Hello and thanks for posting

I appreciate waiting any length of time to be treated is stressful. Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are the most common type of skin cancer that typically grow very slowly, rarely spreads, and are rarely serious.

Treatment to remove a BCC isn't regarded as urgent (we have information about referrals to a skin cancer specialist on our website) and people often have to wait a few months or more for treatment. 

You may want to talk this through with your GP. Hopefully, they will be able to reassure you that BCC's generally take years to develop in most people. So waiting a few months is unlikely to do any harm.

There is always the option of going private. I'm afraid I don't know how much it would cost. But in most hospitals now there is a Private Patient's Officer who may be able to advise on this further. The Private Health website has information about private hospitals in the UK and may also be able to give you some ideas.

You have posted on the ask the nurses section of the forum but I see you are asking for other users experience. Anyone is welcome to reply on here but you may get more response from others who may be or have gone through similar by posting in a different section of the forum as well as here.

I hope you know more soon.  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 till 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Celene

Hi hazel

Basal cell skin cancers are very slow growing and seldom spread. The wait time for surgery at our local NHS can be 6 to 10 months. Even going private can be over 4 months. A simple excision costs around £1600 in my location. Much more if skin graft is involved or complicated aftercare. 

You are at increased risk of getting more of these BCC as you likely to have other areas of sun damaged skin. So protect your skin hats clothing factor 50 suncream everyday on exposed skin avoid midday sun and do not sunbathe. Wishing you a good outcpme with your treatment.

Ed

Hi again Hazel

Yes I was diagnosed with a BCC 30 odd years ago and several more since. All the BCCs were successfully removed with minor surgery under local anaesthetic none spread. you can ask for a sedative if you are really anxious. The subsequent BCCs were not from the original but because I have extensive sun damage to skin all over my body from living in tropical countries as a child and adult. If you look after your skin you may not get any more.

Sadly I have since had a more serious skin cancer which has metastasised. But you are very unlikely to get this if you are looking after your skin.

Ed

Oh Ed, I'm so sorry to hear of your more recent diagnosis. What have they diagnosed?

 I must say, that with you having surgery 30 years ago for BCC, it does give me hope that mine hasn't spread. I remember as a child, over 60 years ago, going on holiday with a school friend and getting sun burned so badly, I blistered and had hallucinations. Years ago, it wasn't really publicised that blue eyed, blonde and fair skin was looking for issues later in life. 

I've researched a lot about sun cream and it's not good and the toxicity can cause issues too. I'm now researching organic prevention. The suns rays seems stronger too.

I hope they can help you with your current situation. There seems to be so many more options these days.