Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 12:10     Subject: Re:Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
OP here. I have an update! I saw my derm, and I'm happy to say it's not BCC! It's harmless angioma, and I can give it more time to see if it leaves on it's own, or do laser treatment. I think I'll give it some time and see how it goes, but I'm also considering laser treatment/s for it.

Has anyone had laser treatment on angioma?
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 12:55     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've had this pimple that just won't go away, and it's starting to worry me a bit. I have an appointment later this week.

Does anyone have experience with BCC? Or it turn out not to be BCC? Do they typically biopsy either way? No other symptoms.



Soo...my travel agent in Italy actually DIED of skin cancer in his 40s. It was so sad. He had 3 young kids and a nice wife. He was sure he could go to the US and get a last ditch treatment...nope.


I promise you he didn’t die of a basal cell carcinoma. Melanoma or squamous cell maybe.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 12:35     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
My mom has BCC here and there. She gets them removed. It hasn’t been an issue and it’s not threatening.

Her brother died from melanoma, which is a completely different ballgame.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 12:17     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
I’ve had a weird pimple like thing removed from my face and leg. Biopsy determined they were only benign cysts.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 09:07     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've had this pimple that just won't go away, and it's starting to worry me a bit. I have an appointment later this week.

Does anyone have experience with BCC? Or it turn out not to be BCC? Do they typically biopsy either way? No other symptoms.


It could be spreading...best to get it checked out. My neighbor has skin cancer and is on chemo.


For basal cell?
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 08:15     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:I've had this pimple that just won't go away, and it's starting to worry me a bit. I have an appointment later this week.

Does anyone have experience with BCC? Or it turn out not to be BCC? Do they typically biopsy either way? No other symptoms.


It could be spreading...best to get it checked out. My neighbor has skin cancer and is on chemo.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 07:59     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP where is it?

I have the worst skin ever. I go in every 3 months and usually have 2-3 biopsies of something suspicious. I just went in because I had a new growth on my leg (problem area for me along with face and shoulders) which was like a pimple and wouldn't go away. Doc did an immediate biopsy. Concerned her too. It was some weirdo psoriasis spot which I have never had before. And only one spot!

BCC are really nothing. Due to my history I do go back to a plastic surgeon for wider margins on my bad ones.


OP here, it's on my cheek. I usually have good skin, and rarely pimples. I had one for very long time when I was pregnant with my first kiddo. It must have been hormonal. That one was on my forehead, and eventually went away on it's own. Would you recommend I see plastic surgeon if it's BCC? Derm has good reviews, and I'm sure they do a lot of those.


If it needs Mohs, they may refer you to a specialist. That’s what my derm does.


Dr Yu in Bethesda is awesome. Great bedside manner and does great work.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 06:27     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP where is it?

I have the worst skin ever. I go in every 3 months and usually have 2-3 biopsies of something suspicious. I just went in because I had a new growth on my leg (problem area for me along with face and shoulders) which was like a pimple and wouldn't go away. Doc did an immediate biopsy. Concerned her too. It was some weirdo psoriasis spot which I have never had before. And only one spot!

BCC are really nothing. Due to my history I do go back to a plastic surgeon for wider margins on my bad ones.


OP here, it's on my cheek. I usually have good skin, and rarely pimples. I had one for very long time when I was pregnant with my first kiddo. It must have been hormonal. That one was on my forehead, and eventually went away on it's own. Would you recommend I see plastic surgeon if it's BCC? Derm has good reviews, and I'm sure they do a lot of those.


If it needs Mohs, they may refer you to a specialist. That’s what my derm does.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2025 05:56     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
My grandfather had this, he ultimately lived to 98 (and kept baking in the sun). Please try not to worry and best wishes!
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 20:34     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've had this pimple that just won't go away, and it's starting to worry me a bit. I have an appointment later this week.

Does anyone have experience with BCC? Or it turn out not to be BCC? Do they typically biopsy either way? No other symptoms.



Soo...my travel agent in Italy actually DIED of skin cancer in his 40s. It was so sad. He had 3 young kids and a nice wife. He was sure he could go to the US and get a last ditch treatment...nope.


BCC is rarely fatal. Interesting. I'm sorry for his family.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 19:52     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:I've had this pimple that just won't go away, and it's starting to worry me a bit. I have an appointment later this week.

Does anyone have experience with BCC? Or it turn out not to be BCC? Do they typically biopsy either way? No other symptoms.



Soo...my travel agent in Italy actually DIED of skin cancer in his 40s. It was so sad. He had 3 young kids and a nice wife. He was sure he could go to the US and get a last ditch treatment...nope.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 19:41     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
They only do mohs for locations that present a cosmetic problem so they can take off as little as possible.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 18:59     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Basal Cell is nothing. Everyone gets them.


This. Seriously. They will freeze it off. I probably get 5-10 a year. Plus 1-3 squamous.

They won’t do mos for basal. It’s a surface cancer and kid would be overly aggressive (and expensive). I’ve had basal surgically removed but only after at least 2 attempts of freezing it off.

Truly, op. Basal is extremely common.


Disagree. I had Mohs for a basel cell on the corner of my nose. Maybe Mohs is reserved for only the face? The basel cell is cut out; biopsy done while you wait. If edges are clear, you are stitched up. If edges are not clear, they cut more away. Biopsy again. This is repeated until clear edges. My last basel cell surgery took 3 rounds.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 18:59     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Basal Cell is nothing. Everyone gets them.


This. Seriously. They will freeze it off. I probably get 5-10 a year. Plus 1-3 squamous.

They won’t do mos for basal. It’s a surface cancer and kid would be overly aggressive (and expensive). I’ve had basal surgically removed but only after at least 2 attempts of freezing it off.

Truly, op. Basal is extremely common.

Agree.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 18:51     Subject: Possible Basal Cell Carcinoma - Need Reassurance
Anonymous wrote:I have had basal cell twice. One was removed by Mohs and one was frozen off. That one was smaller, maybe that’s why? They both looked like scaly flaky patches - sort of like a scrape that wouldn’t heal.


I had basel cell twice - came back to the same spot. Mine looked like a pearly, round raised lump. First time, surgeon just cut around the basel cell and removed (I was in twilight sleep). Twenty years later - I had Mohs surgery. Shot up w/Novacaine but fully aware of all that was going on.