Check your skin

[Northerner]

About 5 years ago I had a BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) removed from my chest. It's a very common and treatable thing and the offending section of skin was surgically removed. I'd actually been aware of it for about 10 years, but it just looked a bit like the sort of blemish that is due to an old bugbite that sometimes leaves a bit of a mark behind. About a month before my Dad told me that he had had a BCC diagnosed and as he described it, it got me wondering, so I got it checked out. All gone now, just a bit of a scar 🙂

I'd noticed over the summer that I had something bit similar to the previous blemish on my arm so I got an appointment with a dermatologist. I was diagnosed with a patch of pre-cancerous cells - very small in area, in fact we both struggled at first to identify it! He was impressed that I'd noticed it, but that was really down to where it was - in plain sight - and the fact it resembled my previous experience. It's not something that is particularly serious, but it may be if left untreated. He checked out the rest of me and found nothing else of concern, however, if it had been somewhere out of sight e.g. on my back, then I would probably have missed it for many more years.

I've been given a cream which is basically chemo-cream and kills off the pre-cancerous cells, so hopefully it will be all gone in a few weeks, although he did warn me that it would turn 'sore, inflamed and angry' and that this was perfectly natural! 😱 When I read the leaflet it warned that it shouldn't be used on an area of skin greater than 9 inches by 9 inches, which it helpfully described as 'about the size of a dinner plate' - so given that mine is about 0.3 inches in diameter, I think I should be OK! 🙂

All this wittering on is to make people aware of any changes on their skin so they can be treated promptly and not lead to anything nasty 🙂

 

[Amigo]

About 5 years ago I had a BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) removed from my chest. It's a very common and treatable thing and the offending section of skin was surgically removed. I'd actually been aware of it for about 10 years, but it just looked a bit like the sort of blemish that is due to an old bugbite that sometimes leaves a bit of a mark behind. About a month before my Dad told me that he had had a BCC diagnosed and as he described it, it got me wondering, so I got it checked out. All gone now, just a bit of a scar 🙂

I'd noticed over the summer that I had something bit similar to the previous blemish on my arm so I got an appointment with a dermatologist. I was diagnosed with a patch of pre-cancerous cells - very small in area, in fact we both struggled at first to identify it! He was impressed that I'd noticed it, but that was really down to where it was - in plain sight - and the fact it resembled my previous experience. It's not something that is particularly serious, but it may be if left untreated. He checked out the rest of me and found nothing else of concern, however, if it had been somewhere out of sight e.g. on my back, then I would probably have missed it for many more years.

I've been given a cream which is basically chemo-cream and kills off the pre-cancerous cells, so hopefully it will be all gone in a few weeks, although he did warn me that it would turn 'sore, inflamed and angry' and that this was perfectly natural! 😱 When I read the leaflet it warned that it shouldn't be used on an area of skin greater than 9 inches by 9 inches, which it helpfully described as 'about the size of a dinner plate' - so given that mine is about 0.3 inches in diameter, I think I should be OK! 🙂

All this wittering on is to make people aware of any changes on their skin so they can be treated promptly and not lead to anything nasty 🙂

That’s a very good warning northerner and skin cancer is often overlooked and underestimated. My close friend has just lost his sister to malignant melanoma which is the worst and most invasive form of skin cancer.

Just under 3 yrs ago I went to the GP with what was quite an insignificant looking mole I’d had for years but my immune compromisation makes me 8-10 times more susceptible to skin cancer due to immune dysregulation.
It was very slightly darker but looked ‘unremarkable’. I saw a brilliant Dermatologist and it was removed in its entirety because many doctors no longer favour punch biopsies.
I was shocked and horrified to be told a couple of weeks later that it was a malignant melanoma and a much larger region needed to be excised around it. As the previous scar was still sore, it was pretty uncomfortable to have it extended under local anaesthetic. Fortunately it hadn’t spread into my lymph nodes and I didn’t require a sentinel node biopsy. It’s left quite a scar though on my back.

I know I’m at greater risk because of my condition but I’ve never been a sun worshipper, never used a sun bed but this melanoma was in an area I’d been burned by the sun in my late teens. Apparently it can alter the DNA and make skin cancer more likely in later life.

I’m now considered high risk but the NHS cannot apparently afford to give me even annual surveillance by a Dermatologist. If I have any suspicions, my GP puts me through the 2 week rule because he’s a bit of a maverick (I’m glad to say).

Please report any suspicious looking moles and skin patches to your doctor particularly if they change size, colour, symmetry or begin to itch or bleed.

