Hi, completely by chance I noticed a small (approx 3mm) mole on the sole of my foot early last month. I only have a small smattering of common moles and at 46 wouldn't expect any new ones (can't say for certain how long it's been there but my gut feeling is not long), especially in this location which I know is a danger area.

Phoned my GP right away and luckily got an appt for the following week. In the meantime I had a mole scan done at Boots. A bit like the Teledermy sevice. They contacted me to say the consultant who reviewed my mole said, under dermascopy, it was a benign looking naevus but due to it's recent development and location he recommended removal and biopsy under the 2 ww.

I was reassured by this and took a copy of the report to my GP who referred me and 16 days later I was seen in dermatology. This doctor said it felt raised, which surprised me as I thought it felt totally flat and under demascope he said it was atypical and suspicious and needed to be removed for biopsy.

I asked what he saw and he said it was a lace pattern with different colours including grey and globules indicating it was growing. I was really shocked and asked if it meant he thought it looked cancerous. He said that's not what he meant but without knowing the histology it could be benign in 6 months or it could be cancerous.

I received a copy of the GP letter a few days ago and the diagnosis says 'Atypical Acral Naevus' which is dusky grey, raised and lace patterned.

I guess my questions are, if he thought it had hallmarks of melanoma he would put that in the letter, I assume? The AAN diagnosis didn't have a question mark. He said in 6 months it could be benign... meaning it presently looks benign? He wasn't clear.

Does it sound as if the biopsy is to ensure it's removed to prevent any sinister change in the future as opposed to it currently looking sinister? Would melanoma still need to be ruled out? Dysplastic acral moles seem to have lots of variation due to the composition of skin in this area.

I also find it disconcerting that the first dermascopy said benign looking but in the clinic it had been upgraded to atypical. A big difference of opinion or a rapid change in three weeks?

I'm now awaiting a biopsy appt which could be up to four weeks. I'm so sad as I'd booked a dance weekend of all things for the end of June that I was SO looking forward to, and I'm clearly not going to be able to go now. Just seems so random.