Mole checks advice please...

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Hi, I had melanoma in situ (lentigo maligna) removed from my face and was discharged from plastic surgery. I have lots of moles, fair skin, and a history of sunburn and sunbed use as a teenager.

I’m worried about monitoring my many moles, especially since some have changed or caused symptoms (like one that itched and bled recently). My GP only looked briefly and said the NHS no longer offers mole surveillance or full skin checks.

I’m not keen on going private, but I don’t know what others in a similar situation do to keep an eye on their skin and get reassurance.

What have others done to manage mole monitoring and follow-up after melanoma in situ, especially with many moles and a history of sun damage? Have you been able to get NHS dermatology follow-up or support from a skin cancer nurse?

A gp at my doctors very briefly looked at my back and a few moles on my leg. She didn't look close up and said all look ok apart from one on my leg that she thought could be a blister or bcc. She advised to come back in 4 weeks if hasn't healed. Really dont want to leave it as I know my lentigo maligna op took about 6 months from 1st appointment to wider local excision op.

Any advice or experiences would be really helpful. Thanks!

latchbrook 30 days ago

Hi Flowersshine

I know I replied to this post in the skin cancer group and suggested you posted here too so I'm sorry that you haven't had any replies. Just in case anyone looks at this thread in future I'm going to pop my previous reply to you here to.

"I don't know if there's anyway that you can insist that you have a full body check for possible skin cancer on the NHS. However as it was your consultant who suggested this, it might be a good idea to contact him/her and explain that your GP says this isn't possible and ask for their advice on how to arrange it."

Have you had chance to speak to the consultant who advised you that you should get your doctor to refer you for a full body check yet?

Anne

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

TiredTiger 17 days ago

I'd also be interested in this advice. I too have lots of moles and it's hard to keep track of them. I downloaded a few apps that you can use to take pictures but it's not a great solution.

Flowersshine 15 days ago in reply to TiredTiger

I've recently done a free trial with skinvision. I’m actually really impressed. They emailed me about a few of my moles which came back low risk but said their dermatologist looked at the photos and have advised to keep an eye on them for any changes but feel they are low risk. It's put my mind at rest.

Muncha825c4 3 days ago

Hi,

Just wanted to pop in and say that I was at my GP August 6th to check some of my moles that I was worried about and I told him that my mum had skin cancer and my aunt and her aunt had cancer so I have alot of worries about getting it , and I asked "can I get a full body mole check through NHS ?" and he said yes you can get referred to a dermatologist for "mole mapping" but you have to be persistent. He didn't feel that any of my moles justified the mole mapping as most were some kind of keratoses but I thought I would jump in and say that NHS are still doing full body checks, albeit reluctantly! So since you had an actual melanoma, I would insist on seeing a different GP and pushing for the mole mapping!

Good luck x

Miss mole 2 days ago in reply to Flowersshine

What is skinvision and who is entitled to it I'm stage 3a braf melanoma on surveillance.

Miss mole 2 days ago in reply to Flowersshine

I've just seen it's a app.

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Mole checks advice please...