Holiday shock! [shock]

I was sat in a pub with a group of friends and I noticed an angry looking patch on the back of male friends ear. All evening I was worrying and trying to pluck up courage to mention it, but when I got the chance I mentioned it to him. He was fine about it as he said he had felt something there but could not see it because of where it was.
He rang me a few days later saying how thankful he was that I had mentioned it as he had been to see his doctor who thought that it may be cancerous.
After a biopsy it turned out to be a melanoma which has since been operated on and he has had the all clear.
I am so glad my being nosy was for once useful.

My daughter was out with her sister and a man standing behind them tapped her on the shoulder and said “I hope you dont mind me saying this but you have a mole on your back that probably should be checked out” of course she panicked and was going on holiday the following day so couldn’t do anything until she came back. She did go to the doctor and although it was ok at that point the doctors is keeping a regular check on it.

Hi my good friend noticed a spot on my nose and as she has had at least 3 bcc thought I should check it. Went to gp saw dermatologist within 2 weeks had a biopsy said it would be a cream to remove it. Surgeon has decided to take it out which is happening next Tues. Again it's sunny damage from when we were kids. So like me think you've had alucky break. The gentleman prob felt bad saying something whilst your all on holiday but would have felt worse not saying anything. So keep in touch with him and like me I'm sure you will be thanking him. Yes I know it's a shock I just thought I had a spot that wouldn't go. So good luck and keep us posted.

The make up girl at my sons wedding last year mentioned I should go and see about a little spot on my nose. It took 6 months to get an appointment with Dermatology after my GP sent referral. It was a BCC and I have just finished treatment with cream and although still quite red it seems to have cured it. I should get a letter for a follow up soon. I think it is very common and nothing to worry too much about!

Well don't worry about the delay in having it looked at, that type of cancer is pretty slow growing and slow to spread, so there isn't any huge urgency.

Hope all goes well for you grannya - how fortunate that you met this chap.

What a good doctor to be so vigilant yet also tactful.
But a bit of a let-down if you thought at first he might be about to ask for your phone number

GrannyA
Well, that was both welcome and unwelcome news, wasn't it but I'm pleased that your new holiday friend decided to speak up.
I might add, that the sun doesn't have to be visible for it to affect your skin.

Perhaps you can ring from where you're staying to make an urgent appointment for the week in which you return home, it might save a few days delay.
Then relax, knowing that all is in hand.
Best wishes to you and please do let us know the outcome.

I’ve had a sore area on my chin. Like you, not a sunbather. I mentioned it to my GP last week in an appointment for something else and he thought it looked like a BCC. The problem is that it’s not considered urgent here and the waiting list on the NHS is 14 months to get an appointment. I paid to go to the private hospital, even though I really can’t afford it and was seen straight away. I’m having it removed in October as it is a cancer. I hope that your waiting list isn’t so bad where you live.

Um, I had a basal cell in a place where the sun don't shine!!

grannyactivist - what a good thing you met this man! I can tell you that you are not alone in falling prey to basal cell carcinoma without being a sun worshipper as I have two married friends who spend a lot of time abroad in hot sunshine and they both wear peaked caps, and one of them never, ever sits in the sun but always dries off from swimming under the shade. They have, however, both had basal cell carcinomas and they have both had them treated successfully. Good luck.

Best wishes by the way, try not to let it spoil your holiday. Worry is like a rocking horse - it keeps you busy but gets you nowhere.

How common this is these days and, although it may not seem it, how lucky you were to meet and chat with this man.

Similarly I commented to two friends on different occasions and who do not know each other that I thought they should make appointments to check small marks on their noses. How lucky they both were. They were both seen to promptly and treated successfully.

Better safe than sorry.

Grannyactivist, that made me laugh! When you are young you never imagine getting any older do you? That young lady needs a word in her ear about the reality of life. I wonder what age she thinks she will be ready to die?

Hi.. such a nice thoughtful man to alert you, but do not let it spoil your holiday. Basal cell Carcinoma does not spread around the body, like a melanoma would.
....I had one near my nose had it removed in 1999 and been fine ever since!

It's unlikely she'll enjoy the alternative, ga.
That young woman needs to brush up on her customer relations skills.

My sister went for usual eye check up and was told to get the mark checked where her glasses rested( she hadn't noticed it before ) yes he was right sorted alll good ! X

I think that’s what we call a “back-handed compliment” Grannyactivist ??

I have just come from the Spa where I had a wonderfully relaxing facial from a twenty two year old who told me that she never wants to be as old as me! (I've just turned sixty five. )
Though she did say she thinks I don't look 'that old'.

OH has had lots of these treated - all well.

What do you have planned for your holiday today? - you can make us all jealous!x

GA, sending my very best wishes. My mother, a former nurse, had a basal cell carcinoma and refused treatment for over twenty five years. Her GP could not get her to see a dermatologist. She insisted it was "Just a cyst" It wasn't until she developed dementia, that we were able to take charge of her treatment.
I'm so glad you met that gentleman on holiday and have been able to get a GP's appointment.
It was indeed serendipity. Try and enjoy what's left of your holiday. (Easier said than done).

Oh grannyactivist I’m sorry your lovely holiday has been marred by this, but better than ignored. I hope it turns out to be nothing to worry about. A referral about this kind of stuff is done really quickly. Do please do let us know. A couple of extra ozo’s might be in order for the next week.

After a rather fitfull night I woke up this morning and the first thing I did was examine my nose. And yes, my shiny red tip is still there. I'm now feeling completely daft that I half expected it to be gone this morning. Duh!
(The shiny red tip that is, not my nose. )

Sorry to hear that you have this - but lucky that someone has spotted something wrong and in most cases they can be completely removed - often as an outpatient surgery.

I walked around with a BCC for 4+ years - I had a life changing accident and disability and the little "sebaceous cyst" (as I thought) didn't really register until I casually mentioned it to my doctor at the end of an appointment for something else. He referred me at once and 2 weeks later I got my appointment on a Friday and outpatient surgery was the following Tuesday. It was a lucky escape as by this time it was 2 millimeters from the corner of my eye. However 2 years on the 3cm scar is barely visible.

I do feel your frustration as I have never sunbathed and was always the person sitting in the shade with factor 50 suncream. However as a child I guess we spent hours outside with no sunprotection or shade at school.

Perhaps a very fortunate encounter, grannyactivist, I think they’re best removed sooner rather than later. If it is due to sun damage it will most likely have been from when you were a child and if you’re like me that’s before sun cream, as we know it now, was invented. That’s what they told me caused my bcc, which by the way was removed easily as a day case and the small neat wee scar has found a laughter line to hide in. x