Hi Maxy088,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm glad to hear you've had this checked out. I hope that the appointment will come around sooner than the three months as I appreciate that is quite a while to wait.

If you feel you'd like to talk to someone in the meantime, our nurses are available on 0808 800 4040 (Monday-Friday, 9-5).

Meanwhile if anyone has similar experience to share then hopefully they'll be along soon.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi – I had new moles/mole changes during pregnancy. One was removed some months after I gave birth. It was found to be a dysplastic nevus (not cancerous but higher chance of becoming cancerous in future) and other changes were said to be benign. It is common for moles to change during pregnancy and the good thing is that you are getting this checked out to determine what is going on. One other thought is that I once irritated a mole when young on my leg (tried to rub it out - ha!) and overnight it grew ever so much larger in size. Benign, but the mole didn't like being irritated. It is possible that while doing the caesarean some pressure or rubbing occurred which caused the mole to grow?? I also had a mole incompletely lopped off (it had been removed alongside another – also dysplastic – mole over a decade later). A tiny dot of pigment then grew to a full-sized mole over a matter of weeks. When I went back to see the dermatologist I was told it had simply done what moles do and harmlessly regenerated itself. You have done the right thing in getting this checked out. It will be for the doctors to say if the changes are concerning or not. Sometimes they can't tell without an excision. Having an excision doesn't mean something is necessarily cancerous. Please come back and let us know how you get on. 

Hi,

Sunscared has given you very good advice, especially regarding moles that can change or new moles appear during or after pregnancy due to hormone levels. Hopefully this is what's happened in your case. Also, moles that are usually covered can change in appearance. If they are found to be malignant there is more chance it's due to genetics rather than UV damage. However, don't forget that UV damage caused when we are children can take many years to turn malignant.

Don't panic if they say it needs removing for a biopsy as this is the best way to rule out malignancy if they are unsure. There is a good chance it's dysplastic rather than malignant.

I know that hospitals are still finding it hard to get through the waiting list caused by Covid but 3 months sounds far too long for a 2 week cancer pathway referral (Urgent). Are you in Northern Ireland where I know the situation is really bad at the moment? If you are in England, Scotland or Wales I would query the waiting time. If it's correct, I would ask if another hospital further away has a shorter waiting list. Failing that, if you can afford to pay for a private dermatology consultation, I suggest you look into it. The longer you wait will cause more anxiety so the quicker you can get it checked out the better. If a private consultant suggests it's removed for biopsy you can then transfer back to the NHS for the procedure - it just saves some of the initial waiting time.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thank you so much for taking time to reply, 

I feel alot more relaxed that pregnancy can affect moles, I am olive skin and never burn. The area the mole it in would have never seen the sun, as just on my pant line. 

I was shocked by wait list too, but am in Northern Ireland and non urgent wait list is 6months plus. 

My parents are concerned and have decided to get me an appointment at a private hospital which have a cancer screening. But even their list is massive due to back log and is 8 weeks the soonest they can see me  but at least I know it will be 8 weeks and no longer  

I am glad you got your quick enough that very reassuring. 

Thanks 

Thanks for the reply. 

Yes in Northern Ireland, list's are deadly and actually killing people it terrible. 

My parents have booked me a private scan, but even the wait for that most urgent is 8 weeks, but at least we know it getting seen in the 8 weeks. 

They got themselves so worked up they where going to take me to Glasgow, but I feel OK with a 8 weeks wait, and any cancellations will be first to know. 

I'll keep you updated 

My mole that appeared suddenly during pregnancy was in an area that hadn't seen the sun since childhood (just above my belly button) and was extremely dark. I had check-ups at the hospital for a while afterwards but no further problems in that area. Hope all goes well with your private appointment. It is difficult when waits are long. I had to wait because the mole that appeared during pregnancy couldn't be removed until after I had my baby. So I know how worrying a wait can be. Good luck with it all.