› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Am I overreacting about suspicious mole?
- This topic has 24 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 10 months ago by
CharmaineD.
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- July 2, 2016 at 8:17 am
Good day to all, found this forum while searching for information. So glad I did. The entire internet is filled with doom and gloom about Melanoma and this is the first place I have found positive stories etc. I have not been diagnosed so obviously I am in a diffferent place than many on here. But I am desperate for more information about what I am facing as my doctor has been very vague. I have been in serious health situations in my life before but none has scared me more than the prospect of being diagnosed with Melanoma (have no idea why but I am freaking out a little). Usually I am a very tough person.
I have had a large (over 1cm) flat brown mole (with a much darker brown edge on one sideonly on my back for at least the past 7 years that I positively know of. I actually have a number of moles on my back but this one is biggest. It could have been there much longer but it is not really a spot I can see without contorting myself like a pretzel. The first time I noticed it I asked me GP to check it and he said I should not worry as it was flat and I should only worry if it elevates. Having no reason to doubt his opinion I never thought of it again. My eldest child started medschool 5 years ago and did her dermatology rotation this year. She asked me to please let a dermatologist check it out. I was very suprised when the dermatologist told me she thought it looked suspicious and took dermoscope photos of it. She said I must come back in three months and if it has changed or grown we remove it. So suddenly my "harmless" mole went from ok to suspicious. I asked her what should I expect and she was vague.
When I got home I started researching on the internet (frightening thing) The more I read the more worried I became so I called her and said I wanted it removed rather (I am sure she thinks I am paranoid as her words were, I am happy to wait for three months but if it is causing you anxiety lets remove it).
So looking for a honest opinion, am I letting my anxiety run away with me here? Surgeon said it was going to leave a relatively big scar but thats ok. So pardon my paranoia but since this mole has been around for years I am very worried that it had plenty of time to do harm if indeed it is malignant so it makes sense to act faster?
I feel like I am overreacting when I read all the brave posts on here but I really need some honest information about what I should do. Thanks for reading and I appreciate any feedback
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- July 2, 2016 at 11:42 am
My mother always advised me to not "borrow trouble". i.e. don't worry about things that haven't yet happened.
Bottom line, if it concerns you, then have it removed and wait as patiently as possible for the biopsy results. Then and only then, should you start to research your options if needed.
Ann
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- July 2, 2016 at 11:42 am
My mother always advised me to not "borrow trouble". i.e. don't worry about things that haven't yet happened.
Bottom line, if it concerns you, then have it removed and wait as patiently as possible for the biopsy results. Then and only then, should you start to research your options if needed.
Ann
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- July 2, 2016 at 11:42 am
My mother always advised me to not "borrow trouble". i.e. don't worry about things that haven't yet happened.
Bottom line, if it concerns you, then have it removed and wait as patiently as possible for the biopsy results. Then and only then, should you start to research your options if needed.
Ann
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- July 2, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Thank you so much for replying, I appreciate it. I do not know why this is bothering me so much, but have decided to go ahead and do the excision. I have been reading some of the very brave stories on here and if worst comes then I will fight it. It is to me more the fear of the unknown as up to know I really have had very little knowledge about it.
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- July 2, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Thank you so much for replying, I appreciate it. I do not know why this is bothering me so much, but have decided to go ahead and do the excision. I have been reading some of the very brave stories on here and if worst comes then I will fight it. It is to me more the fear of the unknown as up to know I really have had very little knowledge about it.
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- July 2, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Thank you so much for replying, I appreciate it. I do not know why this is bothering me so much, but have decided to go ahead and do the excision. I have been reading some of the very brave stories on here and if worst comes then I will fight it. It is to me more the fear of the unknown as up to know I really have had very little knowledge about it.
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- July 2, 2016 at 12:55 pm
I think you've done the right thing. 'Flat' means nothing – my early stage melanomas was totally flat. Whoever told you melanomas were always elevated was wrong. If it's large and two different colours – especially if the darker colour is near the edge – I would err on the side of caution and get it removed. I would rather a scar than the uncertainty. Fair enough, not much might have happened in three months, and it's probably all clear/nothing to worry about – but being large with two colours is already enough for me. I would also have had this excised. Big disclaimer: it probably IS nothing, and don't you dare worry until it you absoluately have to! As someone mentioned above (sorry, can't see that post anymore), don't borrow trouble from tomorrow.
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- July 2, 2016 at 12:55 pm
I think you've done the right thing. 'Flat' means nothing – my early stage melanomas was totally flat. Whoever told you melanomas were always elevated was wrong. If it's large and two different colours – especially if the darker colour is near the edge – I would err on the side of caution and get it removed. I would rather a scar than the uncertainty. Fair enough, not much might have happened in three months, and it's probably all clear/nothing to worry about – but being large with two colours is already enough for me. I would also have had this excised. Big disclaimer: it probably IS nothing, and don't you dare worry until it you absoluately have to! As someone mentioned above (sorry, can't see that post anymore), don't borrow trouble from tomorrow.
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- July 2, 2016 at 12:55 pm
I think you've done the right thing. 'Flat' means nothing – my early stage melanomas was totally flat. Whoever told you melanomas were always elevated was wrong. If it's large and two different colours – especially if the darker colour is near the edge – I would err on the side of caution and get it removed. I would rather a scar than the uncertainty. Fair enough, not much might have happened in three months, and it's probably all clear/nothing to worry about – but being large with two colours is already enough for me. I would also have had this excised. Big disclaimer: it probably IS nothing, and don't you dare worry until it you absoluately have to! As someone mentioned above (sorry, can't see that post anymore), don't borrow trouble from tomorrow.
