Hi Hwl, and thank you for your post.

I am sorry to learn that you are having symptoms that are causing you concern.

Your referral is called an urgent suspected cancer referral. You may have previously heard it be called a ‘two-week wait referral’ (2ww). This referral is to investigate your symptoms and find out what is wrong, and if it could be cancer.  Many of these referrals turn out not to be cancer.

I can understand you feeling anxious waiting to find the cause of your symptoms.   Anxiety UK has a good website with helpful tips on how to deal with anxiety in these situations. 

I hope this information helps and that everything will be okay for you. This from our website on referral to skin cancer specialists might be useful.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support. You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040, and the lines are open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards

Tina

Hi , I symapthise with you ....  I have also recently been fast tracked for lesions on my right cheek which do not seem to be healing.  My skin is extremely dry in anycase but this can be itchy and flaking and sometimes red and sore.  

I have got my appointment on Tuesday with a dermatologist, so fingers crossed it is nothing serious to worry about,  but I am STILL WORRIED !! 

Hello and thank you for your further post,

I can appreciate this has been a worrying time for you.

Actinic Keratosis usually is a noncancerous skin condition, but there is a small chance it can turn into cancer, which is why it needs to be treated.

The exam you had involved using a dermatoscope, this is a handheld instrument that uses a magnifying glass to look at abnormal areas closely. It sounds like there was no cancer was seen and that the area was actinic in appearance.

It is best to follow the doctor's instructions for the cream. Everyone is treated individually, and there will be a reason why the dermatologist prescribed for you to have it once a day.

If you are finding that the cream is not effective then the doctor can review your situation and can change the prescription if necessary.

I hope this is helpful, please feel free to come back to us with further questions,

Jemma

thank you for replying,  I think I am more reassured now hearing from you.  I was tempted to want to use the cream twice a day, but hopefully once a day application will work. tbh, the lesion is barely visible and had the GP not picked it up and seen that it was not healing I doubt anything further would have happened.  

I am also using vaseline as I find this helps to soothe the are, hope that is ok and then I will use the prescribed cream once at night time . 

thank you again for your help, much appreciated. 

7 days and I feel as if my face is on fire !!  Really red reaction and burning,  I have a horrible feeling some of the cream might have spread on to other areas as well.

I also have rosacea so am trying to apply that on the red areas with the Efudix on the other,  it's really very very difficult.  I am not sure about using any other creams as will this also have a bad reaction. 

I found a little vaseline has helped somewhat.  Wonder if I should see the GP just to check I am applying it ok ? 

HI skygirl

Looks like you are having a good reaction to Efudix which means it is working well and will get rid of the damaged skin cells. It doesnt matter if you spread it a bit outside the area as it will onlyy affect damaged skin. As it is on your face it is best to apply it in the morning as doing so at night risks getting it on your pillow then onto your eyelids and eyes which is miserable. One week down three to go well done. Make sure you finish the course of treatment. Ask your do tor about using hydrocortisone cream to reeduce the inflamation I found it worked for me.

Ed

thanks it actually says on the prescription to apply at night time, I am sure to do this at least 3/4 hours before bedtime . 

As I am using cream for rosacea as well I need to leave a good time spell in between so atm am using he rosacea cream am and Efudix pm. 

I also do find that vaseline soothes the area. 

Hello Skygirl and thanks for getting back to us again.

It is difficult for the nurses to give an opinion without being able to see the area involved.

The British Association of Dermatology have produced some useful information on Efudix which you might find helpful to look at.

It might be a good idea to get in touch with your doctor to let them know about your reaction to the cream.

I do hope that it settles down soon.

All the best,

Catherine

Hi, my doctor has referred me to a dermatologist at my local hospital for a possible BCC and have been told it’s a year waiting list. I totally get why you are worried it’s never off my mind

That's bad ...... surely if he suspects BCC you should be fast tracked.  2 week waiting list. ? That as I understand it is the NHS policy for suspected cancers. 

Apparently not.  I went back to my doctor to say I was concerned but he said dermatologist said it wasn’t urgent.  My doctor said if it changes or you start to lose weight then come back to me

HI Billy

Waiting times of up to a year to see a dermatologist are common. They are innundated with requests for many conditions other than cancers. Fortunately BCC are very slow growing superficial cancers. Keep observing it for changes in size etc. and let GP know. Meanwhile protect your skin from sun.

Ed

HI Billy

Waiting times of up to a year to see a dermatologist are common. They are innundated with requests for many conditions other than cancers. Fortunately BCC are very slow growing superficial cancers. Keep observing it for changes in size etc. and let GP know. Meanwhile protect your skin from sun.

Ed

Thank you