I'm v scared, I have skin cancer ..... :(

[boobyooby]

Just returned from the doctors, been given my results from some skin I had taken from my top lip 3 weeks ago and it has come back positive for skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma.

Have been told I will now get referred to the hospital for further treatment and they will have to take away more tissue until only the healthy tissue is left.

I'm back at home, DH has had to go into the office as he had a meeting and I'm now in a right mess. I've also got the end of the flu-bug I've had since last week so can't even call anyone as my throat is too sore to talk.

Help

Are you confusing carcinoma with melanoma?

I have had loads of carcinomas. They just cut them out. My mum had one in her calf that she left for a long time that she had to have quite a deep cut for, but they tend not to spread and they usually take a long time to grow.

The ones I'm frightened of are melanomas, so I take photos of all my moles and compare them every 6 months. But carcinomas I see more like cysts. I'm pretty sure there's one on my lip that I'll have to have cut away, and that will be a pain, but I can't say I'm actively worried.

Sorry to sound so lackadaisical - I grew up in Australia with Irish skin, at a time when people weren't as vigilant about sun damage as they are now.

Oh no.
Firstly, get a or, as you see fit.
Secondly, don't panic, and for the love of god don't google!!
Friend of mine had skin cancer on her leg last year. Now has small scar on her shin and reducing the time between check ups.
She was scared too, obviously, but she's come through it amazingly, as will you.

Oh pet don't panic. The fact you need about basal cell is that it does not have the capacity to spread. So it can't kill you.

If you're going to have some sort of cancer then that is the one to have!

Please don't worry. Its very common and no one ever dies from it - or possibly like one person in a billion cases. Seriously.

I know a lot about this stuff so took a deep breath when I saw your thread but when I saw it was basal I was like 'Oh well you could have said!!!'

you will be FINE xxx

I know its scary, but BCCs don't spread away from where they start, even though they can get very big and destructive locally if they are left a long time. And because they don't spread away, they are not deadly, and never need more than local treatment - whether thats surgery, freezing, or radiotherapy.

Sorry, shock and knee jerk reaction coupled with the fact I still have quite a scar from the original "thingy" being taken off a few weeks ago and was quite pleased as it looks like scarring would be minimal and probably not noticeable in a few months. Except now it will be noticeable in a few months .... but been told it isn't the melanoma one so could have been a lot worse!

I'll try not to google too much, and hope I can be sedated for the next procedure as I found the original cauterisation very stressful and a horrible experience.

Yes, it's not nice on your face, and your body goes into shock so you think you will be alright but your body tells you otherwise!

Hope it is not too bad for you. Let us know how it goes.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so dismissive. Of course it is horrid and unpleasant...even if it isn't lethal, it can still be very frightening and upsetting.

I hope I didn't sound too much of a dick, just there.

I am glad it is the more harmless type - but still, take it easy on yourself as it is still a horrid thing to have to deal with.

I've had 3 of these removed in the past year. One on each arm and one at my nose just where the nostril and face meet. A very awkward place.

One arm thing has a big scar which is fading but will always be noticed - it was right at the inside of the elbow joint. One on my upper arm which was fine.

If it's on your face, see about getting Mohs surgery on it. It's less prone to major scarring. Today the scar on my face is virtually invisible. I could have it sanded or lased down further but I'm really pleased with the result.

I won't lie. It hurt when they did it. They won't give you a general because with Mohs, they take off a tiny bit at a time which is then biopsied on the spot. If more needs to be removed then they remove more. Most people are done in 2 rounds. Mine went 3. So there's about 45 mins between each session. During that time, I went back to a waiting area w/others doing the same thing until it was my turn again.

Good luck.

Thanks Laraeo, I'll make a note of that and see what they say when I go for my consultation.

The local hurt this time round, and I was very shaky, went all cold and cried afterwards, was taken home and I got into bed and slept until the anaesthetic wore off. Hence why I'm dreading this even more, especially as I didn't have stitches this time round but would imagine this time will be more invasive.

Funnily, I managed to have two children with no pain relief needed .... I'll have to man-up this time round! Hope it doesn't clash as I'm 40 at the end of Jan too so could do with everything being done February too - all in all pretty crap timing etc

Both my dad and grandad had this within six months of one another and both had it treated and were fine. Never recurred, touch wood, and it was about 25 years ago. Scary at the time but very easy to treat.

Thinking of you. It will be fine.

If it's any consolation I had mine done this time last year - Happy Holidays!

The anesthetic injected on the face hurts. I totally understand. With the Mohs, each time they went in to slice some more, they reinject. So I had about 6 injections total.

I too cried and shook. I took an audio book with me so just tried to listen to that while they did the surgery.

The doctors and nurses were all great and each procedure only took 10 - 15 minutes, including the injections.

Afterwards everything was fine but I made DH remove the bandage the first time. I was also the Queen of Frozen Peas - I iced the bejesus out of my face and tried to stay fairly upright to keep the swelling down.

I was a sort of Bride of Frankenstein with a huge bandage on my arm & another on my face. Luckily they were off for Christmas but I still looked a wreck. I kept telling people, "You should see the other guy!"