Dodgy mole, calm me down?

[Intherightplace]

I have a small mole on my stomach, about 3mm diameter, tiny really.

The edges looks fine and it hasn't changed shape or size, but it's developed a slight lighter patch in the middle and it itches.

I booked a GP appointment, just in case, which was a telephone appointment I had to wait 3 weeks for. I fully expected to be told it was of no concern.

GP asked me to send a photo which I did, then she wanted to see me in person. Another week for an appointment.

I've seen her today and rather than sending me away as I expected, she's made an urgent referral for a biopsy, I should apparently be seen in 2 weeks.

I'm shocked and also frustrated that I've been messing about for so long if it's so urgent now.

DH died of cancer after a horrible long illness last month. My DC can't go through that again

Your GP has done the right thing. Your mole meets the criteria for being checked out by a dermatologist and biopsied to check that it's ok.

Even if it turns out to be dodgy, melanoma is slow growing and likely they'll just whip it off with a bit extra to ensure clear margins and that will be that.

My dad's melanoma (which was seriously dodgy looking and I'll forever kick myself for not saying something when I first noticed it WELL OVER A YEAR before he finally mentioned it to the GP in passing) was a tiny bit deeper than you'd ideally like to ensure successful eradication after removal, but he's still here with no re-occurance 5 years later.

My uncle has had 6 melanomas removed from various parts of his body thanks to family susceptability and an outdoors life. None have been reocurrences of ones already removed. He is fit and well.

PS - this is all assuming that it actually turns out to be dodgy. My mum has a large, irregularly shaped mole on her stomach that sometimes itches. She's had it checked and it's absolutely fine.

I had a mole that I sent a pic to the GP - they referred me on the 2 week thing - really was just to make sure it wasn't dodgy. They are not experts so I guess they think better safe than sorry. The dermatology dept took a quick look and just said they will make me an appt for 3 months just in case it grew into anything as it was also small. I went back and they signed me off straight away. So not dodgy! Best to be checked tho.