Awaiting appointments- overthinking?

Hi Plutoandthemoon. Everything you are feeling is completely normal, as this is how I felt.  I have had two bcc's removed from my face, both looked totally different.  One, like yours, was like a transparent grain of rice which was near my nostril but on my cheek.  The other was a scab under my eye right up by my tear duct near top of nose, which I thought was where my glasses had rubbed.  The one near my nostril was photographed by a skin laboratory that Bupa use and we had to email the imagine.  Within 10 minutes I had a phone call telling me it was definitely a bcc.  I saw a dermatologist first who then referred me to a plastic surgeon.  I had them both removed, by skin flap and skin graft surgery.  All done whilst I was awake and I am now fine.  It wasnt painful at all, I was a nervous wreck.  It looked unsightly for a few weeks but then started to fade and is hardly visible now.  The melanoma clinic maybe just the dermatology department, so I wouldnt be alarmed by that.  I was 73 so not young to endure all this, but I got through it. My Plastic surgeon was so kind and reassurng and told me that in time everything would be fine and it is.  I am very very careful now in the sun, as I was before, but use Factor 50 suncream almost 365 days a year and especially now the sun is out.  I am paranoid about it.  This site is brilliant. It helped me through my ordeal and people are so kind and supportive to one another.  Please ask me anything you want to know and I will try and help you and let us know how you go on.  Please dnt be afraid to ask anything and everything you are feeling is completely normal.  Good Luck xx

Thank you so much for your reply. It has definitely made me take a big calming breath! I am just so angry at myself, because honestly I have been reckless with sun safety. When I was a teenager I used sunbeds (my mum used to rent them once a year or so) and then as an adult I have lived in Australia and travelled Asia extensively and still not worn sunscreen on a regular basis. It’s absolutely my own stupid fault and now at 38 I can’t believe that I would have been so reckless. 
Everything I have seen says that if teledermatology shows nothing to worry about you will be discharged back to the gp so I’m assuming the worst based on the fact that I have been asked to attend a face to face appointment. It’s really just the waiting and not knowing at the minute that’s driving me crazy! I’m counting down the minutes to my appointment. I’m so glad everything has worked out well for you and you found comfort and support on here x

Hello! I am just a little further on than you, with a biopsy tomorrow, but all the same raging feelings. 

I have gone through a full range of emotion and still am, from feeling like it's all a mistake and I'm wasting hospital time, to the worst possible scenario. But I know that I will have to wait even after tomorrow. I've been keeping busy but sill googling and even tiktok!

What I have noticed is that each person who has skin cancer issues is different, and has a different experience. Yet there is one set of words -  2ww, biopsy, BCC, SCC, melanoma. I went private for a consultation, and I have read the dermatologist letter after looking at the pink bumpy lesion on my left cheek a hundred or more times to try to somehow decipher what he thinks (which is either Bowens disease or BCC but only the biopsy will show which). 

But the calm, sensible side of me realises that there are a few milestones: consultation - biopsy - results - next steps.

I think it is good to get it all out on a forum like this, I know my friend who had melanoma posted here - she is 5 years clear now. 

Keep posting in the run up to your appointment, I even have a 'panic diary' (Journey cloud app) to get my feelings out. No one can predict what will happen and it's the uncertainty and lack of control that makes us feel like we are spiralling.  

Take care x

Thank you for your lovely message, it makes me realise I’m definitely not alone. I am on my way to my appointment now, I will update later on x

Good luck. Hope you get the best result possible.

I'm on my way for the biopsy and feeling positive x

Good luck to you too! X

Hi Plutoandthemoon and JacsW 

How did your appointments go?

Thank you for asking. Mine was a punch biopsy. 

The consultant was brilliant, and went over his thoughts again. He took a photograph of the site with my permission for his records and pointed out the area he was concerned about being BCC. He went through the normal discussion about risks (bleeding, infection, scarring).

I went to the treatment room and he numbed the area with an injection, did the punch biopsy which I didn't feel at all, and stitched the area - I felt just a little pulling. 

It was dressed and I was told to keep it dry and have the stiches (2) out in 7 days. 

Results should be back 7-10 days maybe a bit longer with Easter. 

How do I feel? Well, relieved this bit is over but a bit worried about the results. Having a day off work today to process it all. 

Hope you are OK, Plutoandthemoon 

Hi Jacs W and Plutoandthemoon  I was wondering how it went for you both yesterday.  Glad to read Jacs W had the punch biopsy and hope the results are good. My Consultant did tell me that "sometimes" punch biopsy takes the bcc out and all is well.  Unfortunatey not the case for me and I had to have it removed and a skin graft as results showed it was still there.  You are sensible taking a day off work as the procedure makes you very anxious and you need time to simmer down again.  Good Luck and enjoy Easter.  Was going to say enjoy the sunshine, but unfortunately sunshine isnt something I enjoy now.  Take care and keep in touch xx

I am so glad that it all went smoothly for you. My appointment was okay, I will be having a punch biopsy too on 24th. The consultant went over everything really thoroughly and they took the photographs with the markings etc ready for the biopsy. Can I ask how big your punch was if you know? They have said mine will be 6mm - seems like quite a big hole in the middle of my face?! But regardless I am feeling so much better now that there is a clear plan of action.  All the waiting and not knowing was horrendous but I am feeling okay about it all at the minute, much helped by the fact that the consultant has said categorically not melanoma. It has been very sore and started spontaneously bleeding on my way home from the hospital, which it does quite often now, so I’m rather excited to have it soon be gone! 

I woke up this morning feeling lighter than I had in the last 2 weeks, which my husband finds very confusing as I suppose i wasn’t given good news, but as I said, a clear plan of action has worked wonders for me. I hope you are feeling okay JacsW , take it easy if you can and