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Suspicious mole.
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Suspicious mole.

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Suspicious mole.

  • Post
    • January 14, 2018 at 10:15 pm
    Lucie.C
    Participant

      So I currently do not have Melanoma and never have. I am 18 years old and I am looking for some advice on whether I need to get my mole checked my a doctor, and i figured what better place to ask for an opinion? I have had this mole on my upper arm since I was a toddler. It has never caused any problems, and due to its size (1.2cm) my local doctor told me, when I was  about 10 years old, that I would probably have to get it removed for precautions later in life. Well recently I have noticed the edges blurring a little bit, and it is slightly changing shape (it used to be pretty much a perfect circle). It also has a couple of long black hairs growing out of the center which were never there. It is pale brown in colour and the colour seems pretty even overall.My mother said that there's no difference, but I can see it and have a gut feeling that it's changing. I have very pale skin and although I am very rarely in the sun I have about 50 moles covering my body. I may just be over reacting but I can't get it off my mind! Thank you 🙂

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        • January 14, 2018 at 11:11 pm
        Mckown5254
        Participant

          I was just diagnoised with Stage 1 melanoma in late November.  I asked my doctor to look at a mole on my forearm that I had for quite some time.  At first glance he was not concerned because it really didn't exhibit much of the tell tale traits. Upon closer examination he said it was probably a Basal cell carcenoma.  He recommended that it be removed.  He took it off in the office and sent it in.  It came back as melanoma in the early stages.  This past Thursday I had a larger area excised surgically.  I am awaiting the results of the biopsy to see if they got it all.  You need to be your own advocate.  My advise is don't wait, have it removed and find out for sure especially if your doctor recommeds it.  The procedure for this can be done by your doctor in his office and is relatively painless. The incision is small requiring only a few stitches. The wound heals quickly and leaves only a very small scar.  For peace of mind I highly recommend it.

          • January 15, 2018 at 5:58 am
          Janner
          Participant

            So if your gut thinks it is bad, go see a doc.  Another thing you could do is take photos.  Then you could document change.  Are you in Canada or the U.K.?  Photos documenting change might convince a doc to biopsy.  Does this mole look different from all your other moles?  Is it the ugly duckling?  Change, by itself, does not mean it is melanoma.  It just is more suspect.  But if this doesn't look different from all your other moles, it isn't the ugly duckling that we all look for.  No one here can diagnose, we can just give you general info.  You have to do what makes YOU comfortable,

              • January 15, 2018 at 6:03 am
              Janner
              Participant

                Just as a side note, I had a congenital Nevus that I thought had changed.  Had it biopsied and it was mildly atypical.  It's outward appearance had always been a bit different but the biopsy showed it still wasn't anything bad.  Not saying you shouldn't have a biopsy if that is what you want, just saying don't jump to any conclusions about the results.

              • January 15, 2018 at 10:59 pm
              lep
              Participant

                Just for peace of mind, have it checked.  Insist on a biopsy if that will help you feel better.  You know the signs of melanoma and are understandably worried.  Do it!!

                 

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