Dear Cat,

I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma 30 years ago when I was 16.

I had (what appeared to be) a small pimple on my left lower eyelid which had
become more prominent over a period of a few months - I don't think it had
been growing for more than a year.

This "pimple" had been getting larger, but had also started to itch and I
was becoming increasingly self-conscious about it. The dermatologist at my
local hospital looked at it, but dismissed it, saying it was just a cyst -
same as yours; anyway, he agreed to get rid of it because of the itching. I
think he was more surprised than me when the biopsy came back showing BCC -
allegedly 16-year-olds weren't supposed to get BCC - I know better than that
now!

Altough the biopsy showed that the surrounding tissue was clean, within a
year the itching began again, some months before visible signs of regrowth
... but eventually the "pimple" did indeed return.

It was again removed - I was 18. This time, a slightly larger amount of
surrounding tissue was taken away.

After a couple of years I was able to forget about it - although I always
took much greater care regarding protection from the sun. Despite that, the
itching - and eventually the pimple - returned, some 3 - 4 years later. By
this time, I was living as an undergraduate student in London - bigger
hospital, better facilities. They did a skin graft, cutting out the growth
and dragging surrounding tissue over to cover the void - at least, that's
what they told me they did: I had stitches and an eye patch - I looked dead
mean!

Everything was fine for the next 10 years when the whole process repeated
itself. I was a bit inured to the idea of having BCC by then - even though
it was a form of skin cancer - and it was over a year before I had it seen
to. Sorry to admit that.

I had felt the itching way before visble signs (as you probably know, BCCs -
"rodent ulcers" feel just like something gnawing into the flesh - you get an
intense tingling feeling) but eventually (1991) I went along for a check-up,
this time in Harley Street - supposedly where London's top surgeons hang
out. He was certain the growth was a cyst - how about that!

I tried not to laugh. He took it out; it was diagnosed BCC. I think we
probably know more than they do sometimes.

Anyway, I guess there are at least 2 things to be learnt from these
experiences:


1. The main thing is - from your point of view - on a cellular level my BCC
has been there for at least 17 years and maybe for as long as 30 years;
however, as far as I'm aware (and I'm VERY atuned to the feel of a BCC -
even if I can't see it, I can feel it) - it has never spread beyond the
original site ( I guess the maximum spread of the cyst was 4mm).

2. However well-meaning your doctor, always err on the side of caution: they
don't know everything and can't be expected to: get things that are worrying
you removed and diagnosed, even if it's "only" for cosmetic reasons - better
safe than sorry.

Like you, I have seen pictures on the Internet of BCC that has remained
untreated and has spread from the original site down into lower tissues
including bone - it's not nice. However, don't panic, don't leave it, don't
let doctors turn a blind eye, get it treated and more likely than not, like
me, you'll be fine.

I hope some of this is helpful - please let us know how things go. I know
from past experience that members of this group are very supportive.

Keep in touch.


Jeremy

PS
On a lighter note, Happy New Year everybody!


----- Original Message -----
From: "cstircat" <cstircat@...>
To: <fighttogether@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 8:12 PM
Subject: [fight together] Re: New Dx


> --- In fighttogether@yahoogroups.com, "shelster_rn"
> <shelster_rn@y...> wrote:
> > Cat,
> > I don't have experience with basal cell myself, but here are some
> > informative links. I don't think you would necessarily need to
> blame
> > your physician for not recognizing it, but he probably should have
> > referred you to a dermatologist to investigate further.
> >
> > http://www.skincancer.org/basal/index.php
> >
> > http://www.dermnetnz.org/index.html
> >
> > Feel free to email me if you need to talk.
> >
> > Shelly
> >
> > Hi Shelly,
> Wow, I'm impressed on how fast I got a response, thank you so much.
> Thanks for the sites, I have seen them before and have been looking
> at so many of them, however none have the information I was looking
> for, which is basically, what is the prognosis of a 5 year long
> untreated basal cell carcinoma. My carcinoma should have been noticed
> by my physician, it's a classic basal cell, after reading and looking
> at pictures of them, I find it hard to believe that any medical
> doctor wouldn't have thought that it was a basal cell. I shouldn't
> blame the doctor for his ignorance, I was ignorant to have listened
> to him. Thanks again, Cat
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In fighttogether@yahoogroups.com, "cstircat" <cstircat@y...>
> > wrote:
> > > Hi everyone, I just had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my
> > neck.
> > > I didn't have a clear border so they have to go back and cut out
> > some
> > > more. The lesion on my neck popped up about 5 years ago. I went
> to
> > > my "then" doctor, he said it was just a little cyst and to not
> > worry
> > > about it. Now 5 years later, I switched doctors, and she sent me
> > to
> > > the dermotologist and now I have this news. My question is, has
> any
> > > of you had a basal cell for so long? I'm kind of worried what
> will
> > > happen if they don't get it all out on this next office surgery.
> > Any
> > > one who has knowledge of what I might expect, I would appreciate
> > any
> > > comments. Right now I'm so mad at my other doctor.. you'd think
> he
> > > would of known what a basal cell carcinoma looks like wouldn't
> > you?
> > > Thanks for listening, hopefully someone can give me a clue as to
> > what
> > > I may be up against. Cat
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fighttogether/
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> fighttogether-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>