UK Skin Cancer and Melanoma Patients

[goonermike]

Hi all,

I have spent the day surfing the Internet and as I imagine most of you can relate to this but I have managed to send myself into a mode of panic and depression. I know it is not the best solution to diagnose yourself via the Internet but I have and I clearly have a mole with the majority of the symptoms and sadly it has got bigger (9mm x 11mm), different shades of colour (light brown with a small section being a bit darker) and more irregular over the past year as my wife has been monitoring it.

Firstly, I am furious with myself for leaving it as long a year and am dreading my referral next Friday in case they give me the dreaded news because I could of prevented this. Secondly, I have been searching the Internet and cannot find any information regarding people who have the above symptoms and do NOT have Melanoma. Therefore, in my current frame of mind it is like I am coming to terms with the obvious answer.

I have been reading your forum over the last hours and am amazed by the courage and bravery you all show and only wish I could get a grip myself and face this with optimism.

I know this is not a lot that people can say that I probably have not already read about but I wanted to post this and reach out.

Best wishes

Mike

[LynnPJ]

Welcome to the forum - Honestly Mike we have all been in the situation you find yourself - worried out of our minds, imagining the worst, - and yes I had my "mole" all my life and did nothing about it until it had started to change, - many of us on the forum have been the same and wish we had done something earlier.
Please try not to worry Mike - easier said than done - and your appointment isn't too far away, - I can assure you once you have been and had the mole checked and whatever the outcome you will feel better than you do now.
Please keep us informed -
Good luck!!
Lynn

[goonermike]

Lynn,

Thanks for your kind words - I think that is the problem I am having not actually knowing what the future holds is very terrifying. However, I will attempt to be optimistic and get guidance and keep this wonderful community up to speed with the diagnosis.

One question I am struggling to find out is if your mole ticks the boxes of a possible case of Melanoma - is there any chance of it not being Melanoma? It might be a very daft question but I cannot find any cases where it ticks the boxes and was simply a mole and nothing more.

Best wishes

Mike

[LynnPJ]

Sorry Mike I can't answer that one, - but I know my own mole did tick the boxes so as to speak, - the trouble was Mike I didn't know what the so called "boxes" were until I had my mole diagnosed as melanoma, - I had never looked up the word melanoma on the internet until I had one myself.
This is what this forum is about, not just support, - but education, advice and guidance.
It is a wonderful place, - people are so kind and generous with their help and support.
Have you had a look at forum member Seanty's website, http://www.mymalignantmelanoma.com - it is a really useful place to start.
Again try not to worry,
Best wishes
Lynn

[Janet2]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear that you think you may have melanoma and are worried about it. I can appreciate how you feel as I think many who use this forum have been there. I am pleased to hear you have a referral next Friday and hope your mind can be put to rest. Personally, I would say it is difficult for anyone to say whether you have melanoma without seeing it and without being medically qualified.

Wishing you all the best and please keep us informed as to how you get on.
Best wishes, Janet

[Marsha]

Hi Mike,

I've had at least seven moles removed because they failed some or all of the ABCDE and F criteria, and probably more than half of these at my fabulous dermatologist's insistence. Only one has been melanoma. And we are now all of the opinion that I just have "F"unny looking moles and lots of them! This doesn't however, stop me or the dermatologists continuing to be vigilant and looking for changes.

As I understand it dyspastic naevi can often be confused with melanoma, and this type of mole is more likely to become malignant, but often isn't.

Good luck on Friday, and do come back and tell us how you get on.

Marsha x

[tracyb]

Hi MIke, you have done the right thing and have now been referred. I went to hospital myself last week with a mole which has been changing colour, and they really did put my mind at rest. The consultant didn't think that there was any problem with the mole, but took photos and measurements and i am going back in 3 months time so that he can check for any changes. Wishing you all the best for Friday and i hope at least your mind will be put at rest. Tracy x

[goonermike]

Hi all,

Thanks for the website link Lynn there was some inspirational stuff on there. Again I just want to say thanks for everyone's kind words and advise - if I can give you any compliment is that somehow you have calmed down a very nervous male who was losing his mind.

I know it sounds daft but Marsha'a post regarding 'dysplastic naevi' gives me something to hold onto as I had basically come to the conclusion that I had Melanoma. However, if it comes back and the news is not good I have something to aspire too and that is to show the same courage as you people.

You all will be second to know the outcome next Friday after my wife

Mike

xx

[ally]

Hi Mike, I too am sorry to welcome you here, however you are doing exactly the right thing and very best wishes on Friday. As Janet says it is very difficult for anyone not medically qualified to diagnose Melanoma, no matter how many boxes are ticked. Lynn has pointed you in the direction of Seanty site which is of endless help and guidance to many of us, please check it out if you havent had chance already. The waiting is terrible, and all victims of melanoma will tell you - its wait, test, results, wait, (treatment if needed) more waiting, more tests, results, more waiting - the circle is endless - but dont go blaming yourself - it surely is more normal for us all to keep an eye on things and "see how it goes" - many people have odd looking moles which are not melanoma, myself, husband and son included - and believe me - I am THE most paranoid person where this is concerned after a close family member became a victim to it. Good look for Friday and let us know how you get on.

[goonermike]

Thanks Alley - Just an update I called the hospital on the off chance of somebody cancelling and they have a slot open up for me tomorrow in the morning - so the waiting game has been reduced which I am thrilled about.

Post coming tomorrow on the professionals opinion

[ally]

Mike - Thats wonderful news!
I wish you all the very best and will keep everything crossed for you.
Much love and many good vibes heading your way.
Alison.

