It looks like my sister has skin cancer - again - and I don't know how to help

[MarieCeleste]

I'm a regular MNer, but have changed my name for this because I know some people on here in RL, and I think it's important not to risk compromising my sister's confidentiality in any way IYSWIM.
Basically my older sister has been told by her GP that a spot on her face looks like basal cell carcinoma - rodent ulcer. She has certainly had one of those removed from her arm many years ago, and had something removed from her face a few years ago. This time, she told me that the GP scraped a bit of the spot off and said it would take two weeks to get the test results on it.
I'm wondering whether to tell her to ask the GP if the testing could be speeded up by going private - she doesn't have private health insurance, but could afford just to pay, I should think. Or would that mess things up - if the test tissue is in the NHS system, as it were, might it get lost or delayed if things are changed? Also, she first asked the GP about this spot 4 years ago, so my dh is saying that two weeks won't make that much difference in that context.
I'm finding it very difficult to focus on this. My mind keeps wanting to pretend it's not happening at all, which is really weird, so I'm in a state of unreality. But I do really want to help, and get this sorted. Any thoughts at all would be appreciated - if only to help me get a grip on it.

I have had 2 of these removed aswell as one bowens on my leg.they are common in fair skinned people or anyone who has had too much sun but they are not malignant which means although they are cosmetically disfiguring and need to be removed they do not invade and destroy surrounding tissues and so whilst not harmless as such they are not malignant.

Thanks, Noddyholder, that's really reassuring.

I don't think going private will speed anything up at this stage TBH. The best thin you can do is be supportive and try not to get too upset - difficult, i know, but you don't want your sister to feel like she has to be looking after you. If the test results have not come back by the time they are supposed to, then you can make sure your sister does some chasing up then. HTH

It is definitely not going to cause her any long term problems apart from having to keep an eye on things and avoid burning.I have another on my leg atm and plan to have it removed next week Please don't worry the nhs will be able to sort it easily and it doesn't hurt either xxHTH

Thanks, 3littlefrogs - that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid - going into hysterics myself so that she feels she needs to protect me.

You guys are so helpful

I was diagnosed with skin cancer last year - malignant melanoma - luckily caught it in time, so it hadn't spread. At the time though, waiting for further results I was absolutely distraught. I asked whether going privately would speed things up, but was told it would't make any difference. Your sister's type is not as dangerous, so I would try to relax, and just sipport her by staying positive (or at least trying to!) I'm sure it'll all be fine. Hugs to you both.

support, not sipport!