Hi, I was diagnosed with and treated for a basal cell carcinoma last year, which I'm aware means I'm now at higher risk for other skin cancers. 5 days ago I spotted a new growth on my calf - it's a tiny raised shiny black papule. It's about 1mm but it does look to me like it's grown slightly since I first saw it. I've never seen anything like this on my skin before. It's the black colour that concerns me the most. Having done a bit of research it sounds like it could be a nodular melanoma, or if benign, potentially a thrombosed cherry angioma or blood blister. It's possible it could be a black basal cell carcinoma but it doesn't look too typical for that. Doctors don't tend to take me seriously because I'm young (31), but I have a bunch of disabling chronic health conditions and my immune system is very clearly suppressed even though they don't seem to recognise it as such.
I happen to have a follow-up appt with my NHS dermatologist for mid-September, about 3 1/2 weeks since I first saw the growth. (I can't imagine it was there much longer before I saw it as it's in a spot I see daily and I pay close attention to my skin). Research tells me that nodular melanoma can spread very fast (weeks to months) so, on the off chance it is that, I'm concerned this could be too long a wait. I have called the derm's office & they've said there's no way they can see me earlier. They also said it's unlikely they'd do a biopsy on the day of the appt, which means I'd have to wait even longer to get it removed.
For my BCC I went private (I'd already had it 2 years and they said it'd be a 1 year wait on the NHS so I was concerned), so that is an option, but I don't know whether I should go in that direction. It would cost me a lot of money, and I would still need to go to my NHS appt as I want to keep those lines open - I have severe chronic fatigue so going to multiple appts like this takes a toll on my physical condition. I know it's more likely to be benign and I don't know if I'd be being crazy to spend £250 to get this checked out just a week or so sooner than I would on the NHS. It's just that I have no idea based on looking at the growth myself, I don't know how likely it is to be nodular melanoma, and I'm scared that if I wait to go to the NHS appt it'll spread and be a death sentence. I suppose for the average 31yo who'd had BCC. they could probably still feel confident that ND was unlikely, but i've been dealing with so much illness after the past 4 years I don't have much trust in my body to act as a normal 31yo's would anymore.
I've been trying for days to find out if 3 1/2 weeks is a reasonable time to wait and haven't gotten any answers. Does anyone have any advice?