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Amour56
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I started with a rash my GP doesn’t know what it is , waiting for a consultation. With a dermatologist 9 years ago last March, that’s a record wait on the waiting list.

 It’s been 9 years now , but it’s changed and I am thinking it’s skin cancer, I was a nurse, and I have seen skin cancer. The itching is endless, and I have some nasty wounds that will not heal. I’m so embarrassed that I won’t go out because it is ugly . Sleepless nights because of the ever itching. 

the rash is different now , but still itches. I have looked up online and the rash looks like the photos of melanoma . I am worried, I will make an appointment with my Dr but it is a 16 week wait. 
thank you  

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    Hi,

    I'm sorry you have been waiting so long for a dermatology appointment. I'm wondering if either a) the hospital never received the referral from your GP or b) the hospital have lost your referral. If I were you I would contact your GP practice, explain about the original referral & ask them to check your record on their computer to see if a referral was ever actually made - if it was, ask for the date & the hospital it was sent to. If it wasn't made, demand an appointment asap as it's their error that has caused you not seeing a dermatologist. If they did refer you, you need to get in touch with that dermatology department & ask if they ever received a referral. If they say they didn't, you need to see your GP for another referral asap. 

    From the description you've given of the rash and the length of time you've had it, I would be surprised if it were melanoma as you would have had other symptoms by now. If it looks ugly & it's spread on the skin, it may be Basal Cell or Squamous Cell Carcinoma which tend to look ugly & spread on the skin but are rarely invasive. Or it could be Actinic Keratosis or Lentigo Maligna - precursors to skin cancer. 

    I hope you get sorted out quickly by your GP as you've been let down by someone! Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Thank you Angie , I’m so sorry you are battling with your stage three melanoma. I really appreciate your thoughts on my condition, whatever it might be. I always remind my Battling with your stage three melanoma. I really appreciate your thoughts on my condition, whatever it might be. I do remind my GP and on my repeat prescriptions are skin cream with a tiny amount of steroid, which have not helped at all. However when I am given oral steroids it stops the itching, it’s so hard to get a prescription for them. 
    i know the side effects that can affect you during your life, but I am an age that I would prefer steroid side affects. 
    I had one offer of an appointment but it was just outside Barmouth, which is over a 100 miles away from me, I also know a dermatology would mean quite a lot of appointments. So I need one closer to me. 
    I will keep on asking for help. What made me think it was Cancer was the symptoms and the photographs of the rash . I know the GPs don’t like you looking up health conditions, but I just thought if I could only find something the same or very similar that might help me understand, I agree with you about having it for all these years, because by now I might not be here  , that’s the only difference I have found  .

    i will let you know if I ever get an appointment, for now I’m having to wait 16 weeks for a GP appointment  I wish you well with you're condition, and I hope you get all the help you need. Thank you for replying to me kindest regards Imogen 

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