Cannot get GP appt till 23rd, please look at this mole!

[PaulDacresButtPlug]

It's not raised, sore or growing (I don't think!), but the colour has changed a bit and it's more mottled with jagged edges.
I've a history of skin cancer in my family so am a bit neurotic!
GP appt booked but can't be fit in for ages...

Can you not get an appointment with the practice nurse earlier? They're pretty good with things like moles.

If nurse is concerned you'll get a quicker appointment with GP. And if there is no concern you won't need to spend as long being anxious.

It might even be with the nurse practitioner, now you mention it. I initially asked for a GP appt but they are even harder to get!

Boots do a mole checking service - it's £35 but might be worthwhile to put your mind and rest and get any other moles checked too?

www.boots.com/health-pharmacy-advice/skin-services/mole-scanning-service

Did you tell the practice that you are worried about having skin cancer? I'd be surprised if they can't fit you in sooner given that that's your concern.

I did! The receptionist said that, as it wasn't raised or bleeding, that was the soonest they could do!

I'm not sure if your doctors are like many in my area but they release new appointments every morning when they open for the next day or two. If your ring an hour after they have been released they are all gone and they give you a date weeks in the future. Try ringing first thing Monday morning and hopefully they will have some appointments for Tuesday

It's not an emergency so I can see why they won't give you an appointment but I agreee- why not use the boots service? Looks great.

Naomi, our old GP surgery used to do this but this one has a Dr call you and then decide whether you are ill, or whatever, enough to warrant an appointment.

If not heard of the Boots service, and agree it looks good. I find things like, eugh, moles a bit revolting so would want a general MOT with them and then ignore!

GPs don't usually see emergencies. Suspected cancer should be high up the priority list. It's a shame that primary care has resorted to crude receptionist triage (?raised ?bleeding) and meaningless to have a "two week wait" for suspected cancer referrals if it takes patients three weeks to reach their first appointment.

Unfortunately it looks as if Boots charge £35 to photograph and "analyse" the mole but then tell patients to see their GP with the results, which aren't available for 7 days. I suspect that their default position - in the context of changing features and a family history of melanoma - will be that the OP should see her GP anyway.

Our surgery does exactly that for emergencies when gp rings you but I'm sure if you explain that you are concerned and feeling quite anxious they will see you or they may well put your mind at rest and say they really think it's nothing because of x y and z. You don't know but if it's bothering you a lot it's worth speaking to a doctor as soon as you can. Also maybe pop to a pharmacy tomorrow? I know my local lloyds have a consultation room they may well take a look for you and advise you from there. I'm not saying they are qualified to rule out anything but they may put your mind at rest.

Has it got bigger recently? My melanoma, which was removed, had got noticeably larger, over the size of a pencil end. It has also changed colour (sort of mottled). I have several other moles similar to yours, they are what's known as atypical. These are the ones I have to have monitored for any noticeable changes. If it has changed recently I would definitely get the checked.

No, not at all bigger. It just seems a bit more mottled in colour (still only very slight) and doesn't have an even shape. It's perfectly flat and, I think, healthy looking really I suppose, it's just the colour and shape may need checking.

I totally get how nerve wracking it all is after recently having a stage 0 removed. Can you ring on the day and see if they have spare appointments? Also may be worth checking if any GP’s at practice are dermatology specialists, one at my practice is and was hugely helpful for my recent issue with moles. There’s an app also called MySkinSelfie which can be used for monitoring moles over time. Best of luck.