I’m looking for some reassurance

Try not to worry, morethan. DH had the same thing three years ago. The op to remove it was done under local anaesthetic and the area was covered with a skin graft taken from his head. I was shown how to change the dressings at home.

His head was very sore for a few days so took paracetamol for the headaches. He was able to carry on as normal though so long as he didn't overdo things and stayed out of the sun.

He had follow up appointments at outpatients but now only goes for a check up every six months.

He wears a hat all the time now and one with a large brim in the summer.

Try not to do too much in the first few days. Difficult in your situation I'm sure but apparently it's quite common these days.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Sorry, I should have said skin graft was taken from his thigh!

Oh, morethan, just what you don't need! But you don't need to be ill either so you must get this thing fixed. Have they said whether you'll need a general anaesthetic? If it can be done under local, you might recover from the procedure quicker. I'm just wildly guessing here so take no notice if it's just blether.

It comes with sympathy for your predicament though xx

Ah, thanks, merlot.

morethan2'This is the last thing you need, but you know that you need to keep healthy and strong at the moment. Good luck

Oh thank you both for your quick reassurance. I did have a rye smile at the dermatologist. He asked if I had any questions. I was so flabbergasted I couldn’t think so I asked “will the biopsy hurt.?” His answer was a fairly blunt “yes” all I could answer was “I wish I never asked” anyway he did it in around 20 minutes and it didn’t really hurt, until the anaesthetic wore off. I may buy the hat opposite.

Oh bad luck morethan - my Dad had similar done and it all went well, so please do not worry.

Sorry you’re going through this.
A friend of mine had similar, a coup,e of years back. All has healed in a satisfactory way. She’s tall and you would not notice the patch.

Not to worry, these are slow growing cancers and remain on the skin without causing too much mischief apart from irritation if it's/they are anywhere were clothes can rub on them.

I had 3 removed a few years ago, which I'd had for years and I notice one or two more that need removing and fully intended to get them done this Spring----some hope now as the NHS has more than enough to cope with ( says I )

The one on my neck is becoming a nuisance as clothes do rub on it and it does itch now and again, but it can wait. GP would probably have ten fits if she knew but I'm now trying to avoid hospitals for the time being !

I am very fair skinned and had one near my eye. Because it was on the face the consultant had to be in charge of the procedure but it was actually a doctor under him who performed the surgery. All done under local anaesthetic, took an hour or so, and I was a bit dizzy when I stood up. It was prickly and bled a bit a few days later but healed well in the end. Bruised quite badly as though I had a black eye. Histology revealed nothing sinister. Apparently once you have had one they are more likely to crop up again.