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

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Anyone had a mole investigated? GP has referred me to hospital.

99 replies

tomtom1999xx · 09/07/2019 08:58

Hi,

I have a new mole ( well it’s been there about 8 months, no change in appearance )
I thought it was just an age spot but thought I’d get it checked anyway whilst at the doctors ( for an unrelated reason )
I wasn’t particularly worried about it but now I’m freaking out that I might have skin cancer.
If this has happened to you, how quickly do you get a firm diagnosis?

Many thanks.

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Twotome · 16/07/2019 09:24

@NK346f2849X127d8bca260 I struggled to give the doctor a time of how long it had been there because it’s in a place I can’t see. Hard to get a good look at it. Good you got a quick appointment, let us know how you get on and good luck.

Twotome · 16/07/2019 09:27

@Dontforgetyourbrolly I had gone about one on the sole of my foot and mentioned in passing that I’ve been getting a few new ones keep popping up. He asked to look and then said he was concerned about the back one.

Glad your one came back OK.

Queentwatoftwatsville · 16/07/2019 09:33

I had a mole removed from my eye a few months ago, saw the doctor, was referred to my local hospital who referred me on to a specialist optical oncology unit. Consultant was convinced it was a melanoma or a pre melanoma so it was removed within 6 days...it was benign! I have check ups every 3 months. I have been so lucky and would urge everyone to have regular eye check ups. I had no idea you could get melanomas in your eye.

BlingLoving · 16/07/2019 09:38

They are wonderfully cautious about moles. And the good news is that even if there's a problem, quick diagnosis and dealing with it can make all the difference.

Mine are fairly closely watched as I'm fair skinned but grew up in Southern Hemisphere and of course have been burnt in the past. I've had one removed that turned out to be pre-cancerous so that also informs the Drs thinking when I come in to get some checked. I also have had DS' checked a few times. His have always been fine and he's never been burnt but without fail, every single time the doctor assures me that popping in to check is better than not.

Even if there's a problem, you will be fine and they're taking it seriously. Good luck OP!

RolyWatts · 16/07/2019 09:41

I am very moley and in a high risk group for skin cancer. I had a mole removed once to be checked and had to wait a long time for the results - 12 weeks. I called the hospital and was reassuringly told that if it was bad news I would have been contacted much sooner.

I have moles in places I can see and im also terrible at gauging whether they have changed or not so instead of clogging up the gp/NHS I pay £120 every 6 months for private mole screening. I get the once over from the consultant then some lovely nurses take multiple photos of every part of my body which are then analysed for discrepancies.

JSSB · 16/07/2019 09:48

I've had a couple of scares. The first one I went to my doctor about something else and they asked about what I can only describe as a flat skin coloured patch under my eye. I wouldn't even have called it a mole. They said it could be a basal cell. I was referred and had it removed within a week. It turned out to be nothing. The second time was while I was pregnant. I had a small mole at the top of my leg and while pregnant it grew very noticeably. I went to the doctor when 7 months and again was referred quickly. The consultant I saw said he wouldn't normally operate on someone pregnant but he thought was highly likely cancerous so saw me the next day. I had it removed with minimal pain relief Luckily again it turned out to be nothing but the same doctor asked to see me after birth to remove a number on my back he was concerned about. The worst bit was the smell as he used heat to suture the wound. I was very nearly sick when pregnant as it revolted me so much I was recommended to get vitamin e capsules and split them open and massage the scar hard afterwards to help break it down and heal. Good luck.

morningcuppatea · 17/07/2019 09:55

I'm glad I've seen this thread, I am very moley and stupidly sunbathed a lot when I was younger. I try to keep an eye on them but it's easy to lose track.

What app's have you been using to check your moles? I hate going to see a Dr so if I can avoid it I will.

Good luck to everyone waiting for appointments and results

namechangedforthis1980 · 17/07/2019 14:54

@morningcuppatea - I used the skin vision app. I have to say, it was brilliant. I even received emails from them asking if I'd had my mole checked and would I mind letting them know how I got on. Some would say that's intrusive, but actually it was that email that instigated me having mine looked at as I was going to leave it . I had malignant melanoma.

