Suspected Melanoma

No you are not missing something. A nurse at the GP surgery takes the photograph with a special camera and sends it to a consultant in London. If the consultant in London thinks it is of concern then you get referred to the actual dermatology clinic which is a wait of two weeks. If then at the actual clinic they think it needs removing you get put on a waiting list for the removal which in my case last time was 14 or 15 weeks, so if they had actually been melanomas it would have been to late because it would have been a rare very aggressive form of melanoma. Thankfully the last ones were not malignant in the end. At the dermatology clinic I did not see a consultant, but a GP trained in dermatology who kept repeating to herself that she had been doing it for 30 years. I looked her up and 30 hours was more accurate as she had only completed her dermatology training a few days before, so it was her first week. This is how it is done where I live. I will find out on Wednesday what the consultant says about the photograph. x

Thanks for the explanation Ilse as it's not something I have any experience with. Hopefully, the consultant will decide that the mole doesn't need removing and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Do come back and let us know what he says.

Hi Ilse,

I can understand why you are concerned. Would it be possible to have a biopsy test? A doctor takes a small sample of the lesion and sends it off for testing. It could rule out the possibility of melanoma or if it is melanoma, perhaps justify getting you fast-tracked for surgery.

Take care

Miranda

That is a great suggestion. I can certainly ask, but I think they have their process and probably won't deviate from it. X

I got a phone call just now from the hospital ringing me about an appointment with a consultant in dermatology on the 15th. I am sure it is a melanoma as I saw the photograph. The GP has not contacted me at all. I just got the phone call from the hospital saying it is about your appointment and I said 'what appointment?' and she said it is about your face. Hopefully I have caught it early! 

That's great that you only have a week to wait Ilse!

In my experience quite often the GP doesn't get the letter from dermatology for several weeks after I've been seen so I usually know before he does when I'm next seeing my consultant.

Let's keep everything crossed for the 15th

((hugs))

Thanks it is good news to get a quick appointment and actually see a consultant. It will only be a video consultation. I am going to try and find out tomorrow how quickly I will be able to.have it removed x

I have had my appointment which was by zoom. Mole could be a melanoma and will be removed on the 12th August which is quite quick. Now my husband has two suspicious moles and is going to have them checked out by the doctor today.

Hi Ilse

I'm glad to hear that you've been seen by a consultant and that you only have a few weeks to wait to have the mole removed. 

When you have the excision if they don't volunteer the information ask how long it should take to get the results, how you'll get them and what number should you ring if you haven't had them in the specified time.

I'll be keeping everything crossed that it isn't melanoma. How did your husband get on today with having his suspicious moles checked?

x

He has been referred to the telederm clinic, where a photograph will be taken and then assessed by a consultant x