I've just had cancer removed from my face

[elliollie]

As the title says, I had basal cell carcinoma on my nose and I had it removed last week and a skin graft used from my neck. I saw the wound for the first time the other day and it looks awful, much bigger than I thought and really not nice. I know it will get better but I'm sad.
I wish people would be honest rather than say it's not too bad or it will get better. I know they're only being nice but it makes me feel silly for being upset. (Not crying every minute but sad)
Please tell me I'm not unreasonable to wallow in self pity for a week or two!

Looking good!
Thanks for updating, good to hear you are getting out and about without feeling too uncomfortable. Post Christmas that should be really good.

Another photo update. Really pleased with how it's healing.
@myMohsnose How was your check up?
@ShannonRockallMalin any news with you?

Wow, that’s looking so much better! Thanks so much for the updates.

I’ve got my appt next week. I thought it was an initial consultation but then found out that they were planning to remove it there and then. I couldn’t be doing with that a few days before Christmas so have requested that they do the actual surgery in the new year.

@ShannonRockallMalin oh I don't blame you! Enjoy Christmas first. As you've seen, it can be a bit rubbish in the first week or so. It's 3 weeks today since the op and I can honestly say I'm feeling fine about it all now.

That's healing really well.

I'm really pleased with it. Wasn't quite so positive when I first saw it but now I can see what a good job they've done!

Thank you for asking, elliollie. I was right about one the iffy bits; a small, pre-cancerous growth near the bridge of my nose. The dermatologist gave me various options, including leaving it alone. I went for the freezing it off with liquid nitrogen, done on the spot (ha, ha) and no extra cost (in Australia). It's healing well, and I have some back-up chemo ointment ( Efudix) for if it comes back, though having read up the side effects of the ointment I bloody hope it doesn't. The rest of me was pronounced as in excellent nick. Or should I say 😎

Where are my manners? Your latest pic shows you healing really well. You're really doing a service to others, sharing your experience.

I wanted to show you this - I’m about 10, nearly 11 months on from the same procedure- sorry for the bad post shower photo! The small dent is all I have left, I think my operative site was about as big as yours.
I second the silicone stuff, it’s very good and was recommended by my dermo.
It does feel like shit at the beginning, I hid at home and hated doing the school run but things got better quickly. And as you can (hopefully!) see, it’s nothing much to look at now. I do have to be super careful of my skin from now on, and I’ve another patch on my cheek that needs doing again in the new year.

@FrenchFancie that looks amazing! Thanks for sharing your photo.
Here's a quick photo update as most of the scab came off this morning...

It’s healing well.

Not on my face but I had a giant op. These are the pics with probably 10 months in between

Wow @Ollivander84, that's healed so well! Thanks for sharing.

I put nothing on it either apart from Childs farm lotion if it itched, and whatever body lotion I sporadically use! It's faded even more now and is barely noticeable

That's some terrific healing going on there. Well done for looking after it so well and getting through the awful bit where it looks like shit and you feel like it'll never get better.

People are buggers for telling you it'll all be fine and you can hardly see it when you plainly can, and it might not be all fine. I had a standup row with a very dear friend once about this. telling me it would be fine when there was no way to know that and it was just pissing me off even more by making me feel like my very valid concerns and fears were not allowed Tom be spoken out loud.

I reckon that scar is going to be scarcely visible in time. Beautifully level, though obviously it's hard to see exactly in photos.

@WongaGoneWronga Thanks, that's exactly what I mean. I know they mean well but it's not helpful!
Yes, it's very level, I think they've done a really good job!

I’m so glad you included photos! Look at the improvement!

How are you feeling? Wallow all you want. You’re entitled to feel however you want.

When I first read this I really thought it would look terrible and I felt awful about being honest, but after seeing it.. honestly.. I think it looks great. I can’t wait to see the wound fully healed because it’s probably going to look like a small imperfection.. if that. And only something you will truly notice. A stranger could never tell.

Well done you on being so brave! It’s so inspiring you came here for the blunt truth.