[Pip]

Hi Mike
Waiting to hear how you got on today. Good for you for getting an earlier appt. Thats one hurdle over!
My husband has had many many removals and most have been dysplastic moles. It is a relief to have had them removed. He did have 2 melanomas, and one wasnt even a 'routine' ABCDEF it looked like a gnat bite. Until the results are back from any removals, no-one can tell for sure.Dysplastic moles are little bu**ers as they mimic melanoma very well.
I wish you well today and hope we hear good news.
Pip

[twirliegirl]

Hello mike,

I too am new on here but what a wonderful forum with so much info and inspiring people! I really hope your appt goes well tdy. I can empthasise with how you are feeling at the moment as i am myself waiting for the outcome of a biopsy on an odd mole on my vulva. I only discovered it on boxing day (i think its sometimes called a hidden melonoma as its in an area that isnt easy to see) but it has taken me 8 weeks with the nhs system to finally get to see a consultant due to working away from home and not being able to get my local gp and not being able to be referred elsewhere as i was touring and moving town every couple of weeks! So its been a worrying time. The consultant wouldnt answer my questions as to whether he thought it was cancerous or not and referred me for the biopsy which i had on saturday. I now have a 4 week wait for the results which seems like a long time and i am about to go away with work again which is going to add to the stress of not knowing and wondering whether i will end up having to quit my job if i need further surgery and treatment! I hope you get an answer sooner than that. I am scared to death every time the phone rings in case its the hospital asking me to go in for the results as i figure that if it is cancerous they will call me sooner than 4 weeks but then again maybe they wont so i cant really have peace of mind until i have the appt sent thru! I wish they could have removed the whole mole but unfort because of where it is they didnt want to do that unecessarily as it would be disfiguring and i am imagining very sore!! I am only 33 and didnt realise you could get melonoma on an area not exposed to the sun! I too have scoured the internet and read everything 1000 times so i feel more educated and prepared for the worst now!
Do let us know how you get on later
xXx

[goonermike]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all your support it is amazing to feel the love and concern you all show one another through the Internet. I am pleased to say that the consultant thinks my mole falls under the criteria of dysplastic nevus and was very confident that it was not cancerous. However, he still did not like a specific part of the mole and wanted it all removed as a precaution and to get a definitive answer. So as I attempted to book an appointment to have it removed the young chap at the desk asked me if I wanted to go ahead and get it removed right there and then as a slot had again become available. Of course I jumped at the chance and am now nursing a sore back but am very happy to have it removed and carry on with my life without having my brain functioning overtime.

I know nothing is for certain until the results come back but I have a feeling that I maybe one of the lucky ones and that alone made me very emotional after reading the stories you people share. I will continue to update you with the news and continue to contribute to your community and help anyone who like me came on here completely confused and uneducated. I have said it a couple of times but you people amaze me.

A special note to twirlegirl - I know how your feeling and my heart and prayers go out to you the last four days have been so difficult and I can only imagine the trauma you have been going through over that extensive period of time.

Again thanks for the kind words and I have my fingers crossed for all of you

xxxxx

[Marsha]

Wow! That sounds like some efficient hospital Mike! Pray tell, which one is it? Hope you get your results soon, and that they put your mind at rest!

Marsha xx

[goonermike]

Marsha, the hospital is the Nottingham Queens Medical Hospital - I am very surprised by the turn around no longer can complain about the NHS. Maybe I was lucky but still great work by the hospital to fill in the time.

[Marsha]

Well done QMC, and you have one of the countries leading melanoma specialists there too, Professor Patel, if things do go t*ts up! But I sincerely hope they don't!

Now take it easy Mike, rest and recuperate and no stretching!!!

Marsha x

[twirliegirl]

Wow that is great news Mike and indeed such efficiency! Good for you! I am glad you can have more peace of mind and moving forward quickly. Thanks for your thoughts, i so appreciate it! I will update too when i hear more. I really hope that your results are benign and all is fine. Take care and rest that back xXx

[ally]

EXCELLENT NEWS!!!!!
Im so pleased its gone well for you, they are fantastic at QMC, thats where our daughter was treated by Prof. Patel.
I will make no apologies for asking for your support then in this years "Katies Midnight Walk" (http://www.katiesmidnightwalk.com/index.htm) which we raise funds for Poulam Patel and his research dept.
Now as Marsha says - rest and no stretching if you can help it. I'm so pleased for you.

[LynnPJ]

Praise be!! Wow What excellent service. Only wish we could all access this kind of pronto treatment, - I had to pay private to get mine excised three years ago - couldn't get a date out of the NHS. .......but wish I had waited for the NHS, - it is a much better service Mike - you have a team looking after you, - not just one person.
Good Luck and please keep us informed, - we are very interested.
xxLynn

[Pip]

Oh Mike that is great news. Really good.
We are at Addenbrookes in Cambridge and they nearly always do the surgery on my husband there and then. I too cannot fault the NHS in our area.
You must be so relieved and it does us all good to hear some cheery news. Thanks for letting us know so promptly.
Rest now.
Pip xxx

[goonermike]

Ally,

Donation is on its way

Again thanks for everyone's messages

xx

[ruth]

Hi Mike,

I've only just caught up with your posts, fantastic to hear that you've had the offender removed quickly and I really hope you get a good result. Not alot I can add to everyone else's advice but just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you.

All the best

Ruth x

[ally]

Mike - [b]Thankyou[/b] - your donation is very much appreciated by all of us.
All the very best with your results, I'm sure everything will be ok. Let us know how you get on though!

[tracyb]

So pleased for you Mike, and what a great service you received from your hospital! Hope your results come back fine, i'm sure they will love Tracy x