Has anyone here had Basal Cell Carcinoma/skim cancer?

[Popihola]

To give a bit of background. I'm 26 female, blue eyes and body covered in freckles. My mum has natural red hair and very pale skin, I inherited her skin and my dad's darks hair. I've never had a tan in my life , despite travelling all around the world. I had burnt quite a few times though as a teenager.

Anyway, my partner noticed the 2 spots on the back of neck - I have had these for about a year. I also have a very similar one on my chest by right breast which is about 5 months old. He said I should go have them looked at as they look similar to when his mum had a basal cell carcinoma. I'm convinced they are just normal moles, and although they are different to the other thousands of freckles and moles I have, they just don't look 'dangerous', if that makes sense?

If anyone has had Basal before could you please give me some indication on wether they look similar? I know the GP is my best bet but I'm just not sure how ideal it is to bother them with the current pandemic going on for something that's probably completley normal.

They are small little pink/reddish spots that are raised, waxy almost to look at - almost like a water blister but they don't pop!

Any advice is appreciated 😊

[Popihola]

Also please excuse my spelling and grammar, I've had a wine and just put body lotion on after a shower - a bad combination with auto correct. 😂

[wegoatdawn]

You would be very, very young to have developed basal cell carcinomas.
I can't say whether they're normal moles or not but I do know that most GP practices are actively wanting their patients to get in touch with them if they have concerns.
This is the type of thing that you could email photos of or show on a video consultation.

[Popihola]

You're right, I should get in touch. I feel silly when I'm pretty adamant they're normal.

[Trying81]

I’ve just had one removed from my face

There are subtypes, and mine didn’t look like that, but anything that stays so long on your body should be checked out - the doctors and dermatologist would rather you be safe than sorry.

I’d not heard of BCC before, and mine was found at an appt for something else, had the mark for a few years and I’m only 38 - but similarly to you, I’m pale, freckly and don’t tan at all so higher risk for them.

If it is that, then they rarely spread - but still need removing.

[blahblahblahetcetc]

You really need to go to a skin doctor, they can take one look and tell you if it is something to be worried about or not. I live in Australia, teenagers/young adults die from melanomas. If you have had sunburn when you were younger you really shouldn't be complacent, get it checked out then you can hopefully stop worrying.

[Flamingolingo]

I had a possible BCC on my nose (didn’t have it biopsied, used cream instead - have my follow up call with the dermatologist tomorrow). What drove me to the GP was that it kept bleeding, and had done so for a couple of years. Usually the things that are worrying are things that are new or changing, bleeding or itching, very dark in colour, of variegated colour, or with a poorly defined border, also things larger than a pencil eraser. That said, it’s your skin and if you’re concerned you absolutely should speak to a GP, many are doing phone/email consultation for things like skin as a first point

[AtopAHighHill]

Please phone your GP for advice.
I had a similar dodgy mole and phoned GP last week for advice, she asked me to email photos to her and then I got called in for a face to face appointment. Mine was completely benign (actinic keratosis) but she said I did the right thing to get it checked.

Best to get your GP to check and put your mind at rest.

[FaceOfASpink]

I've had BCC removed and I have lots of marks that look like those which aren't BCC. I'd definitely contact the GP and email them the photos rather than ignore them.

[NoHardSell]

GPs are still really quiet, and you already have photos. Perfect! Quick phone consultation should be easy to arrange

[Popihola]

Thank you all for the advice, it is much appreciated. I will speak to my GP, I'm just not in the easiest position to do so at the moment. If they ask me to go in I can't due to lack of childcare, my partner works the hours the doctors are open and we have no nearby family. I do feel more reassured by the above comments though so I'm happy to wait a bit longer for things to ease off a bit.

[wegoatdawn]

Your practice may ask you to send photos of the area or do a video consult so don't worry too much about not managing to go in at this point.
Don't let that delay you calling

[goose1964]

They lookalike sebhorroeic keratosis to me. I went to the GP as I was terrified it was cancer. Some of the ones I had have disappeared and I have some new ones.If you look carefully at the surface they have a cauliflower like top.

[Popihola]

Thanks @goose1964 I hadn't heard of that, and they do look similar apart from that one on my chest which is very light. I'm going to speak to my GP and hopefully a video call or something will suffice, better to be safe than sorry I suppose 😊

[KTyoupigeon]

I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my cheek - it had been there a few years and previously been checked by 2 GP’s who told me it was harmless. It had started to really itch and was bleeding so I went back to the GP and was referred to the hospital who confirmed it was a BCC and was removed very successfully the first time and needed no further treatment. It did grow over those few years but not massively. I have another 2 suspect ones on my face and I am due another referral but I am self isolating with a vulnerable child.

If I remember correctly the main thing the hospital said was an identifying feature of a BCC was a dip in the middle