Another mole removed from my husband

Doctor's do shaves because they are quick, require no stitches and it's easy for them.  Shave biopsies make sense in some situations but I'm not a fan.  Regardless of staging repercussions, they hurt more and heal worse for me.  I don't allow shaves on any pigmented lesion anymore.  Having said that, the derm knows that it was unlikely to be melanoma.  75% of melanomas are on new lesions and only about 10% of melanoma warriors ever have a second primary.  Remove CHANGING or NEW AND DIFFERENT lesions.  These are the ones that warrant biopsies.  At least for me, if a lesion has been stable for years, it isn't doing anything and I leave it alone.  (I've had 3 primaries).

There is nothing at all related between this lesion and the previous melanoma despite any proximity.  They are independent.  And it is very likely that nothing will show up on the WLE for this lesion.  It appears that there is a small amount left at the margin but often times that isn't even seen on the WLE.  Absolutely nothing to worry about on that report.  The only time I even look at the WLE report is if it is melanoma and the lesion did not have deep margins clear.  That's when you might see useful additional info.

I had to look up your previous post to find out more about the melanoma.  Stage 1b and 1.4mm in depth so waiting for the SLNB.  They won't be doing any scans unless the sentinel node(s) come back positive.  If they are negative, there will be no additional treatment or scans.  Stage 1b doesn't warrant them.  If the sentinel node(s) are positive, that's a different ballgame.  Everyone's situation is unique so it is better to cross that if you get to that part.  There are treatments available for stage III but again, at this point he is still stage 1b.

It's hard to be patient but that's the real world with melanoma and most medical stuff.  We want it done now but it takes a little time to work thru the system.  Good luck.

Guess I have a different opinion and strategy than your derm.  Recent studies show melanoma shows up on new moles 75% of the time.  It also shows that wholesale removal of existing moles is ineffective because… melanoma shows up on new moles 75% of the time.  Removing existing stable moles just seems like unnecessary surgery to me (and my medical team).  As someone who's had a LOT of biopsies and at least 12 WLEs along with 3 melanomas, I try to avoid unnecessary stuff.  I photograph all my moles and only remove existing ones that show change.  Mole mapping.

I'm glad that you're ready to fight but maybe I missed something.  Has he already had the SLNB and is it positive? If he has had it and it's positive, then it would help if you update your profile info.  2 opinions is good.  If he hasn't had the SLNB yet, it's still a very viable option the SLBN will be negative and there is no fight to have.  Don't borrow trouble you don't have.  My Dad was diagnosed at 82 (stage II) so I'm very versed with fighting melanoma at an older age and the quality/quantity dilemma.  I battled the establishment for my father to get him the best quality choices which often were not the standard of care choices.  Just take this one step at a time!