My melanoma was described as a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing!’ and my husband now has mole spotting duties. You’re absolutely right Northerner, for people living alone, some may be missed because it was my husband who spotted mine. Glad to hear you spotted your BCC and are having it treated non surgically.

 

[Robin]

I'd second that. I went to my GP with a dodgy mole on my right wrist, that had started as a tiny black dot, then suddenly grown into an irregular shape. GP said, Ok, we'll keep an eye on it, and literally as my hand was on the doorknob, called me back and said, 'no, I think I'll refer you' Good job she did, it was a malignant melanoma, like Amigo's. I went through the same process, first having the mole and a section of skin round it cut out, then going back for a wider excision.
In my case, the only thing I can think of which might have triggered it is that when I went skiing once ( thirty years earlier), I had a gap between my gloves and my jacket sleeve, and got burnt on that two inch section of my wrist.
My hospital sent me to the medical illustration department, to their photo studio, to have photos of my entire body taken for reference, so I can spot any changes. My one and only foray into Nude Modelling!
I don't know if it's anything connected or not, but the time when it suddenly appeared and grew was just after my diabetes diagnosis, and my sugars had been high for about a year while I was getting that sorted.

 

[Amigo]

I'd second that. I went to my GP with a dodgy mole on my right wrist, that had started as a tiny black dot, then suddenly grown into an irregular shape. GP said, Ok, we'll keep an eye on it, and literally as my hand was on the doorknob, called me back and said, 'no, I think I'll refer you' Good job she did, it was a malignant melanoma, like Amigo's. I went through the same process, first having the mole and a section of skin round it cut out, then going back for a wider excision.
In my case, the only thing I can think of which might have triggered it is that when I went skiing once ( thirty years earlier), I had a gap between my gloves and my jacket sleeve, and got burnt on that two inch section of my wrist.
My hospital sent me to the medical illustration department, to their photo studio, to have photos of my entire body taken for reference, so I can spot any changes. My one and only foray into Nude Modelling!
I don't know if it's anything connected or not, but the time when it suddenly appeared and grew was just after my diabetes diagnosis, and my sugars had been high for about a year while I was getting that sorted.

Fortunately I didn’t have the total ‘nude modelling’ experience at the medical illustration department Robin but I did suffer the indignity of having to strip off for the Dermatologist and nurse. They even looked between my toes!

Having just had a devastating blood cancer diagnosis 18 months earlier followed by this skin cancer, I then was diagnosed with diabetes!

Like you, I’m convinced bad sunburn on a previous occasion had activated later on. Research confirms this as a high risk factor so keep your kids covered!

 

[mikeyB]

Couldn’t agree more. Although a BCC is a cancer, it is easily treated and never spreads to other parts of the body. It is directly related to sun exposure, so it’s rare for them to appear in non exposed areas. Common as muck in Australia.

A malignant melanoma is an an entirely different matter. These do spread to other parts of the body eventually, so the earlier you get treatment, the better. This is also sun related, but they can appear anywhere, so any mole which has changed or grown larger, should be seen right away by your doc. There are two areas that folk miss when checking, and they are the back, and back of the neck, and the soles of their feet, so you need a friend to do the check.

And don’t sunbathe. These conditions aren’t particularly common in Scotland, but BCCs are quite frequent in Devin and Cornwall among retired folk. Malignant melanoma is more frequent at a younger age. You need sun exposure to get your Vitamin D, but in summer 20 minutes outside will get you your recommended daily amount. Never ever use a sun bed. Get your tan out of a bottle, or just look pale and interesting.

By the way, Sun ages the skin at a tremendous rate. Stay pale and unwrinkled.

 

[Northerner]

I'm pretty sure mine was probably due to earlier sun exposure - certainly the first one when I had probably been less than rigorous with the sun block. A little more surprised by the latest though, since I have religiously slapped on factor 50 for the past 5 years - although it may have just been down to earlier exposure and making itself 'known' now. I was told if you've had 1 then you are 50% more likely to have another. Also, the dermatologist said it might be something called 'Bowen's Disease', which chiefly affects people in their 60s and 70s - I'm only 59! 😱 😉

 

[mikeyB]

It could still be the sun exposure. There might be 40 years gap, but these are ultra slow growing cancers. The younger you are when exposed to the sun, the more likely you are to develop BCC later in life. And melanomas.

 

[Northerner]

It could still be the sun exposure. There might be 40 years gap, but these are ultra slow growing cancers. The younger you are when exposed to the sun, the more likely you are to develop BCC later in life. And melanomas.

It's a bit unfair that no-one warned us in the 1960s and '70s! 😱 🙂 I wonder if the rates will decline as current generations age, given that knowledge has been more available to them?

