Possible melanoma

I went to the dermatologist last Wednesday with a really large dome shaped mole. I had had this for almost a year but it has grown quite large. He told me immediately that he thought it was cancerous and booked me in for removal this coming Monday 6th. I am going out if my mind with worry. I asked him if he thought it could be anything else and he said” it could be but I do not think so. He is obviously very experienced and so is probably correct. 

 

i am so concerned at the time scale and feel sure that it must have spread elsewhere.

 

i am really struggling to cope. 

 

 

  • Hello shirley im a so sorry you are going through this hard time. I am also going through exactly the same thing i had a large mole on my leg thats been there since i was a child however has started to become 2 toned. Had it checked in april and the dermo looked at it and immediately said he wanted to monitor it to see if any changes he called it a aytipical mole my appointment isnt untill october and im gojng out of my mind with worry and keep looming at it and obsessing with worry thinking it has changed slightly. Feel free to ask me any questions i am also finding life very difficult at the moment and have not many people i can speak to x

  • Hi 

    it’s such an awful time. My worry is that it is modular melanoma and as I have had this for noesrly a year, it could have spread to my lymph nodes. My doctor had told me it was benign. I have been on the waitin list since last October but it was only when I spoke to my GP last week that he expedited it. As soon as he saw it he said that it was cancer and that he was going to have to cut it out and I would have to possibly have some scans, I just could not  take it in. 
    The fact that I am having it cut out tomorrow is frightening as everything has happened so quickly. I do wish I had pushed for an appointment earlier.

    I also wish that the Dermatologist had said that he would have to wait for biopsy results,

    sorry that i am good on and on. 
     

  • Hello 

     

    Have you been to the dermo before this appointment hun? With you thinking it could be modula

     

    Have you checked it evrey month since being on the waiting list and did it change or grow at all?

     

    Try to stay poaitive i know its very hard i am also in this battle with you. Its a great thing that its being cut out ans the scans are to double check eveeythings okay 

     

    I know how hard it is i feel awful evreyday when i wake up im constantly checking the mole to see if its changing its begining to really take its toll on me atm

     

    Please let me know how you get on please sendinf you lots of love and hugs xx

  • This is the first time I have seen the Dermotologist. The reason I fear it could be modular is due to research, I know you shouldn’t but it’s impossible not to want to find out. Also, he told me straight away that he is going to take the surrounding tissue away as well as a precaution. He said I would have to go back for three monthly check ups. I just canno get my head around this.

    I am hoping tomorrow that I will have a few answers. I will be able to ask questions. Last Wednesday I was too shocked to think of anything. Also, with COVID-19 about I will have to go in alone. 

    take care. 
     

    this. 

  • Hi Shirley,

    I'm sorry I didn't see your post before you had your surgery yesterday - I hope it all went well.

    I know how worrying it is, waiting for biopsy results, especially as you have been waiting all this time to get it checked out properly. The speed between your referral appointment and yesterday's surgery has no bearing on any perceived urgency for it's removal. Pre-Covid surgical appointments averaged a 2 week wait after the initial referral appointment. However, they are getting done much quicker at the moment because not as many patients are seeing their GP for a referral. However, there is still an average wait of 2 weeks for the biopsy results to be received as the histology departments are still very busy. Hopefully they will have given you some indication as to when the results may be back when you had your surgery yesterday. Also, all excision biopsies have a wide margin of tissue removed to ensure they remove it all.

    Please let us know how you got on & how long they said you will be waiting. Good luck,

    Angie (melanoma patient)