Hello,

I discovered a red spot on my leg just below the knee by about 10cm, I went to my local GP and he was not familiar with it and called in another GP for their opinion, unfortunately they both could not identify it. I was sent home with a perscription for some ointment to put on it.

I used the ointment "Bactroban" for a considerable time and it really did not have any effect at all and in fact it made the spot become pussy "puslike"and there was eventually signs of bleeding. It would then heal up and get a crust on it. I would lay off the ointment and it would go back to being pussy again.

So to cut a long story short I returned to my GP again some 12 months later I may add, as I had lost faith in their expetese in this field. Fortunately there was an elderly Doctor who recognised it immediately as a suspect Carcinoma and proceeded to take a biopsy. The result confirmed that it was a Basal Cell Carcinoma and he assured me that it was not too bad at this stage and that I would have to get it removed.

I was refered to a specialist, he found four more on my upper body, on ein my chest and three in my upper arms.

I have just returned from hospital looking like I was run over by a train but everything is already healed up one week after the operation. The upper body ones are only scars about 30to 40mm in length, however, the one on my leg required a bigger operation where the area of the cancer had to be comletely removed and the surrounding skin flapped back over the spot. I ended up with quite  alarge scar triangular in shape which is still stitched up and healing up really well.

My skin specialist inspected the wounds a couple of days ago and advised me that everything went well and that he got the cancers removed in full.

I guess my advise to anybody with suspect sun spots is to get in early and have them looked at, get a second opinion if you are not happy with the answer you are given. I believe that time is the saviour here and do not put it off for too long.

You will be happy when it is all over believe me and their is no pain at all.

I hope to add afew photos later on when my wounds have healed up just to give you an idea of the end result.

I am happy for people to write to me if you have any questions.

Just for your info, I am  a male with fair skin complection, I was not exposed to any real sunshine as I was bore in Ireland, however, I was exposed to the tropical sun in Northern Australia from age 20 years, I only removed my shirt ocassionaly though but I have been badly sunburned on occasions. I have always worn short pants and worked outdoors.

I also have very small red spots on both my forearms which my GP can remove with dry-ice??, I have to get this procedure done soon.

Kindest regards

Sean

Darwin

Northern Territory

Australia

E=mail: clifden@ozemail.com.au