 01-Jul-18 14:45:14

Oh dear I don’t sound very kind or sympathetic. I just wanted to respond quickly flowers

Eglantine21 Sun 01-Jul-18 14:42:21

My cousin has had BCC removal and reconstruction twice. Once on his lip about 30 years ago and more recently on his nose. In both cases you would hardly know. I certainly had to put my glasses on to see the scar on his nose. This was not done privately but National Heath.

I would ask for a second opinion. It will not be pretty to begin with. No operation is but I don’t think there is any need to be “disfigured”. But do it ASAP. It’s not something you can stop and think about.

Travelinsil2018 Sun 01-Jul-18 14:35:38

I went to my GP a few weeks ago suspecting I might have skin cancer and he said not likely but referred me. I got seen reasonably quickly by a dermatologist who said nothing much, very tiny, lets do a biopsy. When the results came back it was a BCC and I was told I'd have a chance to discuss what treatment I would have for it. Then I was phoned to say I had an appointment for plastic surgery, no info on what was involved or what was going to be done in 6 days time.
Yesterday I went for the appointment and the plastic surgeon drew on my nose what he was going to cut away which was the whole tip of my nose and side. I was in shock. He said he would do a graft from my neck or another type of graft that made me feel sick when I saw a picture of it and the second would have involved about 5 operations.
I said I'll be totally disfigured and he said "Oh yes".
He was ready to do it there and then but I refused and then he offered me radiotherapy as an alternative, but that tumour may be resistant.
I know I'll probably have to have it done but I want to find someone who'll do a proper reconstruction of my nose even if I have it done privately. We have some savings we could use. I'm still in shock to be honest from thinking it was nothing much to this.
Do any gransnetters have any recommendations or experience of this and the outcomes. I'm fairly new to the sites so don't know if its cropped up recently. Any support would be greatly appreciated.