BCC

[Stu]

I saw my doc this afternoon about a lump on my face. He says he thinks it's a BCC. He will refer me to a skin specialist, but says it's nothing to worry about. I wasn't worried about it anyway and I'm still not. Anyone else had one of these?

[Kirbstone]

Stu,
Being retired now I'm no longer in the Medical/Dental frontline, but snippets of residual knowledge, like mud thrown at a wall, remain.

Longhand description is Basal Cell Carcinoma. Common enough and well over half of skin carcinomas are these. They develop and spread very slowly and being exposed, the patient gets an early diagnosis.

They'll remove it of course and look out for others, because the tendency is there. No worries really. I have several friends who have had this treatment and they're younger than me.

Tom

[Stu]

Stu,
Being retired now I'm no longer in the Medical/Dental frontline, but snippets of residual knowledge, like mud thrown at a wall, remain.

Longhand description is Basal Cell Carcinoma. Common enough and well over half of skin carcinomas are these. They develop and spread very slowly and being exposed, the patient gets an early diagnosis.

They'll remove it of course and look out for others, because the tendency is there. No worries really. I have several friends who have had this treatment and they're younger than me.

Tom

Thanks, Tom. I am lucky in that I have a daughter who is a hospital consultant and she explained to me that a BCC, while malignant, is entirely treatable. The doctor I saw today was about to give me his usual spiel to panicked patients on hearing the word skin cancer - that if you have to have a cancer, the BCC is the one to choose - but he quickly realised I was already aware of all that and wasn't worried. The only slight concern now is that it is a BCC and nothing more sinister, but my research indicates that is the case.

Stu

[Faldaguy]

Stu,
In another thread recently I mentioned some 'fun' arising from my own BCC on my head. This was the second one of fair size and consequently got a large bunch of gauze, and when that was paired with a long black A-line skirt, more than one person wondered, aloud to me, if my attire was some kind of religious outfit! This happened on the prior one a couple years back as well -- seems strange to me, but it seems to give them an opening for a conversation that apparently is more difficult if your are only wearing a skirt without a big white glob on your head!

Likely they will remove the thing with a margin; then check the patch removed on the edges to insure it was all removed--results a few days out. Sometimes with MOHS surgery they will only scrap a tiny dab; immediately stick it under the scope, and decide if they need to take more.

I don't recall, if I reported it here before or not; but my first required going to the bone on a fairly large area, so they yanked some flesh from my posterior to fill in the hole. Dad's response --- "Now that gives a whole new meaning to getting your head out of your ass." Don't fret, have fun with it, and wear a hat from now on!

[Dungo]

I can join you in the BCC club. So far I have had three excised (jawline, back and in the last month top of head) and another couple frozen. The excisions are done under a local anaesthetic in less than an hour and were not a big deal - that said I’ve not needed any form of graft ( I got a free facelift instead!) so I’m lucky in that respect.

When I first met the chap doing the work he said we are likely to become friends over time. I thought that was just bedside chat but three years later we are still talking and I’m sure it will continue.

Hats are a must now - not only for top of head protection but particularly ears and nose - I’m still finding my way through that fashion minefield.

As others have said, if you are going get cancer BCC is the one you want… Best of luck.

[denimini]

Yes, common in my territory. Local anaethetic and a few stitches, and usually sent way for biopsy to be sure. I have had some small ones frozen off my cheek (face, the other ones don't see the sun).

Likely they will remove the thing with a margin; then check the patch removed on the edges to insure it was all removed--results a few days out. Sometimes with MOHS surgery they will only scrap a tiny dab; immediately stick it under the scope, and decide if they need to take more.

Yes, the flying doctor explained to me that these days they only take the minimum needed and if the biopsy proves nasty they can come back and take a larger margin. Apparently they have about 30 days before there is any growth after the disturbance and it saves making a big hole just in case, as they used to do.

[Stu]

Thanks for the replies. It looks as though I will shortly be referred to a dermatologist shortly who will be taking a chunk of flesh from my cheek.

Ah well...

Stu

[Kirbstone]

Ah yes Stu,
Remember in Shakespeare's the Merchant of Venice, Portia, acting and Judge cautioned Shylock on the 'pound of flesh' issue, that should he spill so much a one drop of blood.......&c.
Don't worry about it.

Tom

[Stu]

Don't worry about it.

Tom

Thanks, Tom. I know it could have been something so much worse.

[Stu]

My doctor saw thew lesion a few days ago and I now have an appointment with the dermatologist booked for early next week. It has since grown, changed colour and shape, so I will be glad to have it looked at. The usual procedure after that is a waiting list for minor surgery and it will be removed, either with a simple excision or micrographic surgery and that's something I won't be looking forward to as they will have to take out a sizeable chunk of my face and the op causes a significant wound and pain. I guess I have been lucky that I have managed to reach my age without ever having invasive surgery before (excepting my ACL replacement about 20 years ago).

[Brad]

I had a BCC on my face near my nose. It was removed by Mohs surgery. After it healed it left a tiny scar that is virtually not noticable.

[Stu]

Thanks, Brad. I'm hoping for a similar outcome.

Stu