Suspicious mole on back, health anxiety going crazy

Hi all,

Today whilst applying sunscreen I noticed that one of the moles on my back was made of two colours. The tip is like a dark brown/black whilst the rest is a tan colour. I'm not sure if it's always been like this as it's in such a difficult place. 
 

I consider myself in the high risk category because I am fair skinned but I don't really spend a lot of time outdoors and when I do I'm generally covered. 

I haven't noticed any bleeding and I can't see any real difference in size. And it doesn't appear to be asymmetrical. I've been Googling melanoma and I'm very concerned given how aggressive it is as a cancer. I can't see any rough borders or anything that I have noticed has changed. It's a mole that I've had since childhood (I'm 29) and I wish I'd paid more attention to it so I could know if this was normal or not!  

I made an appointment with a private GP tomorrow and I am so worried. I have also made an appointment with a nurse practitioner from NHS too to make sure both avenues are covered - though I will likely need an actual appointment with a GP before I can be referred to a dermatologist. 
 

Anyway I am completely panicking and would love some support and help from someone. I know I'm doing the right things and getting it checked out but I'm worried about how long it will take to resolve given, if it is cancer, how quickly it can spread. 
 

Thanks for listening to me waffle on!

Parents
  • Hi there, how did you get on with your appointment?  I saw my GP today about a suspicious looking mole on my tummy and he dimissed it as a seborrhoeic wart.  I am so worried that it might be something more sinister and how can he be so sure without making a referal to a dermatologist or a biopsy? I have private healthcare with work so I think I will make a self referal for a second opinion.  I wonder how many other people have been told it's nothing to worry about and further investigation proves otherwise?

  • Hi< I would use your private health care to see a dermatologist, if anything, you will know you have seen the right person quickly and hopefully they will be able to either put your mind at rest or move you forward. I had to use my husbands private health to see a gastric doctor as I was getting nowhere with my GP It was a very valuable appointment which has now meant that my scans are being lookes at again and I am being looked after ( two separate but possibly related cancer situations for me). With private health care you could see someone possibly by next week. ( I have a lump on my lower eyelid which the gp said was benign, anoher doc looked at it and I was fast tracked via NHS now awaiting next appointment )

    Hope all goes well

Reply
  • Hi< I would use your private health care to see a dermatologist, if anything, you will know you have seen the right person quickly and hopefully they will be able to either put your mind at rest or move you forward. I had to use my husbands private health to see a gastric doctor as I was getting nowhere with my GP It was a very valuable appointment which has now meant that my scans are being lookes at again and I am being looked after ( two separate but possibly related cancer situations for me). With private health care you could see someone possibly by next week. ( I have a lump on my lower eyelid which the gp said was benign, anoher doc looked at it and I was fast tracked via NHS now awaiting next appointment )

    Hope all goes well

Children