Would you be worried about this mole?

[afrikat]

It's not very big and the edges seem OK but its super itchy and I've just taken a close up picture and looks like it has blood on it (it's on my side and I can't see it). I have a tattoo around it FYI.
Got a Dr appointment later today just don't know how worried I should be

yes i would be

This is really hard to say. But if youre worried, you should definitely have it checked! Better to check and its nothing than the other way around.

Dr didn't like look of it so been referred on the 2 week pathway. Now not to panic..

It looks pretty irritated, but also appears to have clear edges which is great. I’m pleased you’ve been referred though. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

@afrikat i have just been referred today too. Did they take pictures and send them
off? They said they will be in touch.

Hi, my GP didn't take any pics - just said it needed looking at then said the hospital will be in touch. I got a message later same day giving me an appointment on the 25th. Hope you hear something soon and hope it's good news 🙏

I hope it's nothing, but if it is generally these sort of things are resolved simply without you needing to be too worried. Though I imagine you are very worried, hopefully the 25th rolls round quickly.

I got referred and have had one taken off yesterday with a small margin of skin under local anaesthetic. They will look at it properly and decide, they will probably take it off I'd They have ant doubt.

Did they take it off at the initial appointment? Hope all OK

No, about 2 weeks after. Its fine, a little sore and have to be careful not to lift too much so I don't damage stitches.

Do they take quite a bit of the surrounding area off?

The wound is 3cm long.

Goodness that's quite big! Hope it heals ok and you get a good outcome

I went about one on my arm which the GP said wasn't urgent so I waited about 10 wks for the appointment. When I went to the dermatologist, they said straight away the one on my arm was fine. I asked them to check my other and that's when he said I had an 'ugly duckling' on my back and wanted to take it off. It then was taken off in 2 wks. To be fair, the mole has been there a long time!

Did they say how long before coming back with a result?

Up to 6 weeks they said!

Oof! Good luck

I had a nurse appointment on 23rd Feb and asked her about mine, was seen by a dr and he referred me under the two week pathway. Was removed on 1st March. I went in expecting them to look at it, they did, I had some photos taken and was removed on the spot. Had my stitches out today.
I would say mine looked horrible - black, crusting and very irregular. I had a 1.8cm x 2.3cm excision.
I am just bloody relieved to get rid. Likely to be melanoma hence why they took such a wide excision.

Goodness that sounds worrying, hope you hear back soon and hopefully good news 👍

I’ve had 7 skin cancers, I think this is seborrheic keratosis. I have lots of those too. I’m not a Dr, but fingers crossed I’m right. Good luck! X

Thanks, hope you are right. And hope you are healthy now!

I see a lot of patients for the post op wound care after excision biopsies. It's usually at least 3cm long, because of the shape they need to cut it in to get good closure and a neat line. They tend to be very fine, thin scars.

I had one similar removed at the beginning of covid, from my back. I had a phone appointment with the doctor on the Friday morning, was in to see him 2 hours later, referred to the hospital which was the following Wednesday, who looked and it and asked me to come back that afternoon for removal!

It was a dysplastic nevus, so not anything to worry about, but better off than left. Small neat scar.

I had a an itchy lump on my calf that had spots of blood in it. Turned out to be a wart! Keeping my fingers crossed that yours is also not sinister x

Got a letter today, saying they’d viewed the images at the dermatology hospital and they need to see me in person but could be 3-4 weeks! Xx