Diagnosed today with Basal Cell Carcinoma on the nose and feeling worried.

I’ve gone and done what we would tell any friend not to do and that’s consult doctor Google. When you get a diagnosis, you want to find answers to your queries but it really hasn’t helped my nerves. I have a follow up appointment next week where the doctor will be discussing treatment. 
I feel like my worry has been split in 2. There is the C word no one wants to hear and then I’m equally worried about what treatment I will need. I know it’s incredibly vain of me but I’m worried about how I’m going to look once they’ve cut it out. You can’t hide you nose! 

Parents
  • I had basal cell removed from my nose a year ago. The surgeon went in three times, and the Moh’s surgery took about 6 hours for my nose. I have a big scar that is fading but I can hide it with make up and you can’t tell at all if I wear glasses. It’s hard when it’s your face- I’ve had a lot of skin cancer and hopefully won’t get anymore on my face. I would do the Moh’s surgery if you can and then you will know they got it all. I wore scar pads for about 6 months after the stitches were out and skin healed. My scar is down my entire nose and zig-zags to the side. Hopefully you will have a small scar. Good Luck!

  •   Thank you for your comment. It’s so encouraging to hear about how well your scar is recovering. I wake up every night in a cold sweat worrying about how I’m going to look after the surgery. I’m almost too embarrassed to admit it as I know my priority should be about removing the cancer.

     Any tips and advice on looking after the scar are truly appreciated. Thank you 

  • Good Luck with your surgery! The Moh’s surgeon told me to start using scar pads 2-3 weeks after the surgery after stitches were out and everything else was healed - I had around 25 stitches down my nose. The scar pads kept the area moist for healing. I slept with them daily for months after the surgery. I bought a scar-pad roll and cut pieces off to fit the scar. I can cover with make-up now and there’s one area that is still pink but’s not noticeable with make-up and glasses. Hopefully yours will be small. My mom had a small one removed on her nose that they only went in once and you can’t see the scar at all.

  • That’s really useful information  , thank you. It’s good to have someone who’s been through it providing reassurance. I didn’t ask how many stitches I’m likely to have.

    I try to make a list of questions before each appointment, but it seems to go down a different path than I expect. So then my pre-set questions aren’t necessarily relevant.

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  • That’s really useful information  , thank you. It’s good to have someone who’s been through it providing reassurance. I didn’t ask how many stitches I’m likely to have.

    I try to make a list of questions before each appointment, but it seems to go down a different path than I expect. So then my pre-set questions aren’t necessarily relevant.

Children
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