Holiday shock! [shock]

I must be prone to skin cancer as I've had 3 BCC's removed in the past and I know I've got a couple more of the brutes. I wouldn't be so complacent if they weren't slow-growing !

Thanks for letting us know ga - any photos of when you do your Rudolph impersonation. It sounds like a bit of an ordeal though.

Congratulations on your new dgd too.

Oh dear! What a time you've had. I'm so glad it's all being dealt with. Sounds most unpleasant and painful though. Good luck with your next bout of treatment. And congratulations on the latest DGC - she shares her birthday with our cat btw. Baz says hi!

UPDATE:
When I made my hospital appointment I asked them to put it off until today so that I could be sure my new grandchild had been born (she came on 11th Nov.) and I would have my first photo with my nose intact.

So, I've just come back from the hospital and it turned out to be a bit more of a marathon than I expected. I have had THREE little operations; the tip of my nose was 'shaved' off and then cauterised, quite a large amount of skin was taken from my back and needed internal and external stitching and finally more was taken from my arm that just needed one internal and three external stitches.

The team of doctors and nurses were very professional, friendly and efficient. I'm so thankful that we still have our amazingly good NHS, which, whilst it's maybe not perfect, is a wonderful institution.

I may need one or two more 'goes' before my nose is sorted apparently, but for now I'm waiting for the plaster to come off so that I can do my impersonation of Rudolph during the Christmas festivities!

GA....YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL
IS WITH YOU ON HOLIDAY TOO.
BLESS HER.

Erm, a BCC, not BSC

That must have been a shock ga, but you must be so thankful that you happened upon this fellow. Your guardian angel was definitely looking out for you I reckon .
As others have said, a BSC is one of the easier to treat skin cancers, so I do hope you can enjoy the rest of your holiday, safe in the knowledge that this will be dealt with promptly as soon as you get home

My father, a retired GP, had a few BCCs removed from his face and upper back. He was fair-skinned, had spent time in India, and I remember him going lobster-red with sunburn. Of course, my mother had to push him to get something done about them! He was fine afterwards, survived another 20+ years with no recurrence, and no visible scars.

Not necessarily caused by sun exposure GrannyActivist. Could have been caused by a virus? HPV virus explains a lot of melanomas that never see the light of day, and the herpes virus is everywhere.

I'm sure you will look on the internet for cause and treatment, but it seems that caught early, all can be well. So good luck.

How lucky to have this chance encounter with someone who recognised the spot and told you to get it checked out. I hope now you've made the appointment you can relax a little and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Not everyone who has sunbathed gets skin cancer . Lots of heavy smokers don't get lung cancer, but I know a lifetime non-smoker who did. We are advised not to undertake various activities as we could get cancer but it's not certain. How lucky were you to get that advice he may have saved your life.

My husband had similar granny activist, in fact it was my daughter's fil, a doctor, who , bit like your situation, had a little word with him and advised seeing GP. He had it removed with no problem at all. Try and put it to the back of your mind and enjoy the remainder of your holiday.

I know it sounds scary, but the chemo cream (Efudex) will do the business without fuss, so don't worry and don't let the thought of it spoil your holiday. The day will come when you'll look back on this and thank your lucky stars for one very thoughtful dermatologist.

What a helpful dermatologist. I too have had one on my chest treated 18 years ago with minor surgery. Recently I have had several solar keratoses which can turn into BCCs treated by self applied cream. And not being the most deft of people, I looked very leprous for a few days. But all healed very quickly. ?

Best of luck with the Doc's appointment.

Grannyactivist please do not worry - BCC is not to be too worried about. I had to wait 10 months to be treated after referral and ended up with two eyebrow shapes (one 7cms long, the other 5cms long) after being removed on my back. First treated over two years in 2010 and then again last November. They may return as mine did but better removed now than later. And I now only sunbathe VERY carefully. Good luck.

I have had a few BCC’s removed from my face, scarring from one is a bit more visible than I would like. Wouldn’t even know I have two others removed.... My dermatologist told me the damage was already done as a child. My childhood summers were spent sunburnt, covered in calamine lotion, little did we know! I’m sure you will be as beautiful as ever once its gone. Very fortunate meeting I would say... Good luck ?

I don't sunbathe but I got a malignant melanoma. Luckily I spotted it quickly as it was on my shin and being summer I was wearing skirts and had it removed within weeks. My consultant said there is a a lot of women in their 60s, 70s and 80s getting various skin cancers because they got burnt as children before we knew the dangers and before there was suntan cream. I always thought melanoma starts from a mole but mine didn't just a little pink patch appeared that within a week became brown and crinkled. I check my skin often and husband checks my back.

I went to dermatogist with a spot on my cheek which turned out to be a BCC but at the same time he noticed a brown spot on the other cheek which I thought was an age spot turned out to be the start of a melanoma. The BCC was treated by ointment and the melanoma by surgery. Now no sign of either.

Just to reassure you this is the most common kind of skin cancer. My partner had this for a couple of years before I got him to go to the docs, they can sometimes treat with a topical cream .

Apparently, shins are also a site for cancers too, which I only found out the other day.
So, keep an eye out on your legs too.

PS. GA, I'm glad that you have heeded the warning and got things moving. I know, better than most, how vital it is to listen and take action. My BiL recently had a BCC successfully treated on the side of his nose. What is it about noses? I suppose they do seem to catch the sun more easily than any other part of the body!

I too have had a bcc on my nose,saw a dermatologist who said I must have it removed but as it was not life threatening it would take some months to see a surgeon on NHS. Decided to see plastic surgeon privately. Required a bit of an ear transplanted to my nose! All well, hardly see the join!
Cost the price of a holiday but well worth it.
Good luck - let us know how you get on.

A hairdresser spotted a black patch on the hairline at the back of my neck and told me I ought to see a doctor. I promptly forgot all about it until my sister, a retired GP, also noticed it and said I needed to have it checked out. She, along with my GP and the dermatologist said it might or might not be a malignant melanoma. But it was. My careless attitude could have killed me, but fortunately they got it in time and so far (about 15 years later) there has been no recurrence.