Hi all,
3 days ago was diagnosed with a BCC on my forehead. It completely caught me off guard because I naively didn't even consider that it could be anything cancerous (my doctor and the dermatologist he referred me to both said it was an unpigmented mole). I am booked in for a full body check up and Mohs surgery in the next couple of months. I also need to see an oncologist because I was told that it's a little unusual at my age (I've just turned 21) to rule out if anything else is going wrong, and have various existing auto immune and skin conditions (namely psoriasis and coeliac disease).
I'm writing because I'm really struggling with telling people, and people's reactions to it (apart from my family and a couple of friends who have been great). I've had the "Thank god its not something more serious! That's great news!", "Oh I really need to get my moles checked too now", "It's not really cancer though" and "This is actually really useful for me because now I won't sunbathe as much". I don't know if its just that maybe the people around me aren't used to reacting to this kind of thing because we're all young, but am feeling pretty gutted. I know how much worse it could be and of course I'm over the moon that this growth wasn't any more serious, but feel really sad about it nevertheless, and of course worried because I haven't yet had the rest of my body looked at.
While it's the best case scenario out of a series of bad scenarios, I'd obviously rather there be no scenario at all and find it really diminishing when people bat it away and trivialise it. Really hit a wall with it today when I went to see a tutor at university to explain I may have to miss some classes for further testing and treatment, and half way through he said 'oh I thought you meant melanoma- well at least you don't need chemo etc, if its just a BCC its no problem'. Was pretty gutted with this reaction.
I have felt like many people in their reactions have immediately made my experience their experience, just because everyone has moles. Everyone has moles, but not everyone encounters difficulty with them.
I was wondering if anyone else has had difficult reactions from people, and how they've dealt with it. It makes me really disinclined to open up to people, and sort of need to talk about it as its such a recent diagnosis. Even within 2 days I've found myself even convincing myself that they're right, it's not really cancer, and therefore thinking I have no right to be worried or upset about it.
Hi all
had my stitches out yesterday, must say I am feeling very positive with the result , one week since surgery
lynne x
Last photo , I am back to work tomorrow, I had my op two weeks ago tomorrow .
onwards and upwards
Lynne x
Hello Lynne - OMG it looks amazing. I can’t believe how it has healed, it hardly shows!
Rebecca x
Thanks Rebecca
I hope that people who are in the same situation we have been in will come across this thread and it will hopefully put them at ease
believe me I am by no means back to ‘normal ‘ and don’t want people to think I have sailed through it with no feelings , but I want people to see that things may not be as bad as they envisioned,
lynne
Lynne you look fantastic! I can’t believe how well it’s healed. It literally looks like a scratch! How are you feeling? Xx
Chilly
im ok , back to work tomorrow so quite nervous about that ,
how are you x
lynne
Another hurdle for you to achieve! Everything is hurdles! I’m sure you’ll be fine & make the most of sympathy if it’s offered.
Im ok ... just existing from day to day. Have my biopsy a week today so on countdown now ... then the next wait for Mohs surgery.
Looking forward to being in your position! Good luck tomorrow xx
This thread is being marked for retention by the moderator, as some members are still finding this useful.
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2026 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007