Worried sick....skin cancer

[TarasHarp55]

Went to the doctor today about a mole type growth on head. Wasn't too concerned but thought I'd better get it checked out. Doctor took one look and said ever so casually "oh that's a bit of skin cancer, you'll have to have it out". I mean I didn't know they could tell just by looking. He said it as if he was talking about a bit of eczema. I'm in such a state of shock. He didn't sound concerned but I'm worried sick. I now have to wait for an appointment. I just wonder if anyone can give me any reassurance.

I assume it’s a basal cell carcinoma, which is a very common skin cancer but very localised and can be cut out / frozen off / treated with radiotherapy depending on whereabouts it is.
It’s very slow growing so the chances of it having spread are minimal.
Very tactless approach from the doctor, but try not to worry!

Thanks for replying. Do you think he could tell by looking it was that type that's why he was unconcerned?

A basal cell is very generally obvious, you can diagnose it by looking at it if you know what you are looking at.

My DGM got stopped in a hospital corridor by a passing doctor and asked if she knew she had one - she didn't and was v pleased he had stopped her.

They are very common and not the skin cancer - melanoma - that you are thinking and panicking about.

Oh that's reassuring. He perhaps recognised it just by looking because that's what it is. Oh i hope so.

I have just had one removed. Was small so dr wasn't sure but it was.

Is your one doing anything? Mine scabbed and then looked like it had healed and then broke down again. Repeatedly, over two - three yrs.

I had a basal cell carcinoma on the top of my head. I think that they are pretty distinctive, so a doctor can usually tell quite easily just from looking. I had it removed by a plastic surgeon because scalps are a little bit trickier than other parts of the body, but it was fine. I freaked out when I first found out, so I get it, but please try to relax a bit as it really is very treatable.

It's just grown a bit bigger. Was yours an actual skin cancer even though it wasn't serious? It's just the word that scared me I suppose.

He could've said it more gently! But really, if he wasn't worried about it then that's a good sign. It's usually a simple and straightforward removal process, AFAIK as simple as having a mole removal. It is worrying, but it's not as worrying as other types of cancer so please be reassured you'll be okay

Thank you all so much..I'm starting to calm down a bit.

Utterly tactless on his part, but sounds like a basal cell carcinoma, which don’t spread and can be easily removed. and for you xxx

I have just had one removed this week too. Been there for years, with previous GP ignoring it. I only had it removed in the end because it was getting caught by my nails pulling clothes on/off.
If it is a BCC, they are pretty obvious, they don't spread, just get bigger in situ.

My mum had something similar on her face and it wouldn't heal.
Went to the GP who said there was nothing to worry about. Went again 6 months later and was then told she could go on a 6 month waiting list.
Mum ended up paying privately, was less than £500 (still a lot!) and was removed the next day.
I think a lot depends on how good your doctor is

Assuming it’s a BCC it’s almost always just a simple excision.
I was a GP in the UK now in Australia and they are so common.
Older people particularly come in and tell me they have another one come up.
We excise them in the surgery.
So, assuming that’s what it is I wouldn’t worry.

I’ve had one and imo they need to be treated seriously, not because of their malignancy but because of the amount of scaring they can cause. I had a tiny spot on my nose which scabbed and wouldn’t heal, it was so small - probs 5mm diameter max. Anyway, it turned out to be the worst kind, an infliltative one and I had to have extensive mohs surgery on my face and have been left with really awful scaring. If you think you’ve got one you need to be really pushy about getting it sorted. My gp wasn’t interested and kept sending me away. If I hadn’t been really pushy it would have got even larger and the scaring even worse.