Panicking about DS's referral for skin lesion

[IamBitzyVonMuffling]

Hi everyone. I don't really have anyone to talk to about this so am looking for advice. My DS (6) has had a mole/lesion on his scalp for a while. I think we first spotted it about 2 years ago. We took him to the GP as soon as we found it. GP wasn't overly concerned but to be sure referred us to the tele-dermatology unit. A doctor looked at it at the hospital and felt it was nothing to worry about but told us to keep an eye on it. We looked again last week and I thought it might look a little darker than previously. I took him to the GP again last week, who again seemed largely unconcerned but who took a photo to send off to dermatology to be on the safe side. I've just had a call from the hospital to say they want to see him next week. They couldn't tell me any more than that. I am now beside myself with worry about it it. That it might be something serious like skin cancer. I'm struggling to keep it together, husband is working till late and we are due to move 300 miles away in 3 weeks time! Just looking for some support I guess really.

Firstly, don't worry.

Secondly if he's had it that long it's ok. It could be cancerous but it may not be a melanoma, and the other forms of skin cancer are extremely treatable. Even a melanoma is treatable when it's caught early, and you have caught the change in colour early. There is a 2 week referral period for anything that could be dodgy and no doubt because of your ds' age they are being even more careful.

Big hug and don't worry xxx

He's a bit young to have much risk of melanoma.

The natural history of a mole is that it gradually changes colour to darker and the pigment drops within layers of the skin.
Referring all changing moles is very sensible but it's been there a really long time and it is normal for it to darken over time. I'd not worry too much.
(Doctor)

Thanks for the reassurance. I really appreciate it. Am going to try to stay calm and be positive until our appt next week. Hopefully just a peace of mind check

Why did you take him straight away when you noticed a mole on his head? My daughter has a mole on her head- isn’t it just like any other area of the body?

Is there a reason why you are so worried about the specific mole? Perhaps he is being seen quicker as he’s already on the system for dermatology?

And if it makes you feel any better, I teach in primary and see lots of children’s scalps when checking after a head bump or fixing hair that has fallen out, and seen lots of little moles on heads.

I have a mole that's changed in size and color. I've been having it mapped for years and had three different opinions on it.
I had myself convinced it was cancer. It's perfectly okay though.

Best to get him checked out though to put your mind at ease.

I had a small lump on my breast. They're lumpy anyway so I kept my eye on it but when I felt it was persistent I went to the GP and got a 2 week wait.

No matter what I knew to reassure myself - low risk, not long finished breastfeeding, lumpy breasts anyway, little family history, young... I went out of my mind.

I was worried, and I couldn't rationalise it away.

So I wont tell you not to worry, and that at that young age he's likely to be ok. It won't matter, you'll worry anyway.

So try a bit if self care instead, allow yourself 2 times a day where you can worry to your hearts content. E.g.,10am after school run and 8pm before bed. Allow yourself an hour of googling and panicking and answering questions you've had all day. If you worry just say "I'll save that for 8pm"

Make sure you eat well, relax with a bath or a movie, the gym, a takeaway or a cup of tea regularly - whatever you normally do to find some escape.

Next week will come whether you are ready or not, distressed or not so just ride out the wave that gets you there

What was the outcome my done has a mole on his head he’s 5