Medial Canthus BCC

[StephenKingIsScaredOfMe]

I wonder if anyone here has also had a BCC at their medial canthus? My GP said she was referring me to Oculoplastics but my appointment (a speedy 13 days after referral) is with a dermatologist. Does anyone have any experience of periocular BCC they wouldn't mind sharing?

I had a suspected BCC removed today that was close to the medial canthus. My GP referred me to a dermatologist under the urgent pathway (only this week so no appointment yet) but I decided to have it treated privately. I had been advised that the first NHS appointment is just to review it followed by removal at a later date and have been feeling very anxious.

i was offered 2 options and chose the more extensive one as having the less invasive one may have resulted in another treatment. Wait time of approximately 2 weeks for histology report.

Hello and thank you so much for your response, I appreciate it. I do hope you are not feeling too uncomfortable. My BCC is right in the corner, actually touching the pink fleshy part. Like you, I am so anxious. I also have one on my chin and a suspicious bump on my nose but its the eye that has me catastrophising! May I ask if you needed some reconstruction? A skin flap? Did you have a local or general anaesthetic? Its apparently a very common place to get a BCC but you are only the third person I have come across! Thank you.

I had the more extensive removal so more stitches and a skin flap to close it. It was done under local anaesthetic and took about 30 mins. The anaesthetic injections were slightly painful, slightly worse than when you have a dental local due to the surrounding eye tissue being sensitive. The local anaesthetic is wearing off and it feels a bit sore but as suggested I have taken some co-codamol which is helping.
I don’t know anyone else with this and always wear sunglasses but I have very fair skin, love walking my dogs and am 58. Please let me know how you get on with your appointment, is it this week? I’ll let you know how I’m getting on too.

Sorry to hear its all feeling sore now but its such a delicate area! Im heartened to hear it only took about 30 mins though. Im 60 next month and like you, spend lots of time out with my dogs. Ironically, I stopped wearing sunglasses years ago because, when I first discovered the joy of having dogs, I was concerned they would struggle to "read" me if my eyes were covered! My appointment is on Wednesday. Going private isnt an option for me and I hear NHS waiting lists are long. I just want it all gone! I do hope you arent in too much discomfort, what a day you must have had! I will come back and update on Wednesday and Im really grateful to you for responding. Take good care.

@BettyButterBum How did your appointment go?

I had one there and needed a 12 mm excision with a skin graft. They took some skin from my upper eyelid for the graft which I was delighted about as always had a slight droop there! I had a two step procedure,removal under LA then the graft 3 days later under GA

it looks absolutely fine one year on.

Thank you for asking. The dermatologist confirmed the GPs diagnosis of nodular BCC (the least nasty type) and found a third one on my nose! She was very concerned about the one at my canthal junction as it appears to have involved the soft fleshy pink bit inside the corner of the eye which houses tear ducts. I see an Opthalmologist on 29th and her actual words were "they are going to struggle with that" !!! I was in tears all day but then feel guilty because it IS common and treatable and I know chances are it will be barely noticeable in a year. I have never had the lovliest face but feel very anxious and upset that there are 3 cancerous lumps on it and now my eye is compromised too. Sorry to vent! How are you feeling now, physically and emotionally? Have you been able to look at your wound?

Thank you for sharing. How great to hear you are happy with the way it looks now, especially as your eyelid no longer droops! Great result! A 12mm incision sounds HUGE! How big was the BCC? How did you feel in the first few days, if you dont mind me asking.

@BettyButterBum That sounds a really tough appointment even if it confirmed what you expected and not the most helpful comment by the dermatologist. I hope the next one is better.

The site of my removal was exposed from the start but I have been resisting looking at it in a magnifying mirror! It seems to healing ok, I have quite a bit of facial bruising and swelling, a black eye which has spread down my face and a bit under the other eye but I feel fine. It’s all dissolving stitches so no removal.

@Lemondrizzling That is so encouraging to hear that you are pleased with the result and it looks fine. Thank you.

Im so pleased you are feeling OK and that your wound appears to be healing ok. It sounds like you look like you have been in the boxing ring! I dont blame you for not wanting to look too closely, I think my mirrors will be shut in a cupboard for a few weeks! Glad you wont have to have any stitches out but Im assuming the anxious wait for the histology report continues? My family have arranged wonderful things for the week of my 60th Birthday in mid July but Im sure the surgery will be after that.