I think what I will find hard is having a balanced approach to holidays and the sunshine.

I want to still enjoy them and benefit from some safe sunshine (if thats a thing) but like you I feel like all Ill want to do is cover up completely!!

I feel like cancelling this years summer holiday thats already booked but I know thats selfish as my hubby and kids are all looking forward to it.

Maybe as time goes on Ill feel more at ease with it all.

Any recomendations for good suncream and fake tan very much appreciated and ill have a look at that app you mentioned.

Thanks again x

I've sent you a friend request on here as well so message me whenever and about anything.

Don't cancel your hols honestly you will cope and stay covered as unfortunately there is no such thing as safe sun for us, I have long lists of suncream, fake tans etc 

I've just come back from Lisbon and I've gone down the long sleeved floaty dresses look, it is not stopping me from travelling as I love it, you just have to put a little more thought into it rather than chucking on a pair of shorts, vest and flip-flops! Get on Vinted I've made a fortune selling my old wardrobe to invest in a new look and I feel much better a year into this journey as you will.

My biggest challenge is I do obstacle course racing over quite long distances, that was not fun last Summer during the heatwave and racing covered from head to toe in compression clothes but I did it x

Hi, just wanted to jump on your post for some advice about what you experienced as I too am dealing with something similar. Can I ask how far apart from your biopsy removal to your appointment for results were? I had been refered under the 2 week urgent referal begining of March, I had the mole removed along with 3mm marginal skin to be sent for biopsy on 28th March 2023. I called the surgeons office on Wednesday the 12th April to see if they were back, they were but his secretary said after reading them she was not able to tell me because of what it entailed and my consultant would need to discuss & explain. She said she would put a note on for him to make contact? Ive woke to a letter this morning with an appointment to see him on the 19th May. However the letter does not state the nature of the appointment. As you can imagine I am now worried sick that is is bad news and something sinister was found. Do you know if the biopsy was clear with no concern would they need to see me? Would I have not just recieved a letter to state this with a discharge? 

Any advice would be soo helpful for my sanity

Hi Nichola,

I hope you don't mind me jumping onto your question.

Firstly, some hospitals are receiving results back from histology within two weeks whilst others are taking anything up to 8 weeks. There is then a delay before patients are given the results. This is because all results, whether good or bad, are discussed at the MDT (Multi disciplinary team meeting) which consists of Dermatology, Plastic Surgery and Oncology. It's then decided on the next step which will either be discharge if benign, an appointment for a body check of further moles and possible further surgery if dysplastic (precancerous) or further surgery if melanoma.

In your case it appears that your results have come back within 2 weeks but, due to the secretary's comment, they are awaiting discussion at the MDT. The swiftness of receipt of results doesn't signify anything so don't try to read anything into that. Meanwhile, the letter you received with an appointment for a month's time probably means two things. It was probably sent out just before the results were received - many hospitals do this, calculating that they will have received and discussed the results within that month. They obviously don't know the results at that point so I think your consultant likes to see every patient to give them their results personally, whether good or bad. Sometimes, if an appointment has been sent out and then the results come back clear, the MDT agree for a letter to be sent cancelling the appointment and giving the clear results.

So, in your case I think your results will be discussed at the next weekly MDT and then, if clear, you MAY receive a cancellation letter with the good news. If you don't, your appointment will either tell you the results are clear, or precancerous or melanoma. 

I hope this helps to explain the procedure. Please try not to worry or second guess what may happen or it will drive you nuts. Hopefully all will be fine but if not, it's now been removed and you are in good hands. Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi Nichola.

Great advice from Angie, my experience was that I had a phone call for a urgent hospital appointment after 1 week from my excision when I was diagnosed with melanoma. After having other moles removed with a mixture of results I received letters much later 2-4 weeks so in my experience no news is good news x

Hiya

Ah im so sorry you are dealing with uncertainty too.

My biopsy and the results appointment were 3 weeks apart due to the Easter bank holiday.

from my understanding, if everything is benign and of no concern you will get a call and not an appointment, however Angie explained to me on here that an in person appointment is necessary for pre-cancerous lesions too, so try not to fear the worst.

The 19th May is quite a while for you to wait, I would think you may have an earlier appointment if it was deemed urgent - maybe your gp could make some enquiries for you.

I hope all is well and you get clarity before May.

Take care x