Basal Cell Carcinoma

That weeping is good sar, as long as it is clear, the fluid brings healing necessities into the wound site.

Those of us who have had skin cancer procedures, at least we know and can make every effort to keep the uv off. Many don`t realise that a `spot` may not be just a spot.

My latest bits were from solbari. The visor has a very big shade area and I pull it right down to shade my nose at any time of the day. The visor has a top cover for the head. Australia is best for sun protection. I bought my first wallaroo hat over 20 years ago, at least my scalp was protected much of the time

Sar53,
Sounds like he’s making progress. Poor lady, and your poor daughter. Playing out in the sun wasn’t something we thought about in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

karmalady

vaseline is wonderful and much recommended by dermatologists to cover any area of skin that needs healing. It keeps the area beneath moist and safe from microbes. I am still using it and will do until my nose skin is flat again. There is still a small uneven lump of sorts

I went out on my bike today and used a polyester cycling cap, with a peak, underneath my helmet and also a buff pulled right over my ears and nose. Close knits like polyesters are the best protectors from uv rays. I was back by 10 but am now so aware of covering any skin especially on my face and scalp. There is so much more potentially lurking out of sight below the epidermis and uv rays could well activate the nasties.

Thanks vintage. I feel very much as though I have dodged a bullet

Yes, I’m very anxious about getting any sun on my face. We are going to the Lakes and I’ve been experimenting with head bands down to my eyes and a buff up over my nose. I was using factor 50 winter and summer AND wearing a sun visor.

I hope you are improving day by day Sunflower2. I'm sure you are pleased that the worst if now behind you.
DH is getting there. The one by his ear is healing well and most of the stitches have dissolved.
The one on his forehead, which is quite large, has started to heal but still weeps a bit at times. He has been told to keep it covered for the next few weeks.
I met a lady yesterday who is waiting to have a BCC removed from her nose. She is very apprehensive, poor thing.
It is quite amazing how many people suffer from skin cancer.
My youngest daughter had a malignant melanoma on her cheek removed about two years ago. It was a very invasive operation and she has been left with extensive scarring on her face. After two years it has faded a lot but is still noticeable. She now makes sure that she and my two granddaughters stay out of the sun and always go out with Factor 50 on exposed skin.
Hopefully you are feeling better Karmalady.
Best wishes to all xx

vaseline is wonderful and much recommended by dermatologists to cover any area of skin that needs healing. It keeps the area beneath moist and safe from microbes. I am still using it and will do until my nose skin is flat again. There is still a small uneven lump of sorts

I went out on my bike today and used a polyester cycling cap, with a peak, underneath my helmet and also a buff pulled right over my ears and nose. Close knits like polyesters are the best protectors from uv rays. I was back by 10 but am now so aware of covering any skin especially on my face and scalp. There is so much more potentially lurking out of sight below the epidermis and uv rays could well activate the nasties.

Thanks vintage. I feel very much as though I have dodged a bullet

vintage1950

to Sunflower and all the others with this condition.

Thank you.

to Sunflower and all the others with this condition.

karmalady

Brilliant news sunflower. I am so pleased that it has been done and the worst is over

Thanks Karmalady,
hope you’re continuing to heal. Maybe you’ll be able to get back on your bike soon, with loads of suncream and a big floppy hat, of course! I’m applying Vaseline at every opportunity. Stitches out on Thursday. We’re due to go away to the Lakes so will have to find a Walk In centre to do the deed!

Sar, how is your DH?

Brilliant news sunflower. I am so pleased that it has been done and the worst is over

Update.
I was booked to have the carcinoma removed on 12th Sept., but asked to be put on the short list for cancellations. Got a phone call on Thurs. asking if I could be there for 11.30 as they’d had a cancellation. After hurriedly dressing etc., arrived at Dermatolgy dept. Lovely lady did the surgery and her assistant offered to hold my hands and talked to me throughout the whole procedure. I was so grateful. It helped immensely! As I was still a bit shaky I was taken to recovery area and offered a cup of tea and biscuits. Took about half an hour to do the surgery. Took dressing off today as instructed. Several stitches which will have to be removed next Thursday, and have to keep it Vaselined for a while. Couldn’t fault NHS. So grateful. Result of what they removed in 4-6 weeks. Thank you to everyone for your interest, good wishes and helpful comments.
Hope those who are still recovering are doing well.

Please be aware that you can get skin cancers from sun shining through a car sunroof.
I know two people who developed it this way; both were not sun worshippers, always wore high protection sun screen and sun hats when outdoors.
Both were asked if they’d ever had cars with sun roofs, both had.

Sar, I hope the nurse is happy with the covered wound on your dh today and well done you

I am on the last stage of healing now. Just 15 days after cryo and the last newer scab moved off as did the big one on my back. Naturally underneath is still at healing stage of making new skin cells. the nose lesion will soon be completely gone, as far as I can tell. 18 days after cryo is very fast, giving me confidence in my immune system and the healing process.

