Worried about mole removal results...

Hi Demo97

This is a difficult question to answer because different hospitals have different ways of doing things. Also, the post operative instructions may be given to lots of different types of patients. It may be that they see all patients who have had moles removed.

Personally, I am amazed that any results are available after five days. This might suggest that they see everyone whose mole was 'iffy' enough to be removed and they are confident that they will have the results by 15th August.

All the best

Thank you so much for your reply. I sincerely hope you are right and it’s just routine to see everyone and not a bad sign that I have an appointment. I just wish they could send a letter saying something along the lines of “all is well but we just need to see you for a check up” it would make it so much easier not to worry. 

I feel silly worrying so much, I’ve even burst into tears several times and I couldn’t sleep last night with worry! I know it’s a 50/50 good or bad news at the moment but I can’t stop myself fearing the worst. 

Thanks again for answering my question x

Hi and a second welcome to the online community

When I had a lesion removed nearly 3 years ago I also received a letter with an appointment booked for a couple of weeks later. I know that at that point they didn't have my results back because it took 6 weeks for the results to be ready.

Unfortunately mine was positive for melanoma but here I am 3 years later doing everything I did before melanoma except sitting in the sun!

If your mole does turn out to be melanoma then for the majority of people a further excision to make sure there are no cells left behind and an optional sentinel lymph node biopsy is all the treatment you'll need. You'll then be closely monitored for 5 years.

I know waiting for results is horrible but worrying will not change them and will just make you miserable in the meantime. Now would be a good time to indulge yourself in favourite pastimes or hobbies, go and visit places, have lunch out with friends, basically anything to help your mind from wandering on to the what ifs.

If you need to chat about how you're feeling there are plenty of people in this group who will understand exactly how you're feeling at the moment. 

x

Hi , welcome to the group, I’m sorry you are in a worrying phase, we all get them. I agree with Moira that I don’t think after 5 days they will have the results so this is like Latchbrook described a letter to cover all to book an appointment on the system for you. My husband had a non cancerous piece of skin removed and he was still seen. 

I always think that this is a good time to review how we cope with anxiety, as I don’t think it’s time wasted. If it’s not melanoma, coping can be used when ever we have a life blip. If it is melanoma well for some this is seen as the start of uncertainty for them, with blips very now and then. You can’t stop worrying just because someone tells you not to, but you can try and acknowledge that worry perhaps by writing the worry down like on here, or talking to a friend or the Macmillan support line. You can then limit the time you spend on worrying, consciously give yourself a time in the day to allow you to worry and try and get the time to 10 mins. If a worry comes up at another time write one word in your worry book to acknowledge it and see if at your worry time you can remember what your worry was. 

Keep busy, enjoy yourself, learn what keeps you occupied and happy, and keeps the worries away, and if the book idea works. See if you can get to a place where you can just relax and not be busy without thinking about your worries. Some people including my husband use a mindfulness app really helpful. 

My experience of melanoma is now 4 years old, no primary but diagnosed with melanoma that had spread I’m looking forward to March where I can be off all treatment again and be clear of melanoma for many years to come. I can’t say that blips with anxiety will be over, but today’s a good day and I hope today is good for you, but if it’s not I hope we can all help here. 

Hi KT and latchbrook,

Thank you both for the replies and the advice. I’m a born worrier and am quite an anxious person naturally so I feel like maybe I am being a bit daft panicking so much. I have everything crossed that this is just what my hospital do regardless of outcome and that I will get a positive outcome.

Thank you for the advice RE coping techniques KT, I am signed off work at the moment due to this removal aggravating an existing suspected trapped nerve & rotator cuff problem (all in same arm ‍) so obviously I now have the added question of is this mole and whatever may be wrong with it the route cause of these existing conditions? I will be using your advice about keeping busy and trying to limit my worrying to a small portion of my day to try to keep myself sane! 

Again many thanks for the interaction, just being on here and being able to get opinions and advice from people such as yourselves is a big help. 

Xxx

Oh , I hope your arm / shoulder is not stopping you from enjoying time off work. Coincidentally not melanoma related I have had trouble with my shoulder, so sometimes coincidences do exist, outside of murder mystery tv programmes of course

Best wishes

Hi all,

Just felt the need to pop on here and say hi and also to just air that my appointment is in 3 days and I’m really anxious about it all. I haven’t really got anyone to talk about it with, friends and family just tell me to stop worrying and if it was bad I’d have been seen much sooner (personally I think 3 weeks after removal is very quick) and my hubby is convinced there’s nothing wrong with me and I don’t really want to worry him anyway.

Really I’m just hoping someone on here will tell me my worrying is normal and ok and that I’m not completely overreacting to this situation. I am still completely aware that I might be anxious about nothing at all but is it ok that I am anxious?? Or am I just being dramatic? 

Apologies for waffling but I needed a little vent. 

Hope you are all well xxx

Totally normal to worry, it hits you in phases, and you have good days and bad. When I first went to the doctor I just thought it was nothing but ended up urgent referral to dermatology, and after each step I have felt different emotions at different times, have a look st my profile for mre info on my story. Everyneedsvtl vent, zinc thus forum is full of amazing people going through all sorts sk ideal place to have a chat and feel normal

Sonny

Worry is certainly normal,  it comes and goes, always good to talk, just need to remain positive, shout up if you want to chat.

Hi sonny09, I hope your anxiety has settled , you just need to remain positive whatever the outcome and hopefully everything will turn out fine . I was in your shoes last week , went to doctors got referred, had mole removed and was at the hospital for the results on 9th August last week. It saddens me to say though that unfortunately I didn’t have a happy ending ,I was told  I have stage 2 melanoma and didn’t in my wildest dreams expect to be sat talking with a Macmillan nurse when I am only 31 years old. but at the same time I almost feel a sense of relief to know I’m being looked after and kept a close eye on, on that day they gave a full body check ( 1 more was removed for testing ) a detailed full body photo shoot , and a chat with the McMillan nurse who can I just say is amazing , the dr explained to me that I will be having surgery to test my lymph nodes and that I will be in their care for 5 years , but like I say as crazy as all this sounds In one way im pleased as they will pick up any changes straight away and be treated as who knows next time there may have been no help for me if I left it too long .