dewing
02-05-2009, 06:38 PM
My partner has been referred to a specailist by his GP. Is it possible that the GP's can get it wrong? what i'm trying to say is that my partner has a black like area under one of his large toe nails and his GP told my partner it could be a possible melanoma but it could also be a number of other things but wants to rule out anything serious so is referring him. Do we assume that if the GP thinks it's suspicious then he is usually right and just gets it confirmed by the specialist? i hope this is not always the case, am very worried.
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Oleander53
02-05-2009, 08:58 PM
I applaud your GP for sending to a specialist. Melanoma and other skin cancers can appear as a dark spot under a nail. Better safe than sorry.
My GP and Gyne did not think my little discoloration was "nothing to worry about". They were wrong. A GP can be wrong or their hunch can be right. Better to have it checked out. Hopefully it is just an old bruise.
Think positive and good luck....... Let us know what they find. Oleander
My GP and Gyne did not think my little discoloration was "nothing to worry about". They were wrong. A GP can be wrong or their hunch can be right. Better to have it checked out. Hopefully it is just an old bruise.
Think positive and good luck....... Let us know what they find. Oleander
dewing
02-06-2009, 06:27 AM
sorry i don't understand, did you mean your GP said it was nothing to worry about but when you went to see a specialist it was something to worry about and it was cancer?
Oleander53
02-06-2009, 10:30 AM
I am very good about checking my skin since my father had melanoma and my brother......I have a strong family history of skin cancer. So when I found this spot where the sun don't shine I went right to my GP. He was not concerned but at my insistance sent me to a Gynecologist who was not concerned either. At my insistance it was removed. So 2 Doctors did not think it was anything to worry about. It was a squamous cell carcinoma.
I have to see a Oncologist Gynecologist and hopefully all will be okay. I am also having a 2nd opinion on my Pathology slides......just to make sure they were read correctly the first time. I was not impressed with this woman Gynecologist who did my first biopsy.
So yes Doctor's can make mistakes.......better safe than sorry. Educate yourself on skin cancers and genital skin cancers. Genital skin cancers are on the rise for men and women.
Good luck and let us know what the outcome is........Sincerely, Oleander
I have to see a Oncologist Gynecologist and hopefully all will be okay. I am also having a 2nd opinion on my Pathology slides......just to make sure they were read correctly the first time. I was not impressed with this woman Gynecologist who did my first biopsy.
So yes Doctor's can make mistakes.......better safe than sorry. Educate yourself on skin cancers and genital skin cancers. Genital skin cancers are on the rise for men and women.
Good luck and let us know what the outcome is........Sincerely, Oleander
writeleft
02-06-2009, 10:48 AM
A referral is certainly not always bad news. It can be as simple as needing special equiptment that the specialist has available, testing methods that the GP doesn't typically practice, or a whole host of other reasons. Often specialists are much more in tune with the latest research in the particular field, and can offer the best diagnosis/treatment.
I think your GP is prudent to send you to a specialist, and I wouldn't automatically assume it's bad news.
Good luck to you both!
I think your GP is prudent to send you to a specialist, and I wouldn't automatically assume it's bad news.
Good luck to you both!
rudiraven
02-06-2009, 11:31 AM
The GP is sending him to a specialist because it's out of his area of expertise. A lot of times a specialist can just look at it and immediately know it's nothing to worry about. Better to get it checked and stop worrying.
Chele60
02-09-2009, 03:39 PM
I know of 3 people who are lying in their graves because their "doctors" did not bother to refer their cases to dermatologists. All 3 of these individuals went to their doctors (in different parts of the country) with concerns regarding moles and were told they had nothing to worry about. I know one individual approached her doctor several times to be told she had nothing to worry about. All 3 of these people developed late stage melanoma, and died within 2 years of diagnosis.
Does it mean if the GP is referring you to a specialist that your partner definitely has melanoma? Absolutely NOT! It means your GP is worth his/her medical degree and the money you and your insurance spend on his/her fee! This doctor knows when his/her expertise has been exceeded, and rather than placing his/her patient in possible jeopardy, would rather refer to a specialist whose knowledge extends to this area. Be thankful your physician is enough of a professional to know when to put the patient's care first. Your partner has a doctor who is a keeper!
Does it mean if the GP is referring you to a specialist that your partner definitely has melanoma? Absolutely NOT! It means your GP is worth his/her medical degree and the money you and your insurance spend on his/her fee! This doctor knows when his/her expertise has been exceeded, and rather than placing his/her patient in possible jeopardy, would rather refer to a specialist whose knowledge extends to this area. Be thankful your physician is enough of a professional to know when to put the patient's care first. Your partner has a doctor who is a keeper!
dewing
02-09-2009, 04:44 PM
hello to everyone on this thread and for your patience and reassurance. My partner saw the specialist this morning and he DOES NOT have melanoma, it is a bruise! i cannot tell you how relieved I am (my partner took it all in his stride saying he wasn't going to worry unless he had something to worry about, I on the other hand was a wreck). I agree it was excellent of his GP to refer him as he obviously was not a 100% and it was out of his expertise. I wish all of you my best wishes, thanks for listening x
writeleft
02-09-2009, 04:51 PM
Wonderful news, dewing!
Chele60
02-09-2009, 05:32 PM
I'm so happy for you both! This is great news, and I'm glad that you both can relax now!