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Original poster

GP said I have what looks like Basal Cell Carcinoma

41 replies

Lentilfloup · 21/03/2022 14:33

How worried should I be? Sad

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 21/03/2022 14:35

Cautious and vigilant, and glad that it has been caught, but not worried.

Are you being referred on, or has it been cut out?

Shouldbedoing · 21/03/2022 14:37

Don't panic, it's minor, buy needs dealing with. Very long term it can erode cartilage and bone but it doesn't metstasise.

Thesefeetaremadeforwalking · 21/03/2022 14:37

The answer to your question is outside the scope of anyone on this board (unless they are an oncologist/dermatologist)

I presume your GP has referred you to a consultant under the Two Week rule? Your consultant will advise you.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Skin conditions
Albgo · 21/03/2022 14:38

Most basal cell carcinoma is localised and very very slow growing. I had a biopsy done in September for a mark on my forehead - turned out to be BCC and having a full excision at the end of this month. They'll just remove it and that will be that - looks pretty grim after removal for a while though.
Make sure your GP has referred you to dermatology and until you have a biopsy try not to fret - it might not even be cancer.

NeedleNoodle3 · 21/03/2022 14:40

Not too worried.
I’ve had a lot lasered off, treated with nitrogen and a cream.

lljkk · 21/03/2022 14:41

What I think I know...

Something like 2/3 of cases would never progress to something dangerous if left alone forever; the other 1/3 can be easily treated/removed. The cautious thing to do is to remove them all since it's not possible to tell the 1/3 apart from the 2/3.

So basically, if you had to ever get a 'cancer' -- it's the safest sort to get.

My cousins/aunts have had bouts over last few decades years. They are red heads & blonds living in a sunny place.

Original poster
Lentilfloup · 21/03/2022 14:43

My GP has a skin clinic that they run - I’m being sent to that next week. She said they will look at it with a magnifying glass thingy and remove it. Slightly concerned I’m not being sent to a Dermatologist. I’ve had it for ages and ages I was dismissing it as a spot. Now I feel sick that I’ve left everything too late.

OP posts:
LIZS · 21/03/2022 14:43

Dm has had several in recent years. They are either heat treated or cut out, or there is a cream if superficial.

TheWhalrus · 21/03/2022 14:47

As an editor of an oncology journal, I agree with the above posters. You don't need to worry too much, but best to have it removed as a precaution.

Original poster
Lentilfloup · 21/03/2022 14:56

Thank you. I’m just hoping it hasn’t spread anywhere else. I don’t want to Google because I know it could freak me out. I have health anxiety at the best of times!

OP posts:
ClaireEclair · 21/03/2022 15:31

My Dad had a large patch remove from his head. He also had bladder cancer. Both treated and never came back. Lived to be 90 and passed away from an unrelated illness. Hugh Jackman has also had this removed from his nose and has discussed it a few times.

Albgo · 21/03/2022 17:27

In terms of if it's spread - they'll do a biopsy of the bit they cut off you and if it's to the edges they'll maybe get you back in to do a larger removal. It's very unlikely to have spread further than the general area though - it's not generally like other types of cancer in that respect.

Albgo · 21/03/2022 17:29

Google NHS and basal cell carcinoma. Read the nhs page - I think you'll find it reassuring.

latetothefisting · 21/03/2022 17:41

@Lentilfloup

My GP has a skin clinic that they run - I’m being sent to that next week. She said they will look at it with a magnifying glass thingy and remove it. Slightly concerned I’m not being sent to a Dermatologist. I’ve had it for ages and ages I was dismissing it as a spot. Now I feel sick that I’ve left everything too late.
If the skin clinic has any concerns they will make a referral to dermatology but really it's much better for them to treat it if they can - faster and less invasive than proper MOHS surgery. Sounds like they are being really quick with your referral in fairness. I work in health support and had a case recently where a guy waited nearly 18months. Even then it wasn't upheld as it's not a life threatening cancer.
ToasterOfMarshmallows · 21/03/2022 18:03

I thought I had a mole on my face which started out looking like this

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.mdedge.com/familymedicinwww.mumsnet.com/i/netiquettee/article/183994/dermatology/mole-near-nose" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.mdedge.com/familymedicinwww.mumsnet.com/i/netiquettee/article/183994/dermatology/mole-near-nose

It grew incredibly slowly and then I kept catching it on clothes or my sunglasses would sit practically on it and it started to bleed from a tiny hole at the centre so I thought fuck this and I went to a private skin clinic. It was diagnosed as a clear or non-pigmented mole and I was then booked in for laser removal.

