Mole removal / suspected melanoma

Hi all,

I have had a few moles removed previously but the doctors never seems too concerned about these. Over the last few months I noticed a very dark (almost black) mole on the back of my thigh that had a shiny almost scale like appearance to it. I went to see a dermatologist and they said I needed to have it removed urgently. It took nearly three weeks for this to be then removed. When I asked him how worried I should be about it he told me the odds were stacked against me that it is a melanoma. I had it removed at the hospital yesterday and again I asked the doctor if he could tell if it was a melanoma just by looking at it and was just told that they suspected it is and I would have to wait approximately six weeks to get the results. I am therefore now extremely worried what impact a six week wait could have if it is a melanoma and if there is anything I can do to speed up the process. Obviously I'm very worried and have been Googling things, which have told me a melanoma can spread to stage 4 within 6 weeks, which has got me really worried. Does anyone have any advice or could talk me through your experiences just to try and help me understand everything a little more? I'm 47, the mole was 5mm and I'm based in the south of England. Do you think the doctors have a good idea of the outcome before the test results are in? Could a six week wait for results be dangerous if it is a melanoma? If there anything I can do to speed up the results? What's the next steps if it's bad news? Thank you all x

Parents
  • Hello SW31 and a big welcome to Cancer Chat, 

    I would perhaps double check with your hospital that it will take as long as six weeks to get the results. Our website mentions that it normally takes up to two weeks to get results following an excision biopsy - more information on this can be found on this page. It may be that they are experiencing delays but there is no harm in getting in touch with them just to double check that the information you were given was accurate. 

    Don't pay attention to anything you have read online though as Dr Google is famously unreliable and has a tendency to make us worry even more. Talk to your GP about your fears instead and don't hesitate to ask your doctor whether this six week wait would make a big difference and if there is anything they can do or suggest to speed up the process. Waiting for important news is rather stressful and it is often a time of deep anxiety when a day feels like a lifetime. There are helpful tips on this page on how to cope while waiting for important news.  

    Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out to be fine! 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Reply
  • Hello SW31 and a big welcome to Cancer Chat, 

    I would perhaps double check with your hospital that it will take as long as six weeks to get the results. Our website mentions that it normally takes up to two weeks to get results following an excision biopsy - more information on this can be found on this page. It may be that they are experiencing delays but there is no harm in getting in touch with them just to double check that the information you were given was accurate. 

    Don't pay attention to anything you have read online though as Dr Google is famously unreliable and has a tendency to make us worry even more. Talk to your GP about your fears instead and don't hesitate to ask your doctor whether this six week wait would make a big difference and if there is anything they can do or suggest to speed up the process. Waiting for important news is rather stressful and it is often a time of deep anxiety when a day feels like a lifetime. There are helpful tips on this page on how to cope while waiting for important news.  

    Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out to be fine! 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

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