Your mind and body has been through so much recently, take the time to be kind to yourself.

You’re an amazing person ❤️

@myMohsnose I'm sorry it wasn't better news, I'm glad they've caught it early though!
@Youmatter Thank you for your lovely post. I'm feeling good about it now. Very positive and happy to be out and about without makeup on. If anyone asks, I'm happy to explain. This thread has been a great support and somewhere I can be honest without feeling I have to play it down! Thanks everyone.

@elliollie that looks fantastic! I'm made up for you love I really am. . Get your glad rags out now girl... it's xmas!! xx❤️

Thanks @FannyFanackerpants71 it looks better again today. The skin graft site on my neck is actually more noticeable!
We've just booked a posh ball for NYE - just need to find something to wear now!

@elliollie ah, neck will heal, and if wounds are all sealed and healed now you should be able to cover in foundation but only if your team give to the ok to do so. Treat yourself to a few new make up sponges. A good make up sponge and a good foundation are a godsend.

Have a look also at foundation bases. Not sure if you have ever used before but they are great at providing a support base for foundation, covering, fine lines ( I have many now I'm old... ) facial scars (got those too under my bottom lip and chin - merry go round accident in 1979.. I fell off aged 8 and then went face down under the merry go round ,got trapped under it,while it continued to spin around with all my friends on it...my face was nicely grounded into the dirt and hard core and the full weight of the merry go round pushed my face further into the mire.. hospitalised.., got loads of cuddly toys, a Texas bar... 30 metal Mickey yellow fizz bombs.. and a blue furry toy pet cat in a basket with blue check gingham bow...was famous at sch for 2 whole days ...long story and before the days of HSE) etc! I use a Christian Dior base but have a look yourself and see what suits you best. They basically provide a moisture rich film platform for your foundation to sit on and hide a multitude of sins.

Enjoy your NYE dress shopping. Post a pic of your dress/ensemble on NYE ( identity blurred obvs) , would be lovely to see you in your finery about to have a good time,that you so richly deserve. Enjoy! Also enjoy your cruise next year.

It was all ok in the end OP. Sometimes words from the outside can help reassure when those in the middle of the storm cannot see the wood for the trees.

Thankyou for your bravery, and all the other posters, in sharing your story/ies, it's defo helped me put my scars in perspective.

Merry xmas OP and a very happy healthy 2019. ( don't forget NYE ensemble pics).

I'm off out for lunch and put a little make up on. I've avoided the bottom part that isn't quite healed. This is 3 weeks and 4 days post op.
@ShannonRockallMalin

Ah, that looks fab! Genuinely barely noticeable.

I had my appointment today. I was given the option of having the whole thing cut out there and then, or having a biopsy so they could decide how much more, if any, needed to be removed. Obvs went for the biopsy, which has a couple of stitches and feels bloody sore now the anaesthetic has worn off. I’ll find out ina few weeks if anything more needs to be done.

In the spirit of the thread, here’s a pic!

Please have these virtual flowers

I hope your wound soon heals and you feel better soon.

I've had two skin cancers on my face. Luckily, I had mine treated with chemotherapy cream, which hasn't left a scar.

Can I remind everyone to go to their GP if they have any changes on their skin, you just never know what it is.

I had some skin cancer removed from my jaw line with a sort of dry ice gun. It swelled and went red for a few days. An idiot at work asked if someone had stubbed a cigarette out on my face... er yeah, I'm hard me.

Five or so years on, I can see the scar as it's a lighter patch of skin than the rest of my face, but that doesn't bother me.

My mum has recently had to have quite a large patch of skin cancer removed from her temple. In a procedure that is quite rare, she basically spent most of the day with the Dr removing each layer of skin, sending it for biopsy and if it showed signs of cancer removing the next. They removed quite a large area of skin - maybe an inch - in the summer. Looked awful for weeks afterwards due to the size of the scab. You can hardly notice it now, and she didn't follow any of the post-op treatment plan properly (dementia).