1. One Patient’s View My message really is that even if something doesn’t
look like malignant melanoma, it can still be.
There was a smallish red mark on my leg and I didn’t think much
of it and when I noticed it get slightly bigger I mentioned it to my GP who also happened to be a skin specialist. He thought it was absolutely nothing but to be on the safe side, he’d shave it off and send it for a biopsy. Not long after he rang back to say he was completely flabbergasted, that it was not what he expected but that it turned out to be a malignant melanoma in situ.
It was later on that I became really angry about various bits of my body just being taken – a bit here and a bit taken there – I knew why it was being done – I just felt that it was disfigurement. It was little suggestion that there was any psychological support needed for it – there’d probably be scarring - it was confirmed in situ, was being dealt with, end of story – let’s go away if it’s all ok.
It was very stressful. I know at one level it was just hospital for 2 days, but actually emotionally it was much more than that. If there had been a skilled listener or counsellor there or a psychologist, it would have helped a lot to get perspective on it – it was perspective I needed.
I went to the Penny Brohn Centre (Bristol); it gives the opportunity to access your life holistically so it is not just physical stuff like diet, it is emotional and spiritual – the chance to talk about it with people – in a safe environment.
CCG Cancer Patient Reference Group
The lady who has made these comments  is a member of the CCG  Cancer Patient Reference Group. The reference group is made up of local people who have recent experience of cancer either as a patient or carer. The group is attached to the CCGs Cancer Clinical Programme Board and through this route these patients/carers are using their experience to influence the development of CCG commissioned services. New members are welcome and anyone interested can be referred to the Patient Experience Team at the CCG.