melanoma - anxious and need some reassurance!

[IsletsOfLangerhans]

Hoping I can get some reassurance from people with experience of dodgy moles and melanoma. Just got back from the dermatology clinic - was referred by GP last week as I had noticed a new mole on my forearm earlier this year which was darker than my other normal moles, but only small. I had been keeping an eye on it and it hadn't grown noticeably in 6 months. However, I had a massive panic about it the other week, hence my visit to GP.

The dermatologist (who was lovely) has said he would be very surprised if it wasn't melanoma and said it needs to be removed. He got another dermatologist to have a look, who agreed it looked like melanoma too. It is only small (2mm) and I've been booked in for early September to have it excised. I have been reassured it is very small and will therefore most likely be very shallow in depth. He said I shouldn't worry, but it's very hard not too! I am on sertraline for anxiety, as I'm a naturally anxious person.

If anyone can give me some reassurance, it would be most appreciated. I need to try and find a way to forget about it over the summer holidays, so I can enjoy time with my two dd's!! Any words of advice welcome x

[janey1234]

My mum had a malignant melanoma on her leg about seven years ago. It was, by the sounds of it, bigger than yours and quite deep. She had it cut out and that's it. No other dodgy miles since, no other treatment needed. All done.

Hopefully you will have the same experience op.

[IsletsOfLangerhans]

Thanks janey - it's good to hear positive things - just what I need at the moment. Now all I need is a good method to distract myself....

[RoooneyMara]

You need to chase this up, I suspect, though I may be mistaken, that under the 2 week rule you should have been referred quick smart - not in 6 weeks.

If it is a melanoma then you need it out NOW before it enters its vertical growth phase and this could mean the difference between great odds and rubbish odds.

Sorry to panic you, I'm hoping it's NOT but you need that thing off.

[RoooneyMara]

Sorry I am getting mixed up. You clearly have been referred already.

But what you need is it being removed asap.

Can you badger someone about it - ask about cancellations etc.

[IsletsOfLangerhans]

The Dermatologist gave me the phone number for his secretary - I'm to ring next Thursday if I haven't received an appointment by then - I'll ask about cancellations at the same time.

[EnlightenedOwl]

hi I had a melanoma removed five years ago it was 1mm so just on the thin side.
referred initially under two week referral - suspected cancer - melanoma removed a week later
once it came back it was melanoma they wanted to take a wider margin around the initial location of the melanoma - wide local excision done under local anaesthetic about three weeks later.
then results four weeks later confirmed no local spread and it hadn't gone any further than in the skin
it did mean five years of going to the hospital for checks though still doing that now all so far so good.

[digerd]

My Melanoma was 4mm and had a secondary on the top of it. It was raised, very black ,hard and shiny and had a red ring round it. This ring darkened every day and grew another red ring daily. The skin specialist said that had to come out NOW. And 10 minutes after the local he did just that. Even showed me its long white root, which I had expected to be black like the 'mole' was. It had been on my skinny arm just above the elbow on the outer side, and thought it must have been curled up as he didn't dig into my bone AFAIK.

It was melanoma in situ grade 4 and caught just in time. I had no idea how long I'd had it.
That was 30 years ago and it never returned. I have a neat scar in the shape of a cross 1cm each both ways. I was in Germany at the time .

There are 4 different types of malignant melanoma. The black 'nodular' - which I had- being the most dangerous.

OP yours is still small, you'll be fine, but the sooner it is taken out the better.

[IsletsOfLangerhans]

Thanks digerd and enlightened owl. I know mine is small at the moment and have been told not to worry by dermatologist. However, its on my forearm and every time I look down it is 'there'. Finding it hard not to worry and get anxious about it! If I haven't had my appointment letter by Tuesday, I will ring and plead with secretary. My lovely dad said last night he would pay half if I wanted to get it done privately. I'll find out first if I can get it done on a cancellation, then will find out about private option.
I hate the idea of queue jumping, but I'm not sure my mental health can take a long wait. I also have two sensitive dds (6 & 8) - it will start impacting on them if I'm all over the place during the holiday.

thanks again for responding - every bit of advice and support helps

[PseudoBadger]

When I went to the doctor with my mole that I'd always had (it had gone pink), she referred me 'just to be on the safe side'. At my dermatologist appointment he said it was a 'very suspicious lesion' and removed it the very same day. I'm really surprised that you're being made to wait?
When my results came back as superficial spreading melanoma I had a wider local excision a couple of weeks later which involved removing 1cm clear around the site.
I'm afraid I have a pretty big keloid scar (on my shoulder) but I've got used to it now.
Good luck xx

[EnlightenedOwl]

Yes I would chase. I chased up an appointment for my WLE and got a cancellation and it was done quickly

[IsletsOfLangerhans]

Just a quick update. I rang up today to find out how soon I could get booked in/chances of a cancellation. I was told it neither likely due to holidays, so bit the bullet and booked in privately. Getting it done early next week - I think the cost will definitely be worth it in terms of reducing anxiety and maintaining my sanity.

[iwantavuvezela]

Hi islets .... Good luck with your appt. my husband had two "dodgy" moles that were melanoma. They were removed, and then he had a further incision, broader and deeper to make sure all was removed. He sees the doctor now every 6 months for a check up and will do for 2 years. Our lovely GP even gave him a referral to see a counsellor as he was quite thrown by it, he never took it up as felt better as a bit of time passed. You can also get SunSense on prescription should you need in future.

Thinking of you .....

[IsletsOfLangerhans]

Hi again, just an update as I've had my histology results back today. It was definitely melanoma, but it was very, very thin and classed as in situ. I still have to have the wider local excision, but the doctor was very positive about the results, as am I! Thanks again for all the supportive comments earlier in the summer

[gingeroots]

Well done Islets ,great news .
And thanks for updating .

[digerd]

I was lucky I had just gone to live in Germany and the skin specialist at 1st appt. said it had to come out now, and he injected me with the local, left me 10 minutes to see another patient, then returned and took it out.

I had a couple of stitches which were removed 2 weeks later leaving a neat scar in the shape of a cross 1cm long and wide. < much admired by the UK GP >
All margins were clear, but it had a long white root which he showed me and remember marvelling at as it was on my skinny arm and assumed it had curled itself up like a snake as had not invaded my bone.