Hi,
I am looking for an another perspective if possible as I have had an experience with my GP that has left me feeling as though I have been a nuisance.
Over the weekend a mole on my arm changed drastically (colour, shape, size and border). Recognising these all as signs needing checked I knew I would have to book a GP appointment asap to be reviewed. I will admit that I made the mistake over the weekend of doing a lot of reading and I got myself into a bit of a panic as I have a 10 month old baby and I have been imagining the absolute worst.
Monday morning at 08.30 on the dot I phoned the surgery and asked receptionist for an urgent appointment for the doctor to look at it. She asked for me to send photos which I did. I expected the GP might see me later that day (or at least be in touch) on but he messaged Tuesday evening (after I had phoned the surgery looking for an update and again asking for a face to face appointment ) and after the phone lines closed the GP said I should book an appointment. Long story short I was seen today (Wednesday).
GP glanced at my arm from a distance (told me not to bring my chair close because he might have a cold) and immediately said nothing to worry about and told me he used to work in Australia so knew what skin cancer looked like. I tried to explain that I was very worried as to the drastic change and he just asked 1) have I ever lived abroad, 2) have my parents had skin cancer. He then measured with a ruler quickly and said “just so I can write that I’ve measured it”. And again said it’s nothing. He said I might die of cancer one day as chance is 1 in 2 but this probably wouldn’t be it. I tried to explain that I was really worried and when I said if you are 100% sure this is nothing then he said fine I’ll write you a referral. I didn’t have any of my concerns addressed about how risk increased in the 12 months post partum and I feel like he didn’t even really look and was very dismissive.
I work as a prescribing pharmacist so understand how a consultation should look and feel in tone and collaboration and to me this did not feel right. However separate to this, I suppose my question is what are the usual checks done as part of a suspicious mole screening? I felt like very little history was taken and I only received a face to face consultation because I insisted, but I felt like he didn’t even look at my arm before he’d decided this outcome. There was no safety netting and nothing about timeframes for the referral which he reluctantly said he would do.
Is it normal for these kinds of concerns to be addressed via email?
What checks would usually be done as part of this consultation?
What history is usually taken?
Is there anything I should do (see another doctor?) or just wait for referral.
I hope I’m not coming across as terrible here but there have been issues in my surgery with regards to lack of communication resulting in treatment failures before and issues with care while I was pregnant. It hasn’t left me with a lot of faith.
Thanks
