BCC

KMarcy
KMarcy Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Skin Cancer #1
I've had a large spot on my back for several months and whenever I ask my husband he says its nothing. I finally went to my Dermatologist and after a biopsy it came back Basal Cell. I've told my husband and family and they say its really nothing and not really considered "cancer". I know it may not be as serious as some of the other cancers but it really has scared me. Am I overreacting?

Comments

  • beacon
    beacon Member Posts: 77
    well, the name basal cell
    well, the name basal cell carcinoma gives it away there, so you should tell them to stop being so flippant!
    sorry people are treating you like you have a pimple!
    i got my first bcc at 31, and yes, it was scary and i wondered if i had that so young, what else was i going to get!
    obviously, even though i have never sunbaked, my skin was damaged by what sun exposure it had, had, and i was upset...
    you are not over reacting...
    it is normal to feel upset when something has gone awry, BUT you will be ok...
    have that one dealt with, and keep a watch for anything else that may pop up anywhere, and DO NOT be shamed into ignoring any spots in the future, because bcc CAN be disfiguring if left to advance, or you may have a scc and ignore it thinking you will be shamed for making a fuss..
    people can often be insensitive to others out of ignorance etc, and you can't really stop that,but you do have a right to feel shaken and upset that this unwanted guest had shown up on your doorstep...pity help them when something goes wrong with their bodies, as they'll soon realise what it feels like to feel unsure...

    chin up...you'll be ok, and be vigilant!
  • Sievert25
    Sievert25 Member Posts: 19
    I had the same thing from my
    I had the same thing from my husband, "you are making too much of it". When someone uses the word, carcinoma, however, it hits you in the gut. I am scheduled for Moh's procedure on my face 2-4-11. Be glad to compare notes if you want.

    My aunt has survived several of these and she is 85 (will be with me for my procedure).

    To me, it's another ride on the medical roller coaster, and I hate that. I also hate the extra vigilance required - but I guess that's life. We just accept what we cannot change and move on. Best of luck to you, and you have MY sympathy, if not that of your family.
  • KMarcy
    KMarcy Member Posts: 5
    Sievert25 said:

    I had the same thing from my
    I had the same thing from my husband, "you are making too much of it". When someone uses the word, carcinoma, however, it hits you in the gut. I am scheduled for Moh's procedure on my face 2-4-11. Be glad to compare notes if you want.

    My aunt has survived several of these and she is 85 (will be with me for my procedure).

    To me, it's another ride on the medical roller coaster, and I hate that. I also hate the extra vigilance required - but I guess that's life. We just accept what we cannot change and move on. Best of luck to you, and you have MY sympathy, if not that of your family.

    BCC
    Thank you both for responding. I have read so many posts on this forum and realize this is nothing to sneeze at. I have had it removed and am waiting for the stitches to be taken out. I am quite suprised at how large the incision is but I know it all needed to go.
    This has been a real eye opener for me and you are so true to accept what we cannot change and move on.
    Good luck with your Moh's on the 4th.
  • KMarcy
    KMarcy Member Posts: 5
    beacon said:

    well, the name basal cell
    well, the name basal cell carcinoma gives it away there, so you should tell them to stop being so flippant!
    sorry people are treating you like you have a pimple!
    i got my first bcc at 31, and yes, it was scary and i wondered if i had that so young, what else was i going to get!
    obviously, even though i have never sunbaked, my skin was damaged by what sun exposure it had, had, and i was upset...
    you are not over reacting...
    it is normal to feel upset when something has gone awry, BUT you will be ok...
    have that one dealt with, and keep a watch for anything else that may pop up anywhere, and DO NOT be shamed into ignoring any spots in the future, because bcc CAN be disfiguring if left to advance, or you may have a scc and ignore it thinking you will be shamed for making a fuss..
    people can often be insensitive to others out of ignorance etc, and you can't really stop that,but you do have a right to feel shaken and upset that this unwanted guest had shown up on your doorstep...pity help them when something goes wrong with their bodies, as they'll soon realise what it feels like to feel unsure...

    chin up...you'll be ok, and be vigilant!

