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Mole on Foot – how long for results and recovery
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Mole on Foot – how long for results and recovery

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Mole on Foot – how long for results and recovery

  • Post
    • January 25, 2018 at 9:55 pm
    beeme
    Participant

      Hi,
      I'm not sure if it's too early to write on here. I've had a strange, non-symmetrical mole on my foot for about 2 years. I previously saw a GP who was very dismissive and hardly looked, she just said that moles come and go and people overreact! Two weeks ago I went back to see a different GP and he immediately said it looked concerning and referred me to a dermatologist on the 2WW (2 week wait) pathway for possible cancer.
      I can't fault the NHS, I had a hospital appointment this Tuesday and the specialist said it needed to come, that day. So they rang round and found a minor op surgeon who could do it straightaway. Whilst I think it's very impressive and was pleased everything happened so quickly, I'm not sure that is a good sign for how serious they think it might be…

      Anyway the surgeon warned me he'd take away about a 2p size excision and it's all sewn up. He said the results would take 2 weeks, but then the specialist nurse said up to 4 weeks – does anyone have experience of how long they tend to take? the surgeon kept saying how much he'd had to take, but he'd got everything worrying. He started off saying 10 days before the stitches could be taken out, but changed it to 18 – 24 days due to the size of the excision. But I can still remember his face and tutting noise when he first looked through the dermoscope.
      I'm staying positive, but at the moment I can't really walk without crutches and can't drive. I was wondering if any one had had similar on the sole of their foot and when they could drive? The Dr said I'd know when I'm ready, but it's not doing me any good working from home on my own, as I can't get into the office.
      Thanks

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    • Replies
        • January 25, 2018 at 11:37 pm
        Treadlightly
        Participant

          Beeme,

          I had a spot on the heel of my foot in 2010, which turned out to be melanoma…Stage IIA.

          First, I will address your concern about driving. In my case, I don’t believe I was very debilitated from my initial biopsy. My doctor did not get the entire melanoma in the biopsy, so my incision was smaller than yours, but it did require multiple stitches to close it. However, I believe my pain was gone within a few days…so I would expect you to be driving well within a week. 

          Now, regarding your overall treatment…If this turns out to be melanoma, then it will require a wider margin of skin removal around the lesion..the specifics of which are dependent upon the biopsy findings. 

          You can review my past posts to learn about what I went through to remove and treat my Melanoma, but I would recommend you only do so if your biopsy comes back as positive for Acral Lentiginous Melanoma. There is no sense fretting over something that may not pertain to you at all.

          It is important for you to know, at this moment, that the odds are in your favor. Even if the worst-case scenario should come to pass…it is very, very, VERY survivable. 

          Best of luck to you!

          Mark 

           

            • January 26, 2018 at 11:32 am
            beeme
            Participant

              Thanks for your reassuring response Mark, it's really appreciated. My mobility has actually improved loads today and I can hobble about without crutches. I did get lectured about the high risk of the stitches tearing due to the location and wound size, so will take it slowly but hopefully can drive to work on Monday. My mole meassured 7.8mm, which I thought wasn't that large, but the Dr thought it was big. I just wish I knew when the results might come in. 

              It's reassuring to hear you've come through ALM. Thanks again

            • January 26, 2018 at 9:31 pm
            ABlazek
            Participant

               I think the doctors know when they best course of action is to biopsy (hence the "this has to come off"), but that doesn't necessarily mean that bad news is coming. It just means that they are doing their job and removing potential trouble makers. I hope that in your case you find out that your docs were just using just prudence.  2 -4 weeks is pretty average for results.  Mine took about three due to some internal review delays.  I hope your wait goes by quick and you get great news!

                • February 6, 2018 at 6:43 pm
                beeme
                Participant
                  I’ve decided I have no patience. It’s 2 weeks today since the biopsy and as the surgeon said 2 weeks for results I was optimistically thinking I’d get a call today-I just hate not knowing . My foot is healing well (after ripping a stitch) but one the stitches is totally covered by skin now and it’s still a week before they are meant to come out, is that a problem?
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