I attended a GP appt on Monday 20.5.24 as I had a spot on my cheek that was a little crusty and has been there for almost a year now, maybe longer.
She looked at it and said she couldn't see anything alarming or anything serious that was jumping out at her, but asked me to go back and have some photos taken two days later.
I did that, and the day after, I looked to see what she had written on my notes. It said:
History: attends for review of lesion on face.
Examination: approx 2-3mm diameter, regular border, light brownish colour, uniform, looks like possible early seb keratosis lesion but difficult to tell, has lot of thread veins on cheek so ?could be BCC as well.
Plan: check dermatoscope and review.
happy for me to message if normal.
if any other concern can refer.
I was alarmed when I read those notes, just before going to sleep!
She rang me back the day after I had the photos taken and again told me over the phone that she wasn't concerned, however the images weren't really clear enough for her to be sure, so she would do a referral to
dermatology and that it would be done under the two week referral for suspected skin cancer. (I work in a surgery, so know about these.)
I looked again in my records today and this is what she wrote this time:
History: called re dermatoscope pics.
don't think i can confidently say is AK.
happy for me to refer on to derm 2WW
aware they may be able to review from pics and call her.
Which of the following apply
Please tick
You are suspicious of a diagnosis of Melanoma
You are suspicious of a diagnosis of SCC X
You are suspicious of BCC please refer to Priderm, unless it is obstructing vision or airway
and to my dismay, she has ticked suspected SCC!! She didn't mention this once to me. I am so worried and can't stop feeling nauseous, thinking I now have a serious skin cancer! What if I've left it too late???
