Basal Cell Carcinoma

Had several done. Biggest one was on side of nostril so you get local anaesthetics and the surgeon cut like an L shape and cut it out then just managed to stitch it up. He did warn me that as my nose is not very fleshy he may have to graft skin from behind my ear but he just had enough and no more.

Some hospitals do PDT (photo dynamic therapy) which lasers them off, I guess it depends on the size and position. They didn’t give me that option.

They are removing these all day, every day and there really is nothing to worry about. 👍 then they write to you and tell you what it was and whether they need to see you again.

Primrose53

Had several done. Biggest one was on side of nostril so you get local anaesthetics and the surgeon cut like an L shape and cut it out then just managed to stitch it up. He did warn me that as my nose is not very fleshy he may have to graft skin from behind my ear but he just had enough and no more.

Some hospitals do PDT (photo dynamic therapy) which lasers them off, I guess it depends on the size and position. They didn’t give me that option.

They are removing these all day, every day and there really is nothing to worry about. 👍 then they write to you and tell you what it was and whether they need to see you again.

Thanks Primrose53,

I wondered if they’d choose the method of removal or give me a choice. I agree it probably depends on size and position. Mine is quite near my eye.

Mine was in the same place as yours. Only certain surgeons are allowed to remove them in this area I assume because of the proximity to the eye lid. Mine was cut out under local anaesthetic and stitched up. It took about 30 minutes. I am missing a bit of eyebrow, but these days every pencils them on anyway! Good luck!

*everyone

My DH is having two removed on Wednesday, one in front of his ear and one on his forehead. He has been told he may need skin grafts.
Will let you know how he gets on later in the week.

Joseann

Mine was in the same place as yours. Only certain surgeons are allowed to remove them in this area I assume because of the proximity to the eye lid. Mine was cut out under local anaesthetic and stitched up. It took about 30 minutes. I am missing a bit of eyebrow, but these days every pencils them on anyway! Good luck!

Ha! Yes I pencil mine in anyway! Mines a bit lower down, so scar may just add to the ‘laughter’ lines! Thanks for replying.

Sar53

My DH is having two removed on Wednesday, one in front of his ear and one on his forehead. He has been told he may need skin grafts.
Will let you know how he gets on later in the week.

Thanks Sar53,
I do hope it goes well. Yes, please let me know how it goes.

Good luck sunflower and to your dh sar

I had one on my cheekbone & I was quite anxious. The procedure was an incision under local with 5 stitches. It was a doddle & I was fine after. I’ve got a little neat scar & the nurse at the GP took the stitches out . The worst thing was waiting 6 weeks for it to be analysed & told it was just a bit of sun damage. My DH had one on his nose & was given a stern warning about sun bathing! Good luck.

karmalady

Good luck sunflower and to your dh sar

Thank you.

MrsAF

I had one on my cheekbone & I was quite anxious. The procedure was an incision under local with 5 stitches. It was a doddle & I was fine after. I’ve got a little neat scar & the nurse at the GP took the stitches out . The worst thing was waiting 6 weeks for it to be analysed & told it was just a bit of sun damage. My DH had one on his nose & was given a stern warning about sun bathing! Good luck.

Thank you. Glad the procedure wasn’t too bad. I thought it would be analysed before they took it out. Maybe they can tell from looking at it if it needs to be removed.
I stopped sunbathing many years ago although I try to get 15 mins. in if it’s sunny just to get the vit.D. . I keep my face covered though.
Glad you’re both sorted now.

Most BCC’s are really easily dealt with. Yours sounds as though it is in a position that won’t be too noticeable.
The local anaesthetic is the worst bit, just do deep breathing. Good luck.

I am attending an appointment to see a consultant tomorrow and am also very anxious. My lesions cover about half my nose and it has happened quite quickly, hence me paying to go privately. I had to wait two weeks for the appointment and am bracing myself to use my savings as I am sure there will have to be quite intensive treatment

Using the knowledge that I have I think mine will likely be squamous cell and I am fully expecting treatment to involve skin graft as nose skin is very thin.

Btw, these `bad` cells were often formed during childhood and start to appear as cancers when our immunity system gets weaker with older age.

Good luck
I had MOHS surgery on mine on the bridge of my nose.
I spent a day at the dermatology dept having small bits being removed and then tested, removed and then tested until no abnormal cells were found.
Finally a piece of skin from my forehead was pulled down to cover the gap and I think she sewed 9 stitches. Luckily she was a neat sewer and the stitches are straight.

It took a while to heal and if sunlight gets on the scar it glows red..

The most disconcerting part for me was that the team (4 of them) chatted away happily to me, to eachother the entire time. when I thought they should be concentrating
I asked if I should be ultra careful about exposure to sunlight but was told to wear a sunhat which I do. I wish we had a bit more sun to shelter from

karmalady I hope all goes well..
My tips- If you are right handed ask them to take the skin from your left side if applicable.
I’ve got a long scar on my shoulder blade and it still hurts if I have to drive. The seat belt rubs across it. It would have made my life easier if it had been taken from the other side.
My consultant took skin from a tanned area on my neck* and it looks quite brown. Ask if this makes a difference.
* I have been so careful of my skin for the last 55years but ,as you said, the damage was done years ago.

