Skin cancer- we can all be at risk.

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 ...

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.

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.

welbeck thanks

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

I noticed a brown patch on my cheek, was a bit concerned so did a bit of online research. I suspected actinic keratosis, which is a pre cancerous condition so I sent a picture in to my GP, one of the doctors is particularly interested in dermatology and he came back to me the same day. He said he thought it was pre cancerous and prescribed a chemotherapy cream, which I used for a couple of weeks. I had a pretty unsightly sore on my face but once it healed the patch was gone, hopefully for good. It's always worth contacting your GP if you are worried.

Luckygirl3 get in touch with the choir master and tell her what you spotted today. It could be nothing but it could save her life. As with all things medical the quicker they are treated the better.

Years after my husband died I was talking to someone at a bus stop . I didn't know her but spotted a lump on her neck and told her to see her GP asap . I explained why I wanted her to do it . Month or so later saw her she thanked me and had it removed it was non cancerous but she was now very body aware and checked herself and family regularly.

My son in law had his moles mapped 3 years ago by a dermatologist and my daughter checks them weekly.

People forget our skin is under attack everyday and until my husband's malignant melanoma we where guilty of not looking for changes. Since then I have banged the drum about checking your skin.

Ladyleftfieldlover

I think you have to tell her when you are back after Christmas.

Please tell her asap. My friend didn’t know about the skin cancer on his head because he couldn’t see it. It makes me think of people whose lives are saved because they’re on tv and someone watching them spots something that needs treating.

My husband actually went to the GP twice and his melanoma was dismissed as nothing. He went to a skin specialist only because me and a friend said we didn’t like the look of his dark splotch. The specialist ordered a biopsy and clapped him straight into hospital where he had it removed and a large skin graft. If we had left it he wouldn’t be here now. Moral of the story being- if you are in doubt get a second opinion!

I think you have to tell her when you are back after Christmas.

Someone I sing with has just had a cancerous lesion removed from her nostril and it has a plaster on it atm. This afternoon we were both singing in a concert and I was one tier higher than her so I could see the top of her head, and in her parting there was a small blue/grey lesion which I am sure she cannot see ... it was not raised and about 2mm in diameter. After I came home I wondered if I should have mentioned.it .... I don't really know her and am a bit torn about this. WWYD? I do not know her name so it would have to wait till term starts.

I had a non malignant skin cancer on my nose. After seeing my GP I was seen by a dermatologist within 2 weeks. I had it removed a few weeks after that and have a 2 inch scar on the side of my nose. I now have another strange blemish on the side of my face and am seeing a dermatologist in January.

I've had five BCC's removed, one from my nose and the top of my shoulder a couple of months ago, in fact I had a letter from the hospital this week confirming that they were cancer and that all traces had been removed.
Previously I had two removed from my nose and one from my ear.
I spent a few years in the Far East in the late 60's and early 70's, my main pastime was sunbathing, so all self inflicted.

Alioop, if i were you i'd be back to the doc insisting on a referral to dermatology, esp at the moment when everything takes so long.
all the best.

Whiff

Blinko thank you that's brilliant news about the treatment available now. I hope you live a long and quality filled life.

My husband was diagnosed in 2001 only treatment was removal of the cancer luckily they removed it all. After his skin graft healed it was weekly checks they had taught me. First sign he had secondary tumour's was a cough in summer 2003 and tests found the growths . Only palative chemo and radiotherapy available then. The day he should have started radiotherapy was the day he died.

Your post has made me very happy I know it's strange to say but it has. I know if family members get it there is hope for them. 😊

whiff Bless you.

If the melanoma was familial, there are even more options that are proving life savers nowadays. Sending heartfelt wishes that it doesn’t crop up for you and your family.

Blinko thank you that's brilliant news about the treatment available now. I hope you live a long and quality filled life.

My husband was diagnosed in 2001 only treatment was removal of the cancer luckily they removed it all. After his skin graft healed it was weekly checks they had taught me. First sign he had secondary tumour's was a cough in summer 2003 and tests found the growths . Only palative chemo and radiotherapy available then. The day he should have started radiotherapy was the day he died.

Your post has made me very happy I know it's strange to say but it has. I know if family members get it there is hope for them. 😊

I was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma stage 4 in August 2021. Treatment has developed massively in the last several years. Surgery to excise the tumour is the first line of defence. Then immunotherapy, a relatively recent development has had significant success with a number of cancers, but especially melanoma. It used to be lethal. Nowadays, a better outcome is possible. Treatment is evolving every month.

But it is still critical to notice changes in the skin, and to get to a GP and insist on referral to a dermatologist pronto.

With a thinner ozone layer and hotter Summer weather, even in Northern Europe, people are vulnerable.

I have a mole on my leg that had grown through the summer. I went to my GP who seemed happy enough with it, but I was told if it grows much more, gets darker or uneven edge I've to go back to get s biopsy done on it.
I'm a redhead, my mum never had the money for suncream when we're kids, so most summer holidays at the caravan I was like lobster. We all now are so careful, but a lot of damage has already been done.
My thoughts are with all of you who have lost loved ones.