Cancer Research UK main site
  • Replies 14 replies
  • Views 3209 views
  • Users 0 members are here

Terrified after receiving letter

FormerMember
FormerMember

I went to the GP yesterday about a skin tag / mole thing on my face. It's been there for ages and has increased in size but a previous GP told me it was nothing to worry about. But I was starting to think it was unsightly so I thought I'd speak to the GP and maybe end up paying to have it removed.

 

He looked at, went "hmmm", smiled and asked if I want to be referred to dermatology. I said yes please, he smiled again, said I'd get a letter and I left.

 

Today I've come home saying I have a 2 week wait urgent referral for suspected cancer. I'm terrified and angry he didn't say anything yesterday. I even said I wanted to check it was nothing to worry about.

  • Offline in reply to Freckle

    Thank you so much for replying.

    im so glad it turned out benign. I just googled what you had and some of the pics look similar to mine so it's given me a bit of hope. I had convinced myself it was nodular melanoma as that also looks a bit like dermatofibroma. 
    I will let you know how I get on. X

  • Offline in reply to rawdoodles

    Hi

    just been to my gp appointment. He wasn't worried and didn't suggest referring me but said he would to put my mind at rest (I didn't have to push for it but he didn't say straight away that he would refer me if that makes sense) he booked me an appointment with the hospital right there and then for 12th Dec. I said that's quick and he said well we might as well do it quick to put to mind at rest. He didn't mention it was on a 2 WW referral I presume not to scare me but i already knew it was and it said 2WW on the appointment letter he printed out. I'm just a bit confused how he didn't seem worried but then referred me on the 2WW and now I'm panicking myself.

  • Offline in reply to rawdoodles

    Hi,

    Don't panic! The NICE guidelines for GPs state that, should they not be able to diagnose the mole/lump etc they must refer to dermatology under the 2 week rule. It doesn't mean that it's necessarily serious, they are just letting an expert examine it. 75% of patients referred to dermatology get the all clear so hopefully yours will be fine. Dermatofibroma are difficult to diagnose. I have two on my leg and they look different to the one on my shoulder that my consultant thought was a basal cell carcinoma. It was removed and biopsied and found to be a dermatafibroma! Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

    Angie (melanoma patient)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi angie

    thank you for the reply I didn't know that info so that calms me down a bit. I'm really hoping it's a dermatofibroma. I have always had the mole and it's always been a little raised but barely noticeable. I noticed it last week as it seemed more raised (but not any bigger to what it was, just a bit more raised) I caught it in the shower and it scabbed a bit so now it looks like a darker spot  on top but feels like a scab so the doc thinks the dark spot is just the scab. It's not sore and I have been taking a pic of it everyday and it's not changed in a week or got any bigger so I'm really hoping it's nothing. I've got quite a few moles and freckles that I've had for years but I suppose the dermatologist will check those. I'm sorry I'm babbling x

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.