Cancer Research UK main site

Sore mole

Sophie2508
Offline

For the last week I've had back pain accompanied by a soreness in my back. When I reached round I noticed it was a mole causing the soreness. I of course can't see it properly but from a photo it looks very red with a tiny darker dot in the middle. It's not very big and looks similar in shape to the rest of my moles (fried egg look) but it's more raised and certainly more red whereas the others are skin coloured. I called the doctors on Monday and they asked me to send a photo but I haven't heard back and I feel riddled with anxiety over it. Even looked at going private as I can't cope with a long wait time. How can they diagnose over a photo

  • Offline

    Hi maybe give the doctors a call? I've got a spot on my back that started itching. They have fast tracked me to see a dermatologist within two weeks. IM absolutely terrified that it's going to be cancer. I'm struggle each day to cope with it all and haven't told anyone. 
    hopefully doctors will get back to you soon x

  • Offline in reply to Mummyoftwo2021

    If I don't hear by the end of the day im going to call them back and find out why. I definitely want/need it looking at with it being sore.

    I seen your post, sorry you're going through this too! Worrying is infectious but it's so hard not to. I just had a baby last month and feel probably even more terrified because I have him to think about now too. Please let us know how you get on xx

  • Offline in reply to Sophie2508

    Thank you, I really hope we both are worrying about nothing but it's difficult I also two children but been raising them as a single parent. I'm scared that I will be diagnosed with melanoma. I lost my sister to breat cancer years ago and it was awful to watch her go through it. Wish all the best and please keep me updated x

  • Offline

    Hi,

    I'm not a nurse but I have been a melanoma patient for many years. 

    It's unusual for a mole to become sore unless it or the skin around & under it is infected. It also would be very unusual if it was the cause of your back pain. However, with anything like this it's good that you have sent a photo to your GP. It may be that the GP most qualified at the practice to look at dermatological problems hasn't been there the last few days & they may be waiting for them to check it out. If I was you I would probably wait until later today & if you haven't heard back give them a ring to ask if a GP has had chance to look at it as it's causing you great anxiety. Hopefully you will get a response quickly and it will turn out to be an easily treatable skin infection or the subject of trauma (have you hurt or caught, scratched your back recently - one of my moles was accidently scratched, bled a little, scabbed with a tiny dark spot and then went back to normal. As for diagnosing from a photo - they can't, but neither can they diagnose a malignant mole with the naked eye. What they do is look for signs that meet the NICE ABCDE chart & if the mole scores 3 or more points on the chart they refer the patient to the experts at Dermatology. 

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

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

  • Hello Sophie2508 and thanks for posting, 

    I agree with what Angie says, if you haven't heard anything by the end of the day, then get in touch with the GP to ask what they think about your photo, I think waiting 48 hours is a reasonable amount of time to give them. Angie is right to say that they can't diagnose a melanoma for sure from a photo - even a specialist would usually need a tissue biopsy, but they can say if a mole has any suspicious features. As long as the image is clear, it should help the GP to decide whether or not you need to be referred to a skin specialist (dermatologist) urgently (within 2 weeks). You can read about what they look for on our website at this link. 

    I do hope this turns out to just be a health scare, with nothing much the matter at the end of the day. While you are in the thick of it just now it can be very worrying for anyone and most people in this sort of situtaion feel strung out and stressed.  Do your best to keep an open mind, take things one step at a time and try not to anticipate what is the matter. 

    I hope it is easy to arrange to speak to your GP. 

    Best wishes,

    Julia

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.