Scalp BCC

I had a large infiltrating basal cell cancer removed from my scalp two years ago.  I had a graft from my shoulder.  It has all healed now but it did take a long time and unfortunately I have been left with a bald patch.  My hair was already very fine and although I have managed to grow my hair longer and covered it it doesn’t take much for it to show. Part of my problem was it was infiltrating and they found it it gone very deep and perhaps yours is not like that and it will just be surface which means it will hopefully heal much quicker.  I did have to pay to have mine done privately as the NHS wanted me to wait 11 months for MOHS and this had been categorised as large with dangerous aspects on my biopsy so I didn’t feel I could wait.  It cost £6000.  I do hope this is a help to you.  

Hello Mandy,

Thank you for your message. Knowing that your MOHS operation was a success and has healed is the main thing. The resulting scar be it from a graft or skin flap seems to be another challenge.

I find this is so with the skin flap following the MOHS for the infiltrative BCC ,on the nose in April. I do know that eventually it will settle down in about 18 months and can contact the dermatology nurses if worried.

The cosmetic thing and being aware of a scar I hope can be overcome. People don’t really comment on this now although I feel like a Belisha beacon. A friend pointed out her nose scar from many years ago. Unless I had known I would not have noticed this.I imagine with your hair there is the worry of the scar without hair showing. Can your hairdresser help with ideas? 

it’s good to share experiences. 
Take care.

Hi, my scar area at the front of my head is 5 cm x 4.5 cms and the area where there is no hair is too large to hide completely. Nothing can be done apart from wearing a wig or hair band.    iIt would’ve been a lot easier for me if I had had really thick hair.    I do not go out in windy weather without something on my head even if there isn’t any UV light around.  The graft has   definitely improved over a long period of time and the colour is now the same as surrounding scalp  but it is dipped and I was not told that would happen before I had the operation done.  At the end of the day we have to get on as best we can with these things.  Hopefully your op area will fade and the whole area will improve as further time passes just as mine has done.