Hi Maz2510

I'm new here too. I had my excision on 12.12.19 and my appointment for results was 02.01.20 (not sure how much Christmas holidays impacted on this). 

I think I was on auto pilot/in shock for much of the wait  felt quite numb.  I know it's easier said than done but try to keep occupied and avoid the temptation to Google as everyone's stories are different  

I can see how between your toes would be sore.  Take it steady and everything crossed for a good outcome for you. 
 

(Edited my typos) 

Hi JuFlu

Thanks for the reply - can I ask how they organised giving you the results? (Also hope they were good news!)

Finding it difficult to keep occupied as not been able to go into work (no way I could do 12 hours on my feet!) and haven't felt safe enough to drive yet!

Hi Maz2510

i was sent an appointment to go back into Dermatology OP Clinic. I don't think they give results over the phone?

in my case it was Malignant Melanoma but not very deep and the Doctor was confident he had managed to remove it all.  I am going to have a wider excision and (optional for me) a lymph node biopsy.  This is very much a 'belt and braces' approach to be sure they have removed it all.

I've already met the Plastic Surgery team and now waiting appointment for pre-op then surgery.  I've been told there is an approximate 2 month wait for this next step.

This forum is a great place for gaining support.  Please let me know how you get on.  I'm happy to chat and share my own experience if that might help.

Hi JuFlu

Although it's not ideal it's great that they're giving you the full going over as it were just to make sure! It seems they have it all under control shame the waiting times are so long but good luck going forward x

Hi,

In the same boat. I had 2 moles removed left shoulder and mid back on Tue 17th Dec  and sent off for biopsy and I am still awaiting the results. To be fair it's been a very anxious wait and I have struggled, probably drank too much over the Christmas period to try and help forget about it.

I phoned yesterday and apparently one of the results is back, however the other result will be back next week. I have been told they need to give me the results in one go. I am just trying to use work and exercise as a means to cope with the anxiety and stress. 

I hope you have a positive outcome.

Hi Matt

Luckily for me or unlucky enough for dependent on which was you see it Xmas is the busiest time of year for me at work and worked through the period - due to it being imbetween my toes I'm struggling with putting normal shoes and walking so not been able to return to work just yet let alone exercise! Lol - think this is in part to them leaving the wound open to heal rather than stitches so have a lot of padding and my toes are strapped together! - everyone has their own way of dealing with it think my anxiety has only just started to kick in! 

I raised the mole with my local doctors in July last year it wasn't until December until I got my first proper referral to see a dermatologist specialist (referral got lost in the system somewhere ‍♀️) she recommended a biopsy but it wasn't until the day of my actual hospital appointment to have it done I received a letter from her after thoughts it'd be better to have it all removed! (2 different hospitals btw) so up until this point I wasn't overly concerned as thought it can't be that serious if they hadn't originally contacted me but on the last minute recommendation to do a whole excision biopsy it has made me wonder whether I should be worried! As its 2 hospitals I've dealt with I'm unsure which one will get my results first ie where I saw the dermatologist or where I had the procedure done...

Sounds painful really feel for you. July - December is a long time to wait obviosuly as a result of the referral going missing, not a good start. 

I would phone both hospitals probably once week to chase results and also help clarify which hospital will expect to receive the results. 

I felt frustarted in that my moles were initially spotted by my GP in March 2019 and he referred me to the dermatologist within 2 weeks. The dermatologist inspected both moles and suggested no further action required and to visit again in 6 months.

Fast forward to December I visited again and met with another specialist, on this occassion she said she didn't like the look of them but gave nothing more away. I had them bothg removed by excision biopsy. However, right or wrong the lady who removed them said don't worry as the specialist hasn't raised any serious concerns and they would have removed them first time round. It's the meixed messages I struggle with.

Hi,

We have the same arrangement here where the clinics (dermatology, plastics & oncology) are at one hospital and the surgery is performed at another hospital. We used to get the results from the dermatologist at the first hospital but now we get an appointment with the surgeon where it was performed. If it transpires to be melanoma you are then transferred back to the dermatology or plastics clinic at the first hospital. Whether this will happen at your hospital(s) I don't know.

Consultants very rarely give results by letter or over the phone, whether good or bad. They prefer to see you face to face & to possibly check over any other moles you may have. If it's positive for melanoma then you will be given a full check & will then have further surgery (a wide local excision) to ensure a good margin of tissue has been removed to prevent spread. If the results show it was benign that's great. The third option is that it may be benign but be a dysplastic (atypical) naveus which means it has the ability to turn cancerous in the future. Because of this they like to remove them & may even suggest a wide local excision as a belt & braces procedure. Also, people with dysplastic moles tend to have lots of moles (100+) so they like to monitor the patient for a time.

JuFlu was very lucky to get their results through so quickly. Sadly the average wait for results around the country is now 6 weeks. They will send you an appointment nearer the time so the best thing to do is fill your time doing things that distract you while waiting - this is the hardest part so try not to overthink it. I suggest, if you haven't heard anything after 4 weeks, that you ring the consultant's secretary who, although they can't give you the results if they've been received, may at least be able to give you an idea as to when you will receive an appointment. Good luck & please let us know how you get on,

Angie (melanoma patient)

I feel your frustration how can one professional say one thing and another say something else? The positive is they've removed them regardless and hopefully it'll also be positive news as well for you!

They've not really indicated either way to be honest whether they think it's of great concern but as it was in an awkward position I guess they couldn't confirm by trying to look at it - they obviously looked at the photos after they were taken at the hospital and come to the decision of a full excision biopsy which was only communicated in letter form not face to face hence my now I guess larger concern..

Hi Angie 

Thanks for your post very informative! 
 

Will do x