Hi Ang1234,

Every skin cancer patient I know will understand your frustration at no one understanding the diagnosis and being there for you. I wish I had a £ for every time I've heard ' Oh they'll just cut it out and you will be fine.' A diagnosis with any type of cancer messes with your head and sometimes the mental effects are worse than the physical. This is where most skin cancer patients find it's best to learn all they can about the type of cancer they have been diagnosed with and use it to educate their friends and family so they will understand you need support and someone to talk to.

Having said all that, can I try and allay your fear of dying from skin cancer in the future. BCC is very treatable and is rarely fatal because it doesn't spread to internal organs like other cancers. Please don't dwell on this thought as it will cause you stress for no reason. Instead, try to use this as a chance to reassess how to care for yourself in the sun as this is what has caused the BCCs. By practicing good sun care (using a high  SPF sunscreen and keeping out of the midday sun) you will protect yourself from any further skin cancer problems. I hope the surgeon did a neat job and your scars will face in time. Don't let it scar you emotionally  - educate those around you and look after yourself.

Best wishes

Angie (Melanoma patient)

Angie, thank you for your kind response, you have instantly made me feel better, I will take your advise, I was silly as a teenager and used sunbeds and no sunscreen on hot days, I have 2 beautiful boys I need to be around for and will educate them too of the dangers of the sun, it's heartbreaking to think of the worst all the time which I have been doing over and over in my head, but your right I need to look forward, thank myself lucky and educate myself and others. Thank you again for writing back just what I needed xxx. P S scars won't be too bad apparently but hay ho if they are I'll just look at my boys and remember how lucky I am xx thanks again this means alot x

Hi Angie, you are most certainly not alone. I have one on the side of my face and I'm driving myself mad with all the over thinking I'm doing!! I am absolutely petrified of the thought of having it removed. I'm seeing the plastic surgeon on the 15th Jan then the biopsy a week later. I hope you are feeling better. Take care Emma xx

Hi Emma, 

I had mine removed and 2 on my arm removed and all is fine now thank god, it left a small circle shape on my chin which is now just a tiny line that I can barley see, it's so worrying when you first find out but once it's gone you will feel so much better, the biopsy was enough to remove all three of mine so no further treatment was required, this may be the same for you fingers crossed, please let me know how how you get on and good luck x x x x

Ah that's good news glad it all went well. I need to do something to stop it bleeding during the night. When I wake up in the morning it's caked in blood!! Thank you so much I'll let you know xxx

Have you tried Vaseline xxx or tissue stuck to it like a man does with a shaving accident xxx 

I hadn't thought of Vaseline I'll give that a go tonight thank you xxx

No problem good luck xxx