Hello and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear about your husbands's situation. It may be worth phoning the secretary to find out when his appointment is due. There should be a record in his notes as to when he is next due to be seen.

Depending on the stage that the melanoma was diagosed will depend on how often he is seen.  

It  may also help to persist with trying to reach the specialist nurse or leave another message on the phone so you both know more of what to expect.

We do have some general time lines on our website which you may find quite helpful to look at here

We can't recommend private doctors or hospitals but you may find it helpful to look at this private health care website here

Sometimes the doctors your husband is seeing also have a private practice as well so it is worth checking if this is so.

The British Association of dermatologists (BAD) have written the following on follow up for melanoma here

I hope that some of these links may be helpful. If you want to give the nurses a ring then please do so. The helpline number is open 9-5 and our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040.

All the best,

Catherine

Hi Fluffyball,

I'm not a nurse but I've been a melanoma patient for many years. I agree with Catherine that your husband should ring his consultant's Secretary to see when he can expect his next appointment. I'm assuming he's either Stage 1 or 2? In which case his appointments should be 3 monthly for the first year but dermatology clinics are currently running behind so don't be alarmed if his appointment ends up a month late. 

His team is the dermatologist, plastic surgeon and specialist nurse. If he's under a large hospital the dermatology clinics tend to have more than one nurse (mine has 3) and he can speak to any of them, not just the one that hasn't replied to his call. Ask the Secretary if there is another number for the nurses that he can try in future, or an email address.

I know how we can sometimes feel we've been forgotten by our clinicians, especially when it's not long after diagnosis. I've sent you a friend request so that, if you want to chat for further support, you can send me a private message.

Good luck and I hope your husband keeps well,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thank you. He was stage 1b and was told he'd be checked every 3 months for the first couple of years 

Hi Angie! He phoned the hospital today and they put him through to dermatology. They called him back and asked for details then said to wait while they spoke to someone. He was then told he has an appointment for the beginning of May. His impression is that he'd been overlooked.

It's a possibility although I've had to chase up appointments lately with my pancreatic consultant. I get the impression that they are so behind with the routine maintenance checks that they find you an appointment if you ring about the delay. Otherwise they get round to you when they have a space. Some departments at some hospitals appear to be a little chaotic post Covid. Glad he's at least got a date now.

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Husband's appointment cancelled at very short notice (IE got letter on Saturday about appt on Tuesday ). Have been given another in three weeks which means his "3 month check" is almost 6 months. I've spotted something on his back so he has an appt with doctor at local health centre coz I don't want him to wait til hospital checkup also in case it's cancelled again. Definitely going to book a private appt next time.