Yes, you should ask for a referral to another Dermatologist.

That sounds like AK see link I've had too many to count and I've also had squamous cell and basel cell skin cancer all discovered after I'd been treated for the AK. I'd get it checked sooner than later. AKs

Yes, AK. Glad I don't have to spell it.

Don’t wait around. I had melanoma removed in 2011. I didn’t even go for that spot! I was concerned about something else that turned out to be of no concern. I would never have gone for the spot that was removed. In other words, let an expert check it out! I’ve had so many AKs frozen off since then Ive lost count.

Wait times for dermatologists in my area is often a few months. Did your DH call for the appointment or did someone in your Primary Care Physician's office place the call? Sometimes that helps to speed up appointments. If you request another dermatologist ask if your Primary's office will call for you It may not make a difference but it is worth a try.

That seems like an unreasonable amount of time to wait to check a suspect spot for skin cancer. I've had several people in my family with skin cancer and several friends who had a dermatologist look at what seemed like a very minor spot only to realize it was skin cancer that required a significant amount of tissue to be removed. I would 100% push for another referral and not wait around. If it was my husband, I would call the primary care doctor myself and explain your (very valid) concerns about the delay and ask for an additional referral (or two) until you can find a dermatologist who can see him earlier. When it comes to skin cancer, time is very important.

I was having a routine skin check about 4 years ago and my doc said she wanted it checked out at Derm (I have Kaiser). I got right in, they did a biopsy, and it was melanoma. It didn't look sinister at all, just sort of a flat, mid-brown, large freckle. They dug it out a week or so later, got clean margins, thank God. No problems since then. I have regular skin checks.

ETA: It was on my inner mid calf. I told the plastic surgeon who removed it that I didn't care what it ended up looking like, so cut out whatever he needed. Once the redness faded, it's a very unnoticeable flat scar.

Bunny, same thing. The pcp got me into dermatology that day. I had to cancel plans and wait around. I’m grateful I did.

Oakley, as mentioned above, see if someone from pcp office could call. Couldn’t hurt to ask

Yes, I was going to suggest that it might be basal cell carcinoma. Slow growing, but still cancerous. Does it have rolled edges? In any case, nothing that you want to wait until March to examine. Hopefully, you can get another referral.

I've been treated for about five spots of basal cell carcinoma plus one melanoma, and after the melanoma was discovered, the dermatologist told me to return in three months to make sure that I do not have any more. Once he discovered melanoma, I was given an appointment to return in less than a week. At least two of the basal cell carcinomas I had had for over a year, and my PCP did not recognize what it was, although he finally did recommend me to see a dermatologist. Don't expect a PCP to be able to diagnose the condition. Some probably can, but not all.

If your husband has one kind of skin cancer, he may have another kind that is not easily detectable, which is why he should get to the dermatologist as soon as possible. He may have melanoma on another spot.

I read that it is common for women to get skin cancer on the backs of their calves. The dermatologist should know where to look, and these spots can show up in unexpected places.

I would keep that appointment. Then, I would try for someplace else for something sooner. The thing is, busy doctors are the ones you want.

If this second call is sooner, make an appointment there as well. Then I would call every single day, maybe even twice a day to get an earlier appointment at either. There are always cancellations. I recently did this to see an orthopedist. (I lucked out due to bad weather!)

I have never had a doctor's office get me squeezed in someplace else. But, maybe this does occur.

Good luck, very frustrating, I know.

Although I'm not a dermatologist, I've worked in medicine for many years. Before I was married, I scrubbed with a plastic surgeon who took off many AKs and skin cancers.

Plus, DH is a family practice doc. The really sad thing about medicine these days is that it takes a ridiculous time to get an appointment with a specialist, unless it's a true inmmediate emergency.

From how you've described this lesion, and the fact that your family doc does not think it's a melanoma I, like others here, think that it is probably an Actinic Keratosis. Which basically means that, yes, it should be seen by a dermatologist, but it's not going to spread . . . or kill him.

You can try to see if your doc can get your DH in earlier with another dematologist, but good luck with that! They are sooooo booked up! But, you might try, just in case.

It could also be a seborrheic keratosis, which is not cancerous, though annoying. But if he has never had a dermatologist exam, he should have it and everything else checked out.

SK's

I get SK's all the time and so do my siblings.

Isitdoneyet, the article was an eye opener. After viewing pictures of them I'm about 100% certain that's what it is. His isn't very noticeable like I saw in the pictures though, but still had the same description of AK's. you see in pictures.

Maire, the physician's office called in and then the dermatologist's office called DH a couple of days later. I've never had to wait more than a week to see a specialist when my doctor's office calls it in.

Lynn, I wasn't worried until I read that having AK on the head (bald area) is really bad, can even spread to the brain. I need to find more info on that.

Plus, once you get it you are more than likely to keep getting it which means there's a good chance it will turn in to melanoma.

Gscience, the spot isn't like that, but I often get tan like age spots that I can scrape off with my fingernail , mostly on my legs and upper arms. I had a doctor look at one about ten years ago and he said it wasn't cancer. Can you scrape them off?

You all have been great with information. I'll definitely keep you informed.

Yes, ask PCP to contact derm office. Specialists like their referrals, and try to keep PCP's happy.

Advice given to call around is good. Ask for "next available" appt, and to be put on "call if cancellation list." OK to have several appts, just please cancel them at least 72 hrs in advance, when you finally get in somewhere.

Sad that cash paying, botox and filler appts keep schedules booked.

I have had basal cell and several spots that were "abnormal". I decided that the Derm I was seeing was more interested in cosmetic work than medical issues. I have several skin conditions that require care. I contacted Memorial Slone Kettering (NYC premier cancer center) and was asked if I had an urgent problem, which I didn't. They gave me an appointment within 6 weeks. If it had been urgent I would have had an appointment within 2 weeks. The care is amazing, quick and I no longer have to wait an hour in a doctors office and I am offered nutrition, yoga etc. All things aimed at helping you heal.

This is a long winded way of saying do you have a cancer care center nearby. In my experience your husband would get more focused care and faster.

Great timing, I am going tomorrow to a dermatologist for an examination,as I have a spot on my scalp. I really appreciate the information on the AK I believe this is what I have. Oh my!! :)

Yeah, I have one that I can peel off that comes back over my right ear on my scalp. It's just an SK. I've had the dermatologist check it out. You'd be surprised the number of times hairstylists are on the front lines of skin cancer.

I also tend to get them in friction areas around my bra. Lovely.

Ive had basal cell and my first one (on my nose) sounds like what your husband's looks like. My derm I was seeing did not do MOHS surgery, so after my biopsy with her I waiting probably another 6 weeks or so to have it removed by the second derm. I LOVE the MOHS derm, but sadly there is such a need for that here, that is all he does not. I cannot see him as my regular derm. Most dermatologists in our area have separate medi-spas for the cosmetic type stuff. I personally would not see anyone who is not a MOHS surgeron if I was going to have something removed. Even on the scalp, where looks may not matter so much, you do not leave until they get clear margins in removing the growth. Just so you know, the "sunspots" or whatever, that "peel off" can be zapped (frozen) to get rid of them.