HI Tracy,

I'm not a nurse but I've been a melanoma patient for many years & I just wanted to reply to your post whilst you await the nurses coming back on Monday.

I know how worried you will be but please know that most consultants prefer to see their patients to give them the results, whether good or bad. At the same time they may want to check if the wound is healing well & have a quick look at any other moles you may have (again, whether the results are good or bad). 

Try to distract yourself whilst waiting for your appointment to keep your mind from jumping ahead to worse case scenarios. There is a 75% chance that the mole was benign or dysplastic (also known as atypical or precancerous). If it is melanoma, there is a very, very good chance it's been caught early.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thank you Angie for your reply, and good luck x

Hi Tracy

Be reassured by the fact that the consultant wants to see you in person, you are getting the best possible care. They will check the wound, ask you how your general health is and if you have any concerns. This is an ideal opportunity to ask any questions you may have, write them down beforehand or you will forget when at your appointment, take someone along with you who can help you remember what the consultant says. It can all seem quite a blur afterwards. The consultant will also advise you about the type of mole and if any further treatment is necessary, looking after your health and self checking monthly for new moles. Ask for any correspondence with your GP to be also be sent to you. As ever the waiting is worse than the event. Hope it all goes well.

Ed

Hi Tracy and thank you for your post.

I can appreciate that waiting for tests and test results can be a stressful and anxious time.

I can only echo what Angie and Ed have posted, that having a face-to-face appointment does not mean it is bad news. Often doctors prefer to do face-to-face appointments as it also gives them a chance to check the wound as well.

Easier said than done, try not to overthink things. Sometimes people find it helpful to distract themselves by carrying on with their daily activities such as working or meeting friends.

I hope you can get answers soon. In the meantime, if you would like to speak with one of our nurses on the helpline you would be welcome to call us on freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are available between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Jemma