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Suspected Skin Cancer

Frube85
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Hi everyone :-)

 

I hope you're all keeping well.

 

Whilst out in Portugal, roughly 7 weeks ago, I went to see a dermatologist to get my moles and freckles checked. I'm covered from head to toe in them, goes without saying I'm pale, fair haired and blue eyes. I was out in Portugal visiting my parents for an extended break to escape the madness here and just felt I should get them checked with all the extra sun I was getting even though I'm very sensible in the sun these days, unlike my teens and early 20's :-(

 

The dermatologist thought all my moles and freckles were fine which was great news. Whilst there I thought I'd ask about a scaly bit of rough skin I've had on the back of my neck for at least 18 months. My partner had told me repeatedly to get it checked but with having a baby 22 months ago I just kept forgetting. It's not painful and with it being on the back of my neck I just forgot.

 

The dermatologist suspects a basal cell carcinoma. She reassured me that they are the least lethal of the skin cancers and to see my doctor when I got home. I wasnt due to come back from Portugal but just felt so ill with the anxiety and stress I came home early as I was desperate to see my own doctor and get the problem address.

 

I have been referred on the 2 week pathway to a dermatologist for suspected skin cancer and my appointment is this coming Friday.

 

I'm trying to stay positive as I know they rarely spread but because I've had it so long I'm just filled with dread :-( I'm scared it might be something else or worse. My own doctor was unsure.

 

The physical aspects of the stress and anxiety has been horrendous. There isnt a day that goes by where I dont feel sick and light headed. I am getting help with that part of it through my doctors.

 

I just feel very overwhelmed and scared :-(

  • Offline

    I had a Basal Cell Carcinoma removed in May - mine had been there around 5 years, as I'd thought it was a scar from catching myself with hair straighteners. 

     

    It hadn't spread, and they rarely do - but it had grown deeply so I had to have a flap reconstruction - although it was on my forehead so there's not as much spare skin so to speak.

     

    Regardless of how it's the least lethal skin cancer, it's cancer and it's scary - I was in bits when I was first diagnosed.

     

    The good news is that once cut out, that's usually the treatment over. 

  • Offline in reply to LWAFC

    Hey, thank you for sharing your story! Makes me feel a little more positive that theres another out there that had it there for a while and has a success story! :-)

     

    I'm with you on that, cancer is cancer and the word itself just terrifies me! 

     

    I feel stupid for not getting it checked sooner especially when I had my partner nagging me for so long! I've another scaly skin mound on my forehead which is also being checked. That's been there for a while too, not too visible to the eye but similar thing to what's on my neck. I'm pretty good at checking my freckles and moles and whenever I thought of any kind of skin cancer I thought I'd be looking for something horrid looking. Just goes to show doesn't it! 

     

     

    I'm hoping once I know what I'm dealing with the stress and anxiety will subside!

  • Offline in reply to Frube85

    I was the same - I have tons of moles and check them all the time, but I didn't know that different skin cancers could look like they do

     

    Mine was only diagnosed as I went with a line on my fingernail, which as it happens is being biopsied next week - the dermatologist asked about the lesion on my face and told me it was cancer. 

     

  • Offline in reply to LWAFC

    So scary isn't it!

     

    I'm terrified of being told it's something different and what's more, worse than a bcc. My doctor was unsure what it is. The dermatologist I saw in Portugal suspects a bcc, my doctor said it didnt look like a normal bcc to her but wasnt sure, she thought maybe Actinic Keratosis. Just so unnerving not knowing what I'm dealing with and not knowing if its spread anywhere else

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