I was recently told by my doctor that a small growth on my forehead could be a BCC - looking into it, it matches the description exactly. A small, shiny, pearly initially skin-coloured but now pink/reddish bump on my forehead that’s grown slowly over a long period of time. When I used to sleep with an eye mask that brushed up against it, I’d often wake up with it bleeding, and then it would crust over, sometimes there’d be pus. A couple of times on these occasions I accidentally lopped it off completely and then it grew back. As it’s grown bigger small red blood vessels have appeared in it.

My doctor told me not to worry as they are very unlikely to spread and are easily removed. However, I’m scared that in my case it might be different for a number of reasons.

Firstly, looking back at old photos I can see it’s been visible longer than I thought, it was just so small initially I never would’ve noticed it (looked just like a freckle) - it’s been visible for around 2 years. (To be clear, I did get it checked when I first noticed it but doctor then said it was a granuloma.)

I’ve also been immunocompromised the past few years due to suffering with Long Covid, and I’m concerned that means it might have spread faster than it would in someone with a properly functioning immune system. (I’m only 30 and not someone who spends tons of time in the sun so I suspect being immunocompromised is the reason it’s developed in the first place).

Third, it’s over 1mm thick (Ie raised) and not far off 2mm. My understanding is that 2mm thick is considered ‘advanced’ and needs staging. Since the whole thing has been lopped off twice and then grown back, I’m assuming that it will have grown much more than that below the surface, where it will have been left to grow undisturbed all this time. (For context, it’s about 3mm wide)

The last thing is I have a history of facial numbness on the left side (which is where the growth is). Historically I got this with migraines and it started being there all the time. (Had brain MRI at the time which showed nothing). It’s been more pronounced these past couple years but I didn’t think anything of it, especially as Long Covid has caused intermittent numbness to pop up all over the place. But it is constant in the face and all down the left side. It’s relatively mild but noticeable. So now I’m terrified that this could be a result of the cancer having spread to a nerve. 

I’m trying to be positive and tell myself it’s probably okay but I just don’t know. The doctor said it could be months before I get to see a dermatologist and I’m scared it’s going to do more damage in that time. 

Has anyone else had a BCC that’s been left untreated for years ? Anyone else immunocompromised? Anyone experienced facial numbness? What has your experience been?

Any advice, personal experiences or words of comfort would be greatly appreciated. Thanks x