I have been fast - tracked to see a specialist should I be concerned?

[Blondie79]

I went to see my GP yesterday to get a mole removed for cosmetic reasons and while I was there asked her to look at the moles I have on my back - I wasn't particularly worried about them but she seemed quite concerned and said that three of them were irregular. Anyway she said that she would refer me to a specialist at the local hospital. I was contacted this morning for an appointment a week today! I'm now really worried and have convinced myself that they are cancerous (perhaps I am over reacting). Just hoped other mumsnetters might have a different point of view. I feel like I can't talk to my Husband or friends because I don't want them to think that I am worried.

Sorry its a long one.

Anyone???

Thanks CF I appreciate your reply. I'm also glad that its come through quickly because like you say it gives me less time to worry myself silly but I'm just concerned because it has come through so quickly.

Do you know it's actually been fast-tracked? It may just be they have an appointment for next week. In any event better to be seen soon so you can stop worrying quicker

Good luck.

blondie i have had 2 moles removed, and both were sent away for testing but were fine, i had one under my arm and on my back, i had a birthmark checked last year as i thought it had changed shape but it was fine and i was given a chart to compare my birthmark to, i have another annoying mole on my back that my bra strap rubs against and i will need that removed too! Good luck at your appointment!

I think they have a within two week policy for this kind of stuff. Don't stress it's definitely a better to be safe than sorry situation.

Jools too - I know that I have definitely been fast-tracked becuase my Gp said that was what she was going to do and that I should be seen within 2 weeks.
Kidstrack - I have also had 2 other moles removed in what sounds exactly the same places for exactly the same reasons, its never really bothered me before. I think its just because the GP reacted quite worryingly.

I know carmenere - I'm definitely up for having them removed I guess I'm just concerned about what they might find.

how long has your gp been gping ? you never know she may have had a patient recently with skin cancer so her radar is functioning overtime for this particular problem or shes been on a course recently and has sent 147 people in the last week , you get to see an expert super quick and the problem is ? you should of seen the hidious mole my father had cut off recently and it was fine ,please dont worry quick diagnosis usually means prompt treatment = cure in the worst possible scenario.

ratclare - I promise you I'm not coplaining at the speed of which I have been referred I'm just concerned that perhaps my GP thinks that it is cancerous.

Even if it is skin cancer - which my mum had diagnosed last month - it is almost always quickly and easily dealt with. I wouldn't worry about it

Thanks Mousiemousie - hope your mum is ok.
I think it is the not knowing which is actually worse. And if i knew that everyone was referred within in two weeks I perhaps wouldn't be as worried.

yes my mum had the 2 week referral too after the GP cut out a mole & sent it to the lab for routine analysis.

2 week referral is standard if the lab results look dodgy or if the mole looks dodgy (my mum's didn't!)

Honestly, if it turns out as a skin cancer, all they will do is make sure it has been properly removed and then check you over carefully, but you are extremely unlikely to need any further treatment.

The only real impact on my mum was a wake up call to be more careful in the sun

Please don't worry, it's probably nothing at all, and my mum hardly broke stride even when hers was skin cancer.

blondie79 - why don't you want your husband to know you're worried, you'd suppport him in a similar situation wouldn't you?

don't blame you for being scared of the unknown, & all the things said here make sound sense, hope you can get some peace of mind .

this time next week you'll know what you're dealing with - good luck

Sorry been busy with the kids.

Really appreciate all your comments and I do feel a lot more positive. Thanks Mousiemousie for teling me about your mum its made me put hings into perspective.

Its not that I don't want my husband to know its more that I don't want him to worry because I'm worried. He knows I'm going to see a specialist.

Glad you feel better about it Blondie

mousie xxx

Blondie - this happened to me. I went to the docs and got a really quick appointment through which put me in a state of panic.

The consultant then looked at it and said he would remove it but no rush. In the end I waited so long that I was over the guidelines and they sent me to have it done privately, but paid for by the NHS. I think if the mole 'ticks the boxes' - itchy, change in size, irregular etc then they treat the referral as urgent and leave the decision up to the consultant

You hit the nail on the head - its the urgency which has me worried - if the consultant says there is nothing to worry about I will feel stupid for wasting all my energy frettting. Did your mole turn out to be ok?

Blondie - i had a mole removed. i went to my GP as this mole i had for years and years had started itching and it was black and crusty. he took one look at it and looked concerned and told me he would refer me on to a dermatologist.
i had a letter the following week to attend an appt. i was expecting a 6 months wait.
anyway, saw the dermatologist and he said he didn't think the mole was anything serious but wanted to remove it ASAP. he told me he had a cancellation later on that afternoon and removed it that day. it turned out the mole wasn't anything serious.
don't worry. they do this as a precaution.

Yes it was fine It took some removing though. I was expecting some sort of laser thing but it was quite deep.

Thanks - I do feel a lot better after coming on here. I'll let you all know how I get on.