› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Need help understanding Dysplastic Nevi
- This topic has 6 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 11 months ago by
parkmk80.
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- June 11, 2013 at 1:52 am
Came across this site with a Google search and am quite impressed with it. I am hoping someone can help me decipher what seems to be different information regarding dysplastic nevi. I am 53, male. About 3 years ago I went for a derm follow up on my wife's request to have a "suspicious" mole looked at. The dermatologist told me at that time not to worry. This asymmetrical mole has been there for many years, I would say maybe 10 and has transformed very little to my untrained eye over the years. Has it changed, yes, but as measured by years and not months.
Came across this site with a Google search and am quite impressed with it. I am hoping someone can help me decipher what seems to be different information regarding dysplastic nevi. I am 53, male. About 3 years ago I went for a derm follow up on my wife's request to have a "suspicious" mole looked at. The dermatologist told me at that time not to worry. This asymmetrical mole has been there for many years, I would say maybe 10 and has transformed very little to my untrained eye over the years. Has it changed, yes, but as measured by years and not months. Recently, my GP referred me to have this looked at again, since she was unaware of my previous dermatology assessment, so i went to the same dermatologist. It is the only asymmetric mole on my body, right abdomen. I would say I have less than 50 moles all totaled, so is this one the ugly duckling? The resident suggested I have it removed. The senior derm gave me the option of 6 months watchful waiting. I opted for the surgery. Thing is, during the procedure, I asked some questions and the resident MD said there was about a 30% chance that this could be a melanoma, and depending on the pathology report, different options would exist, one including lymph node removal. I am an extremely anxious person, especially for medical issues and of course this statement floored me. When I googled the topic I read in some places that up to 10% of the populations have these dysplastic nevi. I imagine that if 30% of 10% of the population developed melanoma, the incidence would be much higher. Other facts about me, no melanoma in my family (mom had basal cell from sun worshipping) she is 80 and still kicking, the mole measured 6mm x 6mm, it is the only one on my body, I am Mediterranean descent so no fair complexion, freckles, blue eyes etc. I am worried sick about the possibility that this event could lead to a melanoma diagnosis. Any help from anyone who is familiar and up to date with what the true reality is would be greatly appreciated. I am really trying to understand and put into perspective how probable is it that I am a melanoa patient based on this. The anxiety is getting the better of me and i will not get my results for several weeks still
Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to answer
Tony
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- June 11, 2013 at 2:02 am
All I can say is "unlikely", and take what the doc said with a grain of salt. Most dysplastic nevi NEVER become melanoma. My melanoma institute has done studies on dysplastic nevi biopsying lesions that have changed. 97% of the lesion they had mapped (specialized digital photography). NEVER change. Of the 3% that changed, not all of those were melanoma. This is from a population of people who have either already had multiple melanoma primaries and/or Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome. You don't have either and would not be considered high risk to start.
I'd say if you had this mole for that long with no real obvious changes, then I'd be thinking melanoma is unlikely. Your complexion is also in your favor. Yes, this could be dysplastic, but dysplastic isn't cancer. Obviously, nothing can be diagnosed over the internet and we can't say that there is is 0% chance this is melanoma, but the odds are really in your favor that this isn't melanoma.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- June 11, 2013 at 2:02 am
All I can say is "unlikely", and take what the doc said with a grain of salt. Most dysplastic nevi NEVER become melanoma. My melanoma institute has done studies on dysplastic nevi biopsying lesions that have changed. 97% of the lesion they had mapped (specialized digital photography). NEVER change. Of the 3% that changed, not all of those were melanoma. This is from a population of people who have either already had multiple melanoma primaries and/or Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome. You don't have either and would not be considered high risk to start.
I'd say if you had this mole for that long with no real obvious changes, then I'd be thinking melanoma is unlikely. Your complexion is also in your favor. Yes, this could be dysplastic, but dysplastic isn't cancer. Obviously, nothing can be diagnosed over the internet and we can't say that there is is 0% chance this is melanoma, but the odds are really in your favor that this isn't melanoma.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- June 11, 2013 at 2:02 am
All I can say is "unlikely", and take what the doc said with a grain of salt. Most dysplastic nevi NEVER become melanoma. My melanoma institute has done studies on dysplastic nevi biopsying lesions that have changed. 97% of the lesion they had mapped (specialized digital photography). NEVER change. Of the 3% that changed, not all of those were melanoma. This is from a population of people who have either already had multiple melanoma primaries and/or Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome. You don't have either and would not be considered high risk to start.
I'd say if you had this mole for that long with no real obvious changes, then I'd be thinking melanoma is unlikely. Your complexion is also in your favor. Yes, this could be dysplastic, but dysplastic isn't cancer. Obviously, nothing can be diagnosed over the internet and we can't say that there is is 0% chance this is melanoma, but the odds are really in your favor that this isn't melanoma.
Best wishes,
Janner
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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