BCC Removal *thread contains graphic images*

Been waiting for months now to have diagnostic treatment on my nose. Saw a nurse who said she could see cancer cells, months later saw a consultant. Then had an automated phone call asking me mostly if my life was affected by the sores on my nose and if I still wanted to be on the list. It makes me feel like no-one cares. Sorry, just venting really.
Best wishes to op.

Hope your feeling more comfortable every day PamelaJ1 💐 mine is looking a bit better but still swollen and scar is still pronounced but it’s early days for both of us .

I think we should all feel very thankful we got our BCCs removed. I have a scar about an inch long on my nose like a Number 7 shape but it doesn’t bother me. Still rather that than having skin grafted from behind ear which is what the surgeon anticipated.

A lady in our village had to have her whole nose removed and they just fashioned a very lumpy pair of nostrils in the middle of her face. Poor lady.

Anybody had PDT treatment? This is Photodynamic Therapy. It is supposed to give great results. Several years ago I read about it before my op and took some info in to see my surgeon. He was very snooty about it and said “that will leave you with a large hole in your nose. Is that what you want?”
I guess they do get fed up with patients doing their own research but he was not polite at all and clearly knew nothing about it.

I was disappointed as it seemed preferable to surgery. Had the surgery anyway. About 2 years later the same surgeon was in our regional newspaper being applauded for using PDT on patients at our hospital and saying how fantastic it was! I was sorely tempted to contact him and say “remember me.”😉

I had a BCC removed from my thigh last September . My Plastic Surgeon advised “ daily wash pat dry and Vaseline for 3 weeks “ I was surprised that Vaseline was advised but followed her instructions and did’nt have any problems . Good Luck

I’ve heard that about Vaseline,too. That was from a skin specialist recently.

Nana3

Been waiting for months now to have diagnostic treatment on my nose. Saw a nurse who said she could see cancer cells, months later saw a consultant. Then had an automated phone call asking me mostly if my life was affected by the sores on my nose and if I still wanted to be on the list. It makes me feel like no-one cares. Sorry, just venting really.
Best wishes to op.

Go back and pester and pester again.
This is the photo of my nose yesterday.
I did try so hard for 3 years to get something done when it would have been such a small problem. I was also phoned last year to ask if I wanted to stay on the list.
BCCs don’t get better on their own.

I have had three BCC's removed from my face over the past fifteen years. For the past few weeks have had a small white spot at end of m y nose, rather embarrassing as it looks like a 'drip'. Have been tempted to do nothing, hoping it will clear up. Reading this thread has changed my mind and next week will be contacting GP>

My DH had a BCC removed from in front of his ear about 2 years ago. It has grown back and he has another on the side of his forehead which continually bleeds and scabs over. He has been waiting months to have them removed.
He has been told he may need skin grafts. It worries me that he has been waiting for so long for them to be removed.
Best wishes to everyone on here.

My latest ‘graphic image’
It’s two months since my op and the site is still painful if I knock it but is looking much better.
I am disappointed that it looks brown which is what I feared .
The consultant took the skin for the graft from my shoulder where it is a bit browner than further down, I don’t know why she did but I wasn’t consulted.😂
There is still a bit more healing to happen and I hope it continues to improve.
After the first couple of weeks I decided that things are what they are and have realised that so many people have much worse disfigurement than me. In fact I have realised that others don’t even notice things that I would have thought were obvious. As plain as the nose on your face for example!
I will now continue to live my life depending on my wit and fantastic personality instead of relying on my amazing beauty!!!

Seriously keep putting on the high factor suncream and noticing any blemishes that don’t quite look right. Google symptoms and images of BCCs to see what you are looking for..
How are the rest of you been faring with your nasties since the last post?

Ladyleftfieldlover

I had a BCC removed from the side of my nose three or four years ago. I have been left with an inch long scar.

Snap, 2016, except on cheekbone on left side.
Just normal good quality face moisturiser. Just a thin white line now (and one side of my face slightly face-lifted but he did it so brilliantly few can tell.

8 weeks ago, upper arm, wound looking lumpy bit uneven, I'm using bio oil.

PamelaJ1 thats amazing recovery from before - will the skin continue to fade or concealer?

Wyllow
It seems to be getting darker but hopefully I’m being pessimistic. When it’s settled down a bit more I will start experimenting with make up but, at the moment, it’s only factor 50 all the way and a hat and keeping my back to the sun when possible.

I have a couple of spots on my face that have been there months and just won’t disappear. I wonder if I should get them checked out?
thinking one was a normal spot I have tried to squeeze it but nothing comes out. It’s just a small hard spot to the right of my nose about an inch away…
But I do think a couple of them are just age things. I also have on my chest. A patch of quite scaly skin been there months as well, but I did show my doctor and he said it was nothing to worry about… reading this, I think I better go and get it checked out again

Shinamae
Scaly skin doesn’t sound to me to fit the bill but I’m not a dermatologist. Quite a few start with a small spot. The first one that I had I hadn’t noticed till it started bleeding. Others on this thread probably noticed similar spots. If mine had been treated when I first went to the Dr. It would have been a tiny , easy removal. My experience of getting to the operating table was very long and arduous.
The consultant doing the op was the one that failed to recognise it 3 years earlier. I’d gone privately as my GP also dismissed it.
If it worries you then get it checked.

