One of the many joys of aging, apart from the exponential growth of unwanted chin hairs, is that more lumps seem to grow on your body. I’ve had a couple of lumps next to my nose and on my chin for a few years now, and none of them looked like anything much, no strange colours or the like, I’ve been ignoring them.
See that tiny lump next to my nose? Well that’s a basal cell carcinoma, those lumps on my jaw, benign moles and nothing to worry about
Skin Check for Skin Cancer
Then last time I was at my doctor for a general checkup (I like to do one of these around my birthday) I mentioned that I had these lumps and probably should also get a general skin check for the wrong kind of moles that may be mutating into skin cancer. Given that Australia has very strong sunlight and that melanoma and skin cancers are common (I had a Squamous cell carcinoma cut out of my back when I was in my mid-twenties) and I’ve got that fair skin that burns easily and so I’m more prone to getting skin cancer, it’s worth getting skin checked.
Now I’ve been wearing sunscreen on my face every day of my life since I was 18 and discovered that 80% of wrinkles come from sun damage (plus I wear sun hats too), I thought that I’ve been pretty safe with regards to sun damage and potential risk.
So off I went to the dermatologist, with my list of lumps I wanted him to check and all the ones I thought were possibly something, well they were just regular lumps and moles, but the ones next to my nose which were clear little lumps which seemed to be full of a fluid that sometimes burst if I dried my face too vigorously, but didn’t seem noxious, well after biopsies, I’ve discovered they are basal cell carcinomas (skin cancers) and they have nodes (which means roots) meaning that I will have to have them surgically removed by a plastic surgeon.
Now I’ve had these lumps for years and years, had been ignoring them because they didn’t look like anything, just a couple of shiny little lumps that didn’t seem to get bigger, yet turns out they are a sort that needs to be removed. My regular doctor didn’t recognise them as a skin cancer, but as soon as the dermatologist saw them, he immediately identified them.
Given the stitches after the biopsy were black thread (could they not make some clear or skin coloured ones?) and then I’m all taped, up, have to say I’m happy that the wearing of face masks when out of the house is de rigour as then it’s all covered up in public.
Next step is to go to see the plastic surgeon and have the cancers removed (hopefully they won’t be too deep or wide and I don’t have to have too much of my face cut out).
Wow! That’s pretty scary. Well done for catching them when you did.
And yes. What’s with the black stitches???!
Praying for you 🙏
Your faithful fan
Good luck with the surgery and Good outcome!
Thanks so much
Thanks Pat! appreciate your support
Oh my what a nasty surprise. Thank you for your message; Denver CO USA also has strong skin, more days of sunlight than clouds, and high altitude. I too have been wearing sun block and hats, but I will make it a point to have every part of my skin checked out. thank you, and may good news come your way with the surgery.
Definitely worth doing!
Oh no!. I had one taken out from my cheek by a plastic surgeon and you can’t even see the scar. They do a great job. Good luck.
Thanks for sharing this. I’m sure a lot pf people (me included) will be getting some bumps checked!
Oh no, so sorry to hear this! I wish you good luck with the next step and hope for a speedy recovery!
Very scary, indeed. Thank you for sharing your experience, Imogen. Also, people with darker skin tones are not exempt from wearing sunscreen. Melanin is not sunscreen UVA and UVB rays are present on sunny and cloudy days. If you have skin, you can get skin cancer so it is wise to protect yourself.
Absolutely -we all have to protect our skin!
Oh Imogen! I’m so proud of you for getting them checked out and fixed. And thank you for so bravely sharing your photographs and your story. This is exactly the sort of thing that really helps people — complete with photos to demystify everything. Best wishes for a good outcome with the plastic surgeon.
I hope so too!
Yes, thanks for sharing with us Imogen. Makes you realise that it really is best to get your skin checked regularly as we really sometimes can’t tell when something needs to be attended to. I too will pray for your op and speedy recovery. Deborah xx
So important – I had no idea these were the nasty bumps rather than the benign ones – I thought I was wasting the dermatologists time!
So sorry to hear this, Imogen. I hope you get the surgery soon.
Thanks – seeing the plastic surgeon next week to see the next step
All the best with your upcoming skin surgery. Getting yearly full body checkups is essential for us all❤️
A good warning to us all – often those innocent looking little bumps can be quite serious. Found our blog via High Latitude Style. Love to see you linking at mine on Wednesdays.
SO pleased you got these checked out and the Bccs diagnosed, Imogen. And that face masks are still in till they heal. I thought the contrast stitching (!) was so they could see what they’d done, easy to remove .. It can be so surprising as you say- I had a pale flesh coloured tiny bump that turned out to be a melanoma,
You still look stunning! All the best for rapid and invisble healing .
It’s a good reminder: I have a couple little things on my face that probably should be looked at!
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I’m sorry to hear it’s cancer. I think of you and wish all the best with your surgery.
My husband went for an annual checkup in January and was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early and he’s fine, but I’d rather forget last spring.
Sorry to read this – I hope he’s well recovered now! I’m hoping these haven’t gone too deep so will be easily excised from my body!
Thank you, he’s well now, but you’re officially cleared after five years.
I hope those would be taken out easily and that the whole therapy/recovery process would be quick!
Thank you for alerting us to this type of skin cancer that probably many people have but don’t know it yet. I might be one of them! You have provided a valuable public service; your kindness is commendable. I love your hair color, by the way! Good choice to let it be naturally beautiful. 🙂