Hi Kipper

You made a good decision to go private and skip the long wait. Possibly the best money you will ever spend. cutaneous SCCs can grow very quickly and although they rarely spread they very occasionally do. In a few weeks time you will get to know if the lesion was completely removed with clear margins both at the edges and at depth. Meanwhile keep your dressing dry and follow the skin gaft care instructions rigorously. 

You likely have other areas of sun damaged skin so Protect your skin from UV light avoid midday sun wear hat suncream long sleeves etc. not just on holiday. UV forecast 3 and above you are at risk. Today in UK that is  between 10am and 4pm .with max UV6. In Jun July it can get to UV8. Hoping your op is 100% successful

Ed

Hi Farmer Ed,

Thank you for your reply. The plastic surgeon did say I might need more surgery.  But praying all will be ok.

I will definitely take your advice, keep covered up and I didn't know about the UV forecast, in the uk, so you have been very helpful. 

Kipper

The UK met office provides UV forecasts for your region and abroad each day. 

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

There is some evidence from clinical trials in Australia that show that taking a daily supplement of viamin B3 Nicotinamide can reduce further incidences of skin cancer by 23%.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1506197

For a few pence a day worth taking. 

It is also probably worth taking high dose vitamin D3 to offset that not being obtained from sunlight if you are covering up your skin for protection. 

Ive been living with cSCC for over 30 years. But around 10 years ago it metastasised and now living with advanced cancer. One of the small percentage of unlucky patients. So I think any advantage you can give yourself is worth taking.

Ed

1. I am sorry to be reading this Ed, but yet again, thank you for your advice?, I take vitamin D3, with K2, but will look into the B3, thank you again. 

Kipper

So sorry to be reading this Ed, and wishing you well.

But thank you again for the advice, I take vitamin D3 with K every day, but will now be taking the B3.

Hope your weekend is good. 

HI Dawn

I have a similar history of sun exposure living  abroad as a child and working as an adult. Where sun light is much stronger often UV 13÷. Take some comfort in that BCCs are slow growing and seldom ever spread. However they are very concerning to have. If you have the means look into getting it removed privately. Its still a long wait but not 10 months as at my local NHS. Ed

Thanks Ed, yes I will look into gping private. It goes against the grain for me to be honest, as I believe in the NHS as a concept. I don't like the idea that quality of treatment should depend on the size of your purse. But so it seems to be. Someone close to me had a serious stage 3 cancer a few years back and found that there were endless delays with NHS treatment. She was was then able to sign on to private insurance through her employer, despite it being a pre-existing condition. She found that it was suddenly much easier and faster to get the many tests and treatments required, which is sad.Thanks again for your support and for sharing your experience and knowledge.

Hi Kipper, I'm glad you were able to get your cancer seen to relatively quickly. I really hope it hasn't spread. Can they discern that based on testing the margins where they excised your lesion? When will they let you know? 

Hi Dawn, I agree, we shouldn't really have to go private.   I waited 6 weeks to see a Nhs dermatologist. then referred on 2 week urgent pathway for plastics.

The nhs couldn't give me an appointment date, and I was very anxious, said there was a waiting list and more likely 3 weeks for 1st consultation. 

Hence looking into going private, same surgeon as Nhs, and she even chased Nhs for me. I got the consultation paid from medicash from work, so a no brainer really.  Surgery private less than a week. 

My growth was very big, and more surgery if not all removed. I just wanted it out, but now back with Nhs as well, if more treatment needed. I will get biopsy results in two weeks. 

Praying all ok. If you can get your appointment in the next couple of weeks, you should be fine, but keep chasing.  I chased everyday and eventually complained to Pals.   The nhs and all doctors, nurses are amazing, but unfortunately very short staffed .

Let me know how you get on