Hi Hanna,

Welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear about your mole. I initially had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years. However at the end of 2017, my lymphoedema nurse suggested that I should get a mole on my back investigated. I did this and, was just as worried as you are. Fortunately ,it turned out to be benigh. 

Move on to December 2018 and, I was again advised to get a mole just under my eye tested. When I went to get this done, my plastic surgeon also tested another mole just above my ankle. After an anxious wait, all three lesions were benign. I was so relieved because a number of doctors had examined these lesions and, considered them to be suspect.

I sincerely hope that your GP gets back to you soon and, that you will get a good outcome too. I am glad to hear that you are out of your abusive relationship and that you are now in a happier one. Please don't beat yourself up for not pursuing this earlier. Most of us find that the best thing to do whilst waiting for an appointment/test results, is to keep ourselves busy. This doesn't have to be work related. Give yourself a break and do something you enjoy too.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

The Covid situation is making it difficult to even get a cuddle, but I am sending you one huge big virtual cuddle.

Hi Hanna,

Sorry to hear your news and I hope that you receive good news from your GP. I was diagnosed with nodular melanoma on the back of my ear last year and after 2 operations I now have the all clear. My ears very different now but I'm cancer free. 

I went through every emotion imaginable and then some more whilst waiting for treatment and results. It not easy I had good days and bad ones.

I found that walking my dog away by myself helped me as it gave me time to think things over (good and bad). I tried to be positive but it's not always that easy. Do what you enjoy doing and talk to people let them know how your feelings.

I do hope that you receive good news.

Jason

Hi Hannah,

To begin with, please don't beat yourself up about not getting the mark looked at before - we have all done it (I waited a year but I'm still here 24 years later) - you can't change anything by worrying about something you can't alter. Instead, you have to put all your energy into facing whatever happens now which I know is scaring the pants off you but it might not be what you imagine & if it is, it's a lot more treatable than it was a few years ago.

Don't Google & don't focus on the worse case scenario because the first is out of date & gives wrong information & with the second, you are in unknown territory and you will scare yourself unnecessarily. And don't blame yourself for your happiness - everyone on this earth deserves happiness in their lives and you are no different.

While waiting for the GP to get back to you, focus on your daily life, work, doing things you & your partner enjoy to keep yourself busy. Hopefully the GP will come back & say that your photo has been checked over & it's something harmless. If they say an appointment with a dermatologist is needed then don't panic - 75% of people that see a dermatologist for a worrying mole or mark are given a clean bill of health. If it's found to be skin cancer it can be treated! Once treated, most people have no further problem, so it's not as desperate as you think. I was diagnosed with early stage melanoma 24 years ago. Then 11 years ago it progressed to Stage 3. However, I'm still here fit, healthy & with no sign of cancer & I know many people in the same position as me, thanks to our wonderful NHS and cancer research. 

We are here for you when you need a chat or a cry. I hope you hear something quickly and it's good news. Please let us know how you get on,

Angie

this is such a lovely message. I appreciate it so much. 

Thank you for taking the time to respond. aww bless you sounds like you know exactly how it feels and have been through our own battles also.

Its just horrible isn't it. I just keep crying. I'm scared for my boyfriend to lose me, hes recently lost his dad, had a bad past and we're happy and newly together and now I feel like this will change everything.

I've been researching too much and scared myself that I'm on stage 4.

I will definitely let you know what the results are. thank you so much lovely xxxx

Hi Angie,

What a gorgeous message to read, its literally made me feel so much more hopeful and postitive. It sounds like you have been through your fair share- what a true inspiration. Honestly, thank you for sharing your experiences with me, you have no idea how much this has helped me think even slightly postitively and how much its impacted me. 

I'm trying. Just going to be patient and try trust its all in Gods hands. I'll get there. :)

Hi Hanna,

You have had some good advice from Jason and Angie and, I hope that this has given you some reassurance that, whatever the outcome, you are likely to be with us for quite a few years yet.

I can appreciate that you like the sun, but perhaps you could wear a funky sunhat whenever you are in it? Unfortunately, sun has a lot of bearing on various cancers, so you’re best to be cautious. I am much more careful now than I used to be.

I am glad to hear that you feel a little more positive from the replies that you’ve had. Try your best to be a ‘glass half full lass’ rather than a ‘glass half empty one’. You really do need to have a positive attitude to beat this and, you will beat it! Life is for living and, we only get one shot at it. You get the choice, you can let this get you down or you can stand up and fight it.

Having said this, I am still hoping that it’s not cancerous. There are less serious conditions that can affect the scalp and they are perfectly manageable. Here’s hoping that you have one of these instead.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello jolamine, 

honestly I'm soooo blown away by the support of this group. Joining it was the BEST thing I did. And thank you for taking the time to make me laugh and send me a lovely message!

well... here's the latest. GP emailed me back saying she does not suspect it is sinister!!! Of course I'm over the moon but also trying to not carry myself away because I know I did not have a physical examination or a biopsy so I'm very unsure what to think. I have to learn to trust her professional opinion. She's prescribed me some cream and if I'm 2 weeks I'm still concerned I need to go back and get further testing. 
 

what do you think? Can a diagnosis be done just by photographs? Or do you think I should push it further? xxxx

Hi Hanna,

The first time I was referred to a dermatologist, she just looked at my mole and told me that it was nothing to worry about. There are certain criteria that doctors look for in skin lesions, colour is one and the jagged shape of a lesion is another. I must confess that I came away from that appointment unconvinced that she was right. However, time has proved that she must have known what she was talking about.

With the lesions on my eye and leg, both my GP, my dermatologist and my plastic surgeon all expected a positive biopsy, but they were thankfully proven to be wrong. My husband has a number of lesions on his bald head and torso and he was given cream to apply. The cream is a mild acid which dries up the skin and the lesion just falls off. It is certainly worth using the cream that you have been prescribed for 2 weeks. It is most unlikely to get out of hand in that time.

However, if there is no improvement after that time, you should certainly return to your GP to get referred for further tests.

Don't forget to let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Hanna,

Your GP will have an idea as to what looks like a treatable skin condition or what looks unlike any skin condition they are used to - this, and the 3 point system they use (Colour, size, shape, itching, bleeding etc) are how they determine the course of action. In your case she appears to think it's probably a treatable skin condition & given you the cream. The thing to be positive about is, if the cream doesn't clear it up then she will assess it again. Also, a further 2 week wait while trying the cream isn't going to make things worse should it turn out to be more serious. So I would try the cream for 2 weeks - hopefully it will start to look better but if not, get back on to your GP and she will probably then refer you to dermatology for their opinion. Even if you get referred, dermatology may diagnose something non serious & treatable so try not to worry too much over the next 2 weeks.

Good luck & please let us know how it goes

Angie x