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biopsy

Weeble
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Hi I developed a little itchy spot back in March seen GP last week 8/5 after it changed considerably within 2 weeks was 1cm in size at time of seeing GP he red flagged me but my health trust is showing 10 week wait for red flag another week on its still growing now 1.5 cm. I've read on forums some people mentioned their lesion being too big for biopsy and needed to wait for a plastics consultation. Is there a certain size that is the cut off? My health trust also states I should receive a text to let me know I've been added to waiting list but haven't heard anything. I'm in NI should I check back with GP? phone health trust?

  • Hi Weeble,

    My name is Keith and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

    Welcome to the online community hope you are finding the support helpful.

    On this platform as we are a charitable organisation, we don’t have access to your medical information. For this reason, we have limited information re your clinical history.

    In a situation like this we would always suggest re contacting your GP to make them aware of your worsening symptoms and to discuss your concerns further re waiting time.

    The possible changes you are noticing may accelerate your referral but guidelines re wait times are only a guideline and unfortunately longer wait times is becoming more and more common in the current climate due to demand and limited availability of clinic/consultation times.

    Contacting your local health trust may also be helpful, looking at this link will explain this in more detail re your options

    Taking biopsies are a routine diagnostic test, but every situation is variable, and location /size can affect the taking of biopsies from the affected area.

    In any situation risk/benefit assessments should be carried out by the most appropriate health care professional in each individual situation.

    In some cases, most of the area may or may not be removed in taking the biopsy which may mean if all the area of concern has been removed and a situation of achieving clear margins has been achieved this may mean no further intervention may be required. Looking at this link will explain what is meant by clear margins in relation to a possible skin cancer lesion .  

     On this platform it can be difficult to have a two-way conversation and to fully understand what you are going through.

    If you’d like further explanation or have any other questions, please feel free to recontact us. Or if you it may help to discuss things with someone outside the loop please feel free to give us a call or contact us via our web chat platform.

     take care.

    Keith, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

    Ref KM/RH

     

     

     

     

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