I recommend the app to any of my moley friends. I like the fact it stores your pictures so you can track any changes

Freaking0ut · 17/07/2019 20:04

@namechangedforthis1980 I have downloaded that app. Can I ask, do you pay the £24.99 subscription fee? I can’t see a way of storing photos without paying it. Not that I mind paying that amount, it’s a pretty good price really for peace of mind.

I might wait until I’m signed off from my consultant before I sign up for the subscription. At the moment I’m getting 3 monthly checks from an expert!

namechangedforthis1980 · 17/07/2019 20:08

@Freaking0ut - no I don't pay, which is odd as I've definitely got stored photos? I wonder whether they've changed it though? It was probably at least 2 years ago that I downloaded it

morningcuppatea · 17/07/2019 20:31

@namechangedforthis1980 thank you so much, I'll have a look at it

namechangedforthis1980 · 17/07/2019 20:34

It's really clever @morningcuppatea , Here's the pic of my melanoma on the app

Anyone had a mole investigated? GP has referred me to hospital.

Twotome · 17/07/2019 20:41

@namechangedforthis1980 that is really clever.
Do you think they put them all as high risk though? (incase they don’t and then it turns out to be something sinister)

ContessaLovesTheSunshine · 17/07/2019 20:46

I am extremely moley. I had one mole that was itchy, and I assumed my bra strap was aggravating it; it was only after a while that I realised it was too high for that. It was red with a raised edge and looked angry.

The consultant had that whipped off fairly quickly, and when the results came back they showed it had been a pre-melanoma. For safety they wanted me to get a wide local excision (WLE) which is essentially where they get the big spoon and remove a larger chunk of you that was fine too. I now have an exciting scar which I will try to take a photo of! Results of the WLE came back clear, which was great. I've not really thought about it ever since tbh, except to view my moles a tad more suspiciously...

I always used to think it looked a bit like a pincer-toothed fish took a nip out of me

namechangedforthis1980 · 17/07/2019 20:47

I don't think so @Twotome , this is another mole I took a photo of , and it came back low risk

Twotome · 17/07/2019 20:49

@namechangedforthis1980 thank you. I’m going to download the app too.

namechangedforthis1980 · 17/07/2019 20:58

I think it's definitely worth a try, obviously it doesn't take the place of a doctor looking at it ( although this told me I was high risk, a GP said it was fine?! ) but it certainly made me push for an appointment. I probably would have ignored it for a bit longer if not...

Twotome · 17/07/2019 21:01

@namechangedforthis1980 that’s worrying!!

namechangedforthis1980 · 17/07/2019 21:06

Isn't it just! Two different GP's looked at it, both dismissed it. The second referred me to dermatology because I said I'd like it looked at . My app wasn't for another 5 months!

I went to the appointment on my own and the dermatologist immediately said she wasn't happy and wanted it taken off that same day. I cried as I called DH to come home from work as I felt I couldn't drive home. I got the results a week later and the dermatologist said she'd never felt so sad for anyone as she had for me, as she could tell I had no idea

Freaking0ut · 17/07/2019 21:48

@namechangedforthis1980 woah that’s scary. That app saved your life (don’t want to be dramatic!). I think this is what’s so scary about moles and melanoma. People are walking around with ticking time bombs on their skin that can quickly go from being treatable to very problematic.

Do you find yourself looking at other people’s skin now?! I am constantly biting my tongue 🙈

Twotome · 18/07/2019 09:26

@namechangedforthis1980 mine has come back like this. It doesn’t have the extra bit with the colours though. Where do you find that bit?

namechangedforthis1980 · 18/07/2019 09:45

Yours looks different to mine @Twotome ? My app has the more option ( I've circled it in the pic below). You press that and it shows the coloured version

namechangedforthis1980 · 18/07/2019 09:47

@Freaking0ut - I'm always checking other people's moles!!

Twotome · 18/07/2019 09:56

I have that option too but this is what shows on the next screen - just circled? @namechangedforthis1980

jimmychooing · 18/07/2019 11:25

I always worry about these apps. I know that they are easily accessible but I think they can raise concerns unnecessarily sometimes and provide reassurance inappropriately too

I've had 4 moles removed so far and I have another two that fit some of the criteria for a dodgy mole but have been seen by multiple dermatologists who think they're fine - my worry would be that an app like this would class them as high risk

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread