Diagnosis - possible melanoma

Hi, just come from a dermatologist appointment and am worried sick. I’ve had a mole on my stomach my whole life (I’m in my 50’s) and was concerned about the changing appearance, Dr calls the consultant in to check my mole who after one quick look says he’s very concerned, it looks like a melanoma and it needs to be removed urgently. Within 30 mins I was in theatre having it removed,

I am so stressed now and convincing myself it is melanoma and has spread. I had a lump on my neck a few months ago I went the GP about twice, was told it was an enlarged lymph node and had blood tests (which were clear). I can no longer feel the lump on my neck. 

Has anyone else ever had a consultant say outright it’s melanoma and be wrong? 

thsnks 

Parents
  • Hi, I had a bleeding lump on my nose a couple of mm from the corner of my eye last spring. I was fast tracked and saw the consultant and was told it was melanoma, I was booked in to have it removed and the booking said it was melanoma removal. The NHS app still shows my last outpatient appointment was for melanoma. 

    In the end it was not. It was a Spitz Nevus and was benign. Only the biopsy could show this so even though the consultant was convinced it was melanoma, the only way to find out is the biopsy once it is removed. 

  • Thank you so much for replying, you have made me feel a little better. I’m so pleased your diagnosis was incorrect, fingers crossed mine is too, it was just the certainty of the consultant and the urgency to have it removed. Again thank you for taking the time to reply xx 

  • No problem at all and I hope it goes well for you. I had the consultant drawing pictures showing the wide area exclusion and talking about plastic surgery and where he was going to get flesh and skin to fill the hole etc!

    I am the type who likes to know everything anyway and I can't fault the process or the people (apart from the taxi not turning up and trying to find where to go in the hospital lol).

    One tip I do have is that until it is proven not to be cancer, you can try finding out who the Macmillan nurse is and ask them to chase your results up if they are taking too long.

    It took 10 days from me seeing the GP to the biopsy itself and then about a fortnight for the results.

    In the end I emailed the Macmillan nurse and she checked the results for me.

    Obviously mine was benign and not sure if you are meant to do that and I doubt they would say anything without permission but it did speed up getting the negative result at least. 

Reply
  • No problem at all and I hope it goes well for you. I had the consultant drawing pictures showing the wide area exclusion and talking about plastic surgery and where he was going to get flesh and skin to fill the hole etc!

    I am the type who likes to know everything anyway and I can't fault the process or the people (apart from the taxi not turning up and trying to find where to go in the hospital lol).

    One tip I do have is that until it is proven not to be cancer, you can try finding out who the Macmillan nurse is and ask them to chase your results up if they are taking too long.

    It took 10 days from me seeing the GP to the biopsy itself and then about a fortnight for the results.

    In the end I emailed the Macmillan nurse and she checked the results for me.

    Obviously mine was benign and not sure if you are meant to do that and I doubt they would say anything without permission but it did speed up getting the negative result at least. 

Children