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Original poster

Growths on body. Cancer.

80 replies

LittleDaffyCat · 21/07/2021 05:01

Hi. I think I have basal cell carcinoma, skin cancer. I have nobody to talk to about this in RL, is there anybody going through anything similar who needs company/is able to keep me company? Thank youFlowers

I have a raised Red spot on the end of my nose, it's been there for a few months. Also a shiny hard lump on my forehead. Same amount of time.
I don't know, I just kind of thought they were spots & they would go. The one on my nose bothers me, it's not painful but it looks like a witches wart but i'd tell myself not to be vain, it's just a spot, & I've been greatful that my mask covers it!!

The one on my forehead doesn't bother me at all, it's not such a noticeable colour, but it's often got a scar on it when I wake in the morning, that I pick off, so it's back to not being noticeable.
I just ignore them day to day.

On Monday I suddenly thought 'What if these aren't just spots?' & came across Basel cell carcinoma through googling. I spoke to the drs yesterday for something else & they said if I want an appointment I have to ring back today. I will do that.

I've just been looking in the mirror & I have some darker patches on my cheek & also a lump on my arm which has been there for many, many years, it was a shiny clear lump but it's now Brown... I can't find anything on Google about them changing colour but that's odd, right? It's kind of round by my elbow so I have to twist to see it, I only notice it if I have a scratch in the area & think 'Mind that lump'.

I had no idea that these sorts of spots could be anything bad. I feel like an idiot. And I feel terrified.

Is anybody there?

OP posts:
DwangelaForever · 27/07/2021 19:58

How did your appointment go? I'm waiting on a dermatology appointment for a few suspicious moles I have and I'm deffo making myself more anxious about it daily!

glitterfarts · 27/07/2021 20:05

I've had 4 BCC removed, my dermatologist told me never to have them burned off and to get them cut out instead.
On your face is quite likely to be removed by a plastic surgeon so the scar is less noticeable.
Worry about melanoma not BCC, they're fairly benign.
If your skin is damaged enough to get BCC's keep an eye on anything new or changing and get it looked at straight away.

Original poster
LittleDaffyCat · 27/07/2021 21:12

DwangelaForever I hope yours goes okFlowers
I know exactly what you mean.

I havn't told anybody & feel like I have this huge weight hanging over me. I sent the photos in & never heard back that they weren't good enough or anything else, but hopefully I will hear soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleDaffyCat · 04/08/2021 21:57

I'm waiting for an appointment with dermatology now. Having seen the photos, they are concerned about the one on my nose & that's all (not that that's a bad thing! But that's the only one they are worried about)

OP posts:
ThatScottishLass · 17/08/2021 10:36

How are you doing OP? I hope that all is well with you. If it does happen to be BCC try not to panic, as others have said it’s not a dangerous cancer generally and can easily be removed. I’m a huge worry wart about skin cancer as my mother had melanoma (thankfully superficial spreading with no metastasis) and I’ve been utterly paranoid ever since as I’m a pale Brit who lives in the sunny southern Mediterranean.

ThatScottishLass · 17/08/2021 10:37

Meant to say “so you have all of my sympathy for your worries” but I’m n the car (not driving!) and I posted by accident when we hit a bump!

Original poster
LittleDaffyCat · 06/09/2021 02:46

Hi @ThatScottishLass. Thank you for asking about meFlowers

I havnt really been thinking about myself as my mum has just been diagnosed with cancer so I've been worried about her.

It feels like I've been waiting for ages for my dermatology appointment, but I just did a check through the NHS & it says that standard times for a dermatology appointment at my hospital is 31 weeks! So I guess I have a while to go then.

OP posts:
Autumnally · 06/09/2021 03:58

I had a suspected bcc on my nose back at the start of the pandemic. I had to use a cream (efudix) that burnt it away (it’s a topical chemotherapy agent). It worked really well - I didn’t see dermatology again for almost a year thanks to the pandemic, but it definitely did something as the spot is gone, and a little dent was left behind (ironically I picked the cream because I was worried that cutting it out would leave a scar).

The nose is a really common spot for BCC, but they’re very slow growing and almost never progress into anything more sinister. Mine had been there on and off for a good 2 years before I realised I should get it looked at.

Sorry to hear about your mum. That’s rough Flowers

Original poster
LittleDaffyCat · 06/09/2021 04:12

Thanks Autumnally. I'm glad you got yours sorted in the end. It's so easy to put it off isn't it! What colour was yours?
When I Google I can't really find any that look like my nose one.

That cream sounds really good, I hope I get offered something like that. I've been really paranoid of the one on my nose the last few weeks, trying to take photos with the kids without this huge red spot showing.

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 06/09/2021 04:16

Sorry to hear about your mum Thanks

I'd chase dermatology. If they suspect any type of possible cancer your referral should come under the 2 week wait.

Original poster
LittleDaffyCat · 06/09/2021 04:21

Thanks itsgettingweird. I know. I suppose there's some reassurance that they aren't rushing it through, so they must think it's nothing?

How would I go about chasing up dermatology? I mean, do I contact the hospital directly?

Thank you both for mentioning my mum. Unfortunately hers is advanced so it's just a case of doing what they can.

