To be very scared about getting my moles checked?

[HappilyNeverAfter1]

I've got an appointment booked for tomorrow.

I have 3 separate moles I'm concerned about. One is much darker that all the others and not the usual circular shape. The other one is slightly risen, rough on top and itchy. The 3rd is just itchy.

I have 2 young kids and my mind is going into overdrive and I feel sick to my stomach about it all! I'm terrified about the appointment and what I'm really scared about is that if they have to remove them & test them, I'll have to wait god knows how long for results and the wait alone will make me physically ill.

Has anyone been through this? Thanks.

I had one dodgy mole checked recently.

You won't have to wait too long. The NHS has a 2-week target from seeing your GP to getting you in front of a hospital dermatologist who will take it from there.

If they decide to remove any of them, they will either let you know there and then and refer you for surgery, or they may ask you to wait for 3 months (as with myself) to see if any changes occur. (If anything drastic changes before the 3 months is up you will be able to let them know and they may call you back in).

My results were all fine, thankfully. I'm sure you will be too - and at least you're doing something about it! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I had a mole on my leg removed last thursday for investigation. It was larger and darker than the rest so it had to come out the Doctor said. Ive been left with 2 stitches . It was very very quickly and neatly done. Local anesthetic given. Theyve said results in 2 weeks . Good luck and dont worry too much . As the dr said its better out .

I’ve just had a mole removed for a biopsy this morning. It was fine, other than the injection for the local anaesthetic I didn’t feel a thing. I now have a wait for results.
Don’t put it off OP it’s honestly fine. These things are always usually ok if caught early!

I had three moles removed this morning. The one with the rough top may well be a seborrheic keratosis, which isn't actually a mole at all - they just look like moles and can be rather unattractive. Apparently they are very common and not harmful.

Even if any of your moles are dodgy you are doing the absolute best thing in getting them seen to. I was really worried about scabby, itchy mole, but the doctor said he sees loads of people who are worried about moles and very few of them are cancerous or concerning, so try not to worry!

I went through something very similar OP. Had it checked by GP who referred me for further tests. He said to me at the time that GPs will almost always refer moles on to a dermatologist because they are the experts. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s something sinister. So if you do get a referral, please don’t assume it’s terrible news.

At my referral I was given the all clear after an examination. It has been a huge weight off my mind knowing they are ok.

Wishing you all the best with yours

@feilin - mine was on my leg too, top of my thigh. Annoyed I can’t exercise for two weeks now but never mind. Was it very painful after? I still can’t feel anything because of the anaesthetic.

I got myself really worked up over a mole that was itchy went for the check up at hospital and all was fine the Dr checked all my moles to make sure all was fine,no worries didn't need to get any removed and checked further I was so relieved, hopefully all goes the same for you

I’m getting a mole removed later today and had one removed just over a year ago and another almost 20 years ago.

The removal process is fine, best to get these checked. If it’s dodgy looking the GP will get you an urgent hospital dermatologist appointment (within 2 weeks). They will then decide if it is dodgy. If it is you will be put on a list for removal usually a few weeks later. It then gets biopsied and you get the results. My last one was abnormal but not cancerous as a result of this they are very cautious about my moles which I guess is a good thing. First sign of any issue and they will now remove. It really is no big deal just make sure you get checked by a professional!

Hello HappilyNeverAfter
Yes, know how you feel.
A few years ago I had three suspicious moles, exactly as you describe. I started to notice all my moles when a couple became scaly and itchy. Then I noticed one that seemed to have grown much bigger and darker. Saw the GP, then it took a few weeks to get an appointment with the dermatologist and I think that was the worst bit.
And in the meantime I'd scared myself with Dr Google!
Luckily came back all clear. 2 of them are apparently a kind of scaly skin growth, sebbhoreic kerastoses (I think I've spelled that incorrectly) perfectly normal and years later they are still there and still itchy.
As we get older we get more of them apparently. The other was just a big, dark, splodgey mole which, despite being an irregular shape, was harmless.
I check for changes now and had the GP look again at them last month and all still normal.
I know it's easy to say, but try not to worry yourself sick (I did that too!), you are doing all the right things and being vigilant. Wishing you well

Sorry juneau, cross post!

Best to get it checked out. Seborrheic keratoses are "stuck on", greasy lesions that appear on the skin as we age. They're not moles and IIRC they do not turn cancerous. It's not common, but sometimes moles can turn cancerous. Melanoma can be quite dangerous. The good news is it's not very common. (For context: I have worked as a nurse for 12 years and although I teach now, I teach practicum regularly. I also used to work in a hospice. I saw ONE patient who died from melanoma. ONE.)

I have had 3 moles removed this morning, it was very easy and not at all painful. The Doctor explained everything he was going to do before he started and talked me through each stage as he removed them. He is certain that they are nothing to worry about but has sent them away to be checked.

Thanks for the reassurance everyone! I struggle to cope with this sort of thing. I suffered from health anxiety many years ago so although I'm normally fine, when anything health related does crop up, the anxiety starts to rear it's ugly head a little. I'll let you all know how I get on tomorrow.

Good luck Happily!

Thanks Threewheeler

You’ll be fine happily. I’ve had a few dodgy moles removed over the years under the 2 week referral and they’ve all been fine. You’re doing the right thing.

Well... all that stress over nothing!!

I saw the GP, she said it's absolutely nothing to worry about. She said I have quite dry skin which has caused one of the moles to feel rough. She said that's also what will have caused the itching.

She's also not concerned about the darker mole either as although it's not round in shape, it is symmetrical.

Thanks for all the support and advice it was a big help.

That's brilliant Happily! You can breathe out now!!
x

Yay great news. Just continue to keep an eye on them all, like you have been doing.

General rule for moles is to watch ABCDE:

Asymmetrical
Irregular Borders
Colour change or odd colour (red, black, blue)
Diameter greater than a pencil eraser
Elevated off the skin

These are potential warning signs.

@Shadow1986 I've had six moles/ lumps removed over the years and have never been told not to exercise for two weeks. It's just a few stitches, as long as you keep the area clean there's no need to stop your normal activities!

@bombardier25966 really?! I did think it was a bit much but I put it down to it’s location as it’s right on my thigh so could quite easily pull if I squatted etc - which is the kind of exercise I do!