Have an appointment tomorrow after having mole removed

Hi, I had a suspicious mole removed just over two weeks ago.  If I am honest, although it was all handled swiftly, I don't think it was handled very sensitively and I felt traumatised by the whole thing.  It seemed disorganised and things weren't explained to me that clearly and I had the operation right away.  Anyway, that aside, I received a phone call on Tuesday from an appointments secretary asking me to come in on Friday.  I asked if this was for my results and she told me that she didn't know.  I hadn't been told how I would hear back or who I would see.  I didn't even know if I would see anyone at all if the mole was benign.  Then I received the confirmation letter the following day and I expected it to say that I would be seeing the consultant dermatologist.  However the letter says that I will be seeing the sister nurse 'or a member of their team'.  I assume it will be the sister that performed the operation on me.  This has left me unsure of what I should expect when I go tomorrow.  I expected that I would see the consultant who would give me the results.  As it is not the consultant and is the Sister, I am not sure whether that means I need a further operation (WLE) or if it will be to purely receive my results.  Either way, I thought it not very appropriate for this to be handled by the Sister, who I found extremely cold and insensitive.  Does anyone know what I should expect when I go?  Thank you so much. 

  • Hi,

    I have literally just been through the exact same thing...

    I had a mole removed mid December and received a phone call last Wednesday asking me to attend an appointment on Monday just gone.

    I had four days of worrying so completely understand what you're going through.

    Anyway... I went on Monday and was told that I had very early stages of melanoma and needed to have more skin removed etc... but thankfully nothing had spread, and was caught early enough. I went in yesterday to have more skin from around the wound removed - all fine.

    Hope you're okay - Try not to worry too much.

    Nick

  • Hi Nick, Thank you.  It's really awful isn't it.  Sorry you have had to go through this too. Did you see a Sister or nurse then when you were called back to the clinic for your results? This is what is confusing me as I thought I would see the dermatologist.  

     

    Thank you and I hope that you are feeling much better after your operation?

     

    Jade

  • Hi Jade,

    It wasn't the dermatologist, it was a nurse that I saw.

    It genuinely could be something as small as checking your scar and getting you sorted on a mole map. Sounds daft me saying it now after worrying about it for 4 days straight last week, but seriously don't assume the worst.

    Are you going in tomorrow did you say?

    Nick

  • Hi Nick, Ah, I see.  So you really have had a very similar experience.  The Sister that removed the mole in the first instance had students with her and she was talking to them as though I wasn't there and was also talking as though the mole was already assumed malignant even though the dermatologist had said that they wouldn't know or confirm until they had the histology report.  I found this really upsetting during the operation and also is why I think that it won't be good news and am disappointed it looks as though I will be seeing the same Sister :-/ 

    I know, it's easier said that done not to worry isn't it!?  But I really appreciate your help.  I guess you will still be feeling pretty sore - my scar is still feeling sore and my op was on January 6th. Yes, it's tomorrow :-/  

    Thanks so much :-)

    Jade

  • They went a lot deeper yesterday than the first time so yeah... it hurts today quite a bit!

    It is definately easier said than done, but I had honestley convinced myself it was going to be the worst news ever - It wasn't and all will be fine.

    Try to chill - Let me know how you get on.

    Nick

  • Thank you Nick.  I hope you feel better soon :-) 

  • Hi Nick, I got back from the hospital.  It was a different Sister that I saw this time.  She has confirmed that it is stage 1a melanoma though.  I am waiting for an appointment to go back for the WLE.  Strangely, I feel kind of relieved.  I knew from what happened that it was likely going to be melanoma and I am relieved that it is only Stage 1a.  Dreading going back though because my experience the last time was awful but I talked this through with the nurse.  At least I will be prepared next time!  

     

    Hope you are starting to feel better :-)

     

    Jade