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Original poster

Basal Cell carcinoma - nose

66 replies

takeyourrubbishhome · 03/02/2020 16:06

Hi All, don’t suppose anyone has experience of BCC on the nose? I’ve had a chat with GP who was pretty sure that’s what he was looking at and has done a 2WW referral, but has explained that whilst a BCC is a skin cancer, it’s not particularly worrying. I am a little worried about how the Mohs procedure will work on the nose. There are plenty of examples online, but it would be good to head from someone who has experience. FWIW, I’m 34, fair skinned, and have not been as careful as I should in the sun (outdoor life mostly rather than sunbathing). I have small children so I’m particularly keen to prepare them. And of course, I don’t have a diagnosis yet, but when I said to the GP, ‘but of course it could be nothing’ his reply was ‘well, I think it probably is though’. I have the option of both NHS and private, but for time reasons may well go private with this

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Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 04/02/2020 09:36

I think at the end of my nose would be easier. I’ve attached a photo (resolution not great because I’ve cropped out the rest of my face), but you can see it’s pretty much in the middle of my nose!

Basal Cell carcinoma - nose
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Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 04/02/2020 09:56

and just to add, I've just received my appointment for later this week. God bless the NHS!

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yellowallpaper · 04/02/2020 11:25

Definitely ask for a plastic surgeon to do the work. The NHS should refer you as the NHS actually have plastic surgeons on staff too.

Kuponut · 04/02/2020 12:58

I'll warn you now so you're prepared - my stepfather (his was on his head where his hairline had long since buggered off and receeded) had one hell of a black eye after his op - looked like my tiny sub-5 foot mum had been walloping him one! It's healed well though and faded away to basically nothing in a few months (think it was about October/November he had it done) - it looks like a slight red raised spot you could cover with concealer if you were so inclined.

Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 04/02/2020 14:43

Thanks both, I guess on Thursday I might have a better idea about whether it needs to come out (probably) and what that might entail. I've a busy work period coming up, but I think I'll have to lay low for a while if there is significant bruising/healing time.

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Ariela · 04/02/2020 14:56

Step mum had one (I never noticed), and had it removed. First saw it about a couple of months after surgery and honestly couldn't see a thing, I kept saying 'but where exactly?'. It was somewhere high on her cheek bone but I truly couldn't tell (faded ginger type with what was freckly skin)

acocadochocolate · 04/02/2020 14:59

My friend had a BCC on the nose. He had to have it removed twice but there is very little scarring. DP had his removed from his back 3 times. Third time was success.

acocadochocolate · 04/02/2020 16:49

I've just noticed your photo, OP. My friend and DP has BCCs that were about ten times the size...... which is perhaps why there's took several attempts.

Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 04/02/2020 17:08

Thanks - I know it’s still pretty small. And anywhere else it would be such a non-event. Hopefully it doesn’t have deep roots and will come off easily!

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ItsMutinyOnTheBunty · 04/02/2020 17:42

I’ve just been diagnosed with one on my cheek. It’s ‘quite large’ according to the two dermatologists that have looked at it. It’s about 2cm squared. I’ve used an old name so I can add a photo! I wasn’t even referred on a two week wait, I’d had it for about a year when I was referred and that was a year ago! They don’t tend to spread and are also growing. I was told they didn’t want to cut mine out straight away because it was likely to scar because of its size and location so I’m using chemo cream to try to shrink it so even if it doesn’t go completely it’ll be easier to remove.

I know it’s scary to be told it’s probably cancer but it’s good news that’s it’s unlikely to grown quickly or spread. Photo is before I started to use the cream.

Basal Cell carcinoma - nose
Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 04/02/2020 17:59

Thanks @ItsMutinyOnTheBunty - gosh that is large! Poor you. I feel quite lucky that the GP I saw was happy to put it through urgently. I too have had mine at least a year, and it is growing quite slowly. What I’m not sure of is how far mine spreads. Although the scab is small there is another halo area around it that I think might be part of it. I think the biggest problem on the nose is that there isn’t any spare skin, so once they get too big they have to start grafting skin in from elsewhere. Thanks for sharing though, I hope yours gets sorted quickly Flowers

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ItsMutinyontheBunty · 04/02/2020 18:20

Yes unfortunately my initial appointment was cancelled three times 🤦🏻 my trust is in dire straits. I had no idea it was cancer when I was referred or I probably would have gone private (I’m in a health scheme that gives me money back). Oh well at least it’s being treated now.

