Urgent referral - suspected basal cell carcinoma

[Lemonfrost]

Went to the GP today expecting to be told I had a cyst (that has been there for several months) and was utterly shocked to be told he thought it was a BCC. I am now on the Fast Track Referral thing. Is there anyone else about who has experienced similar?

They're not even recorded on yearly statistics in Australia they're so common. You'll be fine

This was pretty much what my GP said. When the mole was removed he hadn't been concerned, but biopsy confirmed BCC. He had a good look with his microscope thing at the wound and said exactly that - it's the "best" type of cancer to get, was slow growing, wouldn't spread and was confident he had removed it all because the wound had healed well. Try not to worry OP, you've had lots of reassurance on this thread which I hope is helping 💐

Update - next Monday appointment offered at the Photohub for images to be taken and then reviewed by a dermatologist.

I had photos taken a few weeks ago and have a dermatology appointment on 13th November. Not sure what happens then. Mine is on my neck and is a spot thats been there a couple of years

I had one for years, it came up when I was only in my early 30s and I didn't realise what it was, so went years before getting it looked at. It only grew a little bit in that time. Removal was an easy process, as it was very localised, and there have been no long-term issues. You'll be fine, OP.

By the time I have my appointment it will be 10 weeks since my photos were done

😯

I have had 4 removed over the years from my face. I went privately for the last three as didn't want to wait. Very simple procedure. My dr. says factor 50 and hat at all times and stay in the shade. Tried to get a yearly check up on NHS but apparently they don't do this so I go privately for this as I think it is important to find them asap. The one I had removed recently was barely visible.

DH has had several removed and expects there will be more. He has a skin check yearly.

His worst one was on his chest--it had previously been dx'ed as a fungal infection. It took 40 stitches to close it up. It had been growing for years and years. He's a bit more proactive now.

Good luck with your procedure.

Waiting to go into my photo hub appointment now

All over in about 20 mins and now its the waiting part.

Good luck with the results OP.
I have melanoma and just wanted to say that in the very small chance that it isn’t a basal cell then all is not necessarily doom and gloom these days because treatment for melanoma has been transformed over the past ten years.
This being so googling is not always helpful as there is still plenty of out of date information out there.

I have one on my abdomen, on non urgent waiting list to have it excised. I'm in Wales though so could be a long wait! I'm not worried, used to be a medical secretary and they're very common.

Well, it’s been reviewed and I am on the urgent referral pathway with an appointment required within 2 weeks.

Ok definitely don’t panic they are quite on the ball with these things and will want it removed as soon as they can. Thus is a good thing but I’m sure it will be an anxious wait. Hope it goes quickly.

My 4 on my face were all done as urgent, you must use spf50 going forward to prevent getting any more as you are likely prone to get them. Good luck

Thank you - have been offered an outpatient face to face appointment with a dermatologist on the 18th.

Hi what was your outcome please? I'm waiting for the same appointment

My Dsis had one that was dismissed by the GP when she got it checked so it was left alone.

She was seeing a dermatologist for something completely different and just happened to ask if they could remove it (it was on her face and she hated it, the GP dismissed it as they thought it was harmless and "cosmetic"). The dermatologist looked at it and said "yes, that's a BCC and needs removing." Although it is cancerous, BCCs aren't considered life threatening as they grow very slowly - this was according to the dermatologist, so not my words. You'll be fine @Lemonfrost 💐.

Hi - it was a cellular dermatofibroma - a totally benign condition! I cannot explain how relieved I was to hear this - although unbelievably I didn't get the results of my excision biopsy until 2 weeks ago. The waiting was by far the worst part of the experience.

Wow what a wait that must of been , im already so anxious and ive not had my appointment date yet , can ask when you saw the derm what did they say when they actually looked at it did they suspect basal cell? It must of been a relief to find out it isn't that. Thanks for your reply

Wow what a wait that must of been , im already so anxious and ive not had my appointment date yet , can ask when you saw the derm what did they say when they actually looked at it did they suspect basal cell? It must of been a relief to find out it isn't that. Thanks for your reply

No problem - I will PM you now 🙂

That's good news for you.
I must admit your photo didn't look like my BCC which bled.

Honesty, I was beyond grateful. Mine never bled but had begun to very slightly ulcerate but in a dry scaly way, rather than a weeping one. Apologies for detail!