Reassurance about 'mole' referrals

[grantypi]

Have a mark (brown so I guess a mole) on my face which has some of the features meaning it is being referred to dermatology under the 2ww.

Please can anyone share examples of when they have had this and and it's been nothing please.

Really getting ahead of myself and in a state.

The NICE 2ww guidance are written in such a way that the positive predictive value for cancer is 3% i.e. in total 3 out of every 100 referrals will end up being cancer.

Thank you (unmumsnetty ❤️)

I had this.
A funny mole on my back. Under the 2ww. Was removed and came back begign.
Try not to worry, easier said than done i know. They will remove it if they think there's a chance its cancerous but usually it turns out benign. Hope all goes ok.

Thanks. Did they remove at the initial appointment?

I’ve had two moles removed on two different occasions. Checked and found to be non-malignant. It’s always worrying but most times everything is fine.

For me, no. He was unsure of what it was. He said if he thought it was malignant melenoma he would've done it that day but because he was leaning more towards its not, i went back 2 weeks later😊

Thank you @Scoobyblue and @Cm078

I’ve had heaps removed, grew up in NZ! One when o was 4, others when older and all benign. I’m getting some face ones removed anyway and so is DH, he’s thinking of mole mapping as he had so many. Try not to worry. I had a lump scanned a few months back and got so worked up, also nothing :)

Thank you @WahineToa
Your mind just goes to worst case scenario doesn't it so helpful to hear examples to get a more balanced perspective

I do understand. I am in perimenopause and had very bad healthy anxiety for a long time, it’s awful. Then I delayed getting the lump checked for 5 years! All that needless worry has taught me the only thing you can do is check these things asap, not worry until you have something to worry about and try to live life while you can. Good luck!

I was referred back in the summer under the tww for moles, had it checked and they said it was fine but they'd remove to be sure. It was tested and all fine. I went the drs as the symmetry had changed and it had different colours in it which nhs direct says is a reason to go and it was just a normal mole, they did give me the specific name but I forget. X

They don't remove at the initial appointment no x

I went to a mole check clinic earlier this year - something I get through work and my mum has had skin cancer so seemed like a good idea.

Apparently, so the nurse told me, something like 80% of skin cancers appear as new lesions, rather than through an existing mole.

I asked the dermatologist who I was referred to and he agreed.

I think I've had about 4 removed over the years. All benign. Unless yours has changed significantly, got bigger, darker, changed shape, bled etc, it shouldn't be anything to worry about but great that you're getting it checked.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine 😊

Op they'll be able to tell you then and there if it's a worrying mole, they look at them under a special type of microscope abd they'll look at any others you've found that are worried about. Ami was told that it's actually quite rare for them to see a cancerous mole x

My mum was recently referred for two issues on her face under the two week referral. Instead of seeing a doctor, she saw a photographer (can't remember their title) and they took deep tissue photos which were then used for diagnosis.

In the past I've been referred for mole removal although the gp did not think it was suspicious. I was referred to a specialist and he confirmed it wasn't suspicious but asked if I'd like it removed anyway. He did it there and then. But that was a few years ago, before the current covid queues.

I had this when heavily pregnant. Immediately the doctor said she wasn't concerned but scheduled me in for 6 months later where again she almost immediately said it was fine 😊 both times I was in and out in mere minutes. Hope you are ok

Mine (face) wasn't as urgent but all was OK. The consultant also asked if I wanted any other areas checked while I was there. So he did all my back and areas I can't see myself. Hopefully they will give you a quick once over too.

I was told by my GP they have to refer - whether she said this to stop me panicking I don't know. I went for a bleeding mole. I was seen within 2 weeks then went back 3 days later for a biopsy. It came back clear.

I'm going to tell you a bad case, with a positive result, in the hope it helps to put your mind at rest.

I had a mole removed 5 years ago, not through the TWW as my GP was utterly useless. I went to an dermatology app about 4 months later, the dermatologist took it off there and then as she didn't like the look of it. Went back a week later to be told it was malignant melanoma. I needed a wide excision of the area, but thankfully it hadn't spread and after a year of thorough checks (lucky nurse!), I was discharged. No issues since.

I don't want to scare you with that story, but wanted to show that even if it's the worst case, it is treatable.

Sending you lots of love x

Please try not to worry.
My daughter was 17 when she was referred by the GP with a mole on her thigh.
GP scared us both so much (he wasn't in the least bit reassuring).
The mole was raised, red on one side and these were apparently red flags.
DD was referred to hospital under the 2 week rule.

Appointment came through within 2 days.
The derm consultant who was absolutely amazing. Did a thorough check with one of those magnifying light things and was able to reassure DD straight away just from this. He said it was just a mole that had become inflamed due to a spot under the mole. No need to remove it.

That was 2 years ago. The mole returned to normal once the spot had cleared and she's had no issues since.

Thanks all who have taken the time to reply. It's appreciated.

I had a keratosis checked under the tww after a private consultant said he couldn’t rule out basal cell carcinoma (which runs in my family).
Dermatologist prescribed cream to get rid of it just in case, and checked the rest of my torso - all clear.

I had an urgent referral. The specialist took one look at it, told me it want suspicious ( can't remember what it actually was) and froze it off then and there.

I was referred but local hospital didn't have a Consultant so I had to wait a bit longer and saw doctor from another hospital who did a clinic on a Saturday morning. He said it was fine and removed it while I was there. Mine wasn't exactly brown but very raised and an irregular shape. He just froze it off, it went a bit manky but a few weeks later you wouldn't have known anything was there.

My GP thought it might be a basal cell carcinoma, he was very reassuring.

I hope it goes well for you.

Currently in same boat have my appointment tomorrow