Change In Old Mole

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Change In Old Mole

This topic has 1 reply, 1 voice, and was last updated 7 years, 3 months ago by Janner.

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- March 7, 2018 at 6:51 am
- Quote
TRayne
Participant
Hi all! I've been reading posts here for the past day or so and have found them to be extremely helpful. I was hoping if any of you would maybe have some insight into this, I'm so nervous and I've been an absolute wreck.

I'm 20 years old, and there is a relatively large mole on my ribs that I've had since birth. It has always been a perfect circle, about the size of a pencil eraser and slightly raised. The other night while I was showering, I noticed that it has become a bit taller, and has a red, bruise-like ring around it. This is all relatively new (at least the ring is), within the last three weeks I am certain. It's possible it's irriated, as I've been rough housing recently and it could've been hit, however the internet doesn't say much about irritated moles, only skin cancer!

Of course, I've really been freaking. I went straight to my college's health services, where a nurse practioner looked at it and told me she wasn't concerned, considering the symmetry of it. She said it looked like a normal mole, besides the ring. I felt better for a while, but I've been pouring over internet articles since then and I'm not sure I believe her.

I made an appointment with a dermatologist for next Friday, but in the mean time I've been seeking some peace of mind, I can't relax/shake the thought that it could be an advanced melanoma. Any insight/what to expect when my appointment does come?

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- - March 7, 2018 at 2:56 pm
  - Quote
  Janner
  Participant
  Extremely unlikely this is "advanced" anything. In the rare chance this is melanoma, most melanomas are extremely slow growing. As for your appointment, it depends on the dermatologist. If you want it biopsied, then that's what you ask for.
  
  One thing I'll say is that most doctors use shave biopsies because shaves are easy, quick and require no stitches. However, shave biopsies can have unwanted consequences. In the extremely unlikely case this is melanoma, a shave biopsy might bisect the lesion. If that were to happen, important staging information can be lost. So if your doctor were to insist on a shave biopsy, then at least ask him/her to make it a deep shave. Personally, I hate shave biopsies because they hurt more and take longer to heal – at least for me.
  
  The internet is really not the place to go for a possible diagnosis because all things seem possible. And the reality is most things are rare and many common things more likely than the bad. Just try to keep things in perspective and don't stress too much! Good luck.

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