Possible Melanoma

Hi ElleDeeElle and a vey warm welcome to the melanoma group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I don't have any personal experience with having AI dermatoscope pictures being taken but, as I assume they'd be looked at by a consultant dermatologist afterwards, I would guess that they're just as accurate as the spots being looked at with a hand held dermatoscope when you're examined in person by the consultant.

However, that doesn't mean that because one of the 'spots' is being flagged as a possible melanoma that it is. The only definitive way of knowing is for an excision biopsy to be done and for this to be examined under a microscope. I've had several removed over the years and only one turned out to be melanoma, and that was the one that looked least like a melanoma! 

Hopefully yours will turn out to be benign when biopsied but, even if it is melanoma, please don't think that this means a "death sentence". If the melanoma hasn't spread then the excision biopsy followed by what's called a wide local excision is all the treatment you'll need. If it has spread then there are lots of treatments available. 

Please feel free to ask any further questions and I'll do my best to answer.

Thank you for the reply.

I am covered in many of these red spots which I've always been told are cherry angiomas, I wanted them all checked by the GP due to being paranoid after the bowel cancer earlier this year and got sent to the local spot check clinic and told I could only choose two!

I was shocked when it came up in my app as possible melanoma and currently am not functioning very well at all due to all the memories of the bowel cancer in May which I'm still traumatised from.

I am not coping with the waiting and missed a call from the hospital today which I'm beating myself up about! Hopefully they will phone tomorrow. 

The fact that this spot has been there for years worries me that it may have spread already - and also if this is one how many others are! :-/ 

I know it's hard but try to keep focused on one step at a time.

You've completed the first step by seeing your GP who referred you to have photos taken.

The next step is the appointment you've been referred for. I'm not sure from what you've said if this referral is to see a consultant dermatologist or to have the excision biopsy. 

If it's to see a consultant then they will check you all over to see if there's anything else suspicious that needs removing at the same time as the original spot.

I found that the best way of coping with all the waiting was to concentrate on doing things that I enjoyed so that I had less time to worry about the 'what ifs'.

If how you are feeling is interfering with your day to day life then please do speak to your GP, who should be able to help.

((hugs))

Hi thanks for the reply.

I'm assuming it's just a consultation where I'm hoping he/she can put my mind at rest and remove it and check all my other many spots. 

Because I'm autistic I suffer badly from anxiety and OCD, I have also been very unlucky with my health and have many other disabilities and conditions. Along with many incredibly unlucky serious life events (that most people might only experience one or two of in their life!) and all of that has traumatised me (I have PTSD) it makes it difficult to think anything but the worst - especially after the bowel cancer.

I am taking antidepressants but am still finding it impossible to eat and function properly in anyway so I'm just sitting watching TV. I am getting a phone call tomorrow from the mental health nurse at my surgery so hopefully she can set up some proper psychological support (not just CBT - that has never worked for me).

Hopefully I will hear about an appointment today.  

Hello,

I hope you hear about an appointment soon. Waiting is so difficult and seems easier when things are moving along. I have lots of freckles and moles, I wouldn’t know what 2 to choose, it must have been stressful just choosing 2. 
I find this site really so helpful to have, people are kind and helpful, I learn a lot from peoples experiences. 
Not long after my diagnosis, my mum was diagnosed with bladder cancer. She has had the tumour removed and waiting to hear if it’s contained in the bladder. She is doing well and it’s thanks to her team being organised.

I switch between this forum and the bladder forum and I have a local macmillan centre. I call my macmillan nurse if I need help with something, these sources are great, if you have access to them. I have also used the Maggies centre, no appointments are needed.

You have done great coming here, asking for help can seem so hard. I sometimes think I just get over one hurdle and another one comes along, and I have found it’s got a bit easier when I’m having a good day and can connect with someone, I have anxiety/depression and some days I don’t feel I can. I always feel better once I’ve been in touch with someone who may know how I feel.

Thank you so much for sharing xx

Hi ElleDeeElle 

I just wanted to see how you're doing today. Did the hospital phone back about your appointment and have you managed to have a chat with your mental health nurse?

((hugs))

Hi, yes they phoned yesterday with a cancellation for today at 2pm I've been and it's just a cherry angioma!

All that worry for nothing - she said the AI system often gets it wrong they are not very impressed by it - it even flagged up a blackhead on one lady as possibly cancerous! It would be better if they sent the image straight to a consultant to rule in or out in my opinion. 

The mental health nurse did not phone at the arranged time but phoned this afternoon when I was in the hospital so I missed the call - they said they will try and re-arrange. 

So all in all I'm relieved the spot was nothing to worry about but still traumatised from my bowel cancer and other life issues. 

Thanks everyone for the support in what has been a traumatic week!