BCC

Hi Rozie welcome to the forum and I hope that you don't mind that I have popped over from one of the other threads as  I saw that you hadn't had a response as yet. Little wonder your head is a mess with what's going on for you and it is indeed normal for your head to feel empty, so you are not alone in that one.  Im wondering if you might like to give the MacMillan Line a call and have a chat with them and they can also put you in touch with the Buddy services if that is something that may of help for you to chat with someone on a more regular basis. 08088080000.  

Hi Rosie...  I had a basal cell removed from side of my nose two years ago..   I was in a complete mess and terrified...  how you're feeling is perfectly normal..  I found my consultant to be very understanding so could you share how you're feeling with your surgeon? They'll be happy to answer your questions and to reassure you..  a lot of us here have been where you are now and understand how terrifying it is.  Please let us know how you get on 

Hi Granny59. Thank you for replying and for the information; I will definitely make the phone call. Rozie

Hello Puckettyboo. Thank you for taking time to reply and making me feel that my 'head' is normal; the dignosis was a bit of a shock, I expected to be told I'd got an infection from squeezing a zit!! Rozie

Hi Rozie  What you are feeling is entirely understandable and I was the same, when 2 years ago I was diagnosed with 2 bcc's on my face  People don't take skin cancer seriously and if you tell people, their normal answer is it is "only" skin cancer. Yes we know it isn't as nasty as lots of other cancers, but it is still a cancer of some sort.  I couldnt sleep, up at all hours, cried and generally very very anxious.  Mine were nodular and infiltrative.  I had a skin flap with one which was near my nostril and upper lip and the other was right ta the top of my nose and under my eye near my tear duct and I had a skin graft on this one.  My Plastic surgeon was simply the best, so kind and reassuring.  What have they told you will happen.  This site is amazing just keep in touch with us and we will all try and help and reassure you.  Puckettyboo and myself were going through our trauma together and helped one another along the way. Ask us anything whenever you feel low just contact us with your worries.  Where do you live and where are you having your operation done. Sending you hugs xx

Hi Rozie.... just to confirm what harlyn has said please contact us anytime you need to ask anything or just need to talk...  this group really is very supportive 

Hello. Sorry to hear you’re feeling anxious. I was diagnosed last week with bcc next to my eye and tbh I’m absolutely terrified. I’m worried as they have referred me to an eye specialist for removal of the cancer. I’ve told a few people who have basically left me alone with it. Like they don’t know how to deal with it. I don’t know how to deal with it. Just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of you. 

Hi Ilikejam   I had a bcc removed from the top of my nose under my eye right up as far as my tear duct.  This was nearly 2 years ago.  A plastic surgeon did it with a skin graft from a host site at the side of my face by my ear.  It looked a mess for a couple of months but has healed brilliantly, hardly noticeable now.  I was very scared and anxious and this site was brilliant, talking to people with the same issues.  If you need to talk or ask anything, please contact me. I will be happy to help you through your ordeal.  Whereabouts near your eye is your bcc.  People are quite flippant about skin cancers thinking they are nothing, but to those of us who have them they are very scary,  Good Luck and here any time to help you xx

Oh thank you so much for replying Harlyn. Yes the bcc is very close to the tear duct to on my left eye. It’s such a relief to hear your surgery was successful. I do worry about it not healing as the skin is quite delicate in that area. People haven’t been flippant as such just want to avoid me I think they don’t know what to say. And I’m avoiding telling my son and best friend as they have major things going on right now. I don’t know what to do for the best. Please may I ask how long you waited to see your surgeon from the time you were diagnosed? 

I went privately as things were so bad 2 years ago.  I saw the dermatoligist who then referred me to a plastic surgeon.  I waited 8 weeks for dermatologist as so many people were going privately and he said he didnt want to do the operation as he wanted a good job doing so he referred me to plastic surgeon and I waited 8 days for that appointment then another 2 weeks for operation as it was Christmas period.  I had them done under local anaesthetic  and once injections were in it was fine.  I was upset when stitches were removed as it looked a mess and huge scabbed area BUT I emailed a picture to consultant who told me to vaseline it to get the scab off, which I did, and the skin underneath was very pink, but within about 4 months you could hardly see where it was.  Initially I thought the bcc was just a sore where my glasses had rubbed me.  I was having another done near my nostril and asked him to look at the one near my eye. He did biopsy and this too was a bcc.  I find people think they are nothing to worry about, but they are.  I am 75, never been a sun worshipper, always wore sun cream and never been on a sunbed.  He told me they can also be age related.  If you wear glasses it is a nuisance as I had a dressing on so couldnt really get my glasses on properly, but it was during thye last stages of Covid so I wore a mask if I went out.  Here if you need any more reassurance. xx