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 06/09/2021 16:13

My mum has cancer too so I get it. Hers is also advanced and it's palliative chemo.

Do you have the nhs app? That will show you the referral under appointments. It will also have a number to ring if you don't hear anything by a certain date.

If not then ring GP surgery and ask where referral went and just ring and if if they've received it, if it's be triaged yet and what the wait is.

Mention about the 2ww and ask if that means they don't suspect anything untoward.

You need to be pushy but firm and polite at the same time!

LIZS · 06/09/2021 16:21

Sorry you gave been kept waiting and about your dm. My dm went to her gp in June, saw dermatologist end of July and had 3 similar sounding growths removed last month. She has previously had bcc. Worth asking your surgery or wherever assessed you to chase it up.

Original poster
LittleDaffyCat · 06/09/2021 17:30

itsgettingweird I'm sorry about your mum tooFlowers

I will give the phonecalls a try but I hate doing stuff like that!
I'm slightly nervous because I was supposed to be referred for something else (nothing serious) in March, & the GP said 'It won't take long as they really aren't busy'. So I asked about that when I went in July, & it turns out the first GP never even made the referral.

LIZS I'm glad your mum has been seen so swiftly.

OP posts:
LittleCatt · 06/12/2021 21:02

Hi. It's the OP, I can't get logged on with my old name.

I finally had my hospital appointment today. And I now need a biopsy to remove the red one on my nose. Such a long wait & now it might be something seriousSad

I did chase them up once & the GP said 'Its only been x weeks, it's not long & you'll just have to be patient'.

Secretroses · 06/12/2021 22:29

I hope you are okay OP... So stressful to have to wait so long for an appointment and when you are not sure what the outcome will be... x

LittleCatt · 07/12/2021 05:50

Thank you Secretroses, that's kind of you.

It was really horrible. I was panicking & had to sit in the toilet for a few minutes when I got there & calm myself down. I'd only been referred for the one on my nose (I didn't realise this) so when I said 'And this is the 2nd one' she snapped at me 'Well let's just focus on the one you were referred for'.

Then she looked & said 'Its nothing to worry about, I'm not worried at all, ok? You can just go on your way'.
Then I said 'Could you just have a look at this other one?' (also there's a third one that's appeared) so she had a half a second look at each & said 'Nothing'. I started breathing again at that point thinking 'Ok. I have weird looking spots on my face but at least I'm ok'.

Then for some reason she looked at the one on my nose again, & in a split second decided that is probably IS something to worry about now. Then I'm getting questions fired at me about sunbathing/sunburn/outdoor hobbies etc & I'm just sat there like 'I dunno... You said it was nothing!' Then she's going on about how I will have stitches & a scar on my nose, then she's drawing all over my spot & giving me a map to the other side of the hospital to get a photo taken.
The lady who took the photo was nice but made me scrub the pen off which was awkward. Scrubbing at it with a baby wipe while she stands there!

Anyway. That's long but it was just a horrible experience. Then the bus was broken down so I stood there in the rain for half an hour for the next one & had to go straight to school pick up. I was absolutely freezing & couldn't stop shivering. (It never occurred to me to get a taxi!)

flippertyop · 07/12/2021 20:33

Some people are just prone to lumps. I had a scabby one but it wasn't cancerous. I've also had weird lumps removed from my arm and also my legs which sound like yours. They weren't anything to worry about though

gogohm · 07/12/2021 20:37

I have lumps all over the place, benign, cosmetic they say. Try not to worry

LittleCatt · 07/12/2021 20:45

Thank you both. That's reassuring. Is it painful when they are removed?

I don't know any fellow lumpy people to make me feel better!

Skybubble · 07/02/2022 21:18

Hi,
I've just been reading your post with interest and concern, how are you? What did your biopsy show? Are you okay? I hope you are well.

LittleCatt · 28/02/2022 06:15

Hi @Skybubble Thank you for the message that's kind of you.

I'm ok. I don't have my results but it's been 6 weeks so I need to call them. They said 'Round about 4 weeks but don't call us, we will contact you', but I think 6 weeks is long enough to give them a nudge!

It wasn't nice when it was done, I had a really nice, reassuring text the night before, from the one & only person who I've told in RL (who is a nurse) & that put me completely at ease, but it wasn't like she said at all.

Anyway, I won't go into details, it just wasn't nice. Floods of tears on the bus home! Also, wearing my mask over my stitches for the next week was horrifically painful!!!

Anyway, I will update when I get the courage to call them.

Missedopportunity · 06/03/2022 22:34

Hi @LittleDaffyCat / @LittleCatt
I was thinking about you today and how your treatment made you cry. I wondered how you were doing and if you're feeling better about it all now. I hope everything's healed/healing nicely and you get good results. x

LittleCatt · 07/03/2022 09:34

Hi Missedopportunity Thank you for the kind post that's nice of youFlowers

Yes it was pretty rough, I'm still feeling bitter/sad about it but, you know, big girl pants & all that. I guess they are extremely busy so didn't have any time for some extra kindness....

There's a bit of a weird scar on my nose but it's so much more comfortable than the stitches were.

I've left messages but they aren't calling me back so I'm not further forward really.

kennelmaid · 07/03/2022 09:43

I had a bcc removed from my nose by the MOHS method, is that what you had?

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