At the end the chap all very casual tells me that although the surface looked like a mole it was most likely BCC underneath as when they started lasering down it was deeper than they expected and changed appearance and structure. He did say it could be that I had BCC and a mole on top.

It healed beautifully and you cannot really see it but I was advised to keep an eye on it in case it came back. It is next to my nose and near to my eye. I regularly feel the little scar to check it. I think it was removed about 4 years ago.

MayMorris · 21/03/2022 18:05

I had one that I thought was a spot for ages (nearly 12 months) . Until it just constantly bled whenever I knocked it and never seemed to heal.
I was seen by dermatologist in the 2week rule. They identified a couple of other patches in my (thinning🤣🤣) hair line.
I had them all out under local - not great experience as one below my eye needed a 2 inch incision . But it was ok.
I do have scar running down from my eye down along nose line about 2 inches. Not great, but after 3 years it isn’t really that noticeable to everyone else. I do use makeup if I go out- some good videos out there
Make sure you give the scar a lot of massage whilst it is healing (once stitches out and closed). You don’t need bio oil as such- it is regularly massaging to break down scar tissue so E45 works. I had quite a lump in corner of my eye but with massage multiple times per day it is only slightly raised now.

Then cover up in future- wear hat in summer at all times. Cover your shoulders and arms. This is a warning that your skin is prone to these cancers. Ironically I also take vit D high dose as I don’t get enough sunlight- even before the cancer developed 🤷🏼‍♀️Can’t win

But I don’t fret about it. As long as they confirm what it is and treated accordingly then you will be fine. Check your skin regularly from now on. Don’t delay going to GP with any other blemishes. Worth taking photos of any spots/blemishes over a 5-6 week period to show GP. Unless it’s big and developing rapidly in which case go to GP urgently

Good luck

MayMorris · 21/03/2022 18:07

@Lentilfloup

Thank you. I’m just hoping it hasn’t spread anywhere else. I don’t want to Google because I know it could freak me out. I have health anxiety at the best of times!
Maybe in this case you might find it more reassuring to read up. They are easily treatable and very common. Don’t make yourself more scared form imagining the worse.
Whycantibetangy · 21/03/2022 18:08

I have been waiting for my dermatology referral since August 2021 for mine to be properly looked at/removed. Reading these comments I should have been seen by now?

youlightupmyday · 21/03/2022 18:08

Just had one removed from my upper lip3 werks ago. Easy, all good and have a tiny red mark now. Had 1 stitch and some steri strips

Clarabe1 · 21/03/2022 18:12

My mums friend has had one removed recently. She went to pieces because she had ignored it for years, she was of the firm belief she was going to die and if she survived she would resemble the elephant man. In the actual event she had an out patient op on her nose which has healed beautifully. A man I work with has had two removed and was fine, the scars both look like tiny chicken pox scars. I think these are both quite typical outcomes.

LosingTheWill2022 · 21/03/2022 18:15

I've had a patch of basal cell carcinoma. Consultant toyed with cutting it out but opted for topical treatment and it worked just fine. Treatment is precautionary. It's a cancer that doesn't spread in tbe body OP. You honestly can relax about it.

Occitane · 21/03/2022 18:17

DH had a mole on his back which turned out to be one of these. They removed it under local anaesthetic a few years ago and he has a small scar. He was told that if you get skin cancer, it is the best one to get, because it is very unlikely to spread and once it has been cut out, it is gone completely.

hairymuffet · 21/03/2022 18:19

My gp referred me as she thought I had one on my face. It had been there for 8 months and was oozy , blood. Dermatologist took one look and said its a spot. It disappeared a few weeks later!

Evoll671 · 21/03/2022 19:00

I had a melanoma removed last year and 4 BCCs removed. It was only the melanoma that had me worried. As others have said BCCs don't spread so maybe reading about them would out your mind at rest.

YogaLite · 21/03/2022 19:00

Personally if offered a biopsy, I would ask to have it out in one go rather than going through it twice.

In fact I did just that on a suspect spot which obviously got tested anyway and was found to be non-cancerous.