    Beacon
    I never really sunbaked either but being from the Northeast and visiting Florida every summer was enough to do the damage. As soon as I was old enough to realize the importance of sunblock it was to late. I just hope this gets it thru to my children.
    I was really shaken when I heard carcinoma and will have a different outlook to others with skin cancers. I know everything will be ok this time but I do know to keep checking, it has made me afraid of the one that I just might not see.
  • ash1
    ash1 Member Posts: 1
    KMarcy said:

    BCC
    Thank you both for responding. I have read so many posts on this forum and realize this is nothing to sneeze at. I have had it removed and am waiting for the stitches to be taken out. I am quite suprised at how large the incision is but I know it all needed to go.
    This has been a real eye opener for me and you are so true to accept what we cannot change and move on.
    Good luck with your Moh's on the 4th.

    I waited too long..
    I walked around for 5 yrs. with this ugly,itchy, lump on my forehead..hiding it with my hair...thought it was scar tissue from a auto. accident I had in 1993!!!Ha Ha Ha...it wasnt...it finnally opened up and started bleeding one day...about 4 mths. agao...my new hairdresser saw it..and told me if I diddnt make the drs. appmt...she was going to make it for me...so...finally I went...the look on the nurses face!!!when I removed the bandade!!
    she told me it was Granullar Basal Cell Carcinoma...ok...I freaked...then they in a frenzy..took biopseys..not only from my forehead..but one from my eye..two from my lip..well I had surgury on Wednesday Jan. 12, 2011..I have stitches under my nose, the corner of my eye..and 4" by 3" of skin missing on my forehead!!! I can see my scull....I go back on Jan 19th...not sure what im in for at the moment...Im scared as Hell...but I am a fighter..and I have 3 boys..to fight for...Im a widow..I cant go anywhere right now..just joined this group...Hoping to get some positive feedback..I really could use the support..I just lost my mother to ovairian cancer in September..she fought for 2 yrs...
  • KMarcy
    KMarcy Member Posts: 5
    ash1 said:

    I waited too long..
    I walked around for 5 yrs. with this ugly,itchy, lump on my forehead..hiding it with my hair...thought it was scar tissue from a auto. accident I had in 1993!!!Ha Ha Ha...it wasnt...it finnally opened up and started bleeding one day...about 4 mths. agao...my new hairdresser saw it..and told me if I diddnt make the drs. appmt...she was going to make it for me...so...finally I went...the look on the nurses face!!!when I removed the bandade!!
    she told me it was Granullar Basal Cell Carcinoma...ok...I freaked...then they in a frenzy..took biopseys..not only from my forehead..but one from my eye..two from my lip..well I had surgury on Wednesday Jan. 12, 2011..I have stitches under my nose, the corner of my eye..and 4" by 3" of skin missing on my forehead!!! I can see my scull....I go back on Jan 19th...not sure what im in for at the moment...Im scared as Hell...but I am a fighter..and I have 3 boys..to fight for...Im a widow..I cant go anywhere right now..just joined this group...Hoping to get some positive feedback..I really could use the support..I just lost my mother to ovairian cancer in September..she fought for 2 yrs...

    waited too long..
    My son had a tumor on his foot removed years ago and when it started growing back his Dr told him it was scar tissue. The "scar tissue" kept growing bigger than before so I went to another Dr and sure enough the tumor had grown back. It was benign but too many times we pass things off. Thank God you finally went in. I know its kinda depressing going thru it but at least you caught it before it was worse. Keep us posted on your progress Jan 19th.
  • ktjt
    ktjt Member Posts: 5
    KMarcy said:

    waited too long..
    My son had a tumor on his foot removed years ago and when it started growing back his Dr told him it was scar tissue. The "scar tissue" kept growing bigger than before so I went to another Dr and sure enough the tumor had grown back. It was benign but too many times we pass things off. Thank God you finally went in. I know its kinda depressing going thru it but at least you caught it before it was worse. Keep us posted on your progress Jan 19th.

    My hubs dermatologist said
    My hubs dermatologist said that BCC does not normally invade deeper tissues, it can become more aggressive if left. Sounds pretty serious to me...
  • liveagain
    liveagain Member Posts: 15
    KMarcy said:

    waited too long..
    My son had a tumor on his foot removed years ago and when it started growing back his Dr told him it was scar tissue. The "scar tissue" kept growing bigger than before so I went to another Dr and sure enough the tumor had grown back. It was benign but too many times we pass things off. Thank God you finally went in. I know its kinda depressing going thru it but at least you caught it before it was worse. Keep us posted on your progress Jan 19th.

