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Mole removal, more needing off.

TicTacToe1981
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I went to the doctors as a mole had changed. It looked like every google description of a dodgy one. 

He referred to hospital and the consultant booked me in to get removed and told me he thought “on a scale of benign to cancerous...I believe you’re more at the higher end” 

 

the mole came off with a much larger area of skin than I thought. 

Yesterday (2weeks later, but letter dated last week) I got a letter saying it had abnormal cells and this will be discussed more at an appointment which will be sent through. Also that further treatment is needed and that this will also be discussed  

 

The letter is quite cagey. Anyone able to advise me what the next steps could be please? Am I looking at this being quite serious? 

 

I had Lletz treatment in 2014 for pre cancerous and cancerous cells. Plus 6 miscarriages in the past 6 years. I’m no stranger to bad news.  But also no stranger to getting though it all (all cervical screenings since clear, and I now also have a gorgeous 1 year old!)

 

. I just prefer to be prepared for all news and then suck it up and get though whatever the hospital needs to do to me! 

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    Hi,

    It's difficult to second guess what this might mean - if I had to try I would guess one of three things, mainly based on the 'warning' letter you have received first as this isn't usually the way they inform you (they send you an appointment and give you the full results face to face) : 

    a) the biopsy tissue wasn't enough for them to make a complete diagnosis and they may have to remove more to try again. 

    b) abnormal cells were found that may be diagnosed as Dysplastic Navus - a dodgy mole that is benign but that has the potential to become cancerous in the future if not removed.

    c) a diagnosis of melanoma but a very early stage one.

    In all these cases they will want to remove more. If it's an early stage melanoma they will carry out a Wide Local Excision where they remove further tissue to ensure any stray cancer cells are 'mopped up' 

    I hope you aren't left waiting too long for your appointment. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (melanoma patient)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Thank you for your reply. The appointment came through for next week however I’m on holiday so need to rearrange tomorrow when the secretary is there. 

    I’d rather know before I go away so I’m not wondering all the time! 

     

    They took quite a chunk out of me so I’m hoping they got what they needed to see what it is  

     

    It’s very similar to the letter I had regarding my Lletz treatment. I wonder if the wording is used in my area? A kind of “we’ll give you a bit of warning somethings not right but we’ll save the full details for when we see you”. 

  • Offline in reply to TicTacToe1981

    As you say, it may well be that your hospital trust prefer to send a 'warning' out so you know to be prepared for your appointment. Perhaps when you ring to rearrange your appointment you can couch your request in an enquiring tone 'I'm going away and, if the results aren't serious, will it matter to rearrange my appointment until my return?' Secretaries aren't supposed to give out any detail but they may drop a hint in their response.

    Have a great holiday, relax and don't focus on the appointment until you get home.

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