I’m extremely dark skin and I just got a BCC diagnosis for a bump on my face. I’m quite shocked by this. Should get a second opinion for the biopsy interpretation? Are biopsies 100% accurate?
Hi, my boyfriend ( [27] [male], 5”9, Caucasian but 1/4 black) has a red bump on the tip of his nose, he has it since early childhood and cannot remember not having it since he was so little.
It has never bled or itched or changed
I’m trying to get an appointment with a dermatologist but it could be months or years before we manage to see one in the public system (Quebec) or we could pay 300$ which is a lot for us.. I’m dying with anxiety but he doesn’t really want to go and pay because he’s convinced it’s not skin cancer since he’s had it forever.. just not sure if born with it or got it young
Could I have a bit of reassurance in the meantime? I could not upload pictures on this sub but I have some on my profile from other posts I made
Thank you so so so much if you answer.. I love him and don’t want to lose himpic 1 pic2
Hey - so months ago I had a small sized growth on my upper forehead close to my hairline. Derm removed it, sent for biopsy, results came back positive for Basal Cell Carcinoma. He recommended MOHS procedure (layer by layer removal and test until negative), cost is about 3k.
I freaked out given the C word, consulted my family doctor who didn't seem much concerned given the location and nature of BCC. Said it stays contained, especially on the forehead area, and the growth removal already likely got it all (the biopsy shower positive fragments along the border). He thinks MOHS is an extreme and likely unnecessary route to take.
What are the opinions of any derms or related fields of study or experience here with BCC and perhaps specifically on the head? Seems to be a higher priority near the eyes or areas it could spread but I don't know much.
Some factors to consider: a year ago I relocated to a hot sunny climate area, I have a lot of moles/spots which I check every 6 months or so (my late father was covered but no known skin cancer in my family). I try and wear hats and sunscreen/block often, avoid high points of the day etc. Where I'm located has privatized healthcare so I'm concerned the derm is incentivized to suggest the high cost MOHS procedure. My family doctor where I'm from has universal health care and the procedure would be covered and he doesn't seem it necessary.
Appreciate any feedback to educate me, below I've pasted the report for reference (translated from Spanish).
Thanks much in advance!
HISTOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMPRESSION Skin, frontal region, shave biopsy: - Basal cell carcinoma of nodular type, non-ulcerated, at least 4 millimeters in greatest diameter, reaching the deep margin of the specimen
MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION The specimen consists of skin fragments infiltrated by a neoplasm of epithelial lineage, forming nests of basaloid-like cells, with moderate cytologic atypia, peripheral cell palisading and artifact of retraction of the adjacent stroma. The non-neoplastic skin exhibits changes secondary to sun damage (actinic keratosis and solar elastosis).
MACROSCOPIC ANALYSIS Irregular skin fragment measuring 0.5 x 0.4 cm is received. It is cut serially and included for histopathological study.
For 2 years or so I had a pimple like thing at the bottom of my nose that wouldn't go away no matter what I tried. I would always pop it and then it would come right back in the form of another pimple or just a scab or even a scabey flakey thing.
Pic of said pimple/scab thing:
https://i.imgur.com/8kmuYAO.jpg
After about 6 months of having it, I went to a dermatologist and they told me it was a pimple and they gave me some cream for it, but that didn't help. It started getting worse last summer since I was out on the boat about every other day (yes, I wore sun screen) so my wife begged me to get a second opinion, so about 6 months ago I went to a different dermatologist and they did a biopsy and confirmed it was BCC and we scheduled a date for Mohs surgery.
Here's what my nose looked like right after surgery:
https://i.imgur.com/ig10z2t.jpg
Here's my nose 2 weeks later when the stitches came out:
https://i.imgur.com/C1h5y1P.jpg
Here's my nose 5 months later, aka now:
https://i.imgur.com/ZlxuS1N.jpg
All in all, it was a pretty unpleasant experience lol. My dermatologist who did the surgery was awesome, but I'd prefer to not have to go through that ever again.
