Terrified of melanoma

[Ak627]

I am beside myself with worry about a mole. I had a cast on my foot from July - Sept. When my cast was removed I noticed a mole on my toe had changed and got darker.

I went to the GP and was referred on a 2 week wait. The nhs dermatologist looked at it and said it’s fine, no action needed.

I then booked in with a private dermatologist to have a full body mole check who looked at the mole on my toe and said whilst it wasn’t melanoma, it looked atypical and should be removed and not to leave it too long to remove.

This was back in Sept, my mother died in October and the last few months have been a blur. It took me a long time to get a quote from the private dermatologist for removal (wrong email listed for his secretary). I’ve now booked in to have it removed, it’s very expensive and I was looking at whether the nhs could remove it based on the private dermatologists letter, but I’ve decided to sack that off as it’s so slow.

I found out today that the code on the private dermatologists letter that they use internally means it could be malignant, which doesn’t match what he told me at the appointment where he said it wasn’t cancer.

I am freaking out that I’ve left it 3 months to book in this removal, the mole is still changing in colour and edges are blurring.

He told me not to wait more than 5 months - but life just got so busy. I also have a 4 month old and a 3 year old and I’m terrified I’ve wasted 3 months not getting it removed and if it is malignant it will have spread. I’ve ruined Christmas by leaving this so late, as I won’t be able to stop worrying.

Im also so nervous that if this is cancer and I need to be referred into the nhs, it won’t be processed properly as it’s being done privately.

I don’t understand how the nhs dermatologist could have said it was nothing and not removed it? How can 2 dermatologists say different things? I'm trying not to google but keep coming across stories where a dermatologist has said a mole is nothing to worry about and then it turns out to be skin cancer.

I don’t really know why I’m writing this here, I’m just so scared and so angry with myself.

Two dermatologists have told you it is not cancer .
The private one is removing it as you are paying them to remove it .

I’ve had lots of moles removed - all atypical under two week referrals but not cancer .
I would trust that two dermatologists know what they are looking at .

Are you sure it doesn't mean they will do a biopsy to 100% rule out any issues?
I had a lesion removed privately, dermatologist wasn't concerned but told me they would check it just in case.
Try not to worry too much, at least you're getting it removed.

It was the medical secretary that freaked me out because the code meant nothing to me, but when she checked it she said ‘oh quite a serious one’, she then apologised and said she shouldn’t have said it. She advised the code was for the histology for them to check if it’s cancerous.

I was just taken aback because he said it wasn’t melanoma, but told me it needed to be removed.

Try not to worry and stress. There really is no point as you can't change the outcome of anything.

For some reassurance, I've had moles removed after having 2 of my children. They changed considerable after birth in colour and shape (one on my face and one on my back - the back on was a new one as well) and I was referred on the 2 week cancer wait referral. Both came back normal no issues. I did have to wait another 6-12 weeks for the results. My letters all referenced possible malignant when referencing the mole but the doctor explained they label it as that if they want to get it removed kind of like we don't think it is but just in case.

All atypical moles removed should be checked for melanoma - it doesn't mean it is and without the checks they can't be 100% sure. It's reassuring they don't think it is cancer but always better to know definitively.

I've had melanoma and, while it obviously can have spread, a lot are diagnosed at early stages where treatment is surgical and not complicated, even with a few months' delay.

Wishing you all the best and hope you're able to enjoy Christmas.

I had a very similar experience recently with a mole that had changed quite a lot. The private dermatologist looked at it for about half a second and said "That needs to come off straight away". Like you I was really worried - the dermatologist said it's either a benign wart or it's cancer (she really used the c-word). But when I went for my first appointment with the plastic surgeon, he took one look, said it was nothing to be concerned about, lopped it off a couple of weeks later and it turned out he was completely right.

It is very probably benign. And even if it is melanoma, as others have said if it is caught early, it is very simple and quick to treat. I know it's easy to say, but try not to catastrophise, and take your mind off it as much as possible.

Easier said than done but try not to worry! I had histology as a precaution even though doctor wasn't worried and same happened to my sister.