Hello,

I (28F) have a freckle on my shoulder that appeared 2.5 - 3 years ago. It started off as 3 dots forming a mickey-mouse shape and since then it is less so, more like a blotch. The freckle is less than 6mm but has 2 different brown colours and a little pin-point dark dot in the middle (this appears to be a new feature in the last few months).

Because of the change, I saw my GP in the new year. He said he thought it was harmless but asked me to visit him again in a couple of months. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and the GP still thinks it's harmless but he would send a photo to the dermatology department to make sure and he said he'd mark it as urgent because otherwise I "would never be seen" because NHS skin services are so busy.

I received a letter confirming my appointment on the 11th of May and it says it's a skin surgery appointment. I'm really concerned about this because my GP was so blasé, but clearly the dermatologist isn't as relaxed about it. 

Now I'm regretting not having this checked sooner. I thought I would have completely wasted my GP's time if I had presented this to him when the pandemic was in full swing.

What are your thoughts? If this is melanoma, have I left it too late? Can melanoma take years before it becomes a stage 3 or 4 melanoma?

I can't stop doom scrolling om Google and am worried sick