Hi,

I know how worrying this will be but please be assured that BCCs rarely grow beneath the skin's surface and that's why clinicians don't treat them as urgently as melanoma. If left over a long period they can grow larger on the surface of the skin and look unsightly but they are not usually invasive. 

Unfortunately you will be waiting a few months for a dermatology appointment due to Covid backlog. Pre Covid an appointment would usually take about 6 weeks but now it's many more. The only way you can foreshorten the wait is to pay privately for a referral appointment but it will still take a few weeks. If you do this and they suggest it's removal for biopsy, you can ask to be transferred back under the care of the NHS (if you can't afford further private care). 

My dad has had 2 BCC removed from his face (one had been there for a few years). That was 10 years ago and he's been fine. My sister-in-law also had one removed from her back 4 years ago without any further problems.

Try not to forward think it too much and be prepared for a wait. You can always contact dermatology once they've received the GP referral and say you are happy to take a last minute cancellation if one becomes available then you won't be waiting as long. 

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi,

I know how worrying this will be but please be assured that BCCs rarely grow beneath the skin's surface and that's why clinicians don't treat them as urgently as melanoma. If left over a long period they can grow larger on the surface of the skin and look unsightly but they are not usually invasive. 

Unfortunately you will be waiting a few months for a dermatology appointment due to Covid backlog. Pre Covid an appointment would usually take about 6 weeks but now it's many more. The only way you can foreshorten the wait is to pay privately for a referral appointment but it will still take a few weeks. If you do this and they suggest it's removal for biopsy, you can ask to be transferred back under the care of the NHS (if you can't afford further private care). 

My dad has had 2 BCC removed from his face (one had been there for a few years). That was 10 years ago and he's been fine. My sister-in-law also had one removed from her back 4 years ago without any further problems.

Try not to forward think it too much and be prepared for a wait. You can always contact dermatology once they've received the GP referral and say you are happy to take a last minute cancellation if one becomes available then you won't be waiting as long. 

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thanks Angie, I really appreciate this and it's very reassuring. I'm glad your family members had theirs treated successfully.

I think that I will look into a private referral for this initial checks, just to speed up the process. But I will just try to keep positive that even if it is a bcc, hopefully it won't have spread -especially considering on the surface it is tiny and hasn't changed over the many years it's been there. I have spent the last hour scrolling back through old photos and zooming in on my forehead!

I will update this post when I find out more.