Basal cell carcinoma - help?

[Wmoejg]

I've got a spot on the side of my nose that I've had over a year. I got checked by the gp and referred to dermatology who think it's a BCC. Obviously hearing the cancer word is scary but what I've read is that these are pretty treatable? I've been referred to the surgery team and just feel scared. Anyone who's gone through this do you have any advice or guidance?

Go on Macmillan website, best place to get lots of info and chat with people who have gone through the same

I’ve had this, it was a mole on my shoulder.

it was cut out and that was it, no further treatment

The surgery is fine. Keep your eyes shut. The local anaesthetic stings a bit initially but it's soon numb. Take earphones. Aftercare isn't painful and they can do amazing things to hide the scar. Honestly the thought of it is worse than the actual procedure.

My gran had many - she lived to 91 and it wasn't this that got her!

Yes, I've been through this. I had it cut out under LA and very quickly after first diagnosis. They grow very very slowly (years). Very treatable OP. I understand your concern tho - I walked straight into the pub for a stiff drink after my diagnosis!

Dm has had several removed. They don't spread and are easily treated.

I had this a couple of years ago. Well I was told it was a classic case of BCC but the histology actually came back as just a scar after it appeared to heal itself suddenly.

I was told that it isn’t a cancer that spreads to other places, it just grows over time and can become “unsightly”. Hence them liking to remove it. I think it’s borderline even being called a cancer as it’s so different to most.

It got removed under local anaesthetic and was only around 45 mins. Stitches removed something like 10 days later and you can barely see the scar.

They are common in our family (Keltic skin).
Dont ignore them, especially if it’s on your nose. Derm specialist may want to cut it out, or may give you cream.
My Mum had a tiny one on her neck, I took her to see the dermatologist, he ended up cutting quite deep & she ended up with 1/2 doz stitches.

I had one next to be nose on face and was just given cream to use for a few weeks that got rid.

I've just been diagnosed with this, on side of nose.Having op in a couple of weeks, want it done but not done, IYKWIM.Apparently this is the best type of skin cancer to have, doesn't make it any better though.I will need a skin graft also.Have spent all my life working outside in the sun.

I had one on the side of my nose. Had it removed by laser and you can't even see where it was now. It does sound d scary but you'll be fine, honestly.

I had one on my shoulder blade. They don’t metastasise they’d just grow deeper and if left forever could impact bone beneath. I had to have me cut out quite deep with two layers of stitches but nothing needed since. My husband keeps an eye on my back moles as I also get Seborrheic keratosis which are harmless (but ugly)

I've just gone through this (2 weeks post op) after a spot was found on my forehead. Mine was removed under GA and they've managed to hide the scar at the top of the forehead/hairline (although still early days so a bit red still).

Despite BCC being very treatable it can be overwhelming when on the face. I found it helpful to have someone at the surgeons appointment with me as I struggled to focus on what was being said. Was good to debrief in the car afterwards. And surgeons are magicians! The things they can do are incredible.

Stay off the internet. Some of the images online can be also be very overwhelming to see.

As everyone has said, they are slow growing and easy to treat. It can be hard to focus on this at the time though. Anything you feel is valid.
Wishing you well! It really is the 'best' kind of skin cancer to get.

I am in my 70s, so grew up in the days of using olive oil when sunbathing. Most people I know have had one or more bccs removed. Most just cut out under local and sewn up, some needed a skin graft. However, although they are not life threatening still get them checked as soon as you think you have one. DH had a scratch on his nose that he thought was caused when he took his jumper off without taking his specs off and caught his nose. Slapped on some Savlon, took a few weeks to fully heal but did. A few weeks later it returned. More Savlon, cleared up and returned. This carried on for a few months. This was just after the first lockdown, so we're avoiding surgeries, but that was no excuse. It didn't hurt, and it didn't look more than a small skin abrasion. He went to the chemist for a stronger version of Savlon, if there is such a thing, and was told to go to the doc, who sent him to a dermatologist. First op, under local, took a skin graft off his shoulder, cut out the carcinoma, and patched it up. At the followup he was told the biopsy from what was cut out showed the dodgy cells went right to the edge of what was cut out, indicating it had not all been removed, so another op was required. This was a procedure called MOHS. Imagine a Spanish ham, being sliced thinly. They take the area off in slices, take each slice to the lab and check it for Cancer cells, then if they are still there, another slice, check etc until it is clear. He was under general anaesthetic for 9 hours, a second op a month later to tidy up the site, then 12 months with weekly visits to the nurse for dressing changes. They ended up removing most of his nose and rebuilding it with a thing called a forehead flap, if you are not squeamish look it up on youtube. They also used cartledge from his ears to rebuild his nostrils. So, something that a lot of people say is not really cancer, resulted in major surgery, luckily he has no vanity whatsoever as he now has a more bulbous nose and scarring on his forehead. Moral? Wear a hat and SPF50. And make your partners do the same.

