Scared as hell, waiting for biopsy results
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Scared as hell, waiting for biopsy results

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Scared as hell, waiting for biopsy results

  • Post
    • March 3, 2017 at 8:41 pm
    evuasm
    Participant

      Hello Everyone,

      Unfortunately, I am new to this forum!

      I have this longitudinal mole (8mm x 2mm) on the sole of my foot between two toes. I remember having this mole for at least 3 years (I am 38 btw). While looking at the ABCDE, the only thing reassuring is I feel it did not change in 3 years…

      Recently, my stepfather got diagnosed with advanced melanoma and I started to google this and could not stop thinking about the mole under my foot. After more and more googling and more and more panicking, I called a dermatologist and got an appointment within 48 hours.

      He looked at my lesion, said it was atypical and irregular and said that if it was him, he would biopsy it for further investigation. He did a punch biopsy and I was out of the building 30 minutes later.

      I have another appointment in 2 weeks and he will tell me the results, and now I am panicking and I cannot think at anything else.

      I wonder if there is a lot of benign lesion diagnosed after a biopsy, or most of them are melanoma. I also wonder if he made a punch biopsy because he was pretty sure I had melanoma or instead, because he can't know and just did a biopsy to rule it out.

      Anyways, I wanted to express my feelings and maybe have a bit of support! 😉 As soon as I have my result, I will post it here!

      Have a nice day!

    Viewing 3 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 3, 2017 at 9:18 pm
        casagrayson
        Participant

          Most irregular moles are not melanoma.  It could be benign, it could be atypical, or it could be malignant. Only the biopsy will tell.  I can tell you that I think your dermatologist did a very good thing by performing a punch biopsy.  That is the only way to get the full depth of the lesion (as opposed to a shave biopsy which could transsect the total depth).  *If* this were to be melanoma, the depth is very important for staging.  
           

          The most likely outcome for you is that this will come back as a completely benign lesion.  While you wait for the results, do yourself a favor and stay off the internet.  Most of the statistics for melanoma are very outdated, as new treatments are showing great results.  Don't worry until there is something to worry about!  

          Let us know the results when you get them!

          • March 3, 2017 at 9:44 pm
          jennunicorn
          Participant

            One thing is for sure: MAJORITY of biopsies are NOT melanoma. It's easy for our minds to go to the worst scenarios, especially having a loved one going through it. Best thing you can do is stay off any internet searches relating to melanoma. There is no reason to read a bunch of stuff that may only cause anxiety with no benefit. Try to keep busy from now until you get the results, and keep in mind that there is a good chance it is not cancerous. I have had moles biopsied that were not melanoma. I have had family members and many friends get ugly moles biopsied and none of them had melanoma. 

            All the best,

              • March 6, 2017 at 7:11 pm
              Treadlightly
              Participant

                The type of Melanoma that occurs on the sole of the foot is called "Acral Lentiginous Melanoma." I actually had such a condition back in 2010. I can tell you that my "spot" did not start as a mole at all. It just appeared as a brown streak right out of nowhere. Coincidentally, I have always had a mole on that same foot between my toes, but my doctors have never questioned it or were concerned about it…even after having a stage 2A melonoma on that same foot. That mole is still there to this day. 

                I am not sure if all Acral Lentiginous Melanomas start the way mine did, but please rest assured that having a mole in that region of the body is quite normal and nothing to (necessarily) be concerned about. 

                The biopsy will be the final word on this, but the odds are extremely favorable that you will be fine. 

                Best regards,
                Mark

                • March 7, 2017 at 1:12 am
                evuasm
                Participant

                  Hi Mark,

                  Would you take a look at the picture in the link and let me know if there is any similarity?

                  This is actually the lesion I had just before the punch biopsy!

                  https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/melanoma/f/114/t/124525

                  Martin

                  • March 7, 2017 at 1:43 pm
                  Treadlightly
                  Participant

                    Hi Martin,

                    In looking at your photo, I cannot say that it looks like my "spot" exactly. Mine was larger, much darker, and more solid brown throughout. It is good that you are having it checked though, because the only definitive diagnosis can come from a proper biopsy. 

                    The waiting is the hardest part. Be comforted by the fact that you are taking all of the appropriate steps to deal with a potential health issue. Try not to jump to conclusions, envisioning the worst-case scenarios. Even though I received a positive diagnosis…I dealt with it and here I am 7 years later…happy, healthy, and living my life to the fullest.

                    I wish you all the best!
                    Mark

                  • March 14, 2017 at 4:32 pm
                  evuasm
                  Participant

                    Thank you everyone!

                    48 hours before my appointment to take out the stitches and most importantly, getting the results.

                    I tried to stay out of google, but that was hard…. It looks like I resigned myself to hear bad results.

                    This is a picture of my spot before it was punched! Let me know what you think of it.

                    • March 16, 2017 at 8:55 pm
                    evuasm
                    Participant

                      Finally I got the results.

                      Pathology Report

                      Compound Melanocytic Nevus, Acral Type, Congenital Pattern. Note : Features Suggestive of a response to prior trauma are also noted. Multiple Section have been examined.

                      Comment : A negative control and a positive control for each antibody have been reviewed and accepdted. Two IHC stains performed. This cas has been peer-reviewed.

                      I do not understand everything, but my dermatologist said that this was good news.

                      I wanted to let you know.

                      From now on, I will see my dermatologist once a year for a checkup and will see the life differently. It opened my eyes.

                      Thank you!!

                        • March 17, 2017 at 12:20 am
                        casagrayson
                        Participant

                          Congratulations!  We love to hear good news!!

                          • March 17, 2017 at 12:38 am
                          jennunicorn
                          Participant

                            YAAY! So happy for you!

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