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- July 2, 2016 at 1:42 pm
A mole that is worrisome to you AND a derm that tells you it's suspicious? Since there is concern call the derm and ask them to go ahead and remove it and biopsy it. Your path report will tell the story and give you direction. If she doesn't want to do that based on your concerns and her own statement, see another derm for removal. Lots of moles are ok but there are those that aren't. Not to add further anxiety and confusion for you but I would not rely on textbook pictures of melanoma either. These are guides for us and pretty reliable. They teach us what to look for and what to be aware of. Get your mole removed. Get your pathology report. Make a plan of action after that.
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- July 2, 2016 at 1:42 pm
A mole that is worrisome to you AND a derm that tells you it's suspicious? Since there is concern call the derm and ask them to go ahead and remove it and biopsy it. Your path report will tell the story and give you direction. If she doesn't want to do that based on your concerns and her own statement, see another derm for removal. Lots of moles are ok but there are those that aren't. Not to add further anxiety and confusion for you but I would not rely on textbook pictures of melanoma either. These are guides for us and pretty reliable. They teach us what to look for and what to be aware of. Get your mole removed. Get your pathology report. Make a plan of action after that.
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- July 2, 2016 at 1:42 pm
A mole that is worrisome to you AND a derm that tells you it's suspicious? Since there is concern call the derm and ask them to go ahead and remove it and biopsy it. Your path report will tell the story and give you direction. If she doesn't want to do that based on your concerns and her own statement, see another derm for removal. Lots of moles are ok but there are those that aren't. Not to add further anxiety and confusion for you but I would not rely on textbook pictures of melanoma either. These are guides for us and pretty reliable. They teach us what to look for and what to be aware of. Get your mole removed. Get your pathology report. Make a plan of action after that.
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- July 2, 2016 at 2:02 pm
HAS IT CHANGED? More important than any other questions. Doesn't matter how long you've had it, what it looks like or anything else. If it has changed, it needs to come off. It it hasn't, then it is stable and not going anywhere. That's the only criteria I use to do a biopsy and I've had 3 melanomas over 24 years.
Pre-worry never helped anyone. No one can know just by a quick look, monitoring over time is the best option.
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- July 2, 2016 at 2:02 pm
HAS IT CHANGED? More important than any other questions. Doesn't matter how long you've had it, what it looks like or anything else. If it has changed, it needs to come off. It it hasn't, then it is stable and not going anywhere. That's the only criteria I use to do a biopsy and I've had 3 melanomas over 24 years.
Pre-worry never helped anyone. No one can know just by a quick look, monitoring over time is the best option.
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- July 2, 2016 at 2:02 pm
HAS IT CHANGED? More important than any other questions. Doesn't matter how long you've had it, what it looks like or anything else. If it has changed, it needs to come off. It it hasn't, then it is stable and not going anywhere. That's the only criteria I use to do a biopsy and I've had 3 melanomas over 24 years.
Pre-worry never helped anyone. No one can know just by a quick look, monitoring over time is the best option.
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- July 2, 2016 at 3:09 pm
If it hasn't changed, I wouldn't be concerned. I have some funny looking moles, but they're stable, so they stay. However, if it's causing you anxiety, there's no harm (aside from a scar) in removing it to give you peace of mind.
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- July 2, 2016 at 3:09 pm
If it hasn't changed, I wouldn't be concerned. I have some funny looking moles, but they're stable, so they stay. However, if it's causing you anxiety, there's no harm (aside from a scar) in removing it to give you peace of mind.
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- July 2, 2016 at 3:09 pm
If it hasn't changed, I wouldn't be concerned. I have some funny looking moles, but they're stable, so they stay. However, if it's causing you anxiety, there's no harm (aside from a scar) in removing it to give you peace of mind.
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- July 2, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Thank you all for your comments, I have never known anyone with this so its really been hard to get some honest opinions from friends or family. Which is why I posted here. I think if the dermatologist could also just sit down and exlain terms like suspicious etc with one then it would help, but I understand they have a waiting room full of patients and time is a luxury. All I know is she thinks it is suspicious but the dermoscope (dermoscopy?) does not give enough reason for her to excise yet. General consenus seems to be it it worries you remove, so I do feel a bit justified in my contacting her to ask for removal even if she seems to feel I am overreacting. Thanks again everyone and good luck.
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- July 2, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Thank you all for your comments, I have never known anyone with this so its really been hard to get some honest opinions from friends or family. Which is why I posted here. I think if the dermatologist could also just sit down and exlain terms like suspicious etc with one then it would help, but I understand they have a waiting room full of patients and time is a luxury. All I know is she thinks it is suspicious but the dermoscope (dermoscopy?) does not give enough reason for her to excise yet. General consenus seems to be it it worries you remove, so I do feel a bit justified in my contacting her to ask for removal even if she seems to feel I am overreacting. Thanks again everyone and good luck.
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- July 2, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Thank you all for your comments, I have never known anyone with this so its really been hard to get some honest opinions from friends or family. Which is why I posted here. I think if the dermatologist could also just sit down and exlain terms like suspicious etc with one then it would help, but I understand they have a waiting room full of patients and time is a luxury. All I know is she thinks it is suspicious but the dermoscope (dermoscopy?) does not give enough reason for her to excise yet. General consenus seems to be it it worries you remove, so I do feel a bit justified in my contacting her to ask for removal even if she seems to feel I am overreacting. Thanks again everyone and good luck.
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- July 8, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Just an update. Excision done, results came back In Situ. Must go back for wider excision but should be fine
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- July 8, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Just an update. Excision done, results came back In Situ. Must go back for wider excision but should be fine
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- July 8, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Just an update. Excision done, results came back In Situ. Must go back for wider excision but should be fine
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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