Your GP sounds awesome and is probably ensuring you get seen quickly due to your family history. Remember a GP knows a lot but isn't a specialist so try not to worry about the remarks on your referral. Plus you sound very vigilant so you will be getting any skin changes looked at early. Try not to worry. Yes easier said than din, I know only too well 

Thank you for the reply. hopefully the next weeks comes around quickly! X

I know results never can come quick enough but wishing you the best of luck. xx

Hi Kirsty,

I wish all GP's were like yours! Very proactive! In answer to your questions - yes, GP's have to say that it's a possible cancer referral otherwise the hospital wouldn't accept it. It doesn't mean it's definitely melanoma - it just opens the door for you to be seen. 

Most hospitals now use Teledermatology as a form of triage because of the amount of patients being referred to them currently. Photos will be taken using a dermascope which is the very same camera that a dermatologist uses to examine the mole when seen face to face. It shows the cell structure of the mole which the dermatologist will then assess. If the cell structure isn't normal, the patient then gets an appointment to be seen face to face - the dermatologist will examine the mole again with a dermascope & then decide if it needs removing for a biopsy. Only the results of a biopsy can give a definitive diagnosis of melanoma. The telederm system weeds out the moles that are actually benign & the patient gets seen quicker. Without this triage, the dermatologists can't hit the 2 week cancer pathway referral target & patients are left waiting a lot longer to be seen. 

I hope this helps & I hope all goes well next week. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thank you Angie thats really helpful. 
My GP had already taken photos using a dermascope and sent it over to them. Im assuming the hospital ones are more in depth?

Thanks