Just wanted to share some pictures, answer any questions on it, and give a PSA to wear your sunscreen!
Edit: Here's a bonus picture of what the pimple thing looked like this past summer
https://i.imgur.com/usixLKd.jpg
Hi folks. I talked to a recruiter about this, but he wasn't really sure. He seemed to think it was a hard DQ and didn't want to look into it much. I had a basal cell carcinoma shaved off ~2 years ago (after age 25). I found some docs online from Navy sources which say they shouldn't be unless you had them young (which makes sense). Does anyone have any experience dealing with these this? I'm trying to come in as an allied healthcare professional.
Here's an excerpt from a source;
"DOD INSTRUCTION 6130.03, VOLUME 1 MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR MILITARY SERVICE:
APPOINTMENT, ENLISTMENT, OR INDUCTION"
" 5.21. SKIN AND SOFT TISSUE CONDITIONS."
" aa. History of cutaneous malignancy before the 25th birthday including but not limited to
basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. History of the following skin cancers at any
age: malignant melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma, Paget’s disease,
extramammary Paget's disease, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, other adnexal neoplasms, and
cutaneous lymphoma including mycosis fungoides. "
Here's another source;
"COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1131.2F"
" (1) Medical Conditions not waiverable:"
" (e) History of Cancer with treatment within five years (except basal cell carcinoma). "
Any thoughts would be super appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi! F35. This is on my cheek, just under my eye. I've had this for 1year 4 months. Doesn't itch or hurt.I have oily skin and have been long exposed to sun. I think this bump got slightly bigger but can't be sure. It's 5mm/0.2 inches now. I've had it checked a couple of times, they said it's a wart but they really didn't look at it carefully and didn't do any tests so I made an appointment and will insist, since I think it's similar to basal carcinoma and I'm freaking out. I haven't seen any similar warts on Internet. If it's BCC, is it very late after 1 year and a half?
If not, what is the difference? Help.
Edit: everyone has been so helpful thank you so much!
A recent derm appt revealed that the lump I had on the side of my nose for at LEAST 15 years is a BCC. it may be 20 years old. Made the typical mistake of looking this up and I saw some really rough shots. Apparently these things, left to their own devices can be locally destructive That’s a direct quote from an article.
Here is my question: what could happen now? How much damage did leaving this untreated for years do?
My dr said it looks like it about 3mm that she got into The specimen cup. She scraped it out and is sending it to get tested to confirm, but she said she knows it’s BCC.
I asked her what’s going to happen and she said that they will call me w/results. Then you can discuss your options and plan. Now, I am pretty sure that’s what she said. One other thing- once she saw the lump the mood kinda changed. She and I had some friendly banter then it was like immediate work time. numb nose, scoop out, then the nurse is talking to me as we walked to the exit. I am sure I’m over reacting.
That 20 year cell growing on the side of my nose.
If you think of anything I really need to know, can you please let me know?
EDIT: another question I have is- the spot in question is really no more than maybe 1.5 squ. cm. Has anyone had an experience like this?
33F, Caucasian, 5’3, around 135 lbs, am about 4 months postpartum and have relatively fair skin. I don’t smoke or do any drugs, drink alcohol a couple times a week. I live in Canada and don’t have very much sun exposure but I did when I was younger. This spot is located on my right side around the rib cage area. I noticed it a few days ago because it was itchy and felt like an old pimple. Could it be skin cancer?
https://imgur.com/a/Wzhge69
She (derm) said she thinks it’s 70% likely I have basal cell carcinoma.
I’m worried because I’ve had that spot for 5-8 3-5 years. It didn’t grow very much at all during that time.
Today I had an excision biopsy done. Results to come in a 7-11 days.
How screwed am I? I feel like my body has betrayed me.
edit: my wife and I checked pictures to see when I last didn't have the growth to try to figure out how long I've had it; about 3-5 years.
