Hi Lucylouu, and thank you for your post.

I am sorry to learn that you are concerned about a mole. I can understand how unsettling this must be for you.

It can be challenging to assess whether a mole is cancerous based solely on its appearance. Therefore, having any suspicious moles looked at by a dermatologist is essential.

Your general practitioner (GP) may not be an expert in skin conditions, so they have referred you to a dermatologist. Your GP is following NHS guidelines and is sending you under the 28-day faster diagnosis rule called the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS).

It doesn’t necessarily mean that it is cancer. Most patients referred under the Faster Diagnosis Standard system do not have cancer but may have another skin condition requiring hospital diagnosis and treatment.

It is not uncommon during pregnancy for moles to appear larger or change due to fluctuating hormones.

I know waiting when you are worried is stressful, but hopefully you’ll know more soon.

Please 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.

Kind regards

Tina

Thanks for your reply Tina, my appointment is next week, what do you mean it’s uncommon during pregnancy? Do you like that’s something that could trigger my mole to get bigger is that what you meant ? 
king regards Lucy :) thanks again for your reply x

Hi Lucylouu,

It means that the hormone activity when pregnant can often make existing moles change (in size or colour etc) but it doesn't mean that they become cancerous in most cases. My niece has had this happen during both her pregnancies - as both moles looked 'dodgy' they removed them but the biopsies showed they were dysplastic moles (also know as atypical or precancerous). 

Good luck next week & please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thank you so much for your message, did your niece get any symptoms at all? And also did they remove the mole on first appointment?

kind regards Lucy :) 

No, my niece had no symptoms - melanoma doesn't usually have any symptoms (like pain etc). 

She had a different mole change during each of her pregnancies. On both occasions she was brought back at a date for their removal - it's rare that moles are removed at the first consultation - they only do this if the mole is very small & they have the clinic time and staff. Patients usually go back as a day patient to have it removed under local anaesthetic.