2 week dermatology referral- SCARED.

[LilaGrace]

About 8 weeks ago I saw my GP about a mark/mole at the top of my leg that I hadn’t noticed before. The Gp I saw deals with most of the dermatology queries at the practice so she’s fairly experienced. She told me it looked like a sebborheic keratosis, said she was sure it was nothing to worry about but she would send off a photo to the hospital under the teledermatology program.
Today I’ve had a call saying I have been referred under the 2 week program to see a dermatologist, and my appointment is on Friday. I’m absolutely terrified. And angry- results were meant to be back within 3 days and it’s taken 8 weeks.
Has anyone else had experience of this- a sebborheic keratosis that has been mistaken for something sinister?
I’ve had other keratoses- some of which have fallen off (which apparently is normal).

I had a dodgy mole. Had various e-consults during lockdown. Apparently the picture my GP took wasn't very clear. Repeatedly told it was nothing during lockdowns. But everyone also said, its best to have it seen in real life. So as soon as possible I get called into hospital to have it looked at. As I'm group 6 for covid risk I questioned this and was told again, this time by a specialist nurse at the clinic 'you never know it could be a melanoma'. They took one look at it and decided it was exactly what all previous doctors who looked at pictures thought it was...nothing! My point, this is a situation in which NHS specialists really, really like to see you in person. Even if everyone is pretty sure its nothing.

@Willdoitlater thank you- I'm really hoping that's what will happen. Your story has made me feel better ☺️

It might not help, but my DH was referred to dermatology at the hospital to have a freckle looked at. The consultant didn’t think it was anything to be concerned about but it was biopsied to be on the safe side. It was melanoma. This happened on two separate occasions. So, even the hospital specialists can get it wrong.

@Lemonsyellow I dont think you can say the consultants got it wrong. They chose to do a biopsy, meaning they must have had a suspicion. OTOH I had literally a couple of seconds with the doc before they decided it really was nothing, despite having insisted I should come in. The point is that they always insist you get examined by the specialist, so that on its own means nothing. It's way too early in the process for @LilaGrace to worry yet. BTW the specialist told me if it is small enough you can cover it up with the blunt end of a pencil it is definitely nothing to worry about.

@Lemonsyellow unlucky that happened- and twice too. Without knowing the full story it's hard to get much of a picture.

Thanks again @Willdoitlater
Did the consultant mean the non-writing end of a pencil?

Yes, non-writing end. Obviously its not a well defined concept, but that's doctors for you. I have hundreds of moles, so they had a quick look at all of them and basically, in absence of any really obvious signs of cancer, size matters! Mine were all too small to generate any medical interest.