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Mole removal

Coco1997
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Hi,

 

I recently had a mole removed for biopsy. The hospital said if it's nothing I'll just receive a letter in a few weeks time to let me know there's nothing to worry about etc and they only call you back in face to face if it's not good. 
 

Anyway, they called me yesterday to come back into clinic in 3 days time and advised that I bring somebody with me despite the current pandemic. 
 

Does that mean it's likely to be a melanoma? Or could it be something else? I'm absolutely petrified I'm only 22 I have a baby I'm utterly beside myself with worry I just want some advice please has anybody been through similar?

 

Thank you so much 

 

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    Hi,

    I'm sorry to hear you are going through this worry, especially as you are a young mum, but try not to panic as it may not be as desperate as you fear. It sounds like your mole may be melanoma but, due to your youth, there is every chance that it is early stage (not deep) which is good. If this is the case, another surgical excision (Wide Local Excision) will be arranged to ensure that they have removed a safe margin of tissue from the area and then you will get regular check ups for a time. If it is slightly deeper they may offer another procedure at the same time as the WLE. This is called a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy where they remove the nearest lymph node(s) to ensure it hasn't spread to those. 

    I know it's easier said than done but try not to overthink it. There is every chance that it can be sorted out & you can get on as normal with your young family. I hope that you have someone that can go with you - two sets of ears are better than one because you may miss something that's mentioned or forget to ask a question. Make a note beforehand of any questions you may have and don't be afraid to ask them - write down the answers so that you can go over them again once you are home. 

    Good luck at your appointment and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie, thanks so much for replying. 

    Sorry for the delay it's been a hectic few days! Anyway, I had my appointment. Strange situation- the consultants in the path lab at my hospital can't quite figure my mole out, 3 different people have examined it. The wording on my report is "your mole has significant melignant potential- so we are going to treat it as if it is a melanoma". 

    I don't know how to take it at all.. personally I think it is a melanoma but we'll see. They have sent it off for testing at a specialist lab, hopefully they will give me a more straight answer!

    I've got to have the wide local excision that you mentioned and they're also removing another mole that they don't like the look of. After that they're going to decide whether or not they want me to have the lymph node biopsy. 

    Speak soon 

  • Offline in reply to Coco1997

    Sorry to jump on the post but did you get your results? Xx

  • Offline in reply to Kay678

    Hey, yes I did. I had an absolute nightmare with it! They couldn't decide at my local hospital if it was a melanoma or not so it got sent to 2 different labs at specialist hospitals and they eventually decided that it was a melanoma. This meant that my surgery got postponed 4 times whilst they waited for a decision

    I've since had the wide local excision and lymph node biopsy which both came back clear, now I'm at the hospital every 3 months for a full body check xx 

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