Just diagnosed

Hello Smith456. Everyting you are feeling is entirely natural and you will find lots of help and advice from this group, we are very supportive.  I have had 2 basal skin cancers removed from my face, 1 with skin flap, 1 with skin graft.  It is a year since I started treatment with a plastic surgeon and they are more or less invisible ( not to me) but to everyone else.  I think your Dr is right in that they have been caught early as you have had these bumps looked at in the past.  What treatment route are you on.  I was referred to a dermatologist first, but because of location of lesions was referred to a plastic surgeon who could do a much neater job.  Ask anything you need to know and I am sure one of us will have an answer for you.  I was very anxious when first diagnosed, as although they are not too serious, they are still small cancers. Good Luck and keep in touch x

Harlyn -

Thank you so much for your reply!

This was diagnosed by my dermatologist. I guess a few of my questions are -

Do I need to see an oncologist / skin cancer specialist?

The dermatologist is handing me off to a surgeon who (he says) specializes in skin issue surgery, but I don’t believe this person is a plastic surgeon. Is that important? Do I specifically need a plastic surgeon?

Finally, I guess I’m confused regarding the scope of the surgery removal. People here are mentioning skin grafts etc. To me, the spot on my head looks very small - maybe smaller than the top of a pencil. I’ve had regular moles removed before and there’s never any need for grafting or any long term sign of anything. I don’t want to search the Internet for photos because I’m afraid of what I’ll find.

But do I need to prepare myself that this removal is a much bigger deal in terms of size etc, because it’s BCC? They have to remove a larger portion, hence skin graft etc? 

Thank you all very much. I struggle already with anxiety so this is really messing me up.

Hi  Smith 456 again.  Check the surgeon out if you know his name on your local hospital site and it will tell you his speciality.  You don't normally see an Oncologist for a bcc.  I was referred to plastic surgeon because of where mine were, one near my nostril which I had skin flap surgery and a nasty one at top of nose right up to my eye, where I had a skin graft, taken from the side of my face.  It is probably bigger surgery than mole removal as they have to make sure they get it all out. It sounds bad, but it isn't that bad really. Mine were done uner locals and I had lots of stitches but that is what plastic surgeons do to minimise scars.  Once the numbing injections were administered I felt nothing at all and he was so kind and caring.  Not sure on the scalp whether it would be a skin graft or not, but if that is mentioned please don't be anxious I can assure you it will be fine.  Mine near my eye looked dreadful at first and I was so worried but he told me to believe him and it would, in the fullness of time, heal and it did.  Again it wasn't painful whilst healing just looked a mess.  Please don't stress we will guide you though things and whilst bcc's are nasty little pests, they are not considered to be serious.  Please take care in the sun wear Factor 50 suncream at all times and wear a hat. Good Luck and we are here for any more questions you may have.  

Hi

I had a basal cell removed from my nose by a head and neck surgeon.

Mine had been there over two years and they said it was caught early.

They use grafts and flaps because they take a margin of healthy skin to ensure the margins are clear and do depending where it's being removed from its not always possible to bring the wound together. This isn't always necessary though. And sometimes the wound is left to heal by itself.

It's understandable that you're worried so please feel free to ask us anything, even if it seems small. We know it's not small to you.

It's also very common for the dermatologist to refer patients to another surgeon who specialises in skin surgery 

I would also like to add that I too was terrified and obsessively scoured the internet making myself worse.

When i actually met the surgeon I was crying and physically shaking.

The whole team were lovely and put me at ease.

The surgeon advised me to stay off the internet and told me that he would answer my worries.

One thing worth knowing is that if a flap is used it's for good cosmetic outcome and healing it's not always a reflection on how large the lesion is.

He did say I'm at risk of more basal cell cancers but if that happened they'd be caught early and dealt with.

We really do understand your anxiety and so will your surgeon