Feel sick, letter from hospital after biopsy, does this mean I have it?

[Usgvgs]

I can’t get through to the hospital or my GP. Been trying all day after getting a letter today.

I had a mole removed from my back in the middle of September. Today I have a letter asking me to attend an appointment on 6th November. Nothing explained in the letter no mention of results. I am a lone parent and have no support I am terrified about what this could mean for my very young child.

Please can anyone help? I don’t have the NHS app and have tried calling the GP to see if they’ve had anything back. The letter says it I cannot attend and don’t tell them then I may not be offered another appointment and will be referred back to my GP. I feel sick and so scared and alone.

It's such a worry waiting for test results, but no need to assume the worst.

You just need to wait for the appointment. It's possible the GP won't be able to tell you anything.

@CointreauVersial won’t it be on my record?

It's likely the mole was cancerous or pre cancerous and they want to check you have no other problem moles. It's most likely a precaution. When you had the mole removed I take it there was no further treatment. So I expect they want to check and perhaps monitor you going forward to spot anything BEFORE it becomes an issue.

Did they say it was suspicious? Did they mention what it looked like at all?

It could just be a routine follow up from the surgery?

Either way please don't worry. They're going to help you whatever happens. It's very unlikely to be anything life threatening.

Typically when the consultant requests the biopsy they'll also request a follow up x number of weeks after biopsy. To allow them to check results and discuss with you. There's a good chance they've not even seen the results yet

PPs are right. It could be nothing other than a routine follow up or it could be pre cancerous and they are keen to stop it progressing.

I do understand your worry tho, sending big hugs

Why would I have a routine follow up if it’s nothing? I had one done years ago and never went back as they wrote to say all was ok

@blythet what will they do to stop it progressing?

I would just download nhs app, all my test results always on there before l hear from the hospital

Can't you download the NHS app?

I agree about downloading the nhs app.

I'm sorry you have this worry.

Would this appear on the NHS app? It wasn't like a blood test, it was removal of a mole with follow up. Would bad news really just be posted on an app so you could view it with no context or support?

As to your question about "what would they do to stop it progressing".....well, that's what the appointment would be about.

I know how hard it is waiting, but please try not to catastrophise.

All the letter means is that you have to go to an appointment next week, when you will find out more. There is not much point calling in the meantime, they won't be able to tell you anything.

Treatment changes all the time. Take cholesterol it was once a certain killer, statins can now reduce the levels and save lives.

I had to have cream for a precancerous growth. That was all I needed.

I’ve downloaded it but doesn’t seem to show anything?

If it was a serious result they would have contacted you before now, and you'd probably get a phone call as well as a letter.

The fact that you've had a mole removed before might mean that they want to see you for a regular mole check, a bit like bi-annual breast screening. I knew a guy who had to go in every so many years to strip off and let a nurse check all his moles with a magnifying glass to see if any looked suspicious. He had a skin type with a lot of moles, so there was no way he'd be able to keep an eye on them all by himself.

Please don't panic, there's absolutley no indication that anything is wrong. It just sounds like a follow-up.

It says no results recorded but I thought you could see all your notes for years back?

@Muffsies they said they would be in touch with the results and to call if I hadn’t heard within six weeks. There was no mention of having another appointment. I feel so upset and stressed and worried. Why don’t they say in the letter? I can’t see anything on the nhs app at all

@Itsthewoluff ok thank you. Did you have to go back in to discuss it?

I had a suspected melanoma last year and had a follow up for the results and wound check. It was all fine - not malignant.

The receptionist told me - and this is only my hospital - a letter is usually good news, a telephone appointment (usually sooner) might indicate further tests. She told me this as my results took ages after having to be tested twice and she knew I was worried. She told me my letter was on her list to send that day.

I once had a breast lump removed as they couldn’t biopsy it. I had to attend a follow up appointment a week later where they told me it was benign. I wish they could have just told me over the phone. Hopefully yours is the same x

@AlgaeDreams thank you. I haven’t been contacted about any results. I can understand a wound check but did they literally just say yes it’s fine? Seems like a waste of an appointment when you could have the wound checked with a GP? I wouldn’t be as worried if it wasn’t for DS, he won’t have anyone really if I am not there for him

IME hospitals often waste everyone's time and money offer a routine follow-up to tell you everything is okay and discharge you. It's a chance for you to ask any questions you have for the future too.

I just don’t remember them saying I would have a follow up appointment to check the wound etc