Potential skin cancer

[Woodentops]

Put a post on here few wks bk.about couple of things.one was about a lump I got on my head.got letter today saying I've got potential skin cancer. Was not ideal finding out the way I did. No pre warning just a letter.where has the empathy gone and the one to one personal touch. Was such a bombshell

[Ladyrob62]

That is a horrible way to find out, they could have given a quick phone call even, that would have been a little nicer

[Framboise]

Gosh, what a complete lack of empathy and professionalism! It could be that they used the word 'potential' as a way of covering all bases and that the likelihood is very remote, but even so it's bad and you must have been terribly upset, I certainly would have been! I'm not sure if there's much point in complaining, you may not get anywhere, but it might make you feel a bit better if you did. I hope the letter also had a date for an appointment for you to see a specialist? I really sympathise with you and hope they were being ultra cautious, but if not I do hope that you get very quick treatment and recover quickly

[Katepots]

It is quite likely to be a cystic growth and not cancer.

There are lipomas, bony growths, benign tumours and several different types of cysts too so don't overly worry!

I was told over the phone while I was by myself that I had Mid diffuse cerebral atrophy and micro vascular changes. Meaning strokes and possible Alzheimer's! It turned out that I had neither with further private tests!! That was such a shock though and gave my husband and I weeks of horrendous worry. Luckily I hadn't told my children before I saw a private specialist and had more brain scans.

No empathy whatsoever.

[Katiegirl123]

You are perhaps better off than me they didn't bother to contact me at all so after a couple of weeks of no word from them I called and said casually that had skin cancer. A friend referred me to Really Good doctor who did a scrapping of the cartilage in the nose to remove a basal skin cancer. First doctor my friend said was known as the butcher. The second doctor was wonderful thank God !!!!!!

[Camdentown]

What on earth has happened to the NHS? You may want to look at the use of iodine for skin cancer as part of the jigsaw puzzle, but I do hope that this is a misdiagnosis and wish you all the best.

[Hidden]

that is rude and unprofessional

[shaws Administrator]

That must have been a terrific shock. Why did they not call you for an appointment first to tell you in person, with advice on what the next step is, which I should think is taking a sample of your skin before you actual get a positive diagnosis. Not send a letter and leave you stunned.

[bluebug in reply to shaws]

That would have taken time away from their target hitting.

Woodentops If they don't have a doctor available there is nothing stopping them making a nurse appointment so the nurse can tell you. The nurse may know SFA but the GP wouldn't know much more, and either way they can tell you when you are likely to see the specialist.

[Woodentops in reply to shaws]

I saw dermatologist on monday wad only in the consultation room for less than 2 minutes.he just said it needs removing and he will send a referal to my hosp that was it.until i got the letter yesterday.was stunned and on my own i was so upset

[AlegnaB]

I know it's difficult but please try not to worry. I had cancer on the tip of my nose and after 4 ops including a skin graft all is well. No treatment needed. There are many types of skin cancer and most are non malignant. Keep positive!!! X Angela

[Woodentops in reply to AlegnaB]

Glad to hear your ok.and thank u x

[puncturedbicycle]

A few years ago I got a text from gp saying my cervical smear was normal, then a letter saying it wasn't. I complained to the practice manager.

After all the fuss getting our thyroid results - you can't have them until the doc eyeballs them etc - to send someone a letter saying you may have cancer is a new low.

[Hidden]

I had the same a few years back about a mole that had gone funny. I went in and had it removed which was literally seconds and didn't hurt as they numb it. They tested it and said it wasn't cancerous but took them 2 weeks to send that. They said I would hear sooner if it was. Don't worry too much. I did though but it turned out to be OK x

[Woodentops in reply to Hidden]

Glad it was ok for.just a bit of a shock how i found out x

[eeng]

There are 3 types of skin cancer. The best one to get is extremely curable, the second one is very curable, and the malignant melanoma is quite curable so long as it is caught early. If it is cancer (which hasn't been confirmed yet) then they will remove it. Probably no chemo or radiotherapy needed. They then should check you every 3-6 months to make sure it hasn't returned. My mother had skin cancer on her head, her hairdresser noticed it. It started as one of the milder forms, it was removed. It then recurred after 2-3 years as a more serious form, they caught it early but because it was so big she needed a skin graft from her leg. 5 years on she is fine. I would say don't skimp on any checkups they offer you, but even if it is cancer it's not anywhere near a death sentence, and you probably won't need anything except what is fairly minor surgery in the scheme of things.

I hope that helps.

[PoDundee]

I read about a woman who cured her mother's skin cancer using coconut oil mixed with bicarbonate of soda. Worth a try.

[Woodentops in reply to PoDundee]

Thank u willing to try anything

[PoDundee]

healthy-holistic-living.com...

[Hidden]

That's horrible thought these days when news like that was broken you would have a face to face consult with a McMillan nurse by your side tut tut. Good luck and hope all goes well with you. 😘🤗