 

[mikeyB]

That’s already happening in Australia. In this country, folk just aren’t as aware.

 

[chaoticcar]

I had a BCC on my nose which was removed surgically ,a piece of skin from my forehead was used as a graft to cover the hole The nose didn't hurt at all but I felt like I had been hit on the head !!
CAROL

 

[Northerner]

Thought I would chart the progress of the problem area until the treatment is complete. Here's what it looks like today after 2 days of using the cream - not a lot different from before, maybe a bit pinker (it's on my left forearm):

 

[grainger]

Well said @Northerner. I owe everything to my v pushy brother and Mum as I was ignoring a mole that grew while I was pregnant with josh. Eventually I went to doctors after getting sick of the nagging and was sent straight to hospital and after surgery discovered I had a malignant melanoma (josh was 5 weeks old). Another surgery and I’m thankfully in the clear but I have never been more scared in my life.

Now I’m seen every 3 months, and will continue to do so.

Please everyone check!

 

[Amigo]

Well said @Northerner. I owe everything to my v pushy brother and Mum as I was ignoring a mole that grew while I was pregnant with josh. Eventually I went to doctors after getting sick of the nagging and was sent straight to hospital and after surgery discovered I had a malignant melanoma (josh was 5 weeks old). Another surgery and I’m thankfully in the clear but I have never been more scared in my life.

Now I’m seen every 3 months, and will continue to do so.

Please everyone check!

I’m glad it was spotted early for you grainger. You’re very fortunate to be checked every 3 months. I have a 10 times greater risk of skin cancer which has now been intensified with a previous melanoma and I’ve not been offered any surveillance from a Dermatologist. Frankly I don’t trust GP’s to accurately diagnose these things.

 

[grainger]

I’m glad it was spotted early for you grainger. You’re very fortunate to be checked every 3 months. I have a 10 times greater risk of skin cancer which has now been intensified with a previous melanoma and I’ve not been offered any surveillance from a Dermatologist. Frankly I don’t trust GP’s to accurately diagnose these things.

To be honest I go privately now as I was “missed off” the nhs list and not seen for 8 months after my second surgery. Luckily I’m on my husbands private medical and covered through that. Brings me peace of mind.

I have found the more pushy I am with the nhs the more likely they are to remember you - you should definitely be monitored and I’d keep pushing for it. Originally I was told every 3 months for 3 years then every 6 months for the next 2 years. I’ve stuck to every 3 months especially as pregnant again and the hormonal changes in my body are a likely reason why the cancer grew while I was pregnant the first time.

 

[Mark Parrott]

I am quite moley on my back, which worries me as I can't see them. Wife checks them every now & then & says they look normal. Whenever I see a new mole, I always get it checked out & so far nothing sinister. I tend to keep out of the sun as much as possible too, even on holiday. I always find a shady spot on the beach & wear a hat. I never strip off.

 

[Northerner]

I am quite moley on my back, which worries me as I can't see them. Wife checks them every now & then & says they look normal. Whenever I see a new mole, I always get it checked out & so far nothing sinister. I tend to keep out of the sun as much as possible too, even on holiday. I always find a shady spot on the beach & wear a hat. I never strip off.

Yes, I have a few moles on my back, and worry about them especially if I get a bit of an itch, so I was relieved when the dermatologist gave me the all-clear 🙂

 

[trophywench]

I can't keep track of stuff on my body - which fortunately appear to mainly be seborrheic keratosis but good grief - I even have em where the sun literally can't shine, apart from all over my back and everywhere else including a large patch in my head hair directly behind one ear!. Hacked off now though cos I've got a new one just under one side of my jawbone - lots of new ones in the folds under both my boobs and yet another amongst my pubes (Yep, far TMI - but I'm REALLY sick of it by now, skin's like rough sandpaper when I wash myself and do the breast cancer checks in the shower. Have to dab dry and then give myself a quick waft of the hairdrier on cool, cos brisk towelling makes it sore)

How the hell would I know if I got 'a new mole' ?

 

[Northerner]

Well, I'm halfway through the treatment now and what was originally a barely-discernible blemish looks more like a cigarette burn 😱 Obviously something is happening - glad the doctor warned me of what to expect! 😱 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Oooh, one of those things your mother always told you would have to get worse before it got better, then? LOL

When they blast things with liquid nitrogen that happens, then you get a ruddy great scab and have to wait until it drops off which takes ages cos the burn's so deep.

 

[Northerner]

Well, ten weeks have passed and I have just been to the dermatologist to have it checked out - happy to report it is all fully healed 🙂 Because of the way it reacted to the cream he said it was almost certainly due to sun damage, so will take extra care in future 🙂