Basal cell carcinoma

Hi Naboo56e272 and a very warm welcome to the group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I've had BCC and can understand your feelings of it not being a 'proper' cancer. However, you still need treatment and you are definitely not a fraud. 

Please also don't blame yourself for having been diagnosed with BCC. I was diagnosed with melanoma nearly 9 years ago now and I used to enjoy sitting in the sun. It took me a while to stop thinking if only I hadn't sat in the sun I wouldn't have developed melanoma. Eventually I realised that blaming myself wasn't helping so did manage to change the way I thought about it.

I hope your appointment with the dermatologist goes well.

Hi Naboo56e272

I'm sorry to hear you've been diagnosed with a BCC. 

I had a BCC treated 3 years ago and I think I understand what you mean. The year before I was diagnosed, my brother died of lymphoma so I felt terrible about being upset about having a BCC and needing surgery. 

You have mixed feelings about being relieved it's not a 'dangerous' cancer but I still needed 4 surgeries and some of it was mentally difficult to deal with but I felt like I couldn't make a fuss because I was still alive. 

I also think that sometimes we try and play it down to make other people feel more comfortable as it can make people feel awkward or worried about you if you tell them you've got skin cancer. 

As Latchbrook says you will still need treatment. You deserve to receive good care from medical professionals too just like anyone else. 

I hope your appointment goes well

I was really glad to see this post. I was diagnosed 3 months ago and completely feel like a fraud. I have a cycle of thoughts going round in my head of: It's cancer and I have lots of emotions about it. But it’s also not going to kill me or even mean I have to have chemo so I can’t complain about it.

My mother in law died from bile duct and liver cancer 2 years ago. So I know cancer can be a lot worse than BCC. But that’s not stopping the feelings around knowing I have cancer growing on my head for however long it takes to get through the NHS waitlist for surgery.

You are definitely not at fault for having cancer. Some of it is just luck. You can be the fittest person in the world and get cancer. You can also be incredibly sun conscious all your life and get skin cancer. It’s a disease that targets everyone.

Hi Naboo56e272

I totally understand your feelings. I have struggled with them myself. I have had several difficult operations on my nose due to recurring and invasive BCCs. I have found the experiences quite difficult to deal with and felt quite vulnerable through that period. One thing I can say confidently is that both society and the medical community play a part in minimising this type of cancer and are not sympathetic enough, so it's probably not just a feeling you have. Unfortunately, I feel these attitudes are unlikely to change. Having a bcc is a major life event and you have every right to be upset and talk about it. You deserve support from society, doctors and those around you. 

Thank you all for your replies. Still feel weird about it, but its my head that needs to get sorted.

I have been keeping track of the bcc with photos since I first spotted it and while its still the same size 2cm, it has gone from raised to flat and has been  itchy. Doing my upmost not to scratch it. Two weeks till the specialist and will show him the photos. I know he had the dermoscope images as well.

I did not think bcc changed quickly. Could the dermoscope be wrong

I don’t think they grow quickly but they can be itchy. 

I’ve found that the feel and appearance of my bcc does change every few weeks now, probably because it’s ulcerated. Mine flips between a pearly pink oval and a scabby, painful mess prone to bleeding. I don’t wish that for you but make sure you tell the specialist it’s itchy so they’re aware.

Thank you . I am keeping nails really short in case I do end up scratching the itch. Mostly end up scratching around.

I am just glad I do not have to wait  the 28 weeks min to see someone. 

Hi Naboo56e272   I know exactly where you are coming from.  I have had 2 nasty bcc's on my face, dealt with by skin flap and skin graft and was fed up with people saying it is "only" skin cancer.  Yes it doesn't normally kill you, but very traumatic having it dealt with and looking very sorry for yourself for weeks whilst it heals.  I don't think the people and gp's realise just how this cancer affects us.  This forum was so good for me to speak to like minded people whilst I was going through treatment.  Please dont feel bad that you feel the way you do, and contact any of us at any time on here and someone will talk you through your worries.  Good Luck and hope all goes well.  I was 73 and never been in hospital in my life until this and not a sun worshipper either.  It has made me paranoid when that yellow thing in the sky is about.xx