what to expect with a biopsy on your scalp?

Hi GBear

I really hope this lesion on your head turns out to be a benign condition.

I've hung back from replying as I haven't had a lesion removed from my scalp. However, looking around the group I can see that phenom has recently posted about waiting to have a BCC removed from their head in this thread. This thread is from someone who's husband has already had a biopsy to remove a lesion from their scalp so they might be able to tell you more about the process involved.

When I've had lesions removed it's always been under a local anaesthetic. The anaesthetic injections do sting but after that I wasn't aware of what was going on, maybe a slight tugging feeling when being sewn back up. In the past stitches had to be removed but the last twice they were dissolvable which in my mind is far better. You should be given instructions on how to care for the wound and also a contact number to phone if you haven't had the results in the time you've been told.

As for how long it can take for results to come back that all depends on how busy the pathology labs are in your area of the country. Five years ago my results took 6 weeks but last year they only took 3. The average wait seems to be about 4 weeks. You might also want to ask how you'll get the results as different hospitals have different protocols. 

I didn't do anything in particular to prepare for surgery except to minimise contact with others so as not to delay surgery if I came into contact with covid.

x

Thanks latchbrook will take a look. 

hi GBear I have been diagnosed by visual dermoscopy with a scalp basal cell carcinoma.  I haven't had a biopsy yet as they are certain it is cancer and it needs to be removed, so I am hoping to go straight to surgery with biopsy done once it has all been cut out.  My BCC used to disappear and come back in the early months but has slowly got bigger and now is a permanent scab.  Good luck with the biopsy - as you say, definitely better to face it and deal with it.

Hi GBear.  So sorry that you are having a scalp biopsy.  My husband was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the scalp in July last year.  He had the tumor removed and biopsy at the same time.  He had a local anasethic and was conscious throughout the operation.  He didn't feel a thing.  He had to wait a little while to get results which confirmed he had poorly differentiated squamous cell cancer.  

The only issue he has was pain.  The hospital did not perscribe strong pain killers.  He was in terrible pain the next day and when I called our surgery I was told I would have to go back to the hospital to get stronger painkillers.  The hospital is over an hours' drive away.  Make sure you ask for the painkillers.

thank you everyone for your replies they are very much appreciated. At the moment I am having intermittent login issues so I apologies for the delay in replying. I will definitely look at pain relief thank you. I am still awaiting a date for it, hopefully not too long.