BritinSA
06-02-23, 21:38
Hey everyone, I should preface this and say, I had crippling health anxiety about 6 years ago and managed to get back from it. Every now and again I’ll have a flare up and then it’ll settle down again, but lately I’ve been really struggling.
I have had a little spot (I assumed a small mole) just below my lip for as long as I can remember. I was pregnant a few years ago and since then I noticed it was a little darker and more prominent, but I never paid it much attention. I have many moles and had a full body check with my dermatologist (who is also treating a scar with laser therapy for me, so I’ve probably seen him 3 times since August 2022) when I had two moles removed from my foot, which came back as “dysplastic”. He reminded me that I needed to stay on top of checking my moles but said that an annual visit would catch anything if I stayed on top of it.
However, lately I have spiralled as I had a bad cold (thanks to my toddler) and with the cold weather my lips and nose have been chapped and sore from rubbing. For the first time the area below my lip hurt so I called and made an appointment to see my dermatologist last week, but they can’t get me in til 14th Feb. Since then I’ve petrified myself looking at pictures and convinced myself I have a basal cell carcinoma that I’ve left untouched for years and years (at least 9, from looking at old photos). I know this is a treatable cancer, but equally I fear needing to have MOHs surgery or being disfigured because the cancer is deep.
I feel so alone in dealing with this. I’ve worked so hard to get away from HA fears (mostly centred around my lymph nodes) and yet I’ve slipped right back 😞
Does anyone have any reassurance for me? Have you had a diagnosis and been fine? What else could it be?
I have had a little spot (I assumed a small mole) just below my lip for as long as I can remember. I was pregnant a few years ago and since then I noticed it was a little darker and more prominent, but I never paid it much attention. I have many moles and had a full body check with my dermatologist (who is also treating a scar with laser therapy for me, so I’ve probably seen him 3 times since August 2022) when I had two moles removed from my foot, which came back as “dysplastic”. He reminded me that I needed to stay on top of checking my moles but said that an annual visit would catch anything if I stayed on top of it.
However, lately I have spiralled as I had a bad cold (thanks to my toddler) and with the cold weather my lips and nose have been chapped and sore from rubbing. For the first time the area below my lip hurt so I called and made an appointment to see my dermatologist last week, but they can’t get me in til 14th Feb. Since then I’ve petrified myself looking at pictures and convinced myself I have a basal cell carcinoma that I’ve left untouched for years and years (at least 9, from looking at old photos). I know this is a treatable cancer, but equally I fear needing to have MOHs surgery or being disfigured because the cancer is deep.
I feel so alone in dealing with this. I’ve worked so hard to get away from HA fears (mostly centred around my lymph nodes) and yet I’ve slipped right back 😞
Does anyone have any reassurance for me? Have you had a diagnosis and been fine? What else could it be?