Hi I am new to this site so I apologise in advance if I make any mistakes!! I was also not sure where to post this as although initially I had treatment 10 years ago I am still having issues.
About 10 years ago I had a BCC removed from the side of my nose, last year used Efudex for an AK on cheek and a month ago used the cream again for a Bowens lesion on my lower leg. I was not too bad 10 years ago but am now petrified about every mole on my body/face and also any new marks etc. Recently I had a spot on my nose and convinced myself it was a BCC and then a mark appeared on my upper chest which was caused by my apron rubbing!! (don’t laugh 
) and again I was dead and buried ! Anyway as you can see I am seriously anxious - I have a counselling appointment booked for next week and I was wondering if I should also pay for a private mole screening appointment as my GP (who is a dermatologist) said that they do not do this on the NHS. Has anyone had one and how often ? Because of my anxiety I am aware of the fact that I feel the need to keep checking and checking and just need some sensible advice on how to manage my skin and my anxiety. Sorry for the ramble I clearly just need someone to talk to x
Hi Figgy and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I'm sorry to read how anxious you have become about your skin since being diagnosed with a BCC 10 years ago. I was diagnosed with melanoma nearly 7 years ago now and I can remember how shocked and upset I felt at the time.
Since then I've had to keep a check on my skin as melanoma can recur. My advice to you about checking your skin would be what I was told to do by my dermatologist when I was first diagnosed. He advised me to take photos of the various sections of my body, eg. lower front left leg, upper front left leg, etc to use as a baseline. Then to only check once a month using those photos as a guide. He said that if you check anymore often than that you won't notice a change, because they happen slowly, and using the photos I can easily see if I have a new mole or mark and if any of the existing ones have changed.
I am still under the care of an NHS consultant dermatologist so have six monthly check-ups where she visually checks and feels my entire body. When I am eventually discharged, I intend to pay for a check-up once a year with a private dermatologist and, in between, continue to do my own checks.
I'm pleased that you're getting counselling for your anxiety and I hope that they are able to help you get that under control as it must be very debilitating.
You might also like to join the life after cancer group where you can discuss things like the physical and emotional after effects of cancer, returning to work, or trying to move on with your life. If you'd like to do this, just click on the link I've created which will take you straight there. Once you've joined the group you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing threads by clicking on 'reply'.
I think you might also find this paper called After the Treatment Finishes - Then What really helpful. It was written by a psychologist who was involved in cancer care and is well worth reading as it resonates with so many of us who have had cancer.
It would be great if you could pop something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
Do come back and let us know how your counselling goes.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
