Hi,

I can understand your worry about the long waiting time and the fact you are on holiday in August.

From reading and speaking to many patients recently, most hospitals are advising long waiting periods for results but many are actually getting their results before the 10 or 12 week advised. When calculating the time results will be ready to give to the patient, they calculate the backlog of work at histology, then the time it takes for them to be discussed at the weekly MDT (Multi disciplinary team meeting consisting of Plastics, Dermatology and Oncology). All results, whether good or bad, are discussed at the MDT where they agree on discharge (for benign results) or a treatment plan (for malignant results). The weekly meeting is held the same day each week (our melanoma clinic MDT is every Wednesday and then clinic appointments are on Thursday). However, if the results come in on Wednesday they may be too late to be discussed that day so have to wait until the following Wednesday! They also factor in staff shortages due to holiday, sickness and training so that can delay getting results. Surgery and appointments during the summer school holidays are always affected by staff holidays! Then finally they are typed up before the consultant sees the patient!

Taking all that into account, you may get your results before August or in August. If it's melanoma, the next step is further surgery - a Wide Local Excision. Currently, the average wait between getting results and having the WLE is 4 weeks. So, the options are that a) you get your results back before August and it's benign. b) it's melanoma and you need a WLE. c) results in August and it's benign. d) it's melanoma and you need a WLE. Option A - you go on holiday with no worries. Option B - surgery may be during August. Option C & D - you either wait at home for results or you go away and get results on your return. If results are C - surgery would be in September, after your holiday.

Personally, my advice is that your mole has been removed fully in the initial excision so a delay in receiving your results or needing a WLE (if melanoma) isn't going to have any negative effect on your situation. A WLE is a belt and braces procedure so a few weeks delay isn't a game changer. So I would leave your holiday plans in place. If you've already received good news you can celebrate. If you haven't yet received news, you enjoy yourself to distract yourself, and if you received bad results and are facing extra surgery - a holiday is better to distract yourself than sitting at home worrying yourself silly. I was diagnosed Stage 3 the day before a 3 week foreign holiday. They couldn't arrange surgery for 3 weeks so I went on holiday and, although worried at first, I'm glad I went because 3 weeks at home would have driven me bananas.

As for ringing earlier to chase them up? Believe me, there is no way to speed up the slow moving cogs of the NHS. If you haven't heard anything after 8 weeks just ring the Secretary and ask if your results are back yet. If they aren't back or they are back and awaiting the MDT and/or typing up, give them the dates you are away. They may then try and give you your results before your holiday. If you are amenable, they may be agreeable to ringing your mobile whilst you are away but only if it's good news! 

I hope this helps. Don't cancel your holiday - you will change nothing by doing that.

Angie xx

Thanks so much Angie! As usual you are a voice of reason. I'll definitely keep all of that in mind. My main concern is that my trip is currently due to be several months long, potentially from August to December. How long do WLEs ideally need to take place after a positive diagnosis?
 

I've also seen a few people mentioning chasing with the secretaries of the consultant seen - however I actually can't remember the name of the first dermatologist I saw in my consultation or the surgeon who performed my excision and I certainly don't recognise any of the names they have on the website where they have listed secretaries of doctors - the website is actually out of date as far as I can tell and I'm assuming I've seen newer doctors. Would I be better off calling the reception if I do need to get in touch regarding an update?

am I also likely to get a letter in the post confirming the waiting time for results? I've seen a few people mention this too but not sure if it's standard practice. Thanks!

If your travel plans are that long and you needed a WLE, they would advise you had it done sooner I'm afraid. 

With regard to who to contact, you probably saw a junior dermatologist who may not be listed on the hospital website. All the dermatology secretaries usually work in the same office. Just choose the phone number of one of the consultants and give the date you saw the dermatologist - they will check your computer record and either deal with you or transfer you to the relevant secretary. 

I've never heard of letters being sent confirming the waiting time for results. They sometimes send letters for benign results or telephone with benign results but most consultants prefer face to face result appointments. xx

Thanks Angie. I'll let you know how it goes! X

Got in touch with dermatology after about 5 or 6 calls which just rung out with no answer and resorting to leaving a voicemail on a random secretary's number. They are now saying that the wait is up to 4 months (16 weeks!!!). I said that I was told 12 and she gave me a number to call in mid-July to try and chase it up but said it couldnt be chased until then. I can't believe that something so urgent can take this long, especially when NHS and online guides from several years ago show that people used to wait between 1 and 2 weeks for their results!

7 weeks after the excision I got my results, good news thankfully. I contacted PALS about my situation who I think helped to get things moving thankfully. It took a week between my results being reported back to dermatology and the doctor calling me with my results (she must have told me over the phone as I’d chased them up to say I was moving from my home close to the hospital this week so ideally wanted an appointment before moving). 

feeling very lucky to have had good news, sending love to anyone reading these threads looking for advice xx

I'm so pleased to hear it was good news after such a long wait. Thank you for updating us as it helps others to know that not all biopsies bring bad news. Take care and stay well x