Aggressive moderate SCC on side of nose

Hi Pinkypanther

I totally get where you are coming from, and understand your fears. I think its the word cancer, it sticks in your throat and the mere word.

I was mis -diagnosed by my Dr, who advised that the pimple on my nose was nothing to worry about. I walked out of the surgery skipping and jumping that all was OK and got on with my life. I went back about a year later as it had grown slightly, but still looked exactly the same with no crusting or anything like that. This time I was sent off for further inspection, fast forward to 14 months later it was finally taken out and diagnosed as a BCC.

I understand we have had the pandemic but it has been 14 months of worry. It was after the final phone call that I made to the hospital to be told the surgery might not be until after Xmas as the waiting list is so long that my hubby rang a private hospital and asked how much it be to have the surgery done there. He was told the consultation, biopsy, surgery and follow-up appointment would cost £1000.00. I had already had the biopsy by then and my hubby said there no way they would get me in there to have it done again...yes- I am a wimp! 

Luckily the appointment came through a week later, but I wish I had enquired now, never guessing it would take so long. But its done now and my nose is healing nicely.

I have waffled on, but I just wanted to say that I felt the same way as you. Guilty that I was feeling sorry for myself when people are in much worse situations 

But as I said to my friend, I kinda like my nose after 55years, its part of who I am. I am not a terribly vain person, but I still like to look OK when I go out for the evening etc and was terrified what it would look like.

That old saying " Nobody knows what a situation feels like unless they have walked in their shoes" is so, so true, so don't be too hard on yourself for feeling the way you do.

Best wishes

Diane

Thank you so much for your reply and glad you're healing well now it must have been such a worry having to wait so long.

Yes I'm the same, I'm not particularly vain but like to feel  nice when I go out, and worried about what it will look like when its done. The good thing about the pandemic is I can wear a mask out so none really noticed and work have let me WFH so not had to face all the questions and stares.

It has really helped reading your message thank you again xx

Hi Harley123, 

I hope you don't mind me asking (and sorry to but in on the thread), I was also misdiagnosed by my GP too, 15 months, 2 GP visits and my cancer 4 times the size I finally got referred... Did you do anything about the misdiagnosis?

Hello PinkyPanther,

Sorry you didn't get great news, I know exactly what you mean about wishing there was someone with you. I also totally failed to ask questions. I did two things that helped, the first was calling the incredible MacMillan helpline and talking to one of the nurses and the second, on the advice of someone on here, was to call dermatology back and ask them questions. 

Glad to of helped!!

Another thing is not to Google, I did and terrified myself!! As I said though, I am a total, total wimp.

Good luck for Wednesday, write down any questions that you want to ask the surgeon.

Best wishes

Diane

Hi,

No, I didn't do anything about being misdiagnosed. But like you, it had grown in size and I am sure if I had been seen earlier I wouldn't of needed such a big incision and consequent, skin graph.

I do feel bitter about it, and beat myself up for not insisting that I be referred to see a consultant, but you trust what you are being told. Plus, I hadn't even heard of BCC's or SCC's before and didn't know how dangerous there was if left untreated.

I have been told that they are hard to diagnose,  but that was by another surgeon after I had told him that I had been misdiagnosed...so who knows!

Do you feel their is anything that we could do?

Best wishes

Diane

Hi Pinkypanther

I had an SCC on my face too. Sounds very similar in development to yours. Started last December like a tiny spot which, of course, I picked at a bit. Finally went to the GP in June as it had started to grow a bit, crust and ooze. In the three weeks between the GP visit and seeing the dermatologist it grew massively - like a giant oozing volcano. Horrifying really. Thank goodness we were in lockdown and I wasn’t having to stand in front of classes of teenagers (I’m a teacher)

Mine was on my cheek which is slightly easier to deal with cosmetically than on the nose but if you want to see how mine has healed, I have put some links to my Instagram on my profile. I know when I was facing surgery, I was googling for pics so if it helps I’m happy to put my big face out there! 

Hope it works out well for you.

Jules x

Thankyou willbgive that a go I felt like an absolute space cadet walking out of there it was bizarre

Thanks again

Yes I think I'd had a sneaky peek after reading some of your posts, it looks amazing ,so glad its healing well for you, it does help so much to see recovery pics especially with it being on the face thank you for sharing and thank you for reply

Hi Diane, 

I have been really upset and angry about the delay, I noticed my cancer very quickly and it was tiny. I have been very anxious and I think the delay has really made that worse. Plus it has left me with so little trust in GPs, I completely believed them and they were wrong. I went to the GP because it looked like pictures of cancer and I tick every box for high risk, I just don't understand why I wasn't referred, I wish I had persisted. 

I have complained to the GP practice manager and they are doing an investigation. I am not sure how much it will help but I think the GPs I saw need re-educating, especially as the second one had students in the appointment she was training.

I am also thinking about whether to take legal action. I spoke to a solicitor who said there is definitely a case but I don't know if that is the route I want to go down. I have never agreed with it before but I guess I will see how my surgery goes and what the result is. In the meantime my whole family is suffering as we all have to self isolate, this could have been over and done with before anyone even considered a global pandemic.