Fairly certain skin cancer?

[User170451]

I’ve had a mole on my arm for a while. Started out as 2 normal moles noticed they started to join went to gp wasn’t concerned and I accepted that and went away. Stupidly around 12 months have passed and after keep itching my arm remembered the mole, checked it again and realised it’s spread and now joined onto a 3rd mole. Seen the gp who referred me straight away this time. I had an appointment with a dermatologist who said he’s ’fairly certain it’s skin cancer’ I now have a 2 week wait to have it removed and even longer wait for results. I’m spiralling! I’m not sleeping, heart keeps racing not sure how I’m going to cope with such a long wait.
Suppose my question is has anyone ever been told they were fairly certain and in the end everything was ok? Can’t stop thinking he shouldn’t of said that as he can’t possibly know without the biopsy

Sorry to hear you're experiencing this.

It depends a lot on the type of cancer. Did they say what sort? I mean they clearly don't know 100% till it's tested.

For example Basal Cell Carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that rarely spreads and is less likely to be very serious. They often just remove it and most people are fine. Then there's other types like different melanoma which are often more serious.

Either way you're in good hands and they will do everything they can to try and get rid of it and help you get better. I hope you find out more information soon about your treatment.

Wishing you the best x

I had early stage melanoma removed last year and I've needed no further treatment, even if it is cancer it could be easily treated. I know what the wait is like though, I was put on the two week pathway and all it meant was I saw a nurse in that time, it took a month for the first skin biopsy. Try not to panic, I know that's easier said than done

I made my husband go to a skin clinic to have his dodgy mole addressed. And it was skin cancer. They did this thing where they scraped the top of it off and now they’re not even cutting it out. They’re just waiting to see what happens.

My point being as much as you can, you really need to try and think positively and not blow things out of proportion. Even if it is skin cancer it may be very early stages and contained.

Thank you for the replies. He never mentioned which type he suspected but from all the pictures it looks most like melanoma. I know your told not to google but you always do and worst case scenarios are often the main stories but after reading the replies I actually feel calm today. There’s still a chance it could be just a mole I just wish he didn’t word it the way he did. Thanks again

Has anyone’s melanoma looked like this? It’s very large 17mm and 9mm wide. I’m a very moley person and it did start off as 2 moles the same as all the others on my arm.
picture isn’t the best my cameras not great

Sorry last question. Has anyone ever had a stinging sensation in their mole?

What was your outcome OP? I hope all is well xx

don’t worry! Not until they tell you to worry. I know someone who has had loads of these and every single one treated successfully- including ones on her face (with a chemo cream)

I have just seen my GP this week, she says she thinks a mark I have is cancerous and has put through a referral for me to dermatology. I have had this mark for maybe 3 years and on a previous visit to a different GP it was diagnosed as a seborrhoeic keratosis (sp?) and I was told that it was harmless and nothing would be done about it.

Yes, it does sting, quite a lot, and itches too. It’s slightly larger than your mark OP.

I had a suspicious mole on my back. They thought it was malignant melanoma. I had it removed and the results came back as completely normal.