Hi Francesca,

I have no personal experience of the current waiting times, especially in the North West. However, I do know several melanoma patients who have recently received results at hospitals all over England and they have received them anything between 4 to 8 weeks. 2 weeks used to be the target before Covid but currently they have a backlog caused by Covid and a shortage of histologists and dermatologists. All I can suggest is that, if you get to week 6 & have heard nothing, there is no harm ringing the nurse (if you've been given contact details) or the dermatology department itself & ask to speak to the specialist nurse or the consultant's secretary. Either will be able to tell you if your results have been received & a possible timeline as to when you will get an appointment (or a letter if your hospital gives negative results by letter).

Sometimes the delay is due to the results being received but the MDT being delayed. All results (negative or positive) are discussed at the Multi Disciplinary Team Meeting which is held once a week. Dermatology, Plastics & Oncology discuss all results & agree on the next stage - either a treatment plan for positive results or discharge for negative results. If an important member of that meeting is missing, it delays your results until the following week. So if you ring & they say your results have been received but are still awaiting an MDT, don't panic if it takes longer than a week to hear from them.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

My daughter had hers this week. She has called today and was told it will be 12-14 weeks before she is given results. We are in Scotland. We are pretty shocked at how long this is going to take and wondering if we can try to do anything privately in the meantime

Hi,

That's a horribly long time to wait for results. I don't really know what you could do down the private route as they won't have access to the removed tissue etc.

I think the best thing is for your daughter to see her GP and ask their advice. Perhaps they could refer her privately for a scan or MRI to see if any spread shows. Of course, if nothing is seen on the scan it still doesn't mean the mole wasn't melanoma, it just means it hasn't spread anywhere else. Her GP is definitely the one to ask.

Good luck & please let us know how she gets on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thanks for the advice Angie. I had looked at the NHS Scotland website which suggests the waiting time will be 2 weeks. That certainly needs to be updated.......

Yes, the NHS are not quick to update their waiting times. 

We’re trying to think positive. It might be nothing, but if it is melanoma it appeared in August of last year so hopefully it hasn’t had time to get too bad?! The consultant said it was a bit concerning as it was quite dark and an ugly duckling but that there was no way of knowing without a biopsy. 

I’ve seen some people talk about having their mole removed after it was confirmed as melanoma? Are some possible to diagnose just from sight? Or maybe I’ve misunderstood. 

Some consultants, when checking the mole with a dermascope, may say they are pretty sure it's melanoma. Frankly this is not helpful as there is no foolproof way of telling what it is without a biopsy. Some consultants have lots of expertise & years of looking at moles & maybe pretty sure about what they are seeing, however, it has been known for them to be wrong!

My dermatologist, 28 years ago, took one look at my mole and said 'I think it's a melanoma' and her colleague agreed. She was correct & I knew her judgement to be solid in the many years I was in her care. However, I've since had 7 more moles/lesions removed that were checked by different consultants. Some were almost sure it was melanoma - all turned out to be benign! 

Hi I had mole on ear removed today consultant told me it's melanoma so my wait is to see what stage mines at.

Hope you get your daughters results soon.

Hello,

thanks for your reply, that makes sense, I’ve accepted all I can really do is wait and what will be, will be.

My poor partner has just had his Dad let us know that he has had to have a different biopsy yesterday done for a different type of cancer, so I’m actually feeling more sorry for him than myself!

It’s astounding and sad how common cancer is becoming. I never thought I’d be 30 waiting for some results. I just really hope it’s positive news on both fronts, I’ve got a 10 month old baby who is keeping me positive and strong! 

thanks again

Sending positive thoughts Francesca. I really hope you’re not waiting too long and that the outcome is good. Take care.