Hi Katie,

Is the appointment today your first consultation at dermatology? If so, it doesn't necessarily mean the mole needs removing, it just means the GP wants the dermatologist to decide if it needs removing. If it does need removing it's usually at a later appointment unless they have the facilities to do it there & then. They also check your other moles.

If you have already seen the dermatologist & this is your surgical appointment, they usually only remove the one mole that they've examined. If they notice, during surgery, another worrying mole they usually make another appointment (whilst I had a mole removed from my back they noticed one on the sole of my foot - I had to go back for that removing).

Swollen lymph nodes can happen for many reasons so don't immediately think it's related to your mole. Please try not to jump to conclusions yet - wait until your appointment and take it from there. Good luck today and please let us know how you went on,

Angie (melanoma patient)