I was concerned about a mole that become itchy and was hard to touch. On seeing my GP, they organised an urgent referral to the local hospital to see a dermatologist.
The referral was not face to face with a doctor but with Teledermatology. They took detailed photos using a microscope lens.
I received a phone call saying they need to arrange a face to face now and an appointment was made in a months time. The doctor seems quite relaxed and insistent that this was good protocol with anyone with loads of moles. At this point I felt quite relaxed and confident it was nothing to worry about it.
I then decided to use our private health insurance and also get a second opinion. The doctor was extremely worried about the mole, quickly checking if I had swollen glands( which I didn’t) He said I need to have it removed immediately and that he would send it for an urgent biopsy. He feels that it could be a nodular melanoma.
My head is now spinning..
What strategies can you use to reduce the stress of waiting?
Why were the two doctors opinions so different?
I trying to think positively, and if the results do come positively for Melanoma at least we will be ahead of the game by 6-8 weeks?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.