Hope all goes well.

Thank you very much for those very useful tips.

Afterwards, don't worry if you have slight bleeding from the wound on your pillow, even after the stitches have been removed. It was explained to me that it is quite common after head incisions.

PamelaJ1

Most BCC’s are really easily dealt with. Yours sounds as though it is in a position that won’t be too noticeable.
The local anaesthetic is the worst bit, just do deep breathing. Good luck.

Thank you. Yes, and hopefully mine’s not considered that big.

karmalady

I am attending an appointment to see a consultant tomorrow and am also very anxious. My lesions cover about half my nose and it has happened quite quickly, hence me paying to go privately. I had to wait two weeks for the appointment and am bracing myself to use my savings as I am sure there will have to be quite intensive treatment

Using the knowledge that I have I think mine will likely be squamous cell and I am fully expecting treatment to involve skin graft as nose skin is very thin.

Btw, these `bad` cells were often formed during childhood and start to appear as cancers when our immunity system gets weaker with older age.

Very best of luck tomorrow. Do let us know how it goes. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Yes, damage almost certainly done years ago. I didn’t know they occurred due to weakening immunity with age though.

Grammaretto

Good luck
I had MOHS surgery on mine on the bridge of my nose.
I spent a day at the dermatology dept having small bits being removed and then tested, removed and then tested until no abnormal cells were found.
Finally a piece of skin from my forehead was pulled down to cover the gap and I think she sewed 9 stitches. Luckily she was a neat sewer and the stitches are straight.

It took a while to heal and if sunlight gets on the scar it glows red..

The most disconcerting part for me was that the team (4 of them) chatted away happily to me, to eachother the entire time. when I thought they should be concentrating
I asked if I should be ultra careful about exposure to sunlight but was told to wear a sunhat which I do. I wish we had a bit more sun to shelter from

Thank you.
That’s a bit disconcerting. (My dentist recently did the same while I was having a filling. She chatted away to her assistant while working on me about where they’d been out!!! I wasn’t impressed.)
I’ve worn suncream on my face winter and summer, plus wrap around sunglasses and a sun visor.
Glad you’ve got yours sorted.

PamelaJ1

karmalady I hope all goes well..
My tips- If you are right handed ask them to take the skin from your left side if applicable.
I’ve got a long scar on my shoulder blade and it still hurts if I have to drive. The seat belt rubs across it. It would have made my life easier if it had been taken from the other side.
My consultant took skin from a tanned area on my neck* and it looks quite brown. Ask if this makes a difference.
* I have been so careful of my skin for the last 55years but ,as you said, the damage was done years ago.

Hope all goes well.

Thank you. I’m hoping it won’t need a skin graft but will bear your tips in mind.

Joseann

Afterwards, don't worry if you have slight bleeding from the wound on your pillow, even after the stitches have been removed. It was explained to me that it is quite common after head incisions.

Ok thanks.

Sunflower, if it is ok with you, I will put a post about my dermatology consultation this morning

Two weeks ago, I noticed via a torch and magnifier, that the scaly skin on my nose had changed to something different and had spread. Having had a tiny bcc reoved on 2006, I know that there is a risk of getting bcc again. Then I also spotted a patch that looked like red woven cloth and that scared me to pieces.

Hence the fast track to see a dermatologist privately, it cost £200 and I waited two weeks. He carefully examined that area with a special scope and told me that I had actinitic keratosis, which I know if ignored could lead to squamous cell cancer. I was really pleased to hear that there was no bcc and that it was AK plus broken blood vessels

He gave me a choice of cream to use over quite a long time, or instant treatment with cryotherapy and this is what I had. It felt like being bombarded with sharp slivers of glass and was pretty painful afterwards but it will get rid of the AK and hence the chance of getting squamous cell cancer in that area

It has been a very long two weeks. The cryotherapy cost £50 and he also got rid of a big dark mole on my back, a sebaceous keratosis. Every penny was well spent

Brave lady Karma I am so glad it has all worked out well for you.
I met a friend in the supermarket a couple of weeks ago and on enquiring how her summer been was horrified to learn that in the course of a telephone appointment with her doctor she mentioned an itchy area on her back, around the bra strap area. Summoned to the surgery, the dr looked at it, took pictures and referred her to a Dermatologist.
LSS “it “ was removed plus a bit of the surrounding area and sent for biopsy. That came back as a malignant melanoma but they thought they had got it all. However, checked her lymph nodes, and yes, it was in one of them so she has now had a full MRI neck to pelvis to check the rest!
I was horrified as she said she had felt fine and could so easily have missed mentioning the mole or whatever it was. Divorced, she, like me, lives alone - so how do you check your back? Who do you ask to check for you?
It scared me, to be frank.