Bcc multiple locations, struggling to cope

[Tempjustthis]

Hi, I have been recently diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on my face. Possibly 3 lesions. The dermatologist is waiting for some information from the lab before deciding on the treatment.
To say I am struggling to cope is an understatement. I just don't know how to move past the initial shock. It's been a week and I still can't talk about it with anyone. I know I need to come to terms with the situation and continue with my life ( I have a young family that needs me to be there for them).

Can anyone recommend me any helpful books or maybe therapy?
I just feel so deflated, sad and scared. I have sone health anxiety which I am sure is not helping right now.

Hi OP, that's a lot of information and uncertainty to cope with. You don't need to know how to deal with it, but maybe try and 'half tell ' someone. Like, I'm having some tests and I am quite scared, and then you can decide to tell them more if you want to. And I would make an appointment with your GP to say you are finding it difficult to cope with diagnosis. Have a browse for any helplines for support - doing an action, like you have done by posting here, and saying it out loud, will help you feel less frozen and help you process it. Take good care

Sorry I can't help but I've just had a melanoma removed from my face/head (now have a 12cm x 7cm bald patch that will never regrow), 2 further precancers removed and found two more dodgy moles this morning. My Nurse visibly grimaced doing my smear on Friday so seeing the GP tomorrow for bleeding/polyps/God knows what.

I've said elsewhere that it feels like whack a mole, and I'm also terrified by the sun which is really hard and I'm hoping will reduce if I get a run of time with no new growths anywhere!

Just posting to let you know you're not alone and I think it's a v normal response to a scary situation. Thankfully the prognosis for BCC is very good.

Thanks for replying.
But what will GP do? I have been referred to talking therapy for my health anxiety few years back. They mostly just offered different strategies to help with anxiety. Not sure if this can help in my situation.
Is there anything else I can ask for or try?

Have you met your Cancer Nurse yet? This is exactly what they're for, and they can sign post you for further help. I don't think there's a huge amount at this stage the GP can refer you for, if you haven't tried going via your cancer pathway.

BCC is not a life threatening condition. Have you had the lesions removed? When I had mine removed, the dermatologist said I didn't need to return for checks at all as the chance of it appearing elsewhere was minute.

The NHS doesn’t refer you to any cancer specialists for BCC because it’s so low risk. All thats necessary for the vast majority is removal under local anaesthetic by a dermatologist.

Aah sorry, thought it would be like me, but just remembered both my mum and step mum's didn't have follow ups.

OP can you self refer for talking therapies where you are? I think your GP can only help either once you've exhausted the help you can access on your own or if you are so unwell that you need to to medication or further treatment where the talking therapies have been tried and failed.

Sadly the NHS just didn't have the resources to manage mild/moderate mental ill health, unless you live somewhere that is very fortunate.

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety

and https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/health-anxiety-self-help/

Both look like good places to start

The plastic surgeon said I will need checkups every 6 month because I am young and have 3 lesions discovered already.

None removed yet because they are awaiting for further analyses from the lab before they can decide on the removal plan.
The cancer nurse just looked at my moles/lesions and took pictures. I don't think I can ask for mental health referral from the plastic surgeon can I?
I will look at the self help info thanks.

I didn't get any specialist help or follow up for my bcc. It's incredibly low risk, not like melanoma. It was removed under a local, stitches out a week or so later.

May I ask how many you had removed and if any of them were on your face?

Mine was across the bridge of my nose. The incision was crossways rather down the length as there is less tension in the stitches. Scarring not brilliant but it is gradually fading, after almost a decade.

BCC is not life threatening so please try not to worry. I had one in my leg - removed and I had chemo cream to use. My husband had one on his face which was removed then no further treatment. Loads of people have them - like I say, please dont worry.

Hi OP. I had one removed from my face about 3 years ago. Although it looked a bit scary immediately afterwards it's really almost impossible to see a scar now. Nobody would see anything at all without getting very close indeed and looking for it.

It's natural to worry, but what others have said is true. BCC is really very low risk - more of an irritation than anything else. I don't need to have any checkups either. Try not to get it out of proportion 👍

They're so common in Australia, no one bats an eyelid.

My BIL gets a couple removed at least once a year. He gets his whole body photographed every so often to look for changes.

No cancer is 'good', but if you're going to get one, BCC is the least dangerous.

Good luck!