Melanoma Results DH

[Silkies]

DH went to hospital for a biopsy of a suspected melanoma on 27 Jan, the doctor there said it looked very bad and said they would take off another layer as well which they did there. They said they couldn't see any evidence of it in lymph modes.

They also said further moles on DH looked suspicious and he should have further biopsies. We are now in March and not heard anything. DH called hospital a week ago and they said they weren't allowed to say anything but a letter had been dictated 2 days ago. We have still not received anything. Not sure what the best thing is to do.

I'm hoping a letter means its all clear but then dictated makes me think it may not be that starightforward and if he does need treatment and there's massive delays on NHS it may be better to go private. Thanks.

I’m no expert in this area but I’d expect news should be good news - surely they would tell you quickly if it needed urgent action. Having said that, things are moving slowly in the NHS at the moment for obvious reasons. I’d definitely try another call to the hospital on Monday, and if that doesn’t help, perhaps enlist the GP?

Aargh “no news should be good news”

I can't speak to the situation at the moment with the NHS, but when DH had a malignant melanoma they called him up and told him to come in. They didn't wait for a letter to be dictated. And they didn't leave it for 2 months.

This was a good few years ago. (He is fine now, even though it was pretty bleak at the time). So whatever happens there is hope for sure.

Echoing the other posters that you should have heard by now if bad news.
However, ring the hospital again. If they can't help ask for the name of the consultant. Get his/her secretary's name, number and email. Try google if they can't give you secretary's details. Consultants often do private hospital work too so may be able to find details that way.
Ask for an urgent response from someone as understandably the waiting is causing anxiety.
I always say if you have money to spend on a holiday then you have money to go to a private hospital if the NHS is too long a wait. Nothing worth more than your health.

Meant to add I think all consultants dictate ALL their letters!

Please get in the phone on and chase this up. My gp in normal times has chased up results. Also phone consultant's secretary. Be exceedingly polite but persistent.

Thanks very much - yes I would hope a letter rather than a phone call would mean its either all clear or stage 1 (they have already done the treatment for that from what I can tell online) and I would have thought as he called they would have put him through if there was something urgent.

We didn't have money for private when he was referred but sold our house in February so now could afford it. I'm not sure if there are covid delays - DH said initial referral was fast and they told him he would hear in 3-4 weeks and handed him a leaflet which said 3-6 weeks. It seems very slow for cancer results but I know when I've had tests they tend to phone very quickly people with cancer (within 2 weeks and often faster). I've always had all clear but one of mine took 3 months, thankfully I wasn't worried that time as it was repeat test and first was all clear.

Sorry your DH had a malignant melanoma kindlyensure glad its sorted now.

I've just sent an e-mail to GP to ask if they have time if they could find out if there's anything urgent and phone or e-mail husband. When he suddenly got added to CEV list for covid vaccine he was worried and called them and they called hospital then and got back to him.

I'ld like clarification on the further biopsies as well as that should be 2 week wait unless they now don't think they are necessary. Will see what they say.

I work for the NHS and if it was urgent it would have been typed straight away. All letters are dictated but the urgent ones are prioritised and non-urgent can take weeks to be typed.

If I was you I would keep on at them, it's not fair to keep you waiting this long at such a worrying time.

The letter arrived this afternoon and not sure exactly what it said but its not cancer, said it was something benign removed.

Checked with DH about the further biopsies thing and he said that wasn't the hospital but the GP who said that and its not a biopsy its a removal of a seborrheic keratosis which has been growing and new past few weeks which GP says is harmless but needs removing but apparently GP can do that. So really good news. Thanks everyone.

Great news for you OP, what a relief.

That's great news!
Always good to get an update too as I think it helps any future readers.

Thank you both - yes I always like to update as I know what its like to be worried waiting for these results wondering what things mean. Even if 99% of the time you feel fine there's always a few times you get very worried.