Skin cancer- we can all be at risk.

My youngest daughter had a mole on her face which grew over the years. Four times she saw her GP who dismissed her fears over it.
Two years ago, Christmas 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, it had changed so she saw a Dermatologist privately.
It was removed and sent away for a biopsy.
The shock when it was deemed to be Malignant Melanoma. She had a big operation in January 2021 where they removed a large area of skin and lymph nodes. She has been left with a lot of scarring on her face and neck. As this was in the middle of Covid she went through it all alone. I couldn't see her for months.
I am so proud of my lovely daughter and how she has coped with everything. Luckily it hadn't spread and she now has check ups every six months.
She has to make sure her two daughters, my lovely granddaughters, are smothered in Factor 50 when they go out.
She has since had two more moles removed but they were fine.
My husband is waiting for an appointment to have two Basel Cell Carcinomas removed from his face and head and he also has a lot of sun damage to the top of his head.
Please visit your doctor is you have any suspect moles, it could save your life.
Some of the stories on here make for very sad reading xx

Just to say, many people think that basal cell carcinomas only spread locally. In rare cases they can spread elsewhere ie. the lungs, and can be fatal. It doesn’t happen often but it can and does happen very occasionally.

I’m very fair with freckles. Got frequently burnt as a child, spending many hours on the beach and out of doors.

I have had skin cancer on my face, luckily the one that is easily treatable.

I wear Factor 50 now practically all year around - well say from March to October.

I had a patch on my chest which 3 different GPS assured me was eczema. The day after my mother’s funeral, (she died from malignant melanoma) I saw another GP who said in view of family history he would refer me to a dermatologist. I had a large BCC which was removed by surgery,
This was 20 years ago and I know education and awareness of skin cancer have improved dramatically. But I am still vigilant and have had several bcc removed since.
Comforting to hear that malignant melanoma treatment has improved. Thanks for the update.

My back is covered in strange lesions - I went to GP about a year ago and she said they were all fine. Still worries me though. I have little faith in the GP - and no follow up ordered to check for changes.

Interesting thread

We have a very high incidence of skin cancer here in the south west, particularly in Cornwall. I think it is because we have many agricultural and construction industries down here, as well as gardeners. People are outside all day, including surfing and pony trekking. My children, brought up here, are all very blonde and fair skinned, one has always had tons of dark freckles on her back. I hope they will be vigilant.
Then in midlife we moved to Brittany which strangely has 3 times the number of cases than in the south of France. I assume people think grey skies and rain can't possibly cause skin problems so people aren't as careful. I have had bccs on my face removed, I thought they were just spots until they started to bleed.

I went to see the dermatologist on Wednesday. She told me that not only had my BCC started spreading again but it had spread significantly and I would need the MOHS procedure.
They cut a slice off, check it and keep cutting until they, hopefully, have removed it all.
My nose isn’t a big one to start with so I am not very happy.

I don’t like the dermatologist, I went to her privately 3 years ago when she dismissed my worries as groundless. I didn’t really believe her as I have had a previous experience of BCC’S and this was behaving in the same way. Because of her opinion
My GP was reluctant to send me anywhere else so I had to pay again and a biopsy which unfortunately showed that I had a problem. I now have a scar but it’s not really unsightly.
Because of Covid my follow up appointment was cancelled and all seemed fine.
18 months ago I returned to the GP because it had started bleeding again. He didn’t seem to think it was anything to be worried about but , as I insisted, he referred me to the local hospital.
Readers I waited 18months.
When I went in this week the Dr. seemed to indicate that I should have sought treatment earlier! ( she didn’t realise she had already met me) I need her to do as good a job as possible so I didn’t mention that she hadn’t recognised my problem 3 years earlier and I totally blame her.

SORRY, this has probably been very boring for you but I feel better for getting it off my chest.

not boring at all.
unfortunately i am not surprised by GPs not recognising skin disease and failing to refer or investigate further.
however, if dermatologists are also becoming dismissive, that is worrying.
well done for persisting.

welbeck thanks

I went to the GP with a rough scaly patch on my head which I was concerned about. Despite already having already had one BCC removed on my head, the GP said it was fine. I said I was very worried and asked to be referred. Reluctantly he referred me, but not as a priority. I was given an appointment for 6 months time. Covid arrived and the appointment was cancelled and then I was given a new date. I finally saw the consultant 14 months later, she asked me why I hadn't had an earlier appointment. (!) It was a BCC and I ended up having a section of my hair shaved off and a 3 inch square removed from my scalp.

I agree with PP that some GPs do need further training about BCCs.

Rainbows it’s so difficult isn’t it?
I have just received a letter from the consultant quote-
“I have marked the BCC out for Mrs…as I think it was more extensive than perhaps she thought it was.”

What the h* does that mean? Was I supposed to have a break down in the consulting room?
I’ve spent 3 years trying to avoid this. I think you know how frustrating it is.

My new dentist told me to see a dermatologist as had a mark on my nose, I said I went to the doctors years, said it was nothing, but I did what I was told .. had skin cancer , may I add ... not life threatening & not one that spreads to other parts of the body ... my hubby who came to all my appointments, passed away 6 weeks before my 3 surgeries , if it hadn't been for my children , may not have bothered, although glad I did have them ... may I add ... GO TO A DENTIST REGULARLY AS YES NOTICE MARKS ON YOUR FACE ASWELL AS IN YOUR MOUTH ... SO GLAD I DID ... wrote it in capitals so people would read it & take note hopefully ...