Although, you had this lesion for long time you don't need to worry. Basel cell carcinoma is very slowly growing and typically does not spread to other body parts. Basel cell carcinoma usually is able to invade and destroy the surrounding tissue, but very, very rare can give some metastases. Surgically or with a intralesional injection of interferon, basel cell carcinoma is highly curable.
Don't worry! You should only be aware that there are some chances when you already had one BCC lesion, others BCC lesions to develop over the years. This type of cancer is highly connected to life sun exposure, so in future, you should systematically look and feel for any changes in your skin, wear protective clothing (long sleeve- high-density cool shirts/blouses) and hats when outdoors, wear 100% U.V. protective sunglasses(face skin is very common place for BCC to develop), avoid intensive sunshine during the day(10-14 hour) and high factor sunscreens.
You'll be fine!
I have couple of relatives with this skin problem(my grandfather, aunt and uncle) and they are living their normal life for years after the treatment.
Best wishes!
Marija

Thanks for replying!! This is all so scary to me, especially with how big it is. The doctor said the whole will fill in. I just hope she got it all and they don't have remove anymore. I will be very careful in the sun. I rarely go in the sun anymore but I know it doesn't take much. I guess it looks so big too cause she had to go beyond it to send back for testing. I have freckles on my body that I don't know what are normal anymore. I'm going to have her look me over. Your response meant a lot to me, thank you.

You are welcome anytime!
I understand that your skin defect looks scary to you, but is due to cancers character(locally invasive) and excision(the incision line always needs to be in normal healthy tissue to avoid cancer recurrence).
You'll be fine!
Be careful and ask your doctor to check everything on your whole skin.
Thinking of you!
Best wishes!
Marija

Thanks Marija. I think she just scraped and burned it off. No stitches. I'll be glad when it heals. I don't know what I would have done without you during this. I'll be asking her to check my body when I go back.

Hi debm!
I'm glad I made you feel better!
I'll do my best to be supportive and helpful anytime you need it!
Please,keep us up dated!

Hi...it's me again. This cancer was removed from my back and I have to keep a gauze pad on it most of the time because it's still oozing. When I take the gauze pad off, it sticks to it. Do you think I could put vaseline on it to keep it from sticking to the wound? The doctor prefers I let the air hit it, but because of the location and I have to work, I can only keep it off a few hours in the evening. Any suggestions? Thanks!!

Before you try to take the gauze pad off, you should only put some physiological solution on it.
Hope this advise will be helpful!
Please,keep me updated!

Is that the same as the saline spray we use for our sinuses? Thank you and I will keep you updated. I went last Thursday and she said the wound is looking good. The biopsy results weren't back yet, I'm praying I won't need anymore taken off.

It's the same saline solution(NaCl solution), but you should be able to find it in a bottle and as a additives-free (saline solutions used for sinuses, usually contains additives)
I'm sure this will help you to avoid painful removing of gauze pad.
Write to you soon!
Best wishes!
Marija

Did you find my advice helpful?
Have you received your biopsy results already?

Yes, thanks so much for all of your help. It's healing slow, but it is making progress. It still bleeds and oozes. I go Thursday to find out the results and so she can have another look. I sure hope they got it all. I read where one man is on his 4th surgery because his biopsy still isn't clean.

I went in today and the margins came back clean!!! I have to go back and have a full body check. She said the wound is healing good. She said it looks nice and red and meaty and the big whole has filled in. She said she gets angry at doctors who just hand their patients creme when in fact it is cancer or melanoma, which happened in my case. Thanks so much for your advice and support, it really has helped me.

I'm so happy that your results are fine (your wound is healing good and that's also a sign that the place is clean of cancer cells) That's great!
I'm also glad that your are aware how important is to have a full body check.
Best wishes!

I didn't know that that if the wound is wound is healing good that it's a sign it is clear of cancer cells. It does make sense. I'll be in touch