› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › New Mole
- This topic has 12 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 2 months ago by
Janner.
- Post
-
- July 19, 2013 at 4:33 am
Yesterday I was doing my evening ritual (washing my face, moisturizing, brushing/flossing, etc). I noticed a new mole at the point where my neck meets my chest. I looked at a photo taken of me on April 25 (less than three months ago) and have confirmed there was no mole there. This is not read or purple (I believe ruling out an angioma). I'm 49 (will be 50 in November) with very light skin, light hair and blue eyes. I have many moles on my body and have had two moles removed in the past. These were "iffy" (meeting the A
Yesterday I was doing my evening ritual (washing my face, moisturizing, brushing/flossing, etc). I noticed a new mole at the point where my neck meets my chest. I looked at a photo taken of me on April 25 (less than three months ago) and have confirmed there was no mole there. This is not read or purple (I believe ruling out an angioma). I'm 49 (will be 50 in November) with very light skin, light hair and blue eyes. I have many moles on my body and have had two moles removed in the past. These were "iffy" (meeting the ABC….. criteria). Both times they were "okay, but good decision to have them removed – the cells were atypical." (Note: one mole was itcy and bleeding, the other was on my back, I never saw it, the doctor was the one who insisted upon removing it.
My mother had skin cancer (on her legs, not melanoma, but squamas and basal cell). I've had four friends who've experienced melanoma, two who have died.
How fast does it take for a new mole to appear and at what point should I go to the doc? It's funny because I just saw my doc and we were discussing my moles and he asked if I noticed anything new and I said no…. now it is just three weeks later and I've noticed this new one just yesterday. Size-wise, it isn't as big as a pencil eraser – about 1/2 that size.
Four people I know have had melanoma – two have died of the disease. The survivors has moles they noticed that fit the ABC criteria. The two individuals who died were diagnosed at Stage 4, and in their cases the primary mole couldn't be found (it was explained that their immune system may have "fought" the mole, but the cells remained in the system – if that sounds possible). In one instance, the cancer was discovered on the sternum of a friend who had to have emergency heart surgery – imagine waking up after having heart surgery with an oncologist greeting you!
Anyway, back to my primary question – how many people have gone from "nothing there" to "something there" ? Is it something gradual (a few years) or fast (as I said, this wasn't there in April).
I appreciate your kind responses!
- Replies
-
-
- July 19, 2013 at 9:20 am
I have gone from nothing there to something there. The moles have to visually appear sometime. It happens regularly. I have a new one on my hand that just appeared last week. I expect that I’ll notice another new one within the next month(not to mention any that I don’t notice). I have new ones appear all the time.But, if it has you concerned, go see your dermatologist and see what he/she thinks about it.
Thandster
-
- July 19, 2013 at 9:20 am
I have gone from nothing there to something there. The moles have to visually appear sometime. It happens regularly. I have a new one on my hand that just appeared last week. I expect that I’ll notice another new one within the next month(not to mention any that I don’t notice). I have new ones appear all the time.But, if it has you concerned, go see your dermatologist and see what he/she thinks about it.
Thandster
-
- July 19, 2013 at 9:20 am
I have gone from nothing there to something there. The moles have to visually appear sometime. It happens regularly. I have a new one on my hand that just appeared last week. I expect that I’ll notice another new one within the next month(not to mention any that I don’t notice). I have new ones appear all the time.But, if it has you concerned, go see your dermatologist and see what he/she thinks about it.
Thandster
-
- July 19, 2013 at 12:52 pm
If you are posting on this forum, have a history of atypia, and noticed a new lesion, you know that you should go to an experienced melanoma dermatologist as soon as possible. If one (or all) of us said, "Nah. It's nothing. Wait a month or two and see what happens." would you believe us? Would you feel reassured? Of course not. So call your dermatologist today. Personally, if I had a new mole that was growing quickly I would insist that I have a punch or scalloped biopsy (NOT a shave biopsy) even if the doctor said "Don't worry about it." As you know, melanoma is so nasty that I wouldn't want to take the slightest chance.
