Skin cancer referral- terrified

[Changingtime1]

Hi, I suffer from health anxiety anyway so this has totally freaked me out. Sorry about the gross picture. I have had this for a long time but think it has grown. Sent photo to doctor, then saw the doctor. He said it doesn't look like anything took photos and sent it to dermatology.
I have been sent a referral now to see the hospital- appointment is in 3 weeks which I think is quick so they must think something is wrong.
Has anyone ever had anything like this?
Thanks

Some departments have finished their Covid backlog, and because there were many fewer referrals than normal during Covid, are not hugely busy now. This is how the speed with which I was seen was explained to me. But, yup, it scared me, too! Also for an "Dr, is this thing that has appeared on me something scary?" "No, I don't think so, but let's get you seen non-urgently" referral.

BTW it may just be a skin tag. I've got some which are dangly, and some which are flat and cauliflowery like that.

Thanks for your response - this is going to be a long 3 week wait! I have convinced myself it is melanoma.

Even if it is skin cancer, most skin cancer isn't life threatening and only needs to be removed.

It looks like a cold sore? How long have you had it?

Quite a few years but it seems to have got bigger. I thought it was just a spot for a long time.

I'm not an expert at all, but I have had 3 suspected Basal Cell Carcinomas removed in the last 10 years, but they all turned out to be Actinic Keratoses, once removed and analysed.

If you look online at Malignant Melanoma you will see that it looks nothing like yours, which I think it would do after a number of years.

It is probably just my anxiety and the fact the appointment has come through quickly. I appreciate your responses. My worry about melanoma is when it is not pigmented. When you had the basal cell removed was it done at the initial appointment?

I can't work out what I'm looking at? Is it up your nostril?

All my appointments came through quickly too, as Dr suspected BCC. The first one was treated immediately, as Hospital doctor was also convinced it was a BCC, 2nd I had appointment to go back and 3rd (on my scalp), Dr said he would do a punch biopsy, as he wasn't convinced it was BCC. I have scars at each site (temple, nose and scalp), but others I know have been offered a cream, so I would push for this, if appropriate.

What are we looking at exactly? Is this up your nose

It is just below my nostril

IANAD but have had various lumps and bumps removed, one of which was precancerous but hasn't returned. I know waiting is stressful - and waiting for the results after a biopsy stressful too. Yours is not a common place for invasive cancers.

A very tiny percentage of urgent dermatology referrals end up being malignant. Most places will see you within 2/3 weeks just to be safe, but usually there's nothing to worry about.

They have a duty to see you quickly as you are being referred for a cancer which is under a 2week wait (be it cancer or not) I to have health anxiety and convinced myself I had skin cancer as I had new mole appear and then go dark (wasn’t a mole apparently!) and a skin coloured raised mark on my leg which would disappear. I got seen in well under 2 weeks (I got a call within days of my go referral) and was in and out in 5minutes. If I wasn’t asking questions I think I would have been out quicker, dermatologist literally looked at it and said nope your fine.

I really am so grateful to you all. Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

I got seen within less than a week for a mole last year. I was told quick turnaround is nothing to do with them thinking it's something bad it's because it can be very dangerous if left untreated/ diagnosed and it does turn out to be cancer.

That looks like a cold sore.

I am so touched by all your comments- they have really helped me calm down.

Looks like a Basel cell carcinoma - mine looked like that. Biopsy and removal was very easy.

Just an update. Back from dermatology appointment. They were quite positive it isn't anything but going to have a biopsy. Will be done in around 6 weeks. Got them to check everything other skin deformity I was worried about as well! Thanks for everyone support.