    Don't let anyone tell you BCC is nothing
    I agree, BCC is best if caught early and treated aggressively. BCC is a cancer and can be destructive and while it rarely spreads it is not impossible so keep an eye on it. Hope your healing is quick and you never have to face skin cancer again.

    Liveagain
  • Rory1987
    Rory1987 Member Posts: 120
    Skin Cream From Cashew Nuts
    I've read this from a Cancer magazine that there is skin ointment that is effective for BCC made from extracts of cashew nut shells. Forgot the name of the cream though
  • beacon
    beacon Member Posts: 77
    Rory1987 said:

    Skin Cream From Cashew Nuts
    I've read this from a Cancer magazine that there is skin ointment that is effective for BCC made from extracts of cashew nut shells. Forgot the name of the cream though

    or just straight milkweed
    or just straight milkweed sap dabbed on twice a day from the milk weed plant was found in a study i posted earlier to be as effective at getting rid of the bcc as alot of the otehr forms of treatment, yet its safe and free!
    i'm going to try it on my next bcc that pops up!
  • tltoms
    tltoms Member Posts: 6
    liveagain said:

    Don't let anyone tell you BCC is nothing
    I agree, BCC is best if caught early and treated aggressively. BCC is a cancer and can be destructive and while it rarely spreads it is not impossible so keep an eye on it. Hope your healing is quick and you never have to face skin cancer again.

    Liveagain

    I agree early detection is key
    I went 10 years with BCC on my face it was the size of a table spoon
    by the time i finally had it diagnosed ( i won't even begin to explain why that took so long!
    It was detrimental that i have a MOHS procedure to have it removed because it was invading such vitaly important areas. I went for 2 months after diagnosis unsure if i would maybe lose my eye or nose. The Mohs surgery thankfully was a sucess and all the cancer was removed. But a substantial area of my face is now having to be reconstructed. Daily it's a hard thing to do to deal with this but i gain strength from those i know have had a harder road to travel than me. I know now that early detection is key. I'd hope at least that much could be learned from my experience.
  • beacon
    beacon Member Posts: 77
    beacon said:

    or just straight milkweed
    or just straight milkweed sap dabbed on twice a day from the milk weed plant was found in a study i posted earlier to be as effective at getting rid of the bcc as alot of the otehr forms of treatment, yet its safe and free!
    i'm going to try it on my next bcc that pops up!

    i have just had my next bbc
    i have just had my next bbc pop up on my back to be confirmed by biopsy...
    so, i am going to take photos of it, and if i can find some milkweed, at this time of year, where i live, i may well just try it!
    i am going to tell the doctor this is what i intend to do, and then ,get other treatment if it doesn't work...
    its just a small superficial bcc at the moment, as i am good at catching them early now, so i guess it is about 5mm x 9 mm in size....

    once i have had my biopsy, i will keep you posted if it works for me!
  • thx1138ga
    thx1138ga Member Posts: 4
    Rory1987 said:

    Skin Cream From Cashew Nuts
    I've read this from a Cancer magazine that there is skin ointment that is effective for BCC made from extracts of cashew nut shells. Forgot the name of the cream though

    Creams n things
    I successfully treated a large BCC on my forehead using a cream whose active ingredient is from an Eggplant! I was due to have surgery but it got delayed because my health insurance plan changed, during the delay I found out about the cream and decided to give it a go before the rescheduled surgery. Later the surgery was cancelled :-)

    The visible BCC was big too 4.1cm X 1.3cm.
    The total size 'roots' etc covered about half my forehead
  • beacon
    beacon Member Posts: 77
    thx1138ga said:

    Creams n things
    I successfully treated a large BCC on my forehead using a cream whose active ingredient is from an Eggplant! I was due to have surgery but it got delayed because my health insurance plan changed, during the delay I found out about the cream and decided to give it a go before the rescheduled surgery. Later the surgery was cancelled :-)

