Hi,

I know how worrying this can be but please don't panic, it happens more often than you think. I have no personal experience of this but I know a few people who have. It happens for one of two reasons, either the tissue sample wasn't large enough or the cells in the tissue aren't presenting in a definite way for them to say it's benign, pre-cancerouis or melanoma. So the local hospital will send it to a more experienced histology for a second opinion and on very rare occasions it may need sending to a third histology who deal mainly with biopsy samples like this. I've known some to get sent to Amsterdam for a another opinion! 

If, at the end of the day, they can't decide 100% if it's malignant, they will treat it as if it is malignant to ensure they don't misdiagnose a possible cancer. That is why your doctor, whilst waiting for the result, is going ahead with a Wide Local Excision which is the treatment used for a melanomna. The extra margin of tissue will be sent off for biopsy and will look for any stray cell that may have broken away from the melanoma (if it is melanoma). 90% of WLE procedures come back negative for cells found in the tissue which is what you want to hear. 

Meanwhile, hopefully the third opinion will be able to say your mole was benign but at least you've had the extra surgery 'just in case'. 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 replying. I feel like you've made me feel so much more relaxed about this whole situation. I will keep the post updated once I've been seen or updated in anyway! 
 

Thanks again