General approach questions

This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 5 months ago by lkb.

Post

- January 14, 2019 at 8:58 pm
- Quote
Foxinsnow
Participant
Hi,
I’m new here, I joined because I have a family history of melanoma and have all the risk factors (except previous personal melanoma) and I have a bunch of moles that have appeared or grown in the last two years. I want your advice on whether my recent derm appointment and maybe tips on how to approach long term monitoring of my many moles.

I just went to the dermatologist because of a few spots that grew very quickly. The dermatologist was super dismissive of my worries, and rebuffed my requests to have two moles biopsied, saying I just need to come in every three years for a check up, and I should wear hats, “especially blue ones to make my eyes pop” and then he circled some hats on a handout he had and handed it to me.

I was really insistent and asked why they weren’t worried at all about something that grew 5x its size in less than a year, but he and the PA kept dismissing me. I also had another skin question that they just ignored.
I got them to cut off the vulvar one, though they only shaved it, and now I’m worried they won’t even test it or something weird like that.

Was I being ridiculous to try to get a biopsy? I feel so worn down by doctors who treat me poorly, and I assume part of this is because I am a very young looking 30 year old woman.

Thanks,
Celeste

(side note, they were super surprised at my age and asked if it was true, and I said I probably look young because of my suspected Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and they immediately started asking me to show off how bendy my limbs are. I felt like I was a joke to them)

Viewing 3 reply threads

Replies

- - January 14, 2019 at 10:20 pm
  - Quote
  Hukill
  Participant
  Go find another Dr.
  - January 15, 2019 at 1:42 am
    
    Quote
    Foxinsnow
    Participant
    
    Thanks, you’re right. It’s just hard to have so many experiences like this and wonder if maybe they are right that I’m wasting their time :/
- - January 15, 2019 at 4:05 am
  - Quote
  jennunicorn
  Participant
  I work in a medical office and this behavior is absolutely NOT acceptable. I would get a new dermatologist. Sometimes we have to see a few different specialists to find one that is the right fit for us. You are doing the right thing getting new and changing moles checked out. I look young for my age as well and have a whole host of medical issues.. besides the obvious melanoma thing.. so I've seen more specialists than I can count on both hands in the past year. I feel like I have lucked out in that most specialists I have met have been really great, but I have had that experience where you feel they are just brushing off your concerns and trying to get you out of the exam room.. like you're an inconvenience to them. If you ever feel that way, then it's time to go to someone else.
  
  A medical provider should never ever make you feel like you are wasting their time.
- - January 15, 2019 at 12:43 pm
  - Quote
  SABKLYN
  Participant
  I agree with the other comment – find another or derm, or at the least, get another opinion. Many large derm practices (especially thse at a teaching hospital) will have a melanoma clinic nd pigmented lesions specialist.
  
  Good luck
  
  SA
- - January 18, 2019 at 5:00 am
  - Quote
  lkb
  Participant
  The place where I get treatment has a melanoma dermatologist–that is, she sees patients both in the derm clinic and the melanoma clinic. Perhaps, a major research center is more likely to have something like that and take you as seriously as you deserve. And by the way, Bravo for being proactive! Don't let the head-patters get you down. You're smart to be vigilant.