    The visible BCC was big too 4.1cm X 1.3cm.
    The total size 'roots' etc covered about half my forehead

    wow, thats interesting,what
    wow, thats interesting,what is it called?!
    is it a pharmaceutical cream, or is it a "natural' non drug company type if product?

    my appt with the derm, is not until the end of november, but as it is getting to be winter here in north wales i don't know if i will be able to find any milkweed (petty spurge) at this time of the year?

    as mine is just small, and nonthreatening to health, i would like to get it biopsied first to confirm, and then tell them i want to try something natural first, just out of interest, and then get them to remove it if i have no luck with my experiments!
  • thx1138ga
    thx1138ga Member Posts: 4
    beacon said:

    wow, thats interesting,what
    wow, thats interesting,what is it called?!
    is it a pharmaceutical cream, or is it a "natural' non drug company type if product?

    my appt with the derm, is not until the end of november, but as it is getting to be winter here in north wales i don't know if i will be able to find any milkweed (petty spurge) at this time of the year?

    as mine is just small, and nonthreatening to health, i would like to get it biopsied first to confirm, and then tell them i want to try something natural first, just out of interest, and then get them to remove it if i have no luck with my experiments!

    It's a natural cream
    The active ingredient is from Eggplants (Aubergines to me and you)
    I left my BCC for years (really) and it got really quite large, don't leave it too long before you get a Doctor to look at it. I was truly impressed with the cream, it takes along time to finally heal up (76 days in my case, but mine was a very large BCC) but given that the alternative was surgery, I opted for the cream....I've never looked back. The guy who discovered it should get a Nobel Prize or something. Good luck with your dermatologist! Wrap up warm in Wales!!
  • beacon
    beacon Member Posts: 77
    thx1138ga said:

    It's a natural cream
    The active ingredient is from Eggplants (Aubergines to me and you)
    I left my BCC for years (really) and it got really quite large, don't leave it too long before you get a Doctor to look at it. I was truly impressed with the cream, it takes along time to finally heal up (76 days in my case, but mine was a very large BCC) but given that the alternative was surgery, I opted for the cream....I've never looked back. The guy who discovered it should get a Nobel Prize or something. Good luck with your dermatologist! Wrap up warm in Wales!!

    hi!
    would you be able to

    hi!

    would you be able to post some pics on your profile or a thread please?
    i was telling the skin cancer doctor about the eggplant cream today, and wanted to email him some stuff, as he's never heard of it!
  • thaugen
    thaugen Member Posts: 1
    For those contemplating home treatments for BCC
    First, you did get a biopsy that confirmed it is not melanoma, right? Don't fool around, get it diagnosed/biopsied.

    Diagnosed as BCC - DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. You'll find black salve and other topicals containing bloodroot can be dangerous, extremely painful, and probably not worth the risk of permanently disfiguring yourself. The eggplant creams seem to be ineffective. The post about milkweed sap has no clinical proof AFAIK.

    Clinically proven: petty spurge sap. A weed, Euphorbia peplus, spread throughout most of the world, you have to find/grow your own presently. Coming into widespread use in Australia. Peplin Co. there makes it as PEP005 (ingenol mebutate) Gel. Search on that for clinical studies. A co. named LEO Pharma in SwissLand has it in Stage III trials for actinic keratosis and Stage II trials for BCC http://www.leo-pharma.us/Home/Research-and-Development/LEO-Pharma-Global-Pipeline.aspx

    p.s. Notice what other posts have said about Mohs and disfigurement. Search on it and go to Images to see how drastic it can be, then you'll see why some are turning to natural remedies for BCC.
  • beacon
    beacon Member Posts: 77
    thaugen said:

    For those contemplating home treatments for BCC
    First, you did get a biopsy that confirmed it is not melanoma, right? Don't fool around, get it diagnosed/biopsied.

    Diagnosed as BCC - DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. You'll find black salve and other topicals containing bloodroot can be dangerous, extremely painful, and probably not worth the risk of permanently disfiguring yourself. The eggplant creams seem to be ineffective. The post about milkweed sap has no clinical proof AFAIK.

