Do GPs offer appointments for general mole check ups?

[TheSpidermanIsHavingMeForDinnerTonight]

Last summer I had a mole removed from the side of my nose. My GP checked it when I went to see her as it was being irritated by my glasses rubbing against it. She was happy that there was nothing concerning about it and suggested that if I wanted it removed then I see another GP at the practice who specialises in this area. I made an appointment with him, he checked it and was also happy that it was just a mole and said that he could remove it in the practice and told me that it would be sent for a biopsy as a precaution. So it was a shock to get the biopsy results informing me that a basal cell carcinoma was found. The 2nd GP checked the removal site 4 weeks later and reassured me that BCC are slow growing, "it's the best type of cancer to get" and he was happy that it had healed well and there was no need for further investigation.

All good as far as they are concerned. But I'm now paranoid that I have other undiagnosed BCC. I have a small round lentil sized lump on my shoulder and a raised mole on my back that feels rough to touch. I want to get them checked out, and I am sure this is a sensible thing to do, but I don't know what the practice can do other than routinely remove them and get them checked. Is this something they will do? I can't phone them to ask as they no longer have phone lines, it's just an online booking system. WWYD if you were in my shoes?

I would recommend checking that the bcc was actually fully removed. Would be unusual for GP to fully remove a bcc on the nose and more likely that it has been shaved which could cause problems with regrowth down the line.

They will probably have a look, then refer you to dermatology. At my local hospital you first see someone who takes a close up photo of the moles. Those are then reviewed by a dermatologist. If they think there may be cause for concern, then you are asked to go in for a biopsy / removal. If the GP is really worried then you’ll be put on the two week pathway for the photograph, then it’s another few weeks for the biopsy (or was for me, anyway)

I was told not to worry about BCCs as they really amount to much, that it’s the melanomas the worry about. I am not a doctor though so don’t know if they were just calming me down!

Rarely not really

I’m in Scotland so there isn’t the two week wait like England. I had a “suspicious mole” and saw the GP in November 2024, and she agreed it needed investigation, and took photos which she sent to dermatology. I finally saw dermatology in May 2025, and it turned out to be nothing to worry about, but it was a long (and worrying!) wait.

My GP performed a C&E. He was happy it had all been removed. I can only trust his judgement.

It’s standard they send all skin tag and mole removals for biopsy just to be on the safe side. They should have referred you to a dermatologist

could you get a referral to dermatology? Failing that I’d probably pay for a private consultation with a dermatologist ( if you can afford it)
How bloody ridiculous that you cannot phone anymore, what are people meant to do in an emergency or if they don’t have access/ can’t use internet ( like my elderly mum)
This shouldn’t be allowed!

Oh terrific- a 2 week wait in England and a 6 month wait in Scotland. If you don't set standards then you don't need to follow them - problem solved.

Best practice for BCC is Mohs - I’ve had it twice. It’s not done by GP’s, but either way it’s definitely worth seeing a dermatologist, privately if need be.

Apparently the 2 week thing is no more and its now the Faster Diagnosis Standard - which is meant to either confirm or rule out cancer in 28 days. I am now approaching the 10 week point since I had an excision biopsy for a skin lesion and still don't have any results, so draw your on conclusion on target dates.

The TWR didn’t apply to BCC anyway - at least not in my Trust. It never gets serious enough to warrant any urgency apparently, and if they treated it like “proper” skin cancer our dermatology dept would fall over.