Could this be skin cancer

[SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo]

Sorry, no photo. I saw my mum at the weekend and noticed a white scaly patch on the tip of her nose, around 5mm in diameter. I asked her about it - she doesn't know what it is, it's been there 'months' and she's seeing the doctor in March anyway so she'll point it out then. I'm very worried it could be skin cancer. I don't think my mum's worn any sun protection since a bottle of Ambre Solaire was purchased and gathered greasy dust in the bathroom in the 70's, and she's spent the Summer in South France for 15 years up until a couple of years ago never wearing sun cream. I asked her to go to the doctor when we had this conversation, and have since sent two emails prompting her to hurry up already. Am I right to be so concerned? Can skin cancer present like this? I'm so worried and bloody frustrated, to be honest.

Google basal cell carcinoma. It’s very common but doesn’t spread apart from locally. So it needs to be removed which can be fiddly but it won’t kill her.

Thanks. It could well be that although most of the images for BCC had red in them and her lesion is all white.

I'd be worried too but all you can do is carry on pushing her to see her doctor. I've had two BCCs and neither was as you've described but from the NHS site link below they can vary highly. But she does need to get it looked at - ignoring it just gives it time to grow (and can make the procedure to remove it more complicated and obvious).

www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-melanoma-skin-cancer/

I have patches similar to what you describe, they are actinic kerastoses. They are not coloured just a slightly roughened patch of skin that occasionally flakes.
They're not immediately dangerous but should be treated.

Thanks taptonaria. Just after I bit the bullet and told my mum I read worried it was BCC I found images and realised that AK was much more likely. But the good news is that she's now been reassured by a pharmacist that it's safe for her to wait the couple of weeks to see the GP. I'm very relieved!