Just 30 days ago, that was the day I decided to find a consultant dermatologist

We have just had four days away on our boat and DH has been fine in himself. He is not the type to take things easy and just gets on with things.
When we got home yesterday I removed the dressing and it didn't look very good. I cleaned it and redressed it. He has an appointment with the nurse on Friday.
He has been taking antibiotics so hopefully no infection.
The other one he had done, in front of his ear, looks ok. It is not covered and I put antibiotic cream on it each morning.
It's a good job I am not squeamish.
Thanks for asking.

Sar, how is dh?

Thank you and good luck to you too karmalady.

Good luck ladygracie

The nose protectors came today and will, I think, be very good. They are lightweight with a good firm clip in the centre and have lines for cutting to make standard into small. I won`t wear any until my cryo lesion stops weeping as the cover is in contact with nose, there is a stuck-on square of gauze inside. I would buy these again

I saw my GP with my SCC on my leg yesterday. I have to use the Efudix cream for another 4 weeks then have another check up.

He has to rest sar, plenty of rest with immune boosting foods containing vitamin c. His body has a very big job of healing ahead

My healing is still going on, the big top scab falling off has revealed a new smaller scab being formed, obviously much deeper skin destruction in that area, which is where I thought I saw squamous cell. He must have used cryo more intensively right there. 12 days for me and I am not there yet and still being very careful. It can easily take over two months for new skin cells to generate in an adult over 50. Over 75 and I am thinking three months

DH saw his doctor this morning and has been put on a course of antibiotics, just in case. The wound on his forehead is not healing and he has been told it could be weeks before it does.
The nurse has redressed it, although not very well.
We had a quick peek and it really doesn't look good.
DH told the nurse that it was the end of his modelling career !!!!!

Yes they look big but there are two sizes and I got the standard size. Mine were from purple turtle. There is no way I can protect my nose at the moment, until they arrive and I am missing my cycling

I’d love to know your opinion of the nose protector karmalady. I did google them but thought they looked huge.

karmalady

Sunflower the difference between who you saw and who I saw is immense. I would have had no confidence at all in the person that you saw. Mine sat me down, chatted to me to put me at ease and looked very carefully at my lesions with a scope and said they were definitely actinic keratosis and not skin cancer. There lies the difference between someone who is very experienced and someone who is not. I went in thinking that I had the start of squamous cell carcinoma

If yours thinks it looks like an scc, then did he arrange a biopsy?

Sunflower, have a look at your local hospital website, to see if they have a private wing, most have. They may well have a private dermatologist. It would be worth a phone call to the private wing receptionist

I repeat, that my consultation and treatment was worth every penny. I am especially re-assured that he will be having another check in november

The nasty scab came off today and I now feel that I can face people. I have just ordered a sun protector for my nose, for when I go cycling. My nose is still in early healing stage and is still raw, I cannot use sunscreen until the new cells form. The protector clips over the centre of my overglasses

Thanks Karmalady.
The difference does sound immense. No, he didn’t suggest a biopsy. He looked at it, while I was standing up, through a lens type thing and just said it looks like scc. We’ll cut that out.
I have contacted several private hospitals/clinics today. 2 are getting back to me. The Nuffield has a waiting list as long as NHS. I’ll check if there’s one at my local hospital.

Glad your scab has come off and you can face people again. The nose protector sounds like a good idea.

Sidelined, I hope you are reassured next week.

Sunflower the difference between who you saw and who I saw is immense. I would have had no confidence at all in the person that you saw. Mine sat me down, chatted to me to put me at ease and looked very carefully at my lesions with a scope and said they were definitely actinic keratosis and not skin cancer. There lies the difference between someone who is very experienced and someone who is not. I went in thinking that I had the start of squamous cell carcinoma

If yours thinks it looks like an scc, then did he arrange a biopsy?

Sunflower, have a look at your local hospital website, to see if they have a private wing, most have. They may well have a private dermatologist. It would be worth a phone call to the private wing receptionist

I repeat, that my consultation and treatment was worth every penny. I am especially re-assured that he will be having another check in november

The nasty scab came off today and I now feel that I can face people. I have just ordered a sun protector for my nose, for when I go cycling. My nose is still in early healing stage and is still raw, I cannot use sunscreen until the new cells form. The protector clips over the centre of my overglasses

Sidelined

I’ve been watching this thread with interest and slowly growing alarm. Last year OH showed concern about some marks on my back which I laughed off. I’m getting older, old people get brown patches etc… well, he pointed them out again recently so I listened. My skin is my current worry, it’s too dry, lots of eczema patches, more moles than before and now this. I haven’t seen a GP since 2017 and lost confidence in our village surgery and have been lucky health-wise but have taken the plunge and registered with a different surgery and made an appointment for next week to get these worrying marks looked at. Fingers crossed.

Very best of luck. I’m sure it’s best to do it, scary though it is.