Basal Cell Carcinoma - how worried should I be?

[ShiftyFades]

I'm not going to google anything. My Dsis has a lump on her face, I didn't like the look of it and pestered her to get it looked at. It's taken a few months but she's finally been and they've said it's Basal Cell Skin Cancer.
They've said it's localised and once removed that's it gone. No further treatment needed, it's very common apparently.

I'm just a bit shocked and disappointed that my instinct was right

Has anyone experienced this? Apparently the wait for the operation could be 6 months.

BCCs are incredibly common, and though they need treating as they will get bigger and bigger, they don't go off anywhere else so treatment isn't urgent. And once treated, thats it, nothing more needed - though once you've had one you have a very high chance of having more

Wonderful you were instrumental in getting your dsis diagnosed! I had a Basel cell just under my nose. It was removed about 10 years ago. I had no further treatment after removal. I am very careful with sun cream now. Even in winter I put at least SPF 25 on under my slap or just alone.
I firmly believe your sister will be just fine..

Oh yes, I also have yearly skin exams with my dermatologist. She checks me over very carefully..

Thank you for the reassurance
I wish I'd nagged her a little harder though!

I think you are a goddess! I am constantly trying to get my dh to doctor for health issues and he mostly ignores me. Your dsis did well listening to you :)

I was getting very worried as she's lost weight but for no reason at all, and she didn't have much spare to lose. She looks ridiculously thin now (and I must confess I'm slightly jealous), add that to a nasty lump on her face = all sorts going through my overreacting head

It does sound like you had reason to be concerned. Has the unexplained weight loss been looked after? I always head right for catastrophe when it involves the people I love. A tiny scratch could turn to blood poisoning! A high fever could cause seizures!
I always feel like I must guard those I love..iykwim

She's had some blood tests and everything appears to be as it should be.
I will remind her to tell the consultant about the weight loss when she goes back.

I panic too

Ahhhh, shifty..I bet we would get on very well together. We could have tea and look through Dr.Google..

My aunt had a basal cell lump removed recently. She is fine and no more treatment required.

DM has had a couple removed. Both without problem and no further treatment required.

wants to steal worrysighworrysigh's nn

My most vexing fear with the bcc (beside it being cancer,ofcourse) was the issue of how my face would look after. I was sent to a doctor specialising in facial surgery. I did have sutures. I had to stay out of the sun for a couple of weeks ( a broad brim hat was not easy to find in the winter) there is a very small scar that was greatly lessened by the use of Mederma(sp?)

I've just had one removed and could now kick myself for sitting in the sun over the years. Saw a lovely dermatologist and, like stories above, was very reassured. Mine appeared quickly on my neck--got it seen to right away. My gut instinct was that it needed investigation. I am super careful now.

They sound scary, but they rarely turn bandit - although it's prudent to have them removed. I've had one treated with chemotherapy cream, and I've had a few other 'things' treated with creams or scrapped off.

I always always use SPF now - just wish that I'd been more careful when I was young and it was fashionable to sit in the sun and tan.

Sadly the damage is done, and now it's all about being vigilant and keeping an eye out for anything else.

My dad had one on his forehead about 20 years ago. He's had it frozen/lasered off (?) and it's needed doing again once or twice, but nothing else has happened. He's 86 now and not a skin cancer in sight.

Not much. I've had two (I am 42), my dad has had LOADS (He is now in his late 70s). They are common and easily treated.

Thank you, I knew MN would give me an honest verdict and keep me grounded.
SecretSwitch, we'd be able to procrastinate for hours over tea
She hasn't had the biopsy yet, it's on the 19th, I've told her I'm going with her. Then it's a 6 month wait for removal.
Because of its size / shape and position she will need a small graft to cover the wound, this will be taken from behind her ear.
Her GP had told her it was an ulcer (had a funny name) and only referred her because it next to her eye I must admit that I was a little uncomfortable with that diagnosis but knew the referral / removal would sort it once and for all.
She's told the surgery about his error, he needs to know that it's cancer and not an ulcer and hopefully prevent further misdiagnosis / false reassurances.

I had one of these. My GP had said he was sure it was a wart!! It was definitely getting bigger and I managed to persuade him to refer me "just in case". Removed a couple of years ago and no problem since. They did send the biopsy results to the GP and I did say to him rather pointedly the next time I saw him "oh it turned out it wasn't a wart". Wear

oops hit the wrong button - was going to say Wear high SPF factor 40 on my face all the time now.

DSis wears a moisturiser with SPF15, so she's quite upset. But I've reminded her that she hasn't always and we went on a few girly holidays when we were younger. I doubt she put sun cream on her face when she was pissed at an 18 to 30 beach party on a trip to Olympia.

It's possible her GP told her it was a rodent ulcer?

That is actually a slow growing form of basal cell/ benign cancer.

So the GP didn't necessarily misdiagnose.

Clarins do a very nice factor 50 for face!

Salmotrutta, if my GP told me I had a rodent ulcer, I would faint dead away!