Hi LeonaG,

I totally understand about your anxiety as finding a lump can be very frightening. The wait for results seems like a lifetime and your anxiety mounts up. 

Waiting for results seems like an eternity but they do come in the end. Coping isn't easy and I cant give you any hard fast rules on how to do it. I found that getting out and walking the dog helped me.

I went through the same thought process as you with finding extra lump, and it's good to tell your care team just in case.

Do you have a dedicated care nurse that you can contact. Mine was very helpful with helping me with any issues that I had.

I hope that this helps you.

Hi Leona,

The waiting for results is the hardest part of all this and you have to find something that helps get you through it like Jban suggests. A walk in the countryside, yoga, meditation, mindfulness are all good calming & coping strategies. 

If the biopsy shows it's Basal Cell don't panic. Of the 3 types of skin cancer that one is the easiest to treat & the treatment is always successful. If left in situ BCC may spread on the skin & not look very pleasant, however it never grows internally so it isn't life threatening. The only thing to remember is that, once diagnosed with a BCC it means there is a chance that you may develop another one in the future. This isn't because it's held in the skins cells but because it's caused by UV damage &, if you've suffered UV damage to an area of the skin it may return close by because that's also damaged. My dad had a BCC removed from his forehead 11 years ago. Two years ago he had another removed from his temple. He's fine but the sun damage to his face means he may, one day, get another one! So it's very important from now on that you are careful to cover your head when out in the sun & that you wear sunscreen on the face & sunglasses.

With regards to the sore on your ear, you could either contact the consultant now (just in case you get your results in the post & don't get to see him face to face) or you can wait & see if the results are a face to face appointment, in which case you can show them your ear then.

Good luck - I hope you aren't waiting too long and that your results bring good news & your ear turns out to be fine too. Please let us know how you get on,

Angie (melanoma patient)

Thank you for the replies Jban and Angie, very grateful.

I don't have a care nurse to contact at this point. 

I worked through this whole COVID chaos and was then furloughed on the cut off date 2 weeks ago. I have plenty of training to do which is good, but being off means more head space to worry! I have not told my employer about possibly having cancer, makes it too real. I have also played it down to family as I don't want them to worry too.

I have done a course on mindfulness before, but the worry is there constantly and is driving me nuts! I have a lovely dog which I enjoy taking out, but now worried about exposing myself to the sun. I can't concentrate on books/tv, my unruly mind continues to regurgitate what ifs. Angie, your comments regarding it being the easiest to treat are reassuring, hoping it's not something else.

x

Hi Leona 

I totally understand your anxiety I am going through the same thing at the moment. I am coming up to the 2.week mark and it's seems to get harder as the days go on.

It's great advice given by Jason and Angie, we just need to hang in there and wait until the day comes.

I've also got a lovely doggy who is a great companion aswell as moments of laughter

Have you had any updates yet?

L x