    Clinically proven: petty spurge sap. A weed, Euphorbia peplus, spread throughout most of the world, you have to find/grow your own presently. Coming into widespread use in Australia. Peplin Co. there makes it as PEP005 (ingenol mebutate) Gel. Search on that for clinical studies. A co. named LEO Pharma in SwissLand has it in Stage III trials for actinic keratosis and Stage II trials for BCC http://www.leo-pharma.us/Home/Research-and-Development/LEO-Pharma-Global-Pipeline.aspx

    p.s. Notice what other posts have said about Mohs and disfigurement. Search on it and go to Images to see how drastic it can be, then you'll see why some are turning to natural remedies for BCC.

    hi, i did mention in my post
    hi, i did mention in my post that i WAS having the biopsy done, infact it is on tuesday, but i know its a superficial basal cell carcinoma by sight, as it looks exactly the same as all the others i have had, and the skin cancer specialist confirmed it was typical presentation of a sbbc,but ofcourse, it must be confirmed with a clinical biopsy....
    i did a post on the milkweed sap a little while ago with a link to an article and info about the scientific study the scientist did that PROVES it works...

    incase you don't realise, petty spurge sap (Euphorbia peplus) IS MILKWEED!!!
    its the same thing we are talking about!!!

    the finny thing is, using the sap straight from the plant cures it, but the drug companies ofcourse have to go and extract bits and pieces and turn it "into" a product so the can charge people lots of money for it and get a patent on it!

    seeing theres snow on the ground here at the moment, i can't access milkweed to try it, so i will have photodynamic therapy, but if it was spring, and i could get hold of some i would use it and i told the specialist that, and he seemed quite cool with me trying it and keeping an eye on it incase it needed further treatment of another kind.

    also, there is LOADS of information about the eggplant cream, which was developed in australia and has had alot of success...its not an 'ALTERNATIVE" medicine as its approved for use by doctors over there!
  • beacon
    beacon Member Posts: 77
    beacon said:

    hi, i did mention in my post
    hi, i did mention in my post that i WAS having the biopsy done, infact it is on tuesday, but i know its a superficial basal cell carcinoma by sight, as it looks exactly the same as all the others i have had, and the skin cancer specialist confirmed it was typical presentation of a sbbc,but ofcourse, it must be confirmed with a clinical biopsy....
    i did a post on the milkweed sap a little while ago with a link to an article and info about the scientific study the scientist did that PROVES it works...

    incase you don't realise, petty spurge sap (Euphorbia peplus) IS MILKWEED!!!
    its the same thing we are talking about!!!

    the finny thing is, using the sap straight from the plant cures it, but the drug companies ofcourse have to go and extract bits and pieces and turn it "into" a product so the can charge people lots of money for it and get a patent on it!

    seeing theres snow on the ground here at the moment, i can't access milkweed to try it, so i will have photodynamic therapy, but if it was spring, and i could get hold of some i would use it and i told the specialist that, and he seemed quite cool with me trying it and keeping an eye on it incase it needed further treatment of another kind.

    also, there is LOADS of information about the eggplant cream, which was developed in australia and has had alot of success...its not an 'ALTERNATIVE" medicine as its approved for use by doctors over there!

    i went in to have my biopsy
    i went in to have my biopsy done on tuesday, and the specialist was baffled, as he could barely see where it was supposed to be!
    he had to use a good photo i had of it, to place its position on my skin, (using the placement of freckles etc, as markers!)and as astounded t the change since he last saw it...
    he remarked that the skin looked almost normal now, as he could see the hair follicles, in the skin, that just aren't present with a bcc!!!.

    i have been doing weekly GLYCOLIC ACID peels on my face and decolletage,for about 1 year (50% strength), and my whole back(70% strength) , for the last 4 weeks before i saw him, as glycolic acid reduces the sun damaged cells on the skin.
    each time i did it on my back, the bcc would flare up hugely, with it happening less and less each time, and the last time you could barely see it, so the specialist said to keep doing what i've been doing and he will see me again in 3 months to check on it.
    the difference btwn the appearance of it at the two appts, was huge, and he said over the years he has seen people end up patchwork of scars, and as i am still young, he wanted to keep an eye on it and spare me a biopsy scar,if he could.
    the bcc was a classic superficial basal cell presentation, and looked exactly like the others i have had....i was rather pleased to go home without a scar, and am chuffed that the glycolic acid really seems to be helping keep my skin healthier!