Mole help

[MissCommando]

Our GP surgery now take photos of moles and send them to a Dermatologist to look at. They have written back to say they want to see my husband. We've not had an appt through yet.

My husband has had the mole since we've been together (6 years), it's got a dark bit in the middle of it and it's on his back. It hasn't changed and it doesn't itch or bleed but we're obviously now worried. Do you think they know straight away from looking at it, if it's nasty?

[rsvp]

Of course they don't - all the surgery is doing is checking things out - I've had lots of moles checked out - it's a good thing!!!!

[MissCommando]

I mean the Dermatologist RSVP.
I'm hoping if they were that concerned, they'd want to see him ASAP.

[jno]

I'd be amazed if they could give a reliable diagnosis from a photo. My guess is it's big enough or dark enough for them to want to see it in the flesh.

[NoMercy]

I work in Dermatology.

If they have any concerns they will take a punch biopsy and send it off to histology. Chances are it's a benign compound naevus and nowt to worry about. The Dermatologist will probably just want to exclude BCC and SCC.

Sqad is really the person to ask.

[Sqad]

From what you have said it is almost certainly NON malignant.

[boxtops]

This is a great service from the GP, as a precautionary measure, particularly since we can't see moles on our backs. I have one on my foot which the GP photographed and keeps an eye on. (I have loads of others but they are less concerning!)

[tenrec]

Once you have photographic evidence it can be checked against at a later date to see if it has altered.

[Ann]

Are all GPs going to offer this service under the NHS? It sounds very good and reassuring to have them monitored regularly.

[boxtops]

It's probably an Enhanced Service Ann - something that practices can opt to do, over and above their core contract. A lot of dermatology is enhanced services at the moment (they get paid extra to do it).

[MissCommando]

Thanks for your answers, I'll let you know how he gets on when he has an appt.

It is a fantastic service, I don't think Docs always get it right when they judge moles. I heard of someone the other day who kept going back to her doc about an itchy, crusty mole and he kept fobbing her off - turned out to be the nastiest kind.

Thanks all for reassurance