Possible Melanoma?

Hello Jess (Jess40 )

Thanks for visiting us, I hope you are finding our Prostate cancer forum a really helpful resource. I’m Linda, one of the nurses from our support line.

I wonder what the GP suspected when they took the photographs and sent them to dermatology, and if they had mentioned a suspicion of the mole being a melanoma.

When there is a suspicion that a mole or skin lesion might be cancerous GP practices have these guidelines from NICE. These are to help them decide who should be referred to dermatology, and how urgent the referral should be.

Melanoma Focus explain this in more detail here.

We would encourage your husband (or yourself, with your husband’s permission) to contact the GP practice and ask if they can offer some further information about their suspicions and whether a more urgent referral is needed.

They should be able to give you some guidance about the way new moles or skin lesions are assessed and managed in the area where you live. This is because some NHS Trusts will have their own local guidelines.

It can be a worrying time when waiting hear back, especially when there is likely to be a wait. To help Patient Info offer the following guidance. And though we can’t say what the mole is if would help to have a chat with us we’d welcome a call from you to look at how we can best support you both.

Take care

Linda, 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: LM/KM