Have I made this up - mole checking?

[stardustjunkie]

I don't know why I have it in my head that you can get moles checked at Glastonbury.

I ask because I have a few moles and I do worry about them sometimes. I put suncream on them as you should but I'd love to get them properly checked over. I went to the doctor last summer as one mole had changed a bit and I had also gained a mole and I just got a blank look that resembled "why are you wasting my time". I'm not hugely paranoid or anything, it's just nice to know that none of them are dangerous and the NHS do recommend you get any abnormalities checked out.

So to keep it short.. Do they offer mole checks? If they don't then I have no idea where I've got that information from. I've been reading the website and can't seem to find it.

If they do offer mole checks, have you been and was it worthwhile?

[frostypaw]

Surely something to trust with a medical professional not someone at a festival?

And could you imagine going Friday and being told one was worrying? Way to ruin a festival

[Bonedaddy]

I hope there is some Independent Financial Advice at Glasto as well. It's the perfect time to decide on an ISA.

[stardustjunkie]

If you read the post you'd see that I have tried talking to a medical professional.

I'm trying to ask a serious question about something that I'm sure I've read. If they don't offer it then it's not a problem, if they do offer it then I'd probably go along on Sunday or something if I fancy it. I'm not going to revolve my whole festival around it.

If there was a specialist available for something that you wanted some peace of mind about, you'd possibly consider taking up the opportunity.

[grumpyhack]

Surely something to trust with a medical professional not someone at a festival?

And could you imagine going Friday and being told one was worrying? Way to ruin a festival

[stardustjunkie]

The teams that they have at the Festival Medical Centres are fully trained doctors, nurses and pharmacists (even the occasional consultant thrown in) but they are supposed to be there for emergencies not just routine consultations. However you may well be able to get something like a mole check.

[THEBOILERMAN]

I don't know why I have it in my head that you can get moles checked at Glastonbury.

I ask because I have a few moles and I do worry about them sometimes. I put suncream on them as you should but I'd love to get them properly checked over. I went to the doctor last summer as one mole had changed a bit and I had also gained a mole and I just got a blank look that resembled "why are you wasting my time". I'm not hugely paranoid or anything, it's just nice to know that none of them are dangerous and the NHS do recommend you get any abnormalities checked out.

So to keep it short.. Do they offer mole checks? If they don't then I have no idea where I've got that information from. I've been reading the website and can't seem to find it.

If they do offer mole checks, have you been and was it worthwhile?

[stardustjunkie]

/user/180172-stardustjunkie/" title="">stardustjunkie please don`t think i`m mocking or being sarcastic, I fully understand your concern........ this post has had me grinning all morning, it has to be the most unusual request i have ever read on the G questions page, when i read the topic title i thought it was gonna be about checking you wer`nt pitching your tent over mole holes.

[THEBOILERMAN]

I am aware it's unusual haha. It's not something that people think of when they go to Glastonbury. However it looks like the service is there, so it's available to use if people would like. I don't care if people think I'm stupid for wanting to get my moles checked out by a specialist that just so happens to be at Glastonbury. It's me being sensible and wanting to make sure everything is okay. I'd rather know that than not go because people think it's a stupid thing to do.

Edited May 18, 2014 by THEBOILERMAN

[Rodbull]

I seem to remember a tent by permaculture which where doing mole checks last year.

[stardustjunkie]

I've emailed the office to ask if they are specialists or not.

[Bonedaddy]

I've emailed the office to ask if they are specialists or not.

[stardustjunkie]

Why the hell would they provide the service if they didn't want people to utilise it?! Why are you giving me grief for wanting to make use of a medical service that is being offered?

You'd think I was expecting a team of medical people on my side at all times!

I've had family members have moles surgically removed and I have two that concern me due to where they are and the size of them. I've tried seeing my GP, at my new doctors surgery and in the past as child I was often being 'checked' but none of them really seem too bothered. I don't want bad news but if there is a specialist available to me, free of charge, I'm going to take that opportunity up. Get off your high horse, I'm not expecting some random from the medical team to start checking them out, this is a specific service that is being offered.

