Being sent for a Dermatologist appointment 2ww pathway

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So I went to my GP on Wednesday afternoon because I wanted her to look at a couple of moles that have made me a little worried. One in on the side of my knee, the mole has been there since I can remember as a child (I'm 37 now). It has changed over the decades and now has an irregular edge to it but that is all. The second one is between my toes. I have had that one for over a decade (at least). This one started out as a 'beauty spot' but has slowly changed to be textured and again with irregular edges. Both the moles are around 5mm. My grandad had had many moles removed over the years some were cancerous and others benign. I mentioned this to the GP and she said 'because of your family history and the changes in the moles albeit slow, I'm going to refer you via the 2 week wait pathway'.

I got a phone call the next morning to book an appointment and I go on the 7th of June.

I'm pretty scared and suffer with health anxiety. I'm not doing terribly but every now and then I'm caught out with my own thoughts.

I have read through lots of posts on here that have made me feel a bit better but I'm still anxious of what my future holds. How common are moles between toes (I haven't seen any while on here) I also wonder does that make it more or less likely to be cancerous?

Will they remove a mole between toes and what if they need to do a WLE, there isn't a great deal of skin there.

Anyone with experience on moles on/between toes?

Thanks for listening (reading) my ramblings.

I guess I'll do an update after my appointment Blush

  • Hi  and welcome to the forum.  Sorry to hear about your referral but just to reassure you it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious as you wait for your appointment (most of us here have been there!). On a positive note, you are now in the system and will be taken care of.  Many people are referred for checks, have biopsies and find out they are benign. Hopefully you’ll be one of those.

    At your appointment, the dermatologist will probably do a full head to toe skin examination. I had two moles removed that day which was a little unexpected but reassuring at the same time! It might be a good idea to make a note of all your questions to ask the dermatologist.  Good luck and let us know how you get on x

  • Hey D.S.2022.

    I have just been through the exact same thing. I was referred on the 2 week cancer pathway for a mole between my toes. I was seen a week later and had it removed along with 2mil margin of skin. I am currently recovering....it was a little difficult as there is not much skin in that area. And the stiches are tight. I am also 37. I hope all goes well for you.

    Here if you need a chat x

  • Oh wow. That's amazing that you have the exact same problem. I imagined the removal would be quite difficult - is it painful? What was the Dermatologists opinion on a mole between toes? I am assuming you are now waiting for the results of the biopsy now.

    My letter says that the appointment is for them to look at it and there won't be any removals on the day Thinking

    Thank you and orry for all the q's

  • Hey! I was seen first by the demotologist for a few suspicious moles. But he was most concerned about the one between my toe. I had it removed the following week. The procedure itself was fine. They numb with injection before removing it. But i wont lie...ive been in lots of pain after surgery. I think its because its on a small bendy area and the stitches are tight. I had 6 stitches in all. 2 interal and 4 outside. I did ask the surgeon at the time if she thought it was a melanoma and she gave me the nod! 

    I am now waiting on results to see how thick it is ect. And what my next steps are. I had this done on monday....they said upto 4 weeks for results as they take your findings to a pannel and decide the best treatments going forward. I also asked loads of questions. I even videoed the procedure. Happy to answer anymore questions you have x

  • Thank you for your response. I am making notes of what I want to ask. On my letter it says that I won't have any procedures done on the day Shrug tone1

    I'm doing my best to not to catastrophize what is going on.

    I am feeling better this time around than the last cancer screening I had. The last one was for myeloma in December and was a really worrying time. It ended up being a Negative result which was a huge relief. I think because that was so out of the blue and unexpected which was why I was thrown for a loop and my anxiety was out of control. This time I took myself to the Dr expecting to be sent to a dermatologist.

    My anxiety is no where near as bad this time. 

    You are totally right and being in the system is the safest place to be right now and things are moving quickly which is a huge comfort. 

  • Eeeek I expect pain because yeah the skin is in a place that moves a lot.

    Fingers crossed that they got it all for you and that is the end of the story.

    I'll be in touch I'm sure as things progress for me. Until my appointment there isn't much I can do.

    I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery from the surgery! 

  • Thank you for your well wishes Blush

    Has hard as it is you have to keep occupied. Keep me posted on your journey xx

  • Hi Gemstone can I ask what led you to get your mole looked at? I was told by a chiropodist that it was unusual to have a mole between toes and that I should keep an eye on it. Mine had changed but VERY slowly over many years - nothing sudden and no scary symptoms like bleeding or flaking.

    I feel like such a heel asking you so many questions but you are the only one I am aware of with one between toes.

    TIA BlushGrin

  • Hey. No ask away, i am happy to help in any way. I regularly paint my toes and noticed a small black dot. It was tiny. I thought it was dirt as first, tried to scrath it off. Then kept my eye on it for a few months and it got lighter and bigger. I had it looked at at that time by doctor and he said it looked ok and to keep an eye on it. It first appeared just after i turned 30. Over the years its got bigger with darker pigments and becoming slightly irregular so had it looked at again and was sent to demotologist this time. Its been all go from there really. 

  • Just an update as I saw the dermatologist today. He was not worried about the mole on my leg AT ALL - which is great. The one between my toes interested him a bit more. He said that because I'm a bit of a worryer (my words not his) and that it is a bit dark and he couldn't get at it with the scope he would refer this to be removed. He said it will more than likely turn out to be nothing but better to err on the side of caution and get rid of it and test it. He said that it wasn't urgent so I'm a bit more reassured by that. So now I wait for the removal and subsequent testing. 

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