Hello, I’m looking for advice on getting a full mole check on the NHS. I had lentigo maligna removed from my face recently, which has been cleared and signed off by plastic surgery. Because of this and my other risk factors (pale skin, many moles, past sunburn and sunbed use), my consultant advised me to ask my GP for a dermatology referral for wider mole surveillance.
However, my GP says the NHS no longer provides routine mole mapping or wide mole checks, only referrals for individual suspicious moles. I sent photos of some moles that concerned me, but the GP didn’t find them worrying. An AI assessment, though, flagged a couple that may need specialist review.
I do not want to go private as it feels like a business option, and I want to access the NHS for this care. What advice do you have for advocating for appropriate dermatology review and monitoring through the NHS in my situation?
Thank you very much.
Hi Flowersshine
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.
You could also join and post this question in the melanoma group as you'll then connect directly with others who have had and the best place to connect with others who have had lentigo maligna and they can then share their experiences with having check-ups after surgery. To join, just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