The first two BSC that I had removed presented in the 'usual' way- ie: spots that did not clear up. First one on the side of my nose, close to the eye, required plastic surgery when removed.

However, the third time was no spot, but just a very small patch of light coloured skin on my forehead. When I first went to GP with this I saw a newly qualified doctor who dismissed me out of hand. I made him check with his mentor at the surgery who agreed that due to my history this required checking out by a dematologist.

Even she was perplexed, but took a small (two stitches), biopsy. When I went to the hospital for the result I was expecting to be sent away, but they said it was positive and required taking away then and there. It turned out this was the worst of those I had, going downwards instead of outwards, and I left nearly an hour later with eight stitches in my forehead.

When I had these stitches eventually removed I asked what would happen if I ignored these in the future. Nurse told me that they are ulcers, so I would end up with a large hole.

Have since gone some ten years with no re-ocurrance, now this tiny white spot right on tip of my nose. I have appointment to go to Dermatology in a couple of weeks time. They have this marvellous special camera which takes a photo instead of having to do a biopsy and can tell from that everything they used to learn from biopsy.

My mother ignored a BCC, and refused treatment, as nurse she knew exactly what it was.

It eventually ate away a large part of her forehead and encroached in the eye area. By the time we had medical power of attorney, it was too late and it was mentioned on her death certificate.
Never ignore them, I asked for a sore to be checked last week, due to her history.

Hello PamelaJ1 and everyone else my BCC is healing quite well looking not unlike your Pamela mine is on my chin so quite visible it is still swollen and the scar fading as long as the swelling goes down I will cope with the scar and eventually use concealer but for now it’s Cerave cream with SP in it .

Marydoll that is a very sobering post to which we should all take notice of when hoping those spots that don’t heal will go away, my consultant told me the same thing when I questioned the need for such a tiny spot to be removed .

My daughter was diagnosed with a BCC at the top of her shoulder and I’m rather surprised that she has only been given cream to deal with it and she keeps it covered. Initially I thought this was a good sign that it wasn’t very serious, but reading these comments makes me think again. I expected it to be removed. I told her to keep on top of it and not let things slide at her next appointment.

Has anyone else just been prescribed cream?

One Melanoma (the nasty one) removed from my right forearm 2 years ago, plus a BCC from my back, and another BCC from my left forearm. Also had a Sentinel Lymph Node removed from my right armpit, but all was clear. Scars on forearms involved skin flaps, so were quite startling at first. Still just visible as faint lines 2 years later, but I was bored with my haute couture modelling career anyway.

PamelaJ1

Shinamae
Scaly skin doesn’t sound to me to fit the bill but I’m not a dermatologist. Quite a few start with a small spot. The first one that I had I hadn’t noticed till it started bleeding. Others on this thread probably noticed similar spots. If mine had been treated when I first went to the Dr. It would have been a tiny , easy removal. My experience of getting to the operating table was very long and arduous.
The consultant doing the op was the one that failed to recognise it 3 years earlier. I’d gone privately as my GP also dismissed it.
If it worries you then get it checked.

I Will, thank you. And thank you for sharing your very traumatic experience. I am sure it will help a lot of people 💐

DH has had quite a few BCC treated over the last 15 years. Two treatments in September 2022 at our Oral Maxiofilliary dept as one was in the corner of his only functioning eye, the other on his cheek. I had to deal with all the dressings on his eye socket which I found terrifying.
We went for check up in December and all was well except for very swollen cheek area. The lovely surgeon told me to massage every day with E45 cream. After 4 months it all settled down.
I think we were very fortunate as we were referred within 2 weeks of seeing our GP.

hollysteers
It didn’t do the job for me after my biopsy but it can be very effective. Two of my sisters used it on a couple of theirs and it cleared the area.
I think that once you have a diagnosis then you will keep an eye on it and note any resurgence.
Unfortunately BCCs are a lot more common than they used to be but as we age we get all sorts of lumps and bumps. When I go to visit my daughter in Australia I usually pop in for a check up. It’s quite cheap there and they are very used to dealing with sun damage of all types.

I've had 5 BCC'S removed from my nose, ear and shoulder.
I went to see the Dr today about a red patch on my calf. He said I have Bowens disease, Squamous cell skin Carcinoma, a new one on me, he's given me cream for a month, taken lots of pictures. Appointment to go back in 4 weeks.
Anyone heard of or suffered from this?

I will now continue to live my life depending on my wit and fantastic personality instead of relying on my amazing beauty!!!

Let's all do this!

This thread concerns me in general.

Plus. I have a spot think on my face. had one removed about 5 years ago[just in case i was told. turned out not to be a problem when examined].
But how is anyone supposed to know. Even GPs dont from what I can gather.

I have two family members with that could or may not be something. Who knows?

What is the general public supposed to do?
Especially in these. state of the health service, times?