Diagnosis Waiting Time

Hi I am from the same area and I waited 3 weeks to see a dermatologist.  I was referred to a plastic surgery due to location within a week (due to the location on the mole). Hopefully you don’t have to wait too long

yes I'd definitely do both, ring the department & also email them, & I think I'd even write to them as well on Tuesday.  It's your health, nobody else's & I think we all have to take every opportunity available to us, every opening that we can see.  Bes of luck TroyTroy & I hope everything goes well.

A new footcare lady I'd never met before found a mole between my toes & I immediately assumed by the size, shape & colour that it was a melanoma.  Several patches I have on my tummy, arm & leg I naively assumed were just dry skin.  When I examined them with a magnifying glass I immediately realised they were more melanomas.  Since then I've found many more melanoma looking moles on my breast & midriff.  I'm so ashamed of myself for being so naive & ignoring the obvious.

My dilemma is, I'm 76, have been registered disabled for 30 years & I'm a whimp, I just can't face the thought of chemotherapy on a Zimmer frame!  I've no idea how long these melanomas have been there, & if I'd known sooner I think I might have felt braver & accepted treatment.  As it is I'm inclined to do nothing.  Hopefully I'll see the GP Friday & decide better what I'm going to do.  Life is such a bugger isn't it!  One minute we're sailing along, next minute melanomas are all we can think about!

Thank you. I rang the dermatology department yesterday who said I’d receive an appointment within 23 days of my referral, which takes me to Sat 7th so assuming that’s their current wait time. So now just waiting for the letter to come through with the details 

Glad to hear you managed to receive a satisfactory outcome TroyTroy & I wish you all the best at your next appointment.  I'd be interested to hear all about it & how you got on.

Another of my dilemmas is, do I tell my penfriends I have melanomas?  I can't imagine I'm going to be the same gobby nelly no-all Londoner once I too have been diagnosed, however hard I try, & it only seems fair to enlighten them, rather than they wonder what if anything they may have said wrong.  Don't anyone ever tell me this life is easy!

Hi, I’ve had an appointment come through at the local clinic with the Dermatologist next Thursday so relieved about that. They’ve said they’ll examine and may remove same day if needed, hopefully it won’t come to that. Will report back afterwards. 

Just to update, went to clinic on Thursday and doctor said there seemed to be a grey area in the darker part of the mole. Not sure if I’ve interpreted that as there’s come grey colour, or a grey area meaning she wasn’t sure. Either way she opted to do an excision biopsy. Should hopefully get results at clinic on Friday 20th, fingers crossed it’s positive!