Long wait to see skin cancer specialist

[Anxiety Jim]

Hi,

For about 4 or 5 months I've had this mole/freckle that has been growing, and itching and painful too (like I want to put pressure on it) and I've seen my GP about it 3 times, once a month. The last time I saw her she decided to send me to see a specialist at the hospital.

I got my appointment letter through this week and my appointment is not until the 11th April. I thought you were supposed to be seen within 2 week for cancer? Is there anything I can do apart from wait it out? Has anyone else been referred for skin cancer/mole?

Not having a very anxiety free weekend :-(

Thanks,

[Annie0904]

Maybe your doctor knows it isn't skin cancer but has sent you anyway to reassure you? I had my doctor check some of my moles last week and he has reassured me. I was referred to the hospital about 25 years ago about a mole and they took a photograph of it but it has not changed since.

[Anxiety Jim]

Maybe your doctor knows it isn't skin cancer but has sent you anyway to reassure you? I had my doctor check some of my moles last week and he has reassured me. I was referred to the hospital about 25 years ago about a mole and they took a photograph of it but it has not changed since.

Thanks,

She did say she didn't think it would turn out to be skin cancer, but she also said that there are enough worrying signs to have me referred to a dermatologist.

Also the week before that I'm having an endoscopy (I've been having abdominal pain for coming up to a year) and the week before that I've got to have a kidney check up (I had kidney stones at the end of January, but one of them passed).

I've never had to go to hospital before for anything, and this year I was in for over a week for kidney stones, and now I've got 3 appointments over 3 weeks. I'm not dealing with it well at all. :-(

[Annie0904]

At least once you have had all these checks then hopefully it will put your mind at rest. I have had an endoscopy and it was not too bad. I was sedated for mine so didn't know what was happening until I was sitting up in bed and given a cup of tea :)

[skw1208]

I had to wait over a month to see my skin cancer specialist. I had two moles removed and they came back benign. But...they too, had all the worrying signs. Keep in mind that most moles are fine and melanoma , when caught early, is highly curable. It sounds like you've been keeping an eye on things. Good luck! I know how scary it is!

[miss diagnosis]

I was waiting 18 months for my referall appointement so count yourself lucky!! they send anyone with any sort of a typical mole to a dermatologist just to be on the safe side. and once they cut it off its done and you dont have to worry about that mole ever again. And its very quick and painless.My derm told me it was begnine as soon as he cut it off.it wasnt deep at all and I had no stitches