New mole on thigh, I'm seeing my GP tomorrow - a bit anxious

[Coffeepot72]

About three weeks ago, whilst applying sun cream to my legs on holiday, I noticed a mole/wart that I don’t think I’ve seen before. It’s half way up my thigh. I’ve looked at the ABCDE mole checker guide, and whilst it’s small, pale in colour, has regular borders and is symmetrical, I think I still want to get it checked out, because the surface is slightly pebbled. And also on the grounds of ‘better safe than sorry.’ I’m bracing myself for an urgent ‘two week’ referral, and am trying to be calm, because I gather that melanoma is usually cured if you catch it early on.

Has anyone been down this road? Half of me thinks I may be wasting my GP’s time, the other half of me thinks I’m being sensible.

[curlywillow]

I think you're probably overreacting tbh. I have hundreds of moles. I wouldn't even notice a new one.

I had a mole referral last week for a dark raised one which was irregular and bleeding (it was fine). The specialist wasn't even vaguely bothered about 99% of my moles and only looked closely at the very dark ones.

If it makes you feel better though then ask the GP. They won't refer you unless they think it's a problem.

[Coffeepot72]

I'm a bit touchy about anything potentially cancer-related, and whilst I suspect I am indeed over-reacting, I won't settle til I've had it checked by a doctor.

I'm really pleased your mole was OK Curly.

[wfrances]

mine was referred under the 2 week rule , and biopsy came back abnormal but fully removed. im now down for regular routine checks as im covered in moles.

[Coffeepot72]

wfrances what did your mole look like?

[Lupinlady5]

I've got loads of moles like that. Sounds normal, but obviously nobody on the Internet can diagnose you. Try not to worry though. I once had a really weird thing on my face that from googling totally matched skin cancer, GP took one look and knew straightaway it was something completely unrelated to cancer!

[wfrances]

it was tiny flat brown mole on my breast in an unexposed area.
over a year it grew with weird edging and didnt look like any other mole ive got.
no itching, no scabbing ,not raised didnt look sinister at all .
my dad has had melanomas and basal cells so i was higher risk.

[Coffeepot72]

I just saw my doctor - and it's absolutely nothing to worry about. It was a super-fast consultation (doctor said it was fine, I grinned like a lunatic, wished her a great weekend and bounded out of the surgery) so I don't feel like I wasted too much NHS time.

Thank you to everyone who replied to my thread.

[HellsBellsnBucketsofBlood]

Glad to hear it. If you are worried it is always good to check - but also remember that moles keep appearing throughout life :)