How to trust the professionals

[Mummyto2123]

Little bit of a back story

I attended a private dermatologist in March if this year due to a mole I've had forever that was beginning to be symptomatic. She checked with the dermatoscope and said it looked fine but if I wanted it removed she would do it. With it being over £1000 I couldn't afford it so had it removed via plasma pen somewhere else. I have ever since still had major anxiety about this. I was referred to the dermatologist NHS and had two people check it with the dermatoscope with once saying it looked like a dermatofibroma and the other saying it was a hypertrophic scar (which I thought it was). The problem is I have a major fear of skin cancer especially Melanoma. I can't seem to accept that this is ok and not anything serious. I've been doing great the past couple of months until today I have felt my anxiety creep up on me. I'm just hoping someone has any tips on how to stop this on it's tracks

Well being in the medical/ nursing field, I think doctors don’t usually have a nefarious agenda. They’re mostly scientists at heart, wanting to get their facts right. Not one, but 2 told you it was insignificant? if it’s bugging you get a loan, get it off and move on with life..

You could ask for a biopsy to be done privately. That might be cheaper than having it removed?

Sorry you are struggling with it. I know how nagging doubts can be difficult.

I think for things like that it makes sense to be cautious, but it's just very hard with waiting lists being so long on the NHS.

I had a skin thing that was complicated because it looked like dematitis and I suspected that it was a basal cell carcinoma. On the NHS they wouldn't refer me on until I tried some cream, but the cream was something that caused gastro trouble for me, so I couldn't use it. That was difficult because it was an adverse reaction that the GP couldn't see, so might put down to anxiety.

In the end I just went the private route, and had a biopsy. It was a BCC. I paid to have it removed. If you had a biopsy privately now, it might either set your mind at rest, or enable you to go further with the NHS. If it was found to be cancer, then they would then put you on the 2ww pathway for treatment probably.

I hope that helps a bit.

I did have it removed via plasma pen. When i attended NHS dermatology 5 weeks ago they both looked and said they would do nothing so I feel if I asked again they would say no. I think this is more my anxiety as I've been doing so well

It was actually 3 dermatologists one when I had the mole, then 2 after it was removed I was told it was a hypertrophic scar. I know myself I need to trust what I've been told it's just hard with anxiety

This is what it looks like now

This is what it looks like now

Thinking about it as health anxiety, there might be something else underlying it. There was for me anyway when I went through a bad bout of health anxiety and panic attacks. If you let yourself sit in quiet for a while and let your anxiety speak, what does it say? Mine tended to go something along the lines of, ‘I’ll get sick, lose my job and home, I’ll be alone, unsupported, I have to do everything myself, no one is listening to me’. Turns out those were beliefs/a story from my childhood. So really the past speaking, not the present. But it’s easy for unprocessed feelings from the past to latch onto any present day situation that looks a bit like danger, because the brain is constantly scanning to prevent that danger from happening again. We’re not born with fear. We tend to fear most what’s happened before, not what could happen.

I just need to find ways to cope and not spiral. I feel like I'm going to be like this forever worrying about this. Why can't I trust what the dermatologist has told me

I applied fake tan to the area and it won't stick to the area around the scar. I'm going out of my mind with worry again. I was doing so well for months now I'm back to square one

I can't take this anymore. I feel like I'm never going to stop worrying. It's ruining everything. I'm so miserable

I think you need to either see your gp about this or go to a private dermatologist and ask for a biopsy. Tell them about your anxiety- honestly they will have heard it before.

Not because I think it looks like anything to worry about (I wouldnt have a clue) but because it will put your mind at rest.

I think you would be wise to spend your money on a good therapist and get help with your anxiety.

The thing is I've seen 3 different dermatologists one private and two NHS so why can't I trust what they've told me

Because your problem is your health anxiety rather than the mole. You need treatment for your mental health, not a dermatologist!