Local recurrence of melanoma?

[bpfish]

About 18 months ago I had a Clark's level II-III melanoma removed with a wide excision.  I now have another "spot" that has come up.  It is about 5 cm away from the original scar from the wide excision.  I'm trying to figure out if this is melanoma and if it is...is it a secondary tumor or is it local recurrence of the original tumor?  I don't know if you can tell me that or not, and I'm not sure how my dermatologist will be able to tell either.  Is there any kind of blood test that might say whether or not it has spread?  
This new spot looks almost identical to the original tumor, although very different from the typical pictures that one would see on the melanoma brochures........  
I am an otherwise healthy 37-year-old female.  If this is a new tumor, or if it has metastasized, what would my prognosis be?  Everything I've read on the Internet about either one (local recurrence or secondary tumor) is pretty bad and very scary.
I will enclose two pictures with this e-mail.  One is from the original excision and the next one will be of my leg last month when I took a picture to compare.  It's on the back of my leg, so hard for me to see....  :-)
Also, the reason I'm asking via this website is that I do not have health insurance.  I didn't have it when I had the original diagnosis and now it is next to impossible to get it with a preexisting condition of melanoma.  They just laugh at me.....so now I have none again and so I'm trying to figure out if this is something that I should worry about or not.  
I do have an appointment with a dermatologist, but its not until the end of July (their first available appointment).  Do you think that may be too long to wait on this?  I don't know...I may just be paranoid.  The new "spot" is relatively small compared to the one I had in 2007.  But the way that this one looks is the way that the other one looked when it first popped up.
Please let me know what you think.  I really do appreciate any help or advice you can give.
Thanks so much.
~Brittney

[CF_APRN]

The healthCARE system in the US is good. We have good treatment options. It's not like healthcare providers go.."Gee, I just have no clue what this is or how to help you".   It sounds like you are referring to the financial side of the picture. Please don't trash the skill of healthcare providers if your complaint is regarding the financial aspects.  

[Pum]

New Zealand.

[bpfish]

Thanks for your comments.  I am going to try to get seen earlier...and yes, you are correct.  The healthcare system in the US is really NOT good.  What country do you live?

[Pum]

I am very sorry to read of your diagnosis. I hope you continue to take good care of yourself like you seem to be doing. If it is new you should see your dermatologist as soon as you can, if you can afford it. The end of July is too long to wait, in my opinion. Not that the spot itself looks too worrisome as a melanoma. I have no idea what local metasatisis look like though and it is a concern that it looks like your original tumour.

Good luck with getting an earlier appointment. With your history and this story you should be able to be seen earlier. The US health system seems very odd to me. We would be able to get this sort of thing done for free or for not much cost.