Hi Hayley,

Yes, monitoring a mole for a time is quite normal if it only looks slightly suspicious at the moment. To be referred to dermatology the mole has to score 3 or more points on the NICE ABCDE scale and yours will only have scored 2 points (two colours and asymmetrical). A wait of 6 weeks will have no negative effect on any future diagnosis and treatment, especially as you found the mole very recently. New moles can appear at any age & are usually benign - only those that appear when over the age of 40 are considered more suspicious. Was your mum or grandad's skin cancer melanoma? If so, and the mole doesn't change in the ensuing 6 weeks, please push for a referral anyway, just to get an expert's opinion. If they had Basal Cell or Squamous Cell Carcinoma then that doesn't raise your chance of getting melanoma. 

To feel like you are more in control during the 6 week wait, I suggest that once a week you put a ruler next to the mole & take a photo so that you have a photographic record of any subtle changes during the coming weeks. If you notice a fast change in how it looks you can always ask for your appointment to be brought forward and have your GP check it again. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi Angie,

Thank you so much for responding, in terms of the ABCDE guidelines they use it actually has 4 so it is 2 colours, asymmetrical, the border isn't even some of it is blurred and jagged and evolution of it it's started to spread outwards and it has like a tail but coming off of it this is why I can't understand why he's saying we will decide in 6 weeks time, but I suppose they know better than me. My mum has had basal cell twice and my grandad had melenoma, also as I say I am very pale skinned and have alot of freckles and had the redhead gene, yes I will keep an eye on it and take weekly pictures and measurements myself and it I notice any changes I will contact the gp. He did look at it closely with something and he noticed it looked to be spreading upwards so I don't know.

Once again thank you for replying to me.

It sounds like he used a dermascope to examine the mole, in which case he must specialise in dermatology. Quite a few GPs now specialise in it & they are the only ones allowed to use a dermascope. As they are trained about skin cancer, I would feel less anxious about his decision to monitor it for a few weeks. Obviously the fact your grandad had melanoma raises your chances slightly, so keep a close eye on it & don't hesitate to bring your appointment forward if you notice any change.