Hi
I visited my GP last September with a couple of wounds that never seemed to heal, and bumps on my scalp. I was referred to a Dermatologist, but couldn't get an appointment till the beginning of December. At that appointment, I was told the lumps looked like BCC's. A punch biopsy was done, then 6 more at the beginning of January, which confirmed this. I have been waiting for treatment since, but this week, I had a telephone conversation with a Consultant re possible radiation treatment. He said that it would take about 6 weeks Monday to Friday, and explained they would make a mask, and why it was needed. He also said that another side effect was tiredness. He followed this up by saying that my hair would never grow back in places, and my head would be red, as if sunburnt due to the radiation for a while. The worst and most scary thing, was when he said that because the radiation might affect the brain, my ability to concentrate might be affected. I may no longer be able to concentrate on a book, follow something on TV etc. I found this really worrying for the future, I drive, and you need to concentrate to do that and many other things in everyday life. I asked if there was an alternative, so now I am waiting for an appointment to speak to someone about possible surgery. I was wondering if anyone else has faced or is facing loss of concentration through radiation to the head. Any information/advice would be appreciated. I have 3 ulcerated wounds, and 1 very large cancer on my head, so I have a lot of treatment ahead of me, and I want to make sure I choose the best treatment for me, but to be told you may have problems for the rest of your life is really scary. I'm trying to be positive, but this has really worried me. Thank you.
Hi and a very warm welcome to the online community
I'd held back from replying to you as I haven't had BCCs or had radiation therapy. My skin cancer was a melanoma removed with surgery.
My first thought, when reading about the side effects that the consultant said would happen, was did he say this would definitely happen or was he just warning you what might happen. I ask because they have to tell you about all possible side effects that a treatment can cause but it doesn't mean you'll get them.
I've had a look in the group to see if there are any recent threads where people are talking about having radiation therapy and found this one from which you might like to take a look at. As it's only a couple of months old hopefully dawn53 will still be in this group and will be able to tell you how she got on. I've also 'tagged' her into my reply to you and hope she'll reply telling you about her experience.
I have also found this information for you from BAD (British Association of Dermatologists) on radiotherapy for skin cancer which you might find helpful to read.
When you have a minute, it would be really useful if you could pop something about your journey so far into your profile as it really helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Edit 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.
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"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi
I'm glad the information I linked you to has been helpful and hopefully dawn53 will respond to you as there's nothing like speaking to someone who has been there and got the T-shirt to help you understand what might happen.
Thanks very much for completing your profile as it will really help others when replying to you and potentially others coming along in the future looking for information on radiation treatment for BCC.
I see from your profile that your consultant did say that these things would happen, so not just warning you of what might happen, so I can completely understand why you're looking to see if there may be alternative treatments that are suitable for you. This link will take you to a leaflet from BAD on BCC and it's treatment.
You'll notice that it says that the preferred form of treatment is surgery but that it "depends on the site and size of the BCC, the condition of the surrounding skin and number of BCC to be treated". I'm wondering if that is why radiation treatment has been offered to you.
Please keep in touch with how both your consultations and treatment progress as it'll be really useful for others in the future, plus we all want to hear how you get on.
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"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
