My skin cancer story

David, 66, who moved from Wales to Trinidad as a small child, explains, “The mark sat roughly a centimetre from the tip of my nose. It wasn’t painful — just a small mark that looked like a scar which kept reappearing. Occasionally it would bleed, especially if I rubbed it with a towel, and the skin would scab and peel away.”

A biopsy was carried out in Trinidad through his GP, and a sample sent to a pathology lab where skin cancer was diagnosed. David was then referred to a plastic surgeon locally. But the proposed treatment involved a single cut which came with a risk of infection and uncertainty around how much tissue would need to be removed.

“It didn’t feel like the right solution, so I decided to not go ahead with it” said David, who works as an off-shore consultant.

It was whilst visiting his daughter during a trip to Australia in 2024 he decided to have a second biopsy. He said, “It made sense to me as there were skin clinics all over the place and obviously there are high incidents of skin cancer out there.”

The results were inconclusive, but doctors advised him not to ignore it.

By this point, the lesion was still scabbing and refusing to heal — a clear sign that it needed proper attention.

David says, “It was actually my wife who began researching alternative options. I really didn’t want the cancer being cut out and leaving a scar in such a prominent place.”

Their research led them to discover ‘Mohs surgery’ – which removes cancerous tissue ‘layer‑by‑layer’ causing less scarring. The procedure, named after American Dr. Frederic E. Mohs who developed the technique in the 1930s, is a procedure for treating skin cancer which involves removing thin layers of skin one layer at a time. The layers are then examined under a microscope, to check for cancer cells until cancer is no longer detected and at the same time, keeping healthy skin intact.

Determined to “get it done properly,” David decided to travel to the UK for treatment at The London Clinic. Having previously attended The London Clinic for a thyroid eye issue many years ago, David felt reassured by the care and professionalism he would receive.

In February this year, David underwent Mohs surgery under local anaesthetic under the care of Dr Saqib Bashir, Consultant Dermatological Surgeon at The London Clinic. The procedure involved four meticulous stages, with each layer examined in real time until all cancer cells were fully removed.

To David’s surprise, the process was completely pain‑free.

“There was nothing painful at all,” he recalls. “I knew I might have some scarring, but that felt far better than letting the cancer continue to eat away.”

And his recovery was straightforward.

The stitches were removed a week later, and aside from scarring — which he knows will improve with time — David healed well.

He was especially grateful for how considerate the team were of his circumstances, living abroad, and ensured he could return home as soon as feasibly possible.

“Everyone at The London Clinic was very nice — a whole team of nurses who made me feel comfortable, and I am very pleased with the outcome. I am also very grateful that my stay in the UK was kept as brief as possible, so I could return home” he says.

Looking back, David has one clear message for others who may notice something similar.

“Don’t mess with it,” he says. “If you’ve had a biopsy, take it seriously. Bite the bullet and get it looked after properly. It’s worth it” says David.

The London Clinic offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic services to help identify potential skin concerns. From acne to eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and skin cancer, our team of world-class consultants offer first-class same-day medical care – providing quick and accurate diagnoses to leave you with a personalised care plan and definite next steps.