Mole second opinion. Petrified.

[Help1989]

I've never been more scared. It's been 7 weeks since I had a mole on my back removed, got told 2 weeks ago that it had to be sent off for a second opinion. The report said it could be normal but that the cells look different to usual so they need to get it double checked. I'm going out of my mind. It's been two weeks since I was told about the second opinion and I still haven't heard anything. I don't know how I'm meant to wait normally, I've always been petrified about my moles being bad and now I feel like my worst nightmare is coming true. I'm starting to relate other weird symptoms to it now, like this head pain I've had for weeks and my sore neck, I'm so scared it's all spread. My friends and family keep saying that if it was that bad I would know by now but when I spoke to my doctor she said she didn't want to give me false reassurance as she had no idea about the results. I'm not sleeping. I look like death. It's making me depressed and I'm imagining all sorts of the worst case scenarios. My life is on hold. I don't know what to do.

[NancyW]

Making you wait this long is abuse. It's is a cruel form of torture.

Why on earth do they not have your results yet?

[ErinKC]

Does your doctor know you have anxiety? I would call and tell her how difficult this is for you and is there anyway she can expedite the results.

[Help1989]

I went back to see my doctor last week and she said another lab was dealing with it. The secretary rang the histology lab and they said they'd sent it on to a specialist just to check it out and they were waiting to hear from him. T all sounds so scary and all I want is to hear that I'm ok. I rang to check yesterday and all they said was I have to wait and they'll let me know as soon as the results are in. I'm petrified that I'm going to be in work when they call and if they give me bad news I won't know how to cope. I haven't had anxiety like this in a long time, I can't even try and talk myself out of it because a normal person without health anxiety would be concerned! This is hell ☹️

[Toaster]

I don't know much about testing. But I really really feel like they'd expedite the process of they suspected anything bad. Like if lab 1 found something bad, I imagine lab 2 would look at the biopsy sample faster.

I've been in your shoes. It's not easy. Stay strong. You'll get the results soon. :hugs:

[Kuatir]

This is one of those situations where you'll have to ride it out. General relaxation/mindfulness techniques and exercises may help; but you're going to be anxious about this.

[ErinKC]

Have you heard anything yet? I've been thinking of you.

[Loulou150]

I'm just coming out of the other side of this journey. I had a mile off in January and was told 4 weeksafter it was abnormal and had been sent for a second opinion. They gave me limited info following this and it was dreadful waiting for the second day opinion filled with dread. My health anxiety rocketed. I waited 3 weeks for the second opinion (an expert in skin cancer and moles) and it turned out they were actually less concerned and have ruled out melanoma.

It's a horrible wait but there are not alot of consultant dermatologists in the UK compared to other specialities and moles can be really tricky.

[nicole97]

Any news yet? That is such a long time they are making you wait :(

[Help1989]

I wish I had good news. The specialist that was asked for a second opinion said even he couldn't give a definite diagnosis of the mole. His report said some areas looked like there could be skin cancer and others looked normal so he just couldn't say. I was referred to the specialist skin clinic and they have said they are going to have a look at the biopsy slides again in a meeting with other specialists and decide how much more skin to remove around the original module site to be safe. The doctor said she was going to treat it as if it's a 'small' skin cancer to be safe and that it wouldn't have spread or anything even it was cos it would be a very early one. I am just petrified. This is one of my masssive health fears come true. I can't believe I'm living this. On top of all of this, I have two little swollen lymph nodes in my neck I'm petrified that they are a result of the mole and I'm imagining the worst. I have to wait another month to have the area around the original mole removed because I am going on holiday in 3 weeks and they said it's nothing to worry about and that o can wait. I can't believe this is happening. After all my worries, this is finally happening. I'm sorry if this has scared anyone, I know it's not a reassuring post.

[PASchoolSyndrome]

This is a really scary time, I'm sorry you're going through this. The good news is if it is cancer then you're getting it taken care of real early! If it's not screaming cancer from the biopsy and they're not even sure what to call it, chances are they are just making sure to be cautious. Which is good!!

Try to enjoy your holiday as much as you can. As they said, if it was something to worry about they wouldn't treat it so causally.