Feeling worried -Abnormal Mole Tww referral

[PeanutCat1]

I have a very large abnormal mole on my stomach which I've had for years (I am 29). I first visited the GP about it 2 years ago who said it was absolutely fine and not to worry.

I saw a different GP yesterday as it seems to have grown a couple of mm and she immediately referred me to a dermatologist under tww. My appointment is on the 3rd June.

I guess I'm mainly worried that because I've had this mole for years, if it is melanoma it won't have been caught early iyswim. I just feel sick with worry about it all especially as it is so large. Just feel abit frightened and hoping for some reassurance.

Am not a doctor.
But I have recently had an extremely similar mole removed - also nearly 2cm across, also been there for years. It was removed, had quite a few stitches and the verdict was it had some abnormal changes but wasn't malignant. Anecdotal only but mine looked just like this too. Fingers crossed for you.

Thank you so much for your reply, it is very reassuring to hear that yours was a similar size and not malignant. When I've googled (obviously an awful idea) I've not really seen anything quite as big which has been worrying.

Look up dysplastic nevus.
But it's a quick process, skin issues seem to get quick attention and removal seems very common. A friend had a mole removed earlier this year, it was malignant - she was recalled to hospital after a month, they took a bit more off to have clear margins and that was it. No further treatment needed.

If you have had it for years it won't have been a melanoma for that amount of time without you having other symptoms.

I had a big one that’d been there years. On the back of my neck so hard to check it. Not symmetrical, some of it raised, some flat, diff colours to it. Very weird. Had it checked a couple of times over the years, GPs referred to dermatology twice but they thought it was fine and left it both times.

Had another panic when I thought it’d changed again and got it removed privately because I didn’t want to risk being told it was fine only for it to keep freaking me out and going for checks. They removed it, tested it and it was benign. You can have odd looking ones and they turn out fine.

Thank you all so much for your replies, I had a day of worry about it and have put it to the back of my mind now until my appointment Monday. Really helps to read other people's experiences and so reassuring to know that it can just be an unusual mole and not malignant. We've decided that even if the dermatologist thinks it's fine we will pay for a private removal anyway just for peace of mind.

Just wanted to come back to update incase anybody stumbles across this in the future. I had the mole removed and it turned out to just be an atypical mole and not cancerous x

Great news! Phew.

Great news OP.

Hope you don’t mind me asking OP did you get another appointment to get your results or did they advise you by phone

I got mine by letter

I had one removed by NHS and got an appointment letter to see doc in person for the results.

Hi @rosie1959 I got my results via letter on an online portal that my hospital uses x