Lip Cancer?

[persianpeach]

Just been to the GP about an area on my lip that won't heal and she's referred me to dermatology for an appointment within 2 weeks!! Feeling pretty frightened about the possible outcome, and it's my daughter's birthday, trying not to think the worst but finding it hard as I am a worrier I know!

Does anyone have an experience of dealing with this or similar?

Many thanks xx

Don’t panic! Did she give you a provisional diagnosis? Even if it is skin cancer, many skin cancers (non-melanoma) are very unscary. Basal cell carcinoma is the commonest of all, and is usually straightforwardly treated by excision of one sort or another, on an outpatient basis. I have had it myself, and it was so far from being a big deal that I don’t really regard myself as having has cancer in any meaningful sense at all.

Good luck with your next appointment, but please try not to stress in the meantime.

Thanks for your reply Lark, I have calmed down a bit since and trying hard not to let it overshadow my daughter's special day.
It's just as soon as I think about possible skin cancer well you know the rest...
Good to hear that your experience was good and not scary in anyway.
Thanks again xx

I am going through similar. Let me know how you get on.

Lip cancers are more common in men, smokers, drinkers, immunosuppressed patients and people with excessive exposure to sun without any sunscreen lip blocker.
Only about 1person per 10,000 will ever get it, and the two commonest forms are both very curable if caught early.
I’d say you have very little reason to worry, and every reason to feel reassured that 1) you most likely don’t have it, just some benign lip lesion, and 2) even if you do have it, there’s a very good outcome in most cases. Stay calm, and see what the dermatologist thinks. Good luck!