Hi,

I'm not a nurse but I have been a melanoma patient for many years. I just wanted to answer your question whilst waiting for the nurses to return tomorrow.

Yes, any change in a mole should be checked out by a GP. If they feel it needs further examination they  will refer her to dermatology, usually under the 2 week pathway. 

75% of patients referred to dermatology are given a clean bill of health. If she is young (under 25) the chance of it being malignant is also reduced but it really needs checking for peace of mind.

Good luck and please let us know how she gets on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thanks Angie,

She went to the doctor today and is being referred to the detemology department. Her doctor said it could take two to three weeks before she gets an appointment. My head is wrecked and I'm going to see if I can go private. 

Thanks for your quick response and word's of encouragement. This freckle moul started to appear about 12 months ago, but looked just like any other freckle.

Regards Richard 

Hi Richard, and thank you for both posts,

I am glad that your daughter did get the mole checked and that she has now been referred to dermatology. I appreciate that waiting for an appointment can be difficult and stressful. I can imagine that 3 weeks can feel like a very long time.

Some people in this situation will choose to go privately to try to be seen sooner, although I am unsure how much sooner she would be seen. If this is something that your daughter would like to do, she could try her local private hospital. It might be the dermatologist she is referred to has a private practice locally. Or, you may find it helpful to look at the private health website GoPrivate .com  where your daughter will be able to search for private hospitals near her.

In the meantime, please feel free to get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care, all the best

Jemma

Thanks Jemma for your quick response. We're currently looking for a private appointment locally in the meantime.

Regards Richard