Worried sick / mole referral

Hi, 

I've been to my gp for a large mole on my back that felt itchy and dry. She's put me on a 2 week urgent referral and I've had an appointment through with plastic surgeon for next Friday.

in worried sick and can't sleep :(

Since then I've found another mole on my tummy which I'm worried about as colour is bit odd. I think I'm now over analysing my moles in bit of a panic. :( 

can anyone tell me what to expect on my referral app please? Will he check all my moles that I am worried about please?

also I'm confused why I'm referred to a plastic surgeon rather than a dermatologist. Thanks so much 

  • Hi Casey,

    I know how worrying this is but please try not to get stressed out by all your moles. The consultant will be happy to check the mole on your tummy too. At the appointment they will look at both moles, probably using a dermascope and they will then decide if it (they) are nothing to worry about or if it (they) need removing for a biopsy. Sometimes the removal will happen at the appointment (depending on the time they have & how large a removal is necessary) or a future appointment is given to go back as a day patient. Removals are usually quick & done under a local anaesthetic and results come back a few weeks later.

    You are probably seeing a Plastic Surgeon because many Dermatology/Plastic Surgery clinics are combined for the puposes of suspicious moles. My hospital has a clinic once a week that is shared between the two - both sets of consultants are trained to check out suspicious moles & it would be the Plastic Surgeon that would remove it anyway.

    75% of patients referred for dodgy moles are given a clean bill of health so please try not to worry too much. Your GP is, quite rightly, being over cautious & hopefully it will turn out to be fine. Good luck & please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (melanoma patient)

  • Thank you Angie. I've actually paid to see someone private as making myself unwell worrying, can't eat, sleep or do anything.

    I suffer with health anxiety so decided to pay to sleep things up. So I've got my app today and I fee so sick. Not sure how ill cope if he is concerned and wasn't to remove a move - then I've got the wait over Xmas waiting for results. The thought of it fills me with dread. It's the first Xmas without my sister so it's bad enough for those reasons, so just preying I get some good news today.

    thank you for replying and all your information- really appreciate it