Hi there, I recently wrote a post on the BCC forum, but I'm actually really worried about my "thing" and wanted to see if anyone had anything similar.
I'm wondering if a melanoma can be mistaken for a BCC?
To give a bit on context, I had a tiny skin coloured pimple come up on my cheek in summer 2023. From photos it's quite easy to track the progress and growth. I've had a nightmare with my skin from 2022, when my first mole bled, was frozen off and grew back. I've never been comfortable with this one still being there, especially as it has a solid bit underneath it, but I've not been able to get anyone to punch it out in case.
From there on in I had an influx of changes to my skin. Moles changing, seb Ks growing, and this pimple, which is obviously not a pimple, growing.
Having been dismissed by the NHS, I even paid privately and got this looked at over a year and a half ago now. I then had it looked at again and even last October had a derm GP look at it and tell me its nothing, all whilst it was continuing to grow.
Last summer I had a suspected melanoma removed - was called for surgery days after the teledermascopy - and during the derm appointment I mentioned this skin coloured mole. I was told it was a clear mole but not as exciting as the rest and it was left. I also asked for the original bleeding mole to be removed but got told no.
Fast forward to six month check in Jan 2025 and I mentioned this again. Immediately it was identified as a BCC, which oddly I think she said isn't classed as a mole (I may have that bit wrong?) and that I would need it full excised.
However, in December I knew this thing was an issue. Id started to get real pain around the area and into my nose, which I still have now, and now the surrounding skin is very sore and stingy.
Surgery isn't for another two months, but I'm actually really worried. I know BCCs are supposed to be nothing to worry about, but I'm not feeling that.
Oddly, last summer with the suspected melanoma I was fine about, I think because it was my breast and it didn't have "symptoms".
Sorry this is quite long, but I'm feeling really alone with this because it feels like I shouldn't be worried because it's "just" a BCC, but I didn't think they were meant to change much or cause symptoms?
It's grown 1mm in the last month and I'm wondering if it's really obvious to derms if it's a BCC or if it could be a melanoma that looks different?
I think the fact it stumped so many gp/derms for so long doesn't fill me with confidence. Especially because the hospital it was originally looked at (over year ago) was a cancer hospital. Maybe it was too small to identify then.
Unlike my other lesions, this time no teledermascopy was done.
If it was sitting there nicely, doing nothing, I wouldn't worry. Though, am very worried about the surgery to my face. But I am feeling sick about how deep and wide they might need to go as it grows.
I've seen people going private, I just don't have the money and am feeling a bit trapped.
Sorry for such a long post. Think these next two month's wait will be painful (in more ways than one!)
Just wondering if anyone had anything similar?
Hi Luffy
Eight years ago I noticed a small red lump on my upper arm and went to see a dermatologist. He didn't know what it was but said that he'd remove it.
When I had my excision biopsy a couple of months later, he said it was now looking like a BCC. However when I got my results back it turned out to be an amelanotic melanoma! These melanomas are usually pink or flesh coloured so are, apparently, easy to miss.
So the simple answer to your question is yes, sometimes what looks like a BCC can turn out to be melanoma. Hopefully yours will turn out to be a BCC.
((hugs))
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
You could ask for a second opinion.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
