Mole on leg (pictures attached) 2WW referall, can anyone talk me down?

[miniworry]

I have the worst health anxiety and not sure how I'm going to get through the next 2 weeks so wondered if anyone could send me any positive stories to keep me float in the meantime.

I've had this mole on my thigh for years, maybe 10 or more and it's always had this red ring around it. Never thought anything of it. Anyway I was in bed last night and felt it and thought it seems to have grown in th middle a bit. Booked a gp appointment today but could only see a physician associate who said she's never seen anything like that before so is referring to dermatology on the 2 week wait. I'm now gripped with fear it's going to be cancer and I've sat with it on my leg all these years.

Google has left me spiralling more and I don't know how to function at the minute. Any positive stories would be great.

I think only you can answer that. Personally I wouldn’t spend the money as you’re already in the system but if it’ll save you worrying for the next two weeks and you can afford it, then it’s probably worth it!

I can't really afford it and will have to throw it onto a credit card but I can't help but think I can't worry like this for 2 weeks - I have two young children at home and can't even think straight with worry.

Moles can and do change over time; fleshy bits can get fleshier, age, hormones and changes to your weight and skin can stretch things out etc

If it makes you feel better, a couple of years back I had a new mole come up that was constantly red, looked really uneven with little blobs all around it. After watching and waiting a few weeks based on advice from the dermatologist, he looked at it again, said it had changed/ grown and cut it off. You'd think the worst, but it was totally benign! Personally I'd go for the private derm appointment as that is exactly what I did when faced with weeks of faff trying to get into my GP. But I am also an anxious person, and could afford the private consult.

I know it's hard but try not to think the worst. From everything I've seen from panicking about my own moles, it really doesn't look like anything sinister.

I’ve had several moles removed over the past decade. All different shapes and sizes. Only one came back as a melanoma. It was 0.3mm deep so very early stage. Had a wider excision to make sure they’d got it all and been fine ever since. I have annual mole scans just to be safe.

I paid for a private dermatologist and he said that GPs are so concerned about negligence claims they are referring almost every mole they see! It’s not surprising that your physician associate has erred on the side of caution.

Only you can decide if it’s worth the £170 consultation fee. If the dermatologist says they want to remove the mole, do you have funds to pay for exclusion and histology? No point going for a private consultation if you end up back on the NHS waiting list for treatment.

Unless you can afford any subsequent treatment I wouldn't bother with a private appointment.
PAs have very limited knowledge and very, very basic training. She should not have said that to you she should have said that as a precaution she has to refer anyone who has a mole that's changed., that's all.
I assume your anxiety is on record?

No because as per PP’s clear photos, it’s a cockade nevus and any googling of that will tell you it’s benign. Go to your appointment in two weeks. No need to spend that time worrying.

I’ve had several BCCs and SCCs and my parent had melanoma. This isn’t it.

Two separate issues.
One is the mole, which has been there a long time so is highly unlikely to be of concern and is now going to be looked at by a specialist.
Two is your health anxiety. What are you doing about that?

Time we outlawed Physician's Associates. Useless waste of time and NHS money. If you had been seen by someone qualified, they could have easily put your mind at rest and avoided all of this.

I suffer from health anxiety too, OP, and I know that nothing that I say, or anyone, says on here will calm your spiralling mind.
It's horrendous.
I have moles similar to yours and I've even been to see a dermatologist, ( my GP referred me as a way of facing my fears and to hopefully put my mind at rest).
Yours looks like a normal mole to me but for your own peace of mind it will help having a professional look at it.
If it's any consolation, I had two large and very dark moles which were worrying me, the type you see in melanoma pictures, and the dermatologist was completely unfazed by them.
Good luck and I hope you get your mind put at rest because, as I said, health anxiety is the worst. Maybe once you've had your mole seen to it would be a good idea to get a little bit of help tackling the root of the worry, the health anxiety 💐

@Letmehaveabloodyusernameplease thank you so much for your kind words ❤️ health anxiety is horrid! I went to the private dermatologist today and he looked at it with the special microscope - he doesn't think that shows anything sinister but he measured it and took a photo and said he will see me in 2 months again to check the size again as I said I thought it has grown. In true typical fashion as I was on the way home the nhs hospital phoned me to tell me that I have an appointment for tomorrow at 9am. I don't know whether to still go to get a double opinion just to be sure.

You are so welcome ♥️ Unless you've suffered from health anxiety, like you and I, you honestly can't comprehend how utterly debilitating it is.
That's good news that the dermatologist didn't think it was anything sinister.
They'll just be erring on the side of caution with the recheck but the fact they didn't get any alarm bells from looking at it is highly positive when you remember that they see countless moles every day.
I think I would also go to the other appointment to get double reassurance as I think that would help you massively x

You are so welcome ♥️ Unless you've suffered from health anxiety, like you and I, you honestly can't comprehend how utterly debilitating it is.
That's good news that the dermatologist didn't think it was anything sinister.
They'll just be erring on the side of caution with the recheck but the fact they didn't get any alarm bells from looking at it is highly positive when you remember that they see countless moles every day.
I think I would also go to the other appointment to get double reassurance as I think that would help you massively x