I have had a lot removed (live in hot sunny country).

A basal cell is the first stage, so it will be removed by whatever means they feel best, and they will probably keep an eye on you with regular appointments. Some have been burnt off, and some cut. Also there is a cream that can be used.

This will be sun damage from years ago though. Hence why you need to just keep an eye out for anything untoward looking that can be dealt with as soon as possible.

I had a bcc removed under local anaesthetic last week .Op was fine, I was so scared, lovely female surgeon but after effects more uncomfortable.Want to pick the scab off (I won't) but the itching is driving me crazy. Vaseline to be applied from today.Mine looked like a fleshly wart to start with then dropped off and left a crater.Always get anything unusual checked out.

I had one near my eye years ago. Started in early 30’s had it removed nearer 40. The biopsy removed it.

I called my mortgage cover re this and they said they didn’t need to know about it.

I’ve got a strange patch on my nose so need that checked.

these carcinomas are easily treated. It’s natural to be worried though,

I’m sorry to hijack the thread, but reading it has made me worry about what I thought was some kind of wart on my face. I’ve had it over 30 years but it started as a spot, I remember it being a bit itchy sometimes. Then it turned into a freckle, then a slightly larger mole (like a ‘beauty spot’) and then this fleshy lump. It has taken decades to get to how it is now. I’ve never really been worried about it because an older family member had something that looked similar and I naively thought I’d inherited it! I see a few of you saying you’ve had yours removed, did it look like mine?

I've had 2. Both found during skin checks. One in shoulder, one on forehead. Both removed quickly and painlessly. DH also had one on his nose removed. Nothing to worry about. They've found them...you're lucky.

Mine didn't look like that. I couldn't see them really. I think anything that grows on your body should be checked out though.

@isthismylifenow
my partner has just been told he likely has this and needs a biopsy. He’s ok. I’m down the rabbit hole of Google and scared. How old were you with your first? I’ve read too much and can’t get this anxiety away. We have a little boy 4 who seems to make these things so much harder when you look at that little innocent face x

Firstly @Fightingtobepositive please don't Google. Most of what you read up will be worst case scenario.

It is standard practice to have a biopsy done on something suspicious looking. It is only from this that they can see if it is indeed a basal cell, squamous cell etc. A lot of the time, they even come back clear.

Basal cell are pretty common in all honesty. If the histology comes back positive, then the offending cells will be removed. Depending of where and size they can be burned off with liquid nitrogen or cut out.

I first started to have spots burned off as a child. I am very fair and in our lifestyle it is almost impossible to avoid the sun completely. So we go for more regular checks, and anything suspicious looking is zapped away.

I have had over a 100 areas zapped or cut over the years. Only two have ever come back as positive, which were squamous cells, but to be fair I did leave them a bit longer than I should have. They were cut out. The area around is checked again to be sure everything was taken out, and that is that.

He may even find more appearing from now on. As I said previously, the sun damage has already taken place. I do not know how the NHS work for this, but a yearly check up and skin mapping here is the norm post any treatment.
You cannot reverse it, but you can be more aware to prevent over exposure. Also, some sun on your skin is good for you, but you do need to prevent a burn.

Good luck to him, he is doing the right thing in having it tested.

I had an aggressive BCC removed a few years back, I had four operations in total, most of one side of my nose and cheek were removed, I also had the forehead flap skin graft used to repair the damage.

I have quite a large scar on my forehead but I have a fringe so it's not noticeable, the scarring on my face you can hardly see now and people who see me say they wouldn't have noticed unless it was pointed out.

I am aware of the scarring myself but compared to how much damage was done to get all the BCC out, it looks pretty damn good.

I've since had another very small BCC on my finger treated with Efadex and so far, that hasn't returned.

@isthismylifenow thank you for replying. That’s actually helped me start to think logically. The fact you’ve been at this since you were young and only had 2 that’s been something is good. I’m such an anxious person. I seem to spiral with things like this. It is just me my little one and my partner they are everything to me so I am a worrier terrible way to be. His mum passed away of pancreatic cancer not long ago so the word just scares me so much and probably him. But he’s not one to talk about that. Thank you for taking the time to reply x

I had a mole removed from the side of my nose a few weeks back and the results in the NHS app say the biopsy shows markedly hyperkeratotic papillomatous skin and a separate fragment showing part of a nodular basal cell carcinoma. I've got a GP appt in a week's time but this has really scared me - especially with the posts above about having to have part of the nose removed. I'm stuck at work and DP's away this weekend so I don't even have anyone to talk to at the moment.