Watched a video on melanoma and now really anxious

[Beamine]

As I have soo many moles. Back is covered, torso, etc...I wear factor 50 and cover up lots but have got burnt when younger before. All my moles have always been strange sizes, shapes. I've worked myself up into a state. Shall I make a GP app for them to check them?

Won't do any harm and will set your mind at rest.

Glad to see you aren't the typical MN Dumbo who thinks suncream need is related to air temperature.

I got myself into a state about my moles once and went to the GP to have them checked. He was very good, checked them all and gave me advice on what to look for and how to monitor them for changes. It was a useful thing to do, much less stressful than Dr Google.

You can absolutely make an appointment for a mole check - in my health area that would mean a referral to the dermatology team.

One really useful thing you can do is to take photos of your moles with something on your body to give scale. This means if you think they're changing in any way, you've got a record to compare them too.

REmember too that moles can change for many reasons. There's actually a form of dermatitis that specifically affects moles! So while you should always get changes checked, they aren't always serious.

Signed, someone who has a lot of moles and a lot of sun damage

You can also get apps that are good but not if you have too many.
My gps always referred me, luckily, as 1 was melanoma. If I had a doubt and wasn't referred I would pay to see a dermatologist privately as it's quite specialised.
Don't panic but don't leave it either.

OK so I've done an online form to request a app with GP to have them checked. I have a large one on my neck, it looks OK but in a very awkward position as its even exposed when I wear a jumper. Once I've had the app and hopefully all ok that's a really good idea about getting an app to keep an eye on them. I think I'm in an anxious place at the moment as my sister in terminally ill with cancer...I worry about different cancers a lot and seeing a video come up of a young lady who died from a menaloma its triggered me a lot. Thanks so much

@scochran

You can also get apps that are good but not if you have too many. My gps always referred me, luckily, as 1 was melanoma. If I had a doubt and wasn't referred I would pay to see a dermatologist privately as it's quite specialised. Don't panic but don't leave it either.

So glad you're ok now. I never really thought I could go to the GP just to have a general mole check up!

@Beamine, you’ve done the right thing getting a mole check. Melanoma is curable if caught early but I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’m sorry about your sister, how is she coping? I know about triggers and have crippling health anxiety. There’s a really supportive health anxiety thread by the way.

[quote HildegardeCrowe]@Beamine, you’ve done the right thing getting a mole check. Melanoma is curable if caught early but I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’m sorry about your sister, how is she coping? I know about triggers and have crippling health anxiety. There’s a really supportive health anxiety thread by the way.[/quote]
It's hard for her as she has dc, hard for the whole family. She has lived with secondary cancer for a few years now, but is progressing further and have ran out of treatment options.