Worried about melanoma & lymph node involvement

Hi all,

Hoping to to gain some insight into what I should be doing about this...

I have always been very 'moley' and have had several moles checked by GPs in the past. None of them have ever been deemed suspicious enough to be referred on. However, I currently have a raised, hot and very itchy mole on my upper left arm. I originally wasn't too worried, until I realised I could feel a couple of enlarged lymph nodes under the same armpit. 

I intend to make an appointment next week but I have very little faith in my GP surgery. I also suffer with health anxiety and am very worried I will be dismissed as 'over-anxious' and worrying about nothing.

Does anyone have any words of advice about how to go about speaking to a GP? Or perhaps reassurance about a similar occurence? I have scared myself silly reading about melanoma staging and survival rates once cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope to hear from some of you.. 

Jemima

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  • Hi there. 

    I also have a melanoma question mark over my black spot that I found in my mouth about a month ago and have a biopsy scheduled for this afternoon.

    I also suffer with stress and anxiety so know exactly where you’re coming from. It’s enough to make you ill on its own and any physical symptoms can send your levels into overdrive. However, It can work to your advantage with your surgery maybe.

    I would tell your GP that as you suffer from healthy anxiety the quickest way they can help you to feel better is to refer you and anyway an itchy mole accompanied by swelling in your lymph node should surely always be investigated.

    My dentist told me I should be seen in 2 weeks and I was told after 2 weeks by the hospital that a clinic hadn’t even been approved by the health board yet. I mentioned my health anxiety and basically made a nuisance of myself until I got a cancellation otherwise I wouldn’t have been seen until April. 

    Don’t take no for an answer. Keep calm but be assertive and persistent. 

    Good luck and let us know how you get on.

  • Good luck today Swampfing.

    Angie

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