New wait for biopsy

The waiting is awful I agree, I had 2 dark freckles removed 8 weeks ago and I am still waiting on results again it’s blamed on the covid backlog.

Maybe keep calling them and you might get a cancellation? 

Hi Andrew, 

I think waiting times depends to the trust and area you've been seen. NHS England has guidelines to get the treatment done in 31 or 62 days. 

I agree with Amccl, try to give them a call on regular intervals to see if there is a possibility to move it to a nearer date. 

I am a NHS worker myself and know how strained things are. Don't get me started on Covid and all, but let me say this, I don't hesitate for a second to demand the best service when comes to cancer. When I was waiting for my referral for WLE, I called my consultant and asked him openly if I am high risk and should go private, he explained my risk factors and why he thinks waiting shouldn't make difference in my case, which put my mind to ease and I waited for NHS rather than going to private.

Do they class a biopsy as treatment.

regards andrew

Hi Andrew, 

I am not a medic, but I think since the aim for biopsy in cases of melanoma, is to remove all of the suspected(!) tissue during excision, it is an investigation as well as a treatment.

Maybe can give a call to your specialist nurse and ask about guidelines they follow etc. 

2 years ago had polypoid nodular melonoma wit superficial spreading , but had the biopsy done privately.

Hi 46 male, to be clear- you are having 3 monthly checks as follow up since your previous diagnosis two years ago? Did you have any follow up treatments at the time or just the local excision to diagnose?

You are having 3 monthly checks with an NHS hospital? If you are then there's no way you have to wait that long.  Your consultant should fast track you due to your previous diagnosis.  Is your consultant aware of your diagnosis of two years ago?

As regards a biopsy, there are strict guidelines for surgeons as regards the size of the excision for the biopsy stage so I'm not sure it's treatment on its own. After diagnosis I had a wide local excision and sentinel lymph node removal plus a lymph node either side.  This was to determine if the mole on my arm had infiltrated my lymph system and therefore it assisted my oncologist to decide on adjuvant immunotherapy treatment.  

Please contact your GP too and explain that the wait is too long for you with your previous diagnosis.  I don't mean to worry you at all but you are entitled to be seen quicker than two months- all of us with a previous diagnosis of melanoma are !  Good luck x

Hi , my original melonoma  was ulcerated and 1.6 mm. Because of covid has wle in April then slnb in September.came back negative. on the new one sent some photos to derm and he got me in for a look. He said it was irregular and he would do excision biopsy to check . There’s a backlog in my region for biopsy(skin)

regards

andrew

Thanks for your info. That's really good news that your SNLB was clear. I was diagnosed in April with Stage 3c but due to brain aneurysms and an odd shaped neck node my WLE and SNLB didn't happen til July.  My surgeon was not pleased at the delay. I'm sorry you have such a long wait, it's too long to sit and worry especially with your previous diagnosis. Can your consultant refer you out of area for a faster biopsy date maybe?

As the others have said, keep ringing, try the skin specialist nurses too as they may be able to speed things up on your behalf. Good luck

Thanks for replying it’s much appreciated. Hoping that he thinks it’s atypical and not melonoma and that’s why there isn’t an urgency.

regatds

Andrew

Hi 46 male, I guess we have to have some trust in our doctors  and their opinion however after taking myself to my local health centre for over a year with the mole I was worried about and being ignored my belief in GPs and nurse practitioners vanished.  If it had been found early...

So I'm afraid that I just think if we've had a melanoma removed before we must be bumped up the list. Australia are doing research right now on starting immunotherapy before having the WLE/SNLB and my oncologist says that has shown some good results but needs at least a five year set of results to come into regular use.

I wish you good luck and I'm not here to tell you what to do but I know I couldn't wait two months! Take care x