Hi, try not to panic. Few years ago I had a mole that eventually was turning blackish from brown. I kept looking at the thing for 21 months before I cd decide if it needed checking. Like you they quickly removed it. I was just as scared as you. Waited 5.5 weeks all over Christmas for results.

Now, it was a malignant melanoma BUT it was a superficially spreading one and only 0.6mm thick. Despite how long I had left it they got it all, no spread. Ideally you don't want one over 1mm thick.

They later did a wide excision so it wouldn't re-appear. That was all nearly 7 years ago and all is well.

The worst bit was the nurse beginning with "Unfortunately it was a malignant melanoma.." rather than beginning with "We got it all etc".

Superficially spreading malignant melanomas can take a decade or two, possibly longer to do anything.

I totally understand your panic, I have anxiety and health anxiety is a big part of it. But I also know a woman of 70 who had an mm when she was 10. Shes still playing tennis! 

Yours might be nothing at all or at least no worse than mine. Just hang in there, let us know. 

Hi Claire,

I know how worrying this is but please don't Google - the information is out of date and only fuels worry rather than showing that not everyone's dodgy mole turns out to be malignant.

There is a 75% chance that the results will be clear. If not, there is a 20% chance the mole is dysplastic (pre-cancerous) which means, once removed, it can't turn cancerous. Failing that, there is a 5% chance it could be melanoma but even if it is, there is still a 97% chance that it can be sorted. If caught early, once removed you are good to go with just a few check ups. Even if not caught early, treatment for melanoma these days has come on leaps & bounds and is showing great success. So don't immediately think that your mole is the worse case scenario.

My mole turned black & grew bigger. I left it a year before seeing my GP. That was 25 years ago and it was melanoma. Even though it spread later (my own fault for leaving it a year) I'm still here, fit, healthy and without any sign of cancer. So please don't panic and take each step of this as it comes. Hopefully your results will come back benign but if not, it can be treated.

Now you have to distract yourself from Googling and worrying by keeping busy with your wedding plans. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

I had a black mole removed from base of my spine last year. I saw my GP following a diagnosis of melanoma for my sister. I was referred to the consultant, seen within 5 days, had the mole removed within another 7 and like you was in absolute fear/panic. When the path lab results came back it was benign. Stay positive x

Thankyou x

Hi Angie 

Thankyou. That's quite a good statistic. Your right I shouldn't have googled but I was so desparate for some reassurance but instead diagnosed myself with the worst outcome.

So reassuring to hear you've been fine for 25years.

Thankyou for your reply x 

Hi 

That's reassuring thankyou. Must have been awful for you over Christmas. The wait is over whelming.

I don't know how thick mine was as they just said it was deep. I really hope mine is OK or worst case scenario if it isn't its treatable x

Hi 

Thankyou for your reply. I havent heard of superficial spreading that reassures me about early diagnosis.

Was your sister OK?

I really hope I can deal with what's thrown my way. It's just so scary and sends you into a panic x

My sister's experience was very different and was a fast growing melanoma on her knee but as a result my brother and I were both advised to be checked which is when my GP discovered the mole on my back confirmed by the consultant as suspicious. As I said, it turned out to have been completely benign but I went through every stage of panic waiting for the results. I think the reassurance I wanted to give is that just because they act quickly and mention the word suspicious doesn't mean the outcome is necessarily adverse. Fingers crossed for your results x

Aw sorry to hear that. Thankyou. Yes I need to stay level headed but the panic eats you up. Thankyou for your reply x