Anyone know anything about basal cell carcinoma?

We took Gracie to have tumors removed from her cheek today.  She had one this time last year which was removed successfully with very little issue.  The vet said at that time that it probably wouldn't come back but I noticed swelling a few weeks ago and took her for a check up.  Sure enough, there were two new tumors.

The vet just called and sounded hesitant, although she said Gracie was fine.  I was a little taken aback because a) the tumor came back and b) the vet sounded cautious.  I will probably find out more when I pick Gracie up but wondered if anyone had experience with this?

I don't know about cats and BCCs but in humans they are the least concerning of the skin cancers and rarely, if ever, metastasise.  They can be disfiguring, though.  To my knowledge, if it came back it means they didn't get it all in the first place, but that really is just from my personal experience and with human BCC.

Thanks, Mani!  Gracie is home with an e-collar, which has made her very unhappy.  The vet was worried about her face - she had a hard time leaving enough lip.

But Gracie has already eaten twice, used the potty and spent the rest of her time hiding.  She's under the bed now and will not let me near enough to her to give her pain meds.  She's really, really angry with me but oh well!

The vet did say it would probably come back now.  Last year she didn't think so and was actually surprised that it did come back.  She'd thought she'd gotten the entire tumor but cancer is such a sneaky disease.  The two new tumors were in the same spot as the first one, so chances are it is the same one.

Fingers crossed, she'll be OK.  The stitches can be left to dissolve or I can take her back in a week.  I will probably let them dissolve as I may never get close enough to her to get her in the carrier again!

Miezi has had two basal cell carcinomas removed within a couple of years, and both were in the same spot - on her side, which is really unusual. The vet said pretty much what Mani said. Her recovery was pretty fast, but she hated the e-collar, too.

for Gracie!

Thank you jcat.  We had her on the porch last night and she did well.  This morning, she decided to come into the house and has been under the bed since.  I am not sure how I'm going to get her to take the collar of tomorrow!  I guess we'll see...