[stardustjunkie]

Seriously?!!!

These people are there to deal with medical advice and counselling that occur AT the festival.

For anything you know beforehand, go through the NHS provided services and as someone stated, if you're not happy with your GP's initial response, ask for a second opinion.

[phil the shrew]

Actually I'm sure this rings a bell with me too. Skin cancer amongst young people - under 30s is on the increase and I'm sure there was some inniciative to take NHS staff out to festivals to target that market, and warn against sitting out in the sun all day

That said I can't actually recall such a stall last year but somewhere like green fields or the Oxfam area would be likely places for it

[stardustjunkie]

Actually I'm sure this rings a bell with me too. Skin cancer amongst young people - under 30s is on the increase and I'm sure there was some inniciative to take NHS staff out to festivals to target that market, and warn against sitting out in the sun all day

That said I can't actually recall such a stall last year but somewhere like green fields or the Oxfam area would be likely places for it

[oldbird]

I think there is a tent that do this up at the very top of the pyramid field near the ATMs. And I don't think you are stupid!

[stardustjunkie]

I think there is a tent that do this up at the very top of the pyramid field near the ATMs. And I don't think you are stupid!

[Glasto peaches]

Can I say as a nurse the things you need to be aware of are:

Any ragged edges

Is the area bigger than the blunt end of a pencil

Is it itchy

Has it changed colour/Got bigger/

Is it more than one colour

Any discharge/bleeding

Any of the above should be checked out immediately. Malignant Melanoma is a killer.

Edited May 18, 2014 by Glasto peaches

[stardustjunkie]

Can I say as a nurse the things you need to be aware of are:

Any ragged edges

Is the area bigger than the blunt end of a pencil

Is it itchy

Has it changed colour/Got bigger/

Is it more than one colour

Any of the above should be checked out immediately. Malignant Melanoma is a killer.

[Glasto peaches]

Thank you

I have two moles that are raised and larger than a blunt end of a pencil. They were the two I wanted to check with my GP and often tried to have checked as a child. These are also the ones I'd like to get looked at when I'm at Glastonbury if the service is available. They get irritated by my bra straps so it's hard to say if they are itchy. I appreciate your post, it's good to know the signs of these things.

[stardustjunkie]

Because they are irritated by your bra strap I would get them checked out more often. Only takes a couple of minutes. The fact that you are aware and informed is a positive. Never EVER worry about wasting your GPs time. Get them checked before Glasto, I would

[Glasto peaches]

I've got to go and get a prescription soon so I could ask while I'm there, it just didn't go down well last time. At least if I'm going to get a prescription then the appointment is necessary anyway.

Edited May 18, 2014 by Glasto peaches

[frostypaw]

Never EVER worry about wasting your GPs time. Get them checked before Glasto, I would

[stardustjunkie]

Thanks guys, I'll be more persistent.

To be honest I don't like going to do the doctors, I've grown up being told that for the most part my body will get over things by itself. I've had tonsillitis, glandular fever, sinus infections etc, and not been to the doctor for any of it (except a blood test to confirm glandular fever), and I've always been fine. Sure it's not been a pleasant ride at times, particularly the GF that lasted almost a year when it came to the fatigue side of it etc, but it's not necessary to see a doctor all the time.

I've also (at the age of 22) only ever had two blood tests, one minor operation (wisdom teeth) etc, so I'm not really a frequent visitor thankfully! Perhaps this thread can come across as a bit of a hypochondriac thread, but it's really not. I have quite bad eczema so I pay a lot of attention to my skin anyway, and moles are just part of it.

I'm not going to waste the medical teams time, is basically what I'm trying to get across. It's just if a specialist is there offering a service that could genuinely be of a benefit to me, I would like to use it