Hello everyone,
I have not currently got a melanoma diagnosis but really struggling with the stress of 2week wait referral, I hope it is ok to post here with this.
I am struggling quite a lot with anxiety about the outcome of my 2ww referral. I had my first appointment at the beginning of last week, just under 3 weeks after gp referral, and am waiting to hear back about the next steps.
I wonder if others who have recently been diagnosed may have experience with the changed assessment pathway since introduction of AI analysis of dermoscopy images (NICE approved this particular application, „DERM“ in May 2025, and it is apparently as good or slightly better than dermatologists at recognising malignant dermoscopy patterns; and my local hospital has introduced it).
It is supposed to reduce wait times but I think what has not been thought of much is the extra time waiting for what happens next and the extra anxiety it produces. After a traditional initial appointment I assume I’d know the dermatologists opinion and what the next steps would be - but instead I am waiting to hear for the results of the AI analysis (dermoscopy photos are taken by health care assistant).
While I was there, I asked about a rough timeline for when I should hear next but the response was very vague - stating I was on the two week wait pathway. Obviously not the staff‘s fault as it is a new pathway and they are only doing their job.
I already feel like I left it too long to see my GP, I had kept telling myself I can keep observing it. At the moment it is really affecting my mental health quite badly. I am even off work the last few days (I’m a doctor myself and that does not help at all; I see and refer people with possible cancer on a daily basis).
My mind keeps going through all sorts of scenarios including such things as how good is the quality of the dermoscopy view that was taken as photo for the AI assessment. I wish I could have had a „normal“ appointment to talk more about what happens next, what their opinion is etc. I was told that the AI outcome alone will decide if i will have another appointment to see a dermatologist. Tomorrow it’s going to be a week since my appointment.
If anyone else on here had experience with AI used in their diagnosis I would be really grateful if they could reply.
Thanks so much for reading all this to everyone who got down to here!
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update: I called my hospital via switchboard and was told there is no result yet/awaiting consultant review and it could be a further 1-2 weeks or rather they were not keen to give me any timeframe.
Hi B821565d520 and a very warm welcome to the group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I don't have any experience with AI analysis of dermatoscopy images but had a look through the group and found that Penny2025 and DISNEYFAN have gone down this route recently. I've 'tagged' them into my reply to you in the hope that they'll pop on and share their experiences of AI with you.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi
oh ok, well I wouldn’t read to much into it just yet so 
al will be ok
