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Sudden change in mole
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Sudden change in mole

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Sudden change in mole

  • Post
    • July 29, 2017 at 2:24 am
    Len777
    Participant

      Hi everyone, I am a 33 year old guy with pretty fair skin and several moles, none of which have ever appeared problematic. Just a few days ago I noticed sudden change in a mole on my forearm that had been there for as long as I could remember (I just found a pic showing it from 2007). The mole is small (about 3mm x 2mm), an oval shape with pretty clear borders. It's always been a uniform chocolate brown color but suddenly got really dark/blackish areas in the center. The mole (including the new dark spots) is flat. I look at this mole every day as it's not far above where I wear my watch, so I'm confident I wouldn't have missed it if this change was happening a while ago.

      I promptly scheduled an appointment to have a dermatologist look at it this coming Monday, but am having a lot of anxiety over it. In the meantime, I wanted to get opinions, from people who know more about melanoma than I do, about:

      –If this were melanoma and the changes appeared that quickly, would that mean it's more likely to be in situ/early?

      –Is there anything I should be sure to say/request when I see the doctor? Do you think she might biopsy this mole at this first examination, and if so would it likely be a punch procedure based on the size/description.

      I had a really bad cancer scare last year (not melanoma), and know I'm so worried about this suddenly changed mole.

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    • Replies
        • July 29, 2017 at 2:40 am
        SABKLYN
        Participant

          Hi Len,

          its impossible to give a definitive answer before having the mole examined.  I would recommend that if your dermatologist does decide to biopsy the mole that you insist on an excisional or at the least, punch biopsy.  I would recommend against allowing a shave biopsy.

          Hopefully it's nothing no, but better to be safe.

           

          goid luck!

            • July 29, 2017 at 4:09 am
            Len777
            Participant

              Sabklyn, thank you for taking the time to reply and for that recommendation, I will keep that in mind. 

              I only noticed the change in the mole this Wednesday, but just want the thing looked at, and if necessary, cut out already!

              • July 29, 2017 at 2:07 pm
              SABKLYN
              Participant

                Totally agree!  In fact, my initial biopsy almost didn't take place because my dermatologist said it didn't look like anything of concern.  In my case though, I had thought it was at first a tick on my lower leg, so I lit a match, blew it out and hit the spot.  After it didn't move, I then thought it might be a blood blister and poked it with a surgical lance, so in defense of my oncologist, I probably altered the appearance quite a bit.  That episode ended my self-surgery career!  Anyway, if your derm decides to not remove ask questions as to why he or she is not doing so. you're taking the right first step.  Good luck!

                stan

                • August 3, 2017 at 6:14 pm
                Len777
                Participant

                  Thought I'd come back to report that the derm agreed it needed to be biopsied, so I had that done and it turned out to be benign! I got a copy of the dermatopathologist report and the diagnosis was "Irritated Lentiginous Compound Nevus." Thank you again for responding to me. I was having a lot of anxiety over another cancer scare.

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