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Concerned – should I be?
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Concerned – should I be?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Concerned – should I be?

  • Post
    • November 11, 2015 at 4:49 am
    Boo79
    Participant

      I posted on here over the summer regarding a couple of moles I had to have removed. They didn't look weird to me at the time. They weren't symmetrical, but they hadn't changed either. One came back severely atypical and the other moderate to severe. I had a third one removed later which came back moderately atypical. The first two didn't have clear margins so I went back and got clear margins. Janner was wonderful with her response of watching from now on. In the meantime, I was getting really sick…ended up not being mole related. I had tick illnesses. But while trying to determine what was wrong, they did ct scan and MRI of abdomen. They came back with multiple lesions on liver. The radiologist said the large ones were hemangiomas but small ones were probably cysts. I am just concerned that maybe they missed something and it could be more than that. 

      Now back to the mole removal. One of the incisions was near another mile and when I was stitched up, the other mole was stitched into it. This mole seems to be slowly making its way across my scar now. Just a tiny bit. It has been three months since stitches were removed, and in the last couple of weeks, the scar is itching like crazy. 

      Should I be concerned or am I over thinking all of this???

      one more question…how long does a full body mole check normally take? The derm looked over my body in less than one minute. Never had me stand up. I have one abnormal looking mole on the palm of my hand and she didn't remove because she said it would be uncomfortable for me???

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 11, 2015 at 4:52 am
        Boo79
        Participant

          In more thing…I have a lot of moles on my body. Probably 100 or more. Some little, some big, some brown, some red, some black. 

          • November 11, 2015 at 4:52 am
          Boo79
          Participant

            In more thing…I have a lot of moles on my body. Probably 100 or more. Some little, some big, some brown, some red, some black. 

            • November 11, 2015 at 4:52 am
            Boo79
            Participant

              In more thing…I have a lot of moles on my body. Probably 100 or more. Some little, some big, some brown, some red, some black. 

                • November 11, 2015 at 5:07 am
                Girlwithspots
                Participant

                  I'm new and concerned here too Boo79 – I've had a superfical spreading melanoma removed in January (got clear margins) and now I'm had a mole – like yours not changed, nothing to see visually – removeed and it was severely atypical.

                   

                  Can I ask you what your doctor says about severe atypical moles re risk of becoming melanoma?

                   

                  As for the liver scan, I had one of those earlier this year – totally unrelated to my skin issues. I have several cysts in my liver and my internist said they were fine, just cysts, nothing to worry about. So that is my experience if it helps you.

                   

                  As for a full body check, my PA spends a lot more time with me – maybe 10 minutes looking me over. And she then asks me if I have any concerns (That's how I got this mole recovered with the severe atypical cells – I was just wanting it off just because i didn't like it.) So no, I think from your description that was a pretty quick check.

                  One thing I can advise you – if you aren't comfortable with the care you are getting, remember to advocate for yourself. Find a different doctor. Advise any doctor that you WANT that mole removed, even if it might be termporarily uncomfortable or not.

                  I wish I could tell you not to worry but I'm the worst one for that. I worry too.

                  Best,

                  Girlwithspots

                  • November 11, 2015 at 5:07 am
                  Girlwithspots
                  Participant

                    I'm new and concerned here too Boo79 – I've had a superfical spreading melanoma removed in January (got clear margins) and now I'm had a mole – like yours not changed, nothing to see visually – removeed and it was severely atypical.

                     

                    Can I ask you what your doctor says about severe atypical moles re risk of becoming melanoma?

                     

                    As for the liver scan, I had one of those earlier this year – totally unrelated to my skin issues. I have several cysts in my liver and my internist said they were fine, just cysts, nothing to worry about. So that is my experience if it helps you.

                     

                    As for a full body check, my PA spends a lot more time with me – maybe 10 minutes looking me over. And she then asks me if I have any concerns (That's how I got this mole recovered with the severe atypical cells – I was just wanting it off just because i didn't like it.) So no, I think from your description that was a pretty quick check.

                    One thing I can advise you – if you aren't comfortable with the care you are getting, remember to advocate for yourself. Find a different doctor. Advise any doctor that you WANT that mole removed, even if it might be termporarily uncomfortable or not.

                    I wish I could tell you not to worry but I'm the worst one for that. I worry too.

                    Best,

                    Girlwithspots

                    • November 11, 2015 at 5:07 am
                    Girlwithspots
                    Participant

                      I'm new and concerned here too Boo79 – I've had a superfical spreading melanoma removed in January (got clear margins) and now I'm had a mole – like yours not changed, nothing to see visually – removeed and it was severely atypical.

                       

                      Can I ask you what your doctor says about severe atypical moles re risk of becoming melanoma?

                       

                      As for the liver scan, I had one of those earlier this year – totally unrelated to my skin issues. I have several cysts in my liver and my internist said they were fine, just cysts, nothing to worry about. So that is my experience if it helps you.

                       

                      As for a full body check, my PA spends a lot more time with me – maybe 10 minutes looking me over. And she then asks me if I have any concerns (That's how I got this mole recovered with the severe atypical cells – I was just wanting it off just because i didn't like it.) So no, I think from your description that was a pretty quick check.

                      One thing I can advise you – if you aren't comfortable with the care you are getting, remember to advocate for yourself. Find a different doctor. Advise any doctor that you WANT that mole removed, even if it might be termporarily uncomfortable or not.

                      I wish I could tell you not to worry but I'm the worst one for that. I worry too.

                      Best,

                      Girlwithspots

                    • November 11, 2015 at 5:24 am
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      Hemangiomas and cysts are very commonly found in the liver.  If you never get scanned, you'll never know they exist.  These are not related to the atypical lesions you had removed.  As for the pigment in the scar from the other mole, it's not all that uncommon for a freckle or mole to spread when cut into.  I have freckles that have spread into my WLE scars and another mole that has spread into an atypical scar.  It happens.  If you don't like it, ask for it to be removed.  But scars always itch a lot while healing and that really isn't a sign of anything.

                      So yes, I think this is a bit of overthinking.  Not trying to downplay anything, but there are very logical explanations for everything that aren't related to melanoma. 

                      Body checks:  kind of depends how many moles you have — mine take a couple of minutes max and I've had 3 primaries.  But I don't have tons of moles.  I do, however, have tons of freckles especially on my back.  If you are uncomfortable with the checkup, ASK.  Say you want her to look everywhere.  If she won't, then find someone else.  Watch for CHANGE!!!!

                      • November 11, 2015 at 5:24 am
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Hemangiomas and cysts are very commonly found in the liver