Could have had BCC for 10 years..?

Hi I saw a dermatologist yesterday after being referred by my go with a dark coloured mole. While I was there I also asked for them to take a look at a rough patch of skin on the side of my forehead which had recently bled after my hairdresser caught it as she was blow drying my hair. Straightaway said it was a BCC & also a smaller one the other side.. My gp had dismissed it as a skin wound that was healing. The mole turned out to be no problem. I have two major concerns about the BCCs - they have been there for I would say possibly up to 10 years if not longer.. always thought they were just areas of dry skin until the one bled . I was told they are slow growing & no one seemed concerned but that’s a long time  Would they have tried to get a sooner appointment if this was a concern? I’ve had several other miles checked out during this time - all ok - without even thinking to get these looked at.. 
. The skin on my nose also feels a bit rough in places & slightly red but I do tend to catch the sun on it however careful I am in summer even wearing spf 50. I am hoping surely this would have been noticed while looking at my forehead if this could possibly also be a BCC but it’s quite a lot of the skin on my nose that is like this. I’m also worried about facial surgery & scarring;  the larger of the two is 17mm (the other around 3mm) so have been given Aldara cream to try to shrink it. Can this ever completely get rid of it without needing surgery? Anyone any experience of this? I have a 6 month wait for surgery but it’s more the length of time I’ve already had these that is worrying me. Sorry for the long post! 

Parents
  • hi ,just wondered how your treatment went. I've been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. and looking back at photos I've had it at least 5 years. thinking it was dry skin 

    im so worried as im reading that leaving it for years it can spread or metastasise 

  • Hi it was absolutely fine, I had a small excision in Feb can barely see the scar now all sorted in around 30 mins & hardly felt anything with the local anaesthetic. I am very careful with the sun on my face now! Please don’t worry too much I think mine was there even longer than yours 

Reply
  • Hi it was absolutely fine, I had a small excision in Feb can barely see the scar now all sorted in around 30 mins & hardly felt anything with the local anaesthetic. I am very careful with the sun on my face now! Please don’t worry too much I think mine was there even longer than yours 

Children
  • oh i am glad u are all OK must have been so worrying. ...its the not knowing thats the worse. im just so worried how long it's been left as u read somany articles if its left more than 2 years

  • Hi Lulu, just to say thank you for starting this thread, and it’s so encouraging to hear your bcc is done and dusted with only a small scar - despite being there a long time.
    Seems that is common for us bcc people … mine’s been at least 3 years but maybe 4 or 5, I did see the GP about it 18 months ago but he said it was dry skin. It is worrying thinking it’s been growing since then, not much on the surface but maybe drilling down. Anyway, so glad you had a good outcome.