Jimmy Dancer

I am fair skinned and have had surgery,etc to remove various skin cancers,diagnosed by various gp,s over the years.My mrs advised me to seek out a skin cancer specialist for check ups etc,the difference in technique is dramatic As you say you are visiting GP,s not specialists,perhaps ask your gp what specific training he has.
In november the specialist advised that i try a treatment to combat skin cancers on my face,because of the many sites that i have,this involves applying a cream daily it has the effect of starving the skin cancer sites ,they later dry up and fall off,no surgery no scars,takes a few weeks leaves the skin soft and clear.Perhaps it may assist you.

I tell you what else will get you .
Making your own lead sinkers in a confined space IE garage .

I have similar issues to you & have had a few cut off over the years. I now show my GP which ones itch or are sore ,or just worry me, & he freezes them off.
I do this once a year. But there is no substitute for a full exam by a skin
specialist if you have concerns. I lost my best mate to Melanoma about 10 years
ago, so it pays to be careful...........oldbaz.

Melanoma is most common in white people who live in sunny climates so both your GPs may not be the greatest at spotting them. Melanoma can present very differently from one person to another and the common ABCDE rule the GP's use has quite a few flaws and exceptions. The only proven method is experience in detection. Go and see a dermatologist who specialises in skin cancers. Even melanoma's can be sucessfully treated if caught early but are all but untreatable if left.

Steve

I agree with Steve.

Get your doc to refer you to a dermatologist, not a skin cancer clinic, a dermatologist. And that goes for everyone else out there too. I have had a GP miss a skin cancer while the dermatologist detected it.

Thanks for raising the discussion as it is an important one for those of us that spend many hours in the sunshine, now and when we were kids....

hi royce
well yes i can relate to your question
i have very fair skin and have always suffered with sunburn and use to blister regulary and then peel like a banana over the years
5 yrs ago i had a small lump removed from the side of neck and 2 years ago i did my complete facial area with efudix cream
it was in all a 3 month exercise from start to when the blotches caused by the efudix completely cleared up
i havent experienced anything like it i had burning pain on day/ night basis and was unable to sleep much and it stirred up my nerves big time

in fact i told the dr i thought the cream was nuclea waste from churnobile in russia
i found it to be simular to weak battery acid , i'm not kidding you
i lost a whole layer of skin from areas treated and was an ugly sight for several weeks///// old story no pain--- no gain but if it's worth doing it's worth doing well !!!
but ! - then the end results was well worth the effort and painfulness
i now have a more youthful unblemished face and neck /forehead and clear skin appearance but the old bits are still on the inside --- lol
my dr congratulated me he said only 40% of the patience he recommended this treatment too
actually completed it but all with good results
so to all of those contemplating this
my advice is do it although a lot of discomfort and a real challenge it was definately worth it 100%
cheers and a happy new year to all

If you have odd spots that haven't really developed try regular dabs with vinegar. I am not saying don't see a specialist if that is what you feel you have to do but there is a natural follow on for most doctors to burn off any spots and personally I don't care for the idea of having holes burned in me.
I have always spent a lot of time at the beach and outdoors and find that where there have been things developing that I am sure the doctor would have been delighted to have burned off and charged the usual fee I have gone for the vinegar instead and after a bit the `spot' dries and scratches off.
Low cost and the `treatment' is benign.

Yours tropically, Harry

I too had advanced Melanoma 9 years ago, it was picked up purely by chance as I had attended the Gps for a totally different reason.
The following treatment and the "what if it comes back" is very traumatic to myself and family.

I have since been in remission but have had quite a few Sqamous cell carcinoma's removed from my face and body.
The worst was on the bridge of my nose which left me with an " ex boxers" nose
But hey I can live with that and I'm still here!

I personally think everyone should have at least a 12 monthly check up by a specialist dermatologist, as at some skin cancer checkup places it is only done by a local GP with minimal experience in that area.

If in doubt get it checked!