Basal cell carcinoma

Hello Roxy28,

Thank you for getting in touch and welcome to our Online Community.

I’m Elise, one of the cancer information nurses on the support line.

I can see you’ve joined our skin cancer forum and I’ve no doubt you’ll get great support there.

It’s understandable to have lots of questions when things don’t go to plan, but it sounds like the plastic surgeon needs a bit more information about the basal cell carcinoma (BCC) to proceed safely for you.

The margins that you were told about refers to the edge of any wound or lump, like a BCC.

Surgeons aim for “clear margins” which means that the area around any wound or area of concern is clear of cancer cells and would indicate that all the cancer cells have been successfully removed from the area.

If a margin is not clear after surgery, then doctors know that cancer cells remain and further treatment, sometimes another operation is required.

Surgeons follow guidelines to determine how big a margin around a wound or lump should be, and this is often measured in millimeters.

You also mention “blood vessels growing” which could indicate that the area might bleed more that is normally expected but we would expect your plastic surgeon to explain this in a bit more detail for you.

It’s important that you have a clear understanding about this surgery, so don’t be worried about asking the surgeon any questions.

You also asked if this is normal and that’s a difficult question to give a direct yes or no answer to.

Your doctors have decided that it wasn’t appropriate to proceed with your planned operation on the day and that they perhaps need to review the situation again to give the best possible chance of your operation being successful.

We understand it can be frustrating and scary to have procedures stopped at the last minute but it’s often the safest thing to do if there’s any doubt about what the surgeons are seeing or if more details are needed to make the best surgical plan for you.

I hope this information is helpful and we're sending you our very best wishes,

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

Best wishes, 

Elise,

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref:ED/DT

Thank you for your help it’s my own fault I act so Blaise every time they find something else wrong as I know I can just die anytime and Iv already been through the stages of my body shutting down few times but I fought back after having septis 10 times in the last 4 yrs I know it’s hard for the doctors as my body doesn’t respond like a normal person ie heart runs around 125bpm when sitting resting don’t get temps until the last minute when body’s in shock so I have to talk them through how I am ie not in pain in pain ect it’s hard but I do appreciate it I know this is awful but Iv had more show of concern off my ex husband (he had to move back in when I was hospitalized for months on end as my youngest was only 12 at the time of it ) than I have about all the other things that are failing I just found out he only told the boys 2 days ago and had the cheek to say don’t speak about it to them so once again on ny own trying to deal with everything sorry to vent I’m just frustrated as I feel I have no voice anymore 

Hello Roxy28,

Thanks for getting back in touch. I’m Carole, one of Elise’s colleagues on the Macmillan Support Line.

I hope you found her reply helpful.

We know it can be difficult at times, and there’s no need to apologise for venting. If you’d like to speak to one of the nurses, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Sending best wishes,

Carole – Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Our ref: AC

Hello Roxy28 

I’m Jenna one of the Cancer Information and Support Advisers on the Online Community and Macmillan Support Line.

I’m really glad you thought of reaching out for support on the Online Community Roxy28 as I can hear you have been coping with such a lot in terms of your health and I’m sorry that it’s feeling as if you are on your own again trying to deal with everything. That sounds really tough. Please don’t apologise for venting or how you’re feeling- it’s important you’re able to talk honestly about this so you can be supported to find your way through. Being diagnosed with cancer can be incredibly difficult for anyone, and to be coping with this alongside a terminal illness and following episodes of sepsis, sounds like it could be feeling pretty overwhelming at times-especially when trying to make sense of what you’ve been told by your healthcare team.

I’m glad to see my colleagues in our Information Nurse team have been able to give you a bit more information and support understanding what’s maybe been happening with your diagnosis and treatment. With this sounding like a difficult time emotionally, as well as physically, I just wanted to highlight that our Cancer Information and Support team are also available to provide emotional support and a place to talk through how you’re feeling and finding everything (or as a place to ask any general questions) if you need going forward Roxy28. Feeling as if you have no voice anymore is a horrible way for you to be left feeling. Please know, you can speak with us on the Support Line via telephone on: 0808 808 00 00, or via web chat 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

You mention your children Roxy28, and the difficulty of being told not to speak to them about what’s been happening. Was your Ex Husband able to explain why they feel this is best for them at all? I’m conscious it can be hard to know how best to support and talk to children when facing a diagnosis, wanting to do what's best for  them. Our booklet Talking to Children and Teenagers when an Adult has Cancer could be helpful in supporting them through as it has lots of information around explaining a diagnosis and treatment as well as ways of supporting them as you move forward and additional young- person- specific support organisations and resources which may be useful.

I hope you don’t mind me responding in addition to our Nursing team Roxy28,  we just don’t want you feeling as if you have to struggle through this alone.

We’re here for as long as you need us.

Thank you Jenna Iv just had a difficult few days and my port decided to play up yesterday and it’s my life line literally as only access they have as I have to try make sense of every part of my body and try make sense if it’s ok or im on the verge of another infection as my obs would have u sending me straight to HDU low blood pressure high heart rate 110-125 sitting and around 150-175 walking but temp never really alters until last minute of septis when the pain comes in the groin I know it’s hospital time and they have usually few hrs to get the drugs in I’m worried now that I have let little problems progress into bigger ones but I don’t know what I’m doing anymore than the doctors do but in the last few weeks iv not been able to hear due to a blockage that was adheard to the ear drum now they worried about hearing I really don’t know what I’m doing or what I should do I literally winging it that iv got it under control but I just want to scream why me all the time but I know people have worse problems than me just feeling sorry for myself x

Hi Roxy28,

My name is Jamie, I’m one of the nurses. As you have mentioned that your post has been playing up over the last few days, and that your pulse and blood pressure are up, we would strongly urge you to seek medical help tonight. Based on what you have posted, you need to be triaged as soon as possible, we would recommend calling 999 to allow the ambulance service to assess you for a possible sepsis infection. If they don’t believe you have sepsis, then they can arrange alternative support if needed, however it is incredibly important that you call as soon as possible.

Jamie

• Hi Jamie no honestly that’s my normal believe it or not i know when it’s not right as I feel the difference in the pressure Iv had bloods today when they eventually got port working and if my crp was up more than 10 they always ring . But I am sensible and don’t take chances but just annoying that Iv left things like these bcc and my ear as I just thought it was the condition as I keep getting swollen lymph nodes or glands on the left side of my face and it goes numb because it’s so difficult as I don’t want to go into hospital and they always keep me in and then I always catch everything g even when I have my own room but I’m fine thank you for your advice and concern