As for how fast/slow melanoma can grow– that is highly variable. Some grow very slowly, some are very aggressive. The pathology report will give a number called the "mitotic index" which is the number of cells that that pathologist sees under the microscope that are actively dividing. Slow-growing melanoma will have a mitotic index of 0, 1, or 2. Very aggressive melanomas will have a mitotic index up around 10-14.
-
- July 19, 2013 at 12:52 pm
If you are posting on this forum, have a history of atypia, and noticed a new lesion, you know that you should go to an experienced melanoma dermatologist as soon as possible. If one (or all) of us said, "Nah. It's nothing. Wait a month or two and see what happens." would you believe us? Would you feel reassured? Of course not. So call your dermatologist today. Personally, if I had a new mole that was growing quickly I would insist that I have a punch or scalloped biopsy (NOT a shave biopsy) even if the doctor said "Don't worry about it." As you know, melanoma is so nasty that I wouldn't want to take the slightest chance.
As for how fast/slow melanoma can grow– that is highly variable. Some grow very slowly, some are very aggressive. The pathology report will give a number called the "mitotic index" which is the number of cells that that pathologist sees under the microscope that are actively dividing. Slow-growing melanoma will have a mitotic index of 0, 1, or 2. Very aggressive melanomas will have a mitotic index up around 10-14.
-
- July 19, 2013 at 12:52 pm
If you are posting on this forum, have a history of atypia, and noticed a new lesion, you know that you should go to an experienced melanoma dermatologist as soon as possible. If one (or all) of us said, "Nah. It's nothing. Wait a month or two and see what happens." would you believe us? Would you feel reassured? Of course not. So call your dermatologist today. Personally, if I had a new mole that was growing quickly I would insist that I have a punch or scalloped biopsy (NOT a shave biopsy) even if the doctor said "Don't worry about it." As you know, melanoma is so nasty that I wouldn't want to take the slightest chance.
As for how fast/slow melanoma can grow– that is highly variable. Some grow very slowly, some are very aggressive. The pathology report will give a number called the "mitotic index" which is the number of cells that that pathologist sees under the microscope that are actively dividing. Slow-growing melanoma will have a mitotic index of 0, 1, or 2. Very aggressive melanomas will have a mitotic index up around 10-14.
-
- July 19, 2013 at 12:54 pm
It's more uncommon to get new moles as we age, but I've definitely gone from nothing to something in a short period of time. I attended a seminar a while back and the doctor who specializes in mole mapping (watching for moles that change that might indicate melanoma) specifically addressed new moles. His comment was "new and like other moles" is fine. "New and different or the "ugly duckling" should get a biopsy".
The ABCD's are just guidelines but to me, change is the most important. I tend to watch new moles carefully to make sure they look normal for me. But the bottom line is, a biopsy is the only way to know anything for sure. Your experience with melanoma makes you aware of what the disease can do and that makes you much better prepared than most. Don't jump to conclusions, but if this bothers you, have it removed.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- July 19, 2013 at 12:54 pm
It's more uncommon to get new moles as we age, but I've definitely gone from nothing to something in a short period of time. I attended a seminar a while back and the doctor who specializes in mole mapping (watching for moles that change that might indicate melanoma) specifically addressed new moles. His comment was "new and like other moles" is fine. "New and different or the "ugly duckling" should get a biopsy".
The ABCD's are just guidelines but to me, change is the most important. I tend to watch new moles carefully to make sure they look normal for me. But the bottom line is, a biopsy is the only way to know anything for sure. Your experience with melanoma makes you aware of what the disease can do and that makes you much better prepared than most. Don't jump to conclusions, but if this bothers you, have it removed.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- July 19, 2013 at 12:54 pm
It's more uncommon to get new moles as we age, but I've definitely gone from nothing to something in a short period of time. I attended a seminar a while back and the doctor who specializes in mole mapping (watching for moles that change that might indicate melanoma) specifically addressed new moles. His comment was "new and like other moles" is fine. "New and different or the "ugly duckling" should get a biopsy".
The ABCD's are just guidelines but to me, change is the most important. I tend to watch new moles carefully to make sure they look normal for me. But the bottom line is, a biopsy is the only way to know anything for sure. Your experience with melanoma makes you aware of what the disease can do and that makes you much better prepared than most. Don't jump to conclusions, but if this bothers you, have it removed.
Best wishes,
Janner
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.