Hi,

I know how petrifying this is, particularly having a young family. Can I try and help calm your fears by saying that you need to focus on the positives & these are a) your GP didn't think it's anything to worry about but she is correct in referring you to make sure it's all OK b) For every 10 people referred 7 or 8 will get a clean of bill health so the odds are very much in your favour that it will be fine. 

The trick now is to try and distract yourself keeping busy whilst waiting for the appointment. Don't Dr Google as it's way out of date regarding treatment etc. Only use this CRUK website or Macmillan or the British Association of Dermatologists websites if you want more information. 

The appointment will come through quickly & hopefully it will turn out to be OK. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (melanoma patient)

Hi Angie

Thank you so much for coming back to me! 

I think I've been through every post on these forums and always see you being such a reassuring presence! 

I've always been terrible at thinking the worst out of all circumstances, and cannot seem to stay off google as much as I know most of it is a load of rubbish! Have suffered with anxiety in the past, particuarly health anxiety so you can imagine how I'm feeling at the moment. 

Just want my appointment ASAP. Do you know what I can expect at my dermatologist appointment? 

How is your treatment/recovery going? 

Thank you so much again

Jamie

Hi, 

I'm pretty much in the exact same position as you as of this morning. 
 

Over the weekend I had a close look at a mole I've had for ages which sits in my belly button. I noticed it looked a bit odd next to other moles I've got so I booked an appointment to see a GP. I saw a GP this morning and he had a look. At first he thought it was a normal mole but decided to have a closer look with what I think was a dermascope. He was there a little while looking at it and decided that it had a few different colours in it but it's borders were regular, it was 5mm in diameter and looked generally otherwise ok apart from the "several different colours". He said that he would refer me to a dermatologist at my local cancer hospital and I would be seen within 2 weeks. He said he thinks they'll come back and say it's fine and that I was worried over nothing, but because of the different colours he wanted a second opinion. 
 

I keep trying to be positive but my mind is all over the place and I can't stop worrying that it may be something more serious so I know exactly how you feel!

hope everything works out ok for you!

Elizabeth x

Hi Elizabeth

Almost identical cases! 

Only had my GP appointment Friday, but hoping I get the dermatologist appointment asap. 

It's the unknown that's the worst bit! 

Please keep me updated with how you're getting on! 

Jamie x

Hi Elizabeth,

Everything I've said to Jamie also applies to your situation. NICE guidelines tell GP's to only refer to dermatologists if the mole scores 3 or more points on the checklist. It would appear that your GP (and possibly Jamie's depending on how the mole presents) are being overcautious & referring you when it doesn't even score 3 points. Over cautious is good for your peace of mind (once the mole is confirmed as being fine) but not good for your anxiety pre appointment! I've attached the referral guidelines so you can see what the GP uses to work from. Good luck & hopefully yours will be fine. cks.nice.org.uk/skin-cancers-recognition-and-referral

Angie

Hi Jamie, 

yes almost identical! Couldn't believe it when I was trudging through google after my appointment and saw such an identical post! 
 

the waiting is definitely the worst. I'm awful for googling things which only makes my thoughts worse and can't stop thinking about the possibility it's something serious.. 

the doctor said he would call me around lunch time today with an appointment to see the dermatologist so hopefully I will get a call soon!

thanks for getting back to me, please keep me update too! 
 

Elizabeth x

Hi Jamie,

Thank you for your kind words. I like to try and offer help where I can because melanoma isn't a 'common cancer' and I've got many years of experience of this cancer so it feels right to use it for others benefit where I can. I've been Stage 3 for 10 years (Stage 1 before that) and I had my surgery when diagnosed so I've been very lucky to still be here with no sign of the disease all these years later. Sadly, remission doesn't apply with later stage melanoma as it's the craftiest of cancers & can return at any time - our equivalent of remission is No Evidence of Disease (NED) and that is where I am. I still have annual check ups but otherwise I am very well.

At your appointment the dermatologist will examine your mole with a dermascope - this shows any unusual activity in the cells. If they aren't sure it's benign they will arrange for it to be removed at a later date & sent for biopsy. You usually get an appointment through within a few weeks - it's day surgery & is done under a local anaesthetic. You then get the results a few weeks later - usually by appointment (whether good or bad news as most consultants don't like giving results by phone or letter). Hopefully they will think it looks benign but if it does need removing don't panic - many biopsies come back negative for cancer. 

Angie

Hi Angie, 

thank you so much for your response, it has been somewhat reassuring to read. The link you provided was really useful as well thank you. It's a little reassuring thinking I only possibly scored about 2 points so hopefully the GP is just being over cautious. Have an apppointmenr with a dermatologist on Tuesday morning so fingers crossed it's nothing to worry about. 

Elizabeth x

Glad you've got your appointment Elizabeth! 

Keep us updated :)