Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Mole on face needs removing.

25 replies

Skyler · 12/01/2007 17:35

I went to the Docs yesterday morning about a mole on my face. He said that 'It won't kill you but it needs to come off'. I was quite relieved actually as then I won't have to worry about it any more. I had a piece of paper to pass to the secretaries about the referral and they said I would be contacted in 8-12 weeks, so I came home. I then received a phone call yesterday afternoon offering me an appt on next Monday or a cancellation this Monday. I took this Monday but now I am a bit concerned it is more serious than I thought due to the speed of the referral from the doc. I do have a lot of moles. I don't want to search the internet as I know I will read too much and think the worst, so can anyone offer me the benefit of their experience regarding the removal of moles, impact of precedure, scarring, what it means and what questions I should ask on Monday. I know it is good thing I am being seen so soon btw.
I also got a letter about borderline cell changes in my smear yesterday morning so I am a bit fed up although I know not to read too much into that. I hate being prodded about and just see rather a lot of it having to happen now

TIA.

OP posts:

emmatomATO · 12/01/2007 17:41

But at least you have been so sensible in getting your bits checked out.

I've had moles removed off my legs and a boob. The boob job was a bit more invasive but the legs ones were a bit of local anaesthetic and they were sort of scraped off. Minimal scarring and no pain.

I would be reassured by what your Doc said. The Secretaries probably dished out a standard reply re the waiting times, and, thankfully for you they are obviously a lot shorter.

Borderline cell changes in your smear test is very common too. Put up with the prodding and put your mind at rest.

100PerCentCod · 12/01/2007 17:42

aha my dad has had two rodent ulcers ( ie it loks liek a scab/,mole) remoeved from his face

it was abtou the size of a 20 p under the skin and he did look a mess afterwards BUT it went away really fast ( and will go faster in you as you are about 40 years younger)

100PerCentCod · 12/01/2007 17:44

where is it ont he face
is it a wobbly one or a flat one

CocoLoco · 12/01/2007 18:24

I had a mole removed from my face and one from my neck, there are tiny white scars left but you wouldn't notice. Very quick procedure under local anaesthetic, took the stitches out myself.

Cod, my father had a rodent ulcer removed and was left with a 2 inch round scar on his face but that was 25 years ago, they must have got better at it!

Original poster

Skyler · 12/01/2007 18:33

Cod - you are back!

Thank you for your replies. It is under my mouth to the right, above my chin. It looked like a beauty spot when it first arrived as it was dark and flat and small but now it is raised (tho not wobbly) and bigger and pale brown. I had it checked about 18 mths ago and they weren't bothered then but it has continued to change.
Coco - Did they just jab your face to numb it, like when you would have a filling? I presume I will be OK to drive myself home then.
It sounds like a simple procedure then...

OP posts:

CocoLoco · 12/01/2007 18:46

Yes, just local anaesthetic, they made me sit down for half an hour afterwards before driving myself home but I felt fine. But mine was purely cosmetic, so in your case they might want to take a bit more off possibly, so as to have a clear margin of tissue. At least you'll be getting it out of the way soon.
Good luck for Monday

100PerCentCod · 12/01/2007 18:55

dont they just biurn off wobnbly ones

Original poster

Skyler · 12/01/2007 19:27

Don't know??? The doc had a good prod of it I presume to see if it had a root (?). I have an appt with dermatology. I asked the doc if it would leave a scar (I am not that vain honestly) and he said sometimes they get the plastic surgeons to do it so I am expecting scalples (how do you spell that word, mental block) - knives. Eeek!

OP posts:

Original poster

Skyler · 12/01/2007 20:17

Bump for the evening crowd

OP posts:

chocolatekimmy · 12/01/2007 21:22

I had one removed from my outer thigh about 8 years ago. Local anaesthetic, bit of discomfort (the thought of it really) and then a bit sore for a few days after. It healed nicely and minimal scarring after, have a job to see where it was now.

Monkeytrousers · 12/01/2007 21:32

Is it a basal cell carcinoma? I really wouldn't worry if it is. Ir is a carcenoma but is so slow growing and inert that removing them is more a practicality.

Monkeytrousers · 12/01/2007 21:34

Yes, known as rodent ulcers too - hiya codstuff!

poppiesinaline · 12/01/2007 21:41

Basal cell carcinomas (or rodent ulcers) are very very slow growing cancers that can not produce secondaries. They appear in older people (very very very unusal in young people as they are skin cancers due to long exposure to sun). They look more like scabs than moles.

I used to work as a medical secretary for a Plastic Surgeon and have also had moles removed myself (one from face) and the scarring is minimal. (BCCs tend to be deeper than normal moles and would leave more scarring).

I would try not to worry Skyler, (easy to say I know).
I would have thought the GP would have warned you if it was anything to worry about. It may just be that the clinic you are being referred to are up to date on their waiting lists so they are very short. (some often do a 'blitz' over the Christmas and book extra clinics to clear lists)

You are doing the right thing. They will send it for a biopsy anyway, regardless of whether they think its anything to worry about and will let you know of the result.

