2 week wait for skin cancer check

[flea101]

I have been referred by my gp. Has anyone been through this and can tell me what to expect? It is for a fingernail if that makes a difference!

I've been through this twice. You will receive an appointment for a biopsy, where they will remove the lesion and a very small area around it (I'm not sure how they'll do it on a fingernail though). They'll stitch you up and the specimen will be sent off for analysis. Your GP should contact you with the results (you'll probably have to go in for a face-to-face appointment.

Depending on the results from that you'll either be clear, or you'll be offered a treatment path that will most likely comprise a wide local excision - where they take more of the tissue surrounding the original lesion, just to check it's all been excised - and a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if the cancer cells have spread to their next destination.

In my cases these were all handed swiftly, professionally and non-panicked. The scars were a bit sore and itchy but nothing to worry about. I hope you are seen quickly OP, chances are all will be well so try not to worry (I know that's easy to say) - whatever the next steps for you, you will be in good hands.

Very different to poster above.
Sent to hospital, had picture taken by a tech(?) and discharged. Never saw a doctor after the GP appointment. As it was a bleeding mole, wasn't very happy at being discharged with no treatment, now fair enough if it wasn't cancer, but it was problematic at work bleeding from my face, so I had to pay for it to be removed.

So they will be assessing you for melanoma of the nail. Your experience may be different because it’s a nail, but for me, I was seen quite quickly for teledermascopy, which is special photos with a lens used for investigating dermatological issues. Was seen 5 days after the GP in dermatology at the hospital. Results came by letter in the post (they actually didn’t think mine was melanoma initially). The letter will also appear on your NHS app.

Results about a week after appointment and I was booked in for removal in less than 2 weeks. GP appointment to surgery was about 3 weeks total. My biopsy results took 4 weeks but I really had to push them as I also had a growing lump in a lymph node. That moved things on a bit. All of this handled entirely by the hospital (never seen my GP again in 2+ years), initially by dermatology for first biopsy and then further surgeries handled by plastic surgery.

You may wish to reach out to some Facebook groups or contact the organisation Melanoma Focus specifically for information about melanoma of the nail as it’s handled differently than normal melanoma. I think at a minimum they may wish to remove the nail. If confirmed as melanoma, you will need much more extensive surgery and they will want to check nearby lymph nodes with a CT scan.

Hoping it all moves quickly for you and you get some answers soon.

It depends where you live. I had a great service from my GP, but shocking treatment from the hospital.
I was referred for the two week pathway. Saw a nurse within two weeks at a PCC who took a picture with a phone and sent me on my way.
I got the result back saying “suspected BCC”. I was told despite it being marked as “urgent”, the wait to see a dermatologist was 13 months…!!!

I complained and got an appointment within four weeks. I saw a dermatologist who was very dismissive and said it was “probably a mole”. I said I didn’t think it was. She said I should “keep an eye on it”. I refused, as I knew I’d never get an appointment again. She agreed to remove it.

Had an appointment pretty quickly (within about four weeks” to go and have it removed. Again, I was told it wasn’t sinister.

When I got my results, it was a BCC. Needless to say, I wasn’t particularly happy. I asked to see the report to ensure it had all been removed (it had) as I no longer trusted the dermatologist.

If I hadn’t have pressed for it to be removed, it would still be there now.

Thank you all. I have been referred urgently to dermatology. I am hoping they contact me today to make an appointment, as I have a number to call of they don’t contact me by tomorrow. I am really worried about it but just need to get the ball rolling. It is a line down my ring finger so not the usual finger for this to present but I am glad I am going to be seen quickly. Will keep you updated on my progress. I’m sorry for people who have had bad experiences of the two week pathway.

Well I was discharged from hospital on a two week referral (not skin, ovarian cyst) and the appointment they gave me was mid October for a scan - which I’ve already had! I’ve rung about three different numbers, I’ve emailed PALS, I’ve gone in to PALS in person, I’ve written to complaints, written to my GP (who told me to get in touch with PALS)…
I hope they take your case s little more seriously.

I have an appointment on Friday so will see how it goes. Thank you for all of your messages it has helped