How can I tell a dysplastic nevi from a melanoma

Only a biopsy can tell what something is. 

It's not terribly common to have multiple primaries, maybe something like 8% (somewhere 5-10%) of us have more than one primary, I think.

Only a biopsy can tell what something is. 

It's not terribly common to have multiple primaries, maybe something like 8% (somewhere 5-10%) of us have more than one primary, I think.

Only a biopsy can tell what something is. 

It's not terribly common to have multiple primaries, maybe something like 8% (somewhere 5-10%) of us have more than one primary, I think.

My understanding is that you really can't tell without a biopsy. 8 weeks is kind of a long time to wait if you're concerned now. Do you have a dermatologist, or even a local doctor? If so, they can do a biopsy sooner and you can just make sure the results are sent to your oncologist as well as to whoever did the biopsy (just bring your oncologist's business card or at least name and fax number to the biopsy appointment to tell them where to send it). That way if it does come back as something to worry about you can begin acting sooner. Since my original diagnosis I've had 5 moles biopsied. One came back as dysplastic, but none came back as melanoma. I'm still glad they're gone though and I don't have to worry about them. 

It is not common to have a second mole become melanoma- typically there is only 1 primary melanoma, though I think it can happen to have more than one primary. It can be common though to have appearane of new "moles" (melanoma tumors) in the area right around where the original melanoma was. I don't know how close this mole is to the original, but people can get new pigmented melanomas in/on the skin near the original tumor- it's basically cells left over from the original tumor that were in the surroundng skin that grow into new tumors. That's why they're so picky about the width of the margins at surgery, but sometimes it still happens anyway.

Good luck 

My understanding is that you really can't tell without a biopsy. 8 weeks is kind of a long time to wait if you're concerned now. Do you have a dermatologist, or even a local doctor? If so, they can do a biopsy sooner and you can just make sure the results are sent to your oncologist as well as to whoever did the biopsy (just bring your oncologist's business card or at least name and fax number to the biopsy appointment to tell them where to send it). That way if it does come back as something to worry about you can begin acting sooner. Since my original diagnosis I've had 5 moles biopsied. One came back as dysplastic, but none came back as melanoma. I'm still glad they're gone though and I don't have to worry about them. 

It is not common to have a second mole become melanoma- typically there is only 1 primary melanoma, though I think it can happen to have more than one primary. It can be common though to have appearane of new "moles" (melanoma tumors) in the area right around where the original melanoma was. I don't know how close this mole is to the original, but people can get new pigmented melanomas in/on the skin near the original tumor- it's basically cells left over from the original tumor that were in the surroundng skin that grow into new tumors. That's why they're so picky about the width of the margins at surgery, but sometimes it still happens anyway.

Good luck 

My understanding is that you really can't tell without a biopsy. 8 weeks is kind of a long time to wait if you're concerned now. Do you have a dermatologist, or even a local doctor? If so, they can do a biopsy sooner and you can just make sure the results are sent to your oncologist as well as to whoever did the biopsy (just bring your oncologist's business card or at least name and fax number to the biopsy appointment to tell them where to send it). That way if it does come back as something to worry about you can begin acting sooner. Since my original diagnosis I've had 5 moles biopsied. One came back as dysplastic, but none came back as melanoma. I'm still glad they're gone though and I don't have to worry about them. 

It is not common to have a second mole become melanoma- typically there is only 1 primary melanoma, though I think it can happen to have more than one primary. It can be common though to have appearane of new "moles" (melanoma tumors) in the area right around where the original melanoma was. I don't know how close this mole is to the original, but people can get new pigmented melanomas in/on the skin near the original tumor- it's basically cells left over from the original tumor that were in the surroundng skin that grow into new tumors. That's why they're so picky about the width of the margins at surgery, but sometimes it still happens anyway.

Good luck 

Hi,

The percentage stuck in my head that I remeber, is that about 8% will have more than 1 primary, e.g. 92% do not.

I've had 2 primaries, 1st on neck (amelanotic), 2nd on forehead (diagnosed by derm as lentigo, but later turned into or turned out to be melanoma).

Hope this helps. Kyle

Hi,

The percentage stuck in my head that I remeber, is that about 8% will have more than 1 primary, e.g. 92% do not.

I've had 2 primaries, 1st on neck (amelanotic), 2nd on forehead (diagnosed by derm as lentigo, but later turned into or turned out to be melanoma).

Hope this helps. Kyle

Hi,

The percentage stuck in my head that I remeber, is that about 8% will have more than 1 primary, e.g. 92% do not.

I've had 2 primaries, 1st on neck (amelanotic), 2nd on forehead (diagnosed by derm as lentigo, but later turned into or turned out to be melanoma).

Hope this helps. Kyle

Hi Kyle,

I have two primary sites for malignant melanoma, but they have both been excised by surgery (twice on my forearm and three times on my back.) The first site had no mole, and looked like a slow spreading red rash. The second site, on my arm, had no raised mole, just freckles, and a brown stain, irregularly shaped. Both of my sites are stage 1 superficial. Both were closed iwth sutures by pushing the skin together manually and stitching. I feel lumps underneath the skin on my arm, but am told they are probably just ridges of tissue, the result of the closing.

The brown stain on my arm escaped the dermatologist's notice, as I told him it had been there for at least five years and it is where i had had poison ivy just prior to its appearance. But the second time i visited him, after the back site and two basal sites had been excised, he did biopsy it when I asked him about it. And it was melanoma.

Be as assertive as youcan if you believe it may be cancer. A biopsy will tell you, and if it's not, you'll have peace of mind.

Be well.

Hi Kyle,

I have two primary sites for malignant melanoma, but they have both been excised by surgery (twice on my forearm and three times on my back.) The first site had no mole, and looked like a slow spreading red rash. The second site, on my arm, had no raised mole, just freckles, and a brown stain, irregularly shaped. Both of my sites are stage 1 superficial. Both were closed iwth sutures by pushing the skin together manually and stitching. I feel lumps underneath the skin on my arm, but am told they are probably just ridges of tissue, the result of the closing.

The brown stain on my arm escaped the dermatologist's notice, as I told him it had been there for at least five years and it is where i had had poison ivy just prior to its appearance. But the second time i visited him, after the back site and two basal sites had been excised, he did biopsy it when I asked him about it. And it was melanoma.

Be as assertive as youcan if you believe it may be cancer. A biopsy will tell you, and if it's not, you'll have peace of mind.

Be well.

Hi Kyle,

I have two primary sites for malignant melanoma, but they have both been excised by surgery (twice on my forearm and three times on my back.) The first site had no mole, and looked like a slow spreading red rash. The second site, on my arm, had no raised mole, just freckles, and a brown stain, irregularly shaped. Both of my sites are stage 1 superficial. Both were closed iwth sutures by pushing the skin together manually and stitching. I feel lumps underneath the skin on my arm, but am told they are probably just ridges of tissue, the result of the closing.

The brown stain on my arm escaped the dermatologist's notice, as I told him it had been there for at least five years and it is where i had had poison ivy just prior to its appearance. But the second time i visited him, after the back site and two basal sites had been excised, he did biopsy it when I asked him about it. And it was melanoma.

Be as assertive as youcan if you believe it may be cancer. A biopsy will tell you, and if it's not, you'll have peace of mind.

Be well.