My son is 17 and was diagnosed stage 3 in February…we had a similar situation. Mole was in his hairline and we noticed it after a fresh haircut. We went to the pediatrician first and then the dermatologist and no one thought it was anything. No biopsy was done, i was supposed to put a bacterial cream on it because it was an “infected mole” . I am a nurse as well and that did not sit well with me so I had it removed by a pediatric plastic surgeon, that’s when we were diagnosed and that ended up being a couple months after we first noticed it. Talk about a shocker.
With that being said, melanoma is extremely rare in kids….only 2% of melanoma cases are pediatric. So try to stay positive. The waiting and not knowing is very difficult but you could and probably are worrying yourself over nothing. The statistics are definitely in your favor that this is not melanoma.
My son has had several surgeries now and is currently on Nivo adjuvant treatments for a year and doing well. He is leading as normal a life as he can with the frequent doctor visits and he is adjusting to our new normal. He goes for his 6 month treatment scans in a few weeks.
I know how scared you are but I have learned more than I ever thought I would need to know about melanoma since he was disgnosed. there are treatments now that were not there even just a few years ago…and people are living long lives, even Stage 4 people are NED after treatments. The outlook is not as grim as it once was. The people on this board have been amazing. Their knowledge and their support has given me strength I never knew I had.
I take one day at a time and I remind my son to do the same. So please just take a deep breath and remember the chances are this is not melanoma and if by some small, very small chance it comes back melanoma you do have treatment options. But cross that bridge when you come to it. You are definitely not there yet.
We always worry as moms, that’s our job. This is a whole different kind of worry though, so it’s much easier said then done of course. But hang in there!!!!!
Good luck at the dermatologist and make sure they punch biopsy it!!!!!! That’s one thing I would have insisted on had I known what I know now. Sending positive thoughts your way!!!!
Kelly 🙂
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