Long Wait and why?

FormerMember over 5 years ago

1 reply
54 subscribers
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I have had a number of moles removed over the years, they have all been fine and I was discharged by post or by ringing my doctors. I have moved down to Staffordshire and after a GP visit with an itchy mole they got me in to the local hospital within a week to see a specialist. He was extremely good and said I had 3 moles on my back. He told me that 1 looked like Melanoma and the other 2 looked suspicious and he recommended that all 3 would be removed. He did tell me that if it was Melanoma I would be requested to go back in for further investigation and possibly more ops/scans etc but not to worry until he was 100%. So I went in for them to be done and it was not what I was expecting. I had previously had moles removed at my doctors, this was in the theater, 4 local anesthetics and 3/4 external stitches with 2/3 internal stitches. I was told I would receive my results within 4 weeks. I did not hear anything and presumed no news was good news and maybe a little bit of sticking my head in the sand. After 9 weeks I decided to ring the hospital. I spoke to the surgeons secretary who after asking for my details 3 times and putting me on hold told me I needed to go back in. I asked her to just send me a letter out to discharge me, I don't really want to come back in to be discharged. I said I presumed that no news was good news and she said I cannot give you your results over the phone. You need to come back in. She then made me an appointment for another 3 weeks. After the 1st week of waiting I have called back and said I need to get back in as I really don't know what's going on. She has made me an appointment for next week. Which will be 11 weeks from the operation. I have lots of questions like, because they want me to go back in do I have Melanoma? If so is it 1 or 2 or 3....also all the other questions. I don't know if I am being completely stupid for worrying. I think what I would like to know is, would the hospital call me back in to discharge me or is it that they are going to tell me I have it. I don't know if anyone else has had to wait this long. and if it's normal procedure to see you to discharge you?

KTatHome over 5 years ago

Hi , welcome to the online community, I’m sorry you’ve had such a long wait for your results. From listening to people on the site for a few years I’ve learnt that each health authority seems to have its own way of doing things, and their own time scales for waiting which can be impacted by holidays, or the need to have a second pathologist to look at the biopsy. I suppose the good news is that wether it’s melanoma or not, the moles have been removed. I hate waiting longer than I need to, and with melanoma there’s a lot of waiting of results, so I can’t help with second guessing what’s been happening to your results, but I can give you in incite into how I distract myself when waiting for results, but it seems like you are already good at that as you’ve waited, is it 9 or 10 weeks already, I think you deserve a medal for that alone. I’ll be interested to hear how you get on, and wish you luck for next weeks wait.

I’ve not had a primary melanoma removed, mine was an unknown primary. My husband waited 9 weeks and had to go in to have his wound checked, I can’t recall what his was called but it was non cancerous.

i hope the next week goes quickly for you and that you can shelve thinking about it until you have your results, or remain cool while preparing any questions for your appointment.

best wishes

Take care KT

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Long Wait and why?