Have I made this up - mole checking?

[frostypaw]

We have terrible problems with this with a workforce of almost entirely blokes who think they have to be seen be tough

We've had to physically drive people to get treatment when they've still turned up for work lol

Basically there are specialists offering that service to you right now - use them. For whatever - better to get proper answers than swim in the hypochondriac soup of the Internet

[nat_appleshaker]

Do be more persistent with your gp Stardustjunkie, I had one checked out at gp and they weren't concerned but I made them refer me to hospital specialist anyway because it had increased in size and was starting to raise up. Specialist took one look at it and had me on operating table 4 days later to have it removed. There were changes in the cells surrounding the mole so they caught it before it turned nasty, so I'm glad I pushed for a referral. You know your own body best so if it concerns you, push them to refer you to someone who specialises in the area.

[stardustjunkie]

Persistance. Yep, got it.

I was told the other day I need to be more pushy to get what I want sometimes haha.

Edit: That was really lucky that you were persistent, I'm pleased it got sorted very quickly and everyone was okay.

Edited May 18, 2014 by stardustjunkie

[fur_q]

As others have said, if you've approached a GP with concerns of cancer symptoms and they've brushed it away without even checking then you need to complain, email your practice manager and try to contact a governing body member of your local CCG.

[stardustjunkie]

It's not cancer concerns, it's just being cautious as we all know the potential risks of moles. I'll give the GP another shot and go from there.

Sorry, didn't mean to turn eFestivals in to a medical thing when I made this topic haha.

[frostypaw]

Sorry, didn't mean to turn eFestivals in to a medical thing when I made this topic haha.

Edited May 18, 2014 by frostypaw

[stardustjunkie]

That's very true frostypaw!

As an additional note, I think it's great if they do offer this service amongst the other protection services such as free condoms. It's not in your face/intrusive but you know it's there if you need the support, advice or.. well, condoms.

[scoobied]

Just to join this debate - if you're concerned get checked BEFORE going. The mol checking service if it's there will be of the "hmm that looks ok/nasty/worrying" type with advice to see GP on return to civilisation. There will NOT be a dermatologist there with a full path screening service. It'll be one or two nurses from the HPA handing out sun cream and condoms.

I have nothing against nurses. Indeed I am one. But cancer screening is not something you can do in a tent at a festival - or at least not properly. See your GP - ask NICELY for a Referal and get sorted.

By the way the on site medical services are staffed better than my old A&e dept was - on site x ray, psychiatric team, midwives, physio, podiatry, pharmacy, dentists (with their own mobile surgery) and independent ambulance service.

[Gnomicide]

Stardustjunkie - Change your GP. I had my moles checked by my GP, it should never be too much hassle.

[stardustjunkie]

I can happily say that after seeing a different GP this morning, I have now got a referral to get them checked by a specialist

I think the medical team at the festival are great, they really have it all covered. I love that they offer mole checking, despite lots of people giving me dislikes/grief over the fact that I asked. It's awareness of something that you may not have thought about before, and when you're in the sun and potentially 'forgetting' to use suncream, it's important to have these kind of things pointed out to you.

I had to go up to the on site hospital once to ask if they gave out prescriptions (I know that sounds silly but when you have an ill friend back at the tent with a quinsy on her tonsils, and she is wanting to go home, it's worth the trek to find out), they got her up there in a makeshift ambulance in the end and she was given the antibiotics she needed, by Friday she was right as rain and was really pleased she didn't go home. I doubt the antibiotics worked after one day but the quinsy did its thing and was no longer there. I like to think our endless visits to the Yeo Valley place to get her yoghurt numerous times a day were what made her feel better

[frostypaw]

you never once got grief for asking, don't be disingenuous - just for considering relying on a free service at a festival rather than the highly capable services available right now.

it's important that people get these things checked when they're noticed, not depending on what clashes that person has on any particular day - i think people just wanted to reinforce that. you see some terrible sun accidents (almost) every year

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Having chosen to ignore the syptoms of how bowel cancer develops I would now advise against apathy. I'm fortunate in that I got sorted before it had the chance to develop. Same goes for preventative measures. I can't see anything wrong in stardustjunkie having originally wanted to avail of a health service offered at the festival.

[frostypaw]

noone's said that ever - just that using that in preference to experts on your doorstep was madness. a malignant mole could be off and gone before you reach the queue, surely the better recommendation

[stardustjunkie]

Having chosen to ignore the syptoms of how bowel cancer develops I would now advise against apathy. I'm fortunate in that I got sorted before it had the chance to develop. Same goes for preventative measures. I can't see anything wrong in stardustjunkie having originally wanted to avail of a health service offered at the festival.

[verrymerry]

OP isn't going crazy, there is a tent somewhere in the Greenfields! I've seen it a few times actually.

You were definitely right to go back for a second check though, there's probably little the people at Glasto could have done other than say 'I think this looks ok!' or 'I think this looks bad!' - you're still stuck then with needed a referral onwards

Good luck though, hope it all comes to nowt

Edited June 11, 2014 by verrymerry

[eoJ]

After having a doctor spend a minute looking at the rash on my leg, to come up with the brilliant diagnosis of 'hmm, appears to be a dermatological problem', I wouldn't put too much faith in that, especially not for something as potentially serious as that. (Not to say that all doctors at Glastonbury are bad, they may have just matched me with a lower level one due to the low severity of my problem)

See your GP, tell them you're concerned it might be cancer, they'll remove it for screening. Win-win, if it is cancer, you know, and can do something about it, if it's not, you've got a free mole removal.

[Innana]

Mole screening is offered at several festivals - it's a great way of doing health promotion activities with a specific demographic of people who would not otherwise go and get such things checked. It is totally separate to Festival Medical Services at Glastonbury and is therefore not taking medical staff away from people needing help for injuries etc at the festival.

Many people will drop in to something like this if they see it who wouldn't proactively seek out or go to such a service at home - that's why it's offered. It's a great idea and an example of health promotion at its best.