ItsMutinyontheBunty · 04/02/2020 18:22

I meant to say it was cancelled three times - my first appointment was booked for July! If they had seen me then it would have been dealt with by now...but at least now it’s being treated.

AutumnGlitterBall · 04/02/2020 18:35

My dad had one on his nose cut out two years ago when he was 61. He thinks his is the result of being a ginger and running about as a child in the 60s with no suncream. It was deeper than they thought when it came to getting it removed so they had to go quite deep and it looked very raw at first but you’d never know now. The doctors said even if there was a bit left, it’s so slow growing, he’ll die of old age before the cancer.

Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 04/02/2020 18:44

Ahhh @ItsMutinyOnTheBunty that’s really rubbish I’m so sorry. I think I was just actually very lucky because I saw a locum. my own GP is excellent anyway but I’ve since googled this locum and it looks like he has overall responsibility for patient safety at CCG level. I showed it to a friend who is a GP a little while ago who said it needed to be seen but not urgently. So that could easily have been me.

@AutumnGlitterBall - that’s good news. I think this is from living by the sea as a kid, spending all my time outside, and not really bothering with sunscreen

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Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 06/02/2020 13:04

Just to update - saw the dermatologist today and she doesn't think it's anything to worry about. I had the option of a punch biopsy or to try some 5FU cream. The biopsy would have been bigger than the spot itself, so I'm going to give the cream a go and go back in 3 months for a review. So it's good news for now!

Thanks for everyone who weighed in with experience, I was a good 30 years younger than the average age of the waiting room, and that seemed to be the take home message from the dermatologists - I probably do have sun damage, but it's not likely to be a problem just yet and to keep being vigilant.

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ItsMutinyontheBunty · 06/02/2020 22:20

That’s good news take. Day 4 of using the cream and I’m convinced mine looks like red.

Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 06/02/2020 22:55

Ahh the dermatologist kept going on about the side effects of the cream so I’m expecting it’s going to make my nose look like it’s about to fall off. Good luck with yours!

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ItsMutinyontheBunty · 07/02/2020 06:44

They said it might go crusty and weep! My boss said I’ll need a dressing for work if that happens! So far it’s just less red though.

Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 07/02/2020 06:53

Interesting because the instructions I was given say absolutely not to use a dressing unless told to by the dr. But I guess it very much depends on what you do. Anything related to food prep for example would probably need covering

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Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 07/02/2020 06:55

Also btw it looks like it’s an absolute no go with pregnancy which is ok for me, but wasn’t explained by the dr. Hopefully this was explained to you and you are not ttc

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ItsMutinyontheBunty · 07/02/2020 20:07

Not pregnant or TTC, yes it does look like it’s a strong contraindication! I saw on the paperwork before I started using it.

I wasn’t advised about dressings either way but I work in healthcare so if it’s weeping etc I’ll have to cover it!

It’s very itchy tonight. I’m desperately not scratching it. Argh!

taptonaria27 · 09/02/2020 21:47

I think i have one on my chest, have a dermatologist appointment in a couple of weeks (was referred by GP before Christmas) so this thread has been reassuring, i really hope that's what it is, it's sometimes itchy which bothers me emotionally more than physically.
I have also had solar keratosis treated on my face so I'm really quite scared of skin cancer and sorry to be the bearer of bad news but for me the creams gave a really unpleasant, scabby, sore and crusty effect.

Original poster
takeyourrubbishhome · 10/02/2020 06:41

Thanks @taptonaria27 - I’m not looking forward to my nose looking like it’s melting, especially as I have a big work conference next week Sad I hope your appointment goes well, from what I’ve read a BCC really isn’t a big deal, just mine was in an awkward place. Feeling much better knowing that it probably doesn’t need to come off, but will find out for sure in June. If it had been anywhere else I think I would have just had a punch biopsy to be sure!

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ItsMutinyontheBunty · 10/02/2020 19:56

Mine is starting to look quite crusty now! Envy (not envy!)