Basal cell carcinoma? Any dermatologists? Help!

[DeepPinkScroller]

Hi,
I’ve had a small lump on my bicep for about 2 months and it hasn’t gone away. It scabs from time to time and is like a red raised bump about half the size of a pencil top.
I’ve googled things this weekend and scared myself silly.
I’ve attached an image.
google has made me think this is basal cell carcinoma. And now I feel worried sick that I have left it 2-3 months. Can anyone shed any light? Or offer experiences? I have pretty bad health anxiety and I’ve scared myself silly. I’ll be getting in touch with my gp tomorrow.

Hi,

It's okay, you're safe.

Basal cell carcinoma doesn't spread. If you hang on a bit I will explain in the next post.

It would be better to make an appointment with your gp

Basal cell carcinoma is a cancer that form from basal cells in the skin.

Basal cells are not motile, which means that they can't move around in the body. So if they become cancerous then they just stay put where they are.

So there is no risk of the cancer moving to another part of your body and making more tumours there.

This is good because cancer is only really dangerous because of its tendency to spread around the body. If it stays put where it is, then it's pretty much okay.

So if you have a BCC, it's likely that it will just stay there and get a bit bigger over time.

The inital treatment is usually just a cream, but I think for one that is raised like that, they would probably give you a tiny little local anaesthetic and remove it.

I've had that done and it was really absolutely fine.

Took about 15 minutes. Gone for good.

If the waiting list on the NHS is long, it would be worth going to a private cosmetic surgeon and asking for it to be removed.

Does that help a bit?

Having said all that, you should still get it removed.

If a BCC is just left then it will spread very very very slowly to the local skin area and be a nuisance, so it's much better to get it removed. I know this because my DM had a BCC that spread in the local skin and she had to have it removed like half a dozen times before it finally took the hint.

I'm not a medic btw. I just have had a BCC myself so read up about it at the time.

I had a spot under my eye that just wouldn’t heal for a few years, it kept scabbing then bleeding - turned out to be basal cell carcinoma. I had it removed and had a skin graft from behind my ear. That was nearly 20 years ago.

Yes I’ll be going tomorrow 😊

Obviously, get it checked, however, they BCC are relatively benign.

Ive been diagnosed with BCC just before I got pregnant, but was worried about the removal (high risk pregnancy, so tried to avoid stress). The doctors offered to remove it after the baby is born, as there was no risk of it spreading (however, it can grow the longer you wait, so there might be a bigger scar).

So having left it for 2-3 months wouldn’t be a problem

Thank you. I’m just convinced that is what it is and I’m kicking myself for leaving it so long. Thank you for your reply.

Definitely see your gp tomorrow.
I have the bad luck to have stage 4 melanoma.
I am not saying this is what you have at all so please don’t let that panic you and I won’t be silly enough to try and say what that lump may or may not be but I certainly know enough to say get it looked at very promptly.
Google can be very misleading both positively and negatively. Skin cancers can look quite different from the stereotypical images on t’internet.
Mine was quite a surprise because it was a rare one. My first useless GP told me it was a reaction to an insect bite (dermatofibroma) and to ignore it which I did for six months.
Thankfully when I went back as I thought it was bigger I saw a locum who immediately sent me to dermatology and the rest is history.
If I can reassure you a bit it would be to tell you that treatment for the nastier skin cancers have made enormous strides in recent years and if it isn’t a nasty one and is just a basal cell then they will just lop it off under local g.a.
Feel free to message me if you need to in future.

Don't worry, I had a larger one on my leg for ages, I just had it removed, it was fine, as it is your arm, it should be quite easy to remove as it's not like your face so it will be quickly excised, I was in outpatients for about 30 minutes with my larger one.

As others have said it doesn’t spread and is easily removed. If indeed that is what it is.

I had a bcc right by my eye on the side of my nose ,I’d had it about 4 years.
originally the nurse at my surgery said it was sun damage but of course sun damage can turn to a bcc.
it’s a slow spreading one so don’t panic,
I waited 11 months for my surgery but had to see a plastic surgeon as it was by my eye , yours no doubt would be removed as it’s in a easy place

Update.
went to the GP, she mentioned Squamous Cell Carcinoma and I’ve been referred to the dermatologist at the hospital under the cancer pathway
I rang the dermatologist despite and the wait time is currently 6-7 weeks.

I'm absolutely bricking it 😮‍💨 I’m 36 and have a young son. My biggest fear is not being around to watch him grow up. Just so very anxious. I’ve called my local private hospital and the private wait is the same time as the nhs. Just a mess all the time at the minute ☹️

Try not to stress they thought mine was squamous cell and mine was basal cell carcinoma.
it was an 11 month wait but it’s now cut out and gone.
if it’s somewhere easy they generally remove at the dermatologist appointment

That’s good. I worry squamous is much more serious. It’s all a worry. To think I have to wait 6-7 weeks also

@DeepPinkScroller it’s easy to say don’t worry I know
but try not to.
mine was right by my eye at the side of my nose, I had to see a plastic surgeon and had MOHs surgery and ended up with two black eyes after and lots of stitches but I was ok
once it’s done it’s over and I’d had mine for about 4 years having been told by the nurse it’s just sun damage.
i was also warned my face could be wonky afterwards as its a risk but you never know looking at me now

I don't mean to be blase but please try not to panic. You've started the process which is the most important thing. Many many people have BCC and SCC in Australia and are treated as very routine. Try not to panic.

My husband had one. The dermatology appointment took 9 months to arrive. They don’t consider it urgent.

My partner has just had a suspicious mark on his arm removed awaiting results. He was seen within two weeks from gp referal, consultant wasn’t sure either way but listed for biopsy/removal had a cancellation op date offered 6 days after that appointment and it’s been removed. Mum has a history of BCC

Sounds like we are lucky with out hospital!

I’ve had a few lumps like that on my legs and turned out to be dermatofibromas which are harmless. It’s good you’re being referred but try not to panic, might not be any type of cancer.

I have something similar and had an ultrasound and it was nothing - possibly some scarring so don’t worry too much

Hi did you ever find out what it was ? I'm going through something similar please could you reply as mine looks like yours .

DH had a scratch on his nose during lockdown. He slapped some Savlon on it and it healed, then came back. Repeat till he ran out of Savlon. About a year. Asked the pharmacist fir a stronger cream and was told, in no uncertain terms, to go to the doc. It was a BCC. Cut out, with skin graft taken from his shoulder. 3 months later, at review, was told the cells were spread more that they thought and another op was needed, removal and then a Forehead Flap reconstruction. Simply put, they cut off about 90% of his nose, and rebuilt it using cartledge from his ears, and a large patch cut from his forehead. A fascinating op, but took ages to heal up. I won't post a photo, but look on youtube if you are interested. Lesson, get it checked ASAP. Nothing to worry about, but you want it cut out.

I’d like to as you something as you seem to know about bcc - I’m using Fluorouracil after a biopsy for
2 weeks now, it’s scabbing over and is really sore, should I carry on with the cream for another week?