Hope it goes ok.

Original poster

Skyler · 13/01/2007 11:18

Thank you everyone. You have certainly helped to put my mind at rest. I don't think it is a 'rodent ulcer' having googled them. I am only 30 and although I spent nearly three years in Cyprus I rarely sunbathed and wore factor 20 every day more or less. I only burned once in that time and it wasn't my face. I have lots of moles on my arms etc so I am quite cautious in the sun. It looks like a normal mole tbh still even all over etc, it has just changed a lot over the last few years. I do feel better about things today though and know that I am just lucky to be being seen so quickly. I have decided just to wait and see what they say on Monday. I am pretty sure they will have to cut it out but hopefully it will be soon as I think the apprehension about these things is always worse in most cases. Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:

nwgreenmum · 13/01/2007 23:55

I had two moles on my face and 4 on my body removed about 11 years ago. The ones on my face were 1cm and about .5 cm (they had grown) The scars are minimal, went down really quickly, though when they showed me what they had taken out it was a really deep cylinder of stuff. And all were done under local. I did feel quite shaky afterwards (they did them in two different batches about 2 weeks apart).

I am thinking about getting some more done - mostly around the bra area that are getting rubbed, larger and sore.
So it can't have been all that bad?!?

ipanemagirl · 14/01/2007 00:17

can you get them removed on the NHS? Do you have to go to a mole clinic to see whether you have problem ones or not?

Original poster

Skyler · 14/01/2007 12:26

It is an NHS dermatologist I am seeing for the consultation on Monday. I am not worried about the look of it from a cosmetic POV so if he says it is fine then it will stay I suppose but my doc said he wanted it taken off as he didn't like the look of it and the changes I described. So yes the NHS will take it off as it is not being removed for cosmetic purposes.
nwgreenmum - Thanks for sharing your experiences. I do feel reassured.

OP posts:

nwgreenmum · 14/01/2007 16:05

Funniest part of the experience was that they seemed to have forgotten I was awake, and the theatre staff were all discussing a party they had been to the night before - they had the radio on too - which made me worry about their hangovers, but at least made for a relaxed vibe...

Bubbaloo · 14/01/2007 17:27

Hi Skyler-They might do it there and then tomorrow.When I had that one on my leg removed last week it was only meant to be an appointment with the dermatologist.They removed it within 30 mins of me being there,which was actually a good thing as I didn't have time to get "worked up" or worried about it.Like I mentioned before,there was no pain and so far the stitches aren't causing me any problems-hopefully they'll be coming out next Friday.
Best of luck-let us know how you get on.x

Original poster

Skyler · 14/01/2007 17:50

Thanks again.
Bubb - That would suit me just fine actually if they just whipped it off there and then. DH has managed to get the afternoon off so I will be child free. We shall see.

OP posts:

ipanemagirl · 14/01/2007 20:39

A friend of ours (42) died last year of melanoma that had started with skin cancer - it's worth getting these moles checked isn't it? Not that I've sorted it out yet - need to find out where our nearest mole clinic is.

Bubbaloo · 14/01/2007 21:05

Definately worth getting them checked.My mum had a Malignant Melanoma about 20 years which was very bad but thank goodness it was caught and cut out asap.She caught hers from falling asleep in the sun,but apparently this type can also be hereditary,so maybe that's why they did mine there and then.At least I know mine is out now...just need to wait for the results.

Original poster

Skyler · 14/01/2007 21:22

Ipanamegirl - I just went to my regular docs. He looked at it and poked it a bit and as I put further down the thread I had an appt at the hosp with the dermatologist made the same day. Just book a regualar appt with your doc and see what they say. Better than waiting. Sorry to hear of your friend .
Bubb - It is great they were so on top of things with you. I am sure the results will be fine. Keep us posted (on Junies thread...)

OP posts:

Original poster

Skyler · 14/01/2007 21:24

Also meant to say they can take a punch of a mole and send off for analysis but if they have any doubts they seem to just whip them off and do the tests after. All on the NHS. Removal for purely cosmetic reasons has to be done privately I think. Anyway I will know more tomorrow and so will let you know what they say.

OP posts:

Original poster

Skyler · 15/01/2007 16:42

Hi all, just wanted to update you as you took the time to respond to me. The dermatologist said it is a completely normal facial mole and nothing to worry about. Phew. They don't need to take it off though I can have it shaved off (like Cod said) if I want to pay for it or my docs may do it. The poor NHS can't get it right can they, they are criticised for long waiting times and then I am here complaining for being worried as I was seen too quickly . I feel a bit silly now actually so thanks again for your responses. I think it was the combination of being told my doc was concerned about that plus my abnormal smear results that wound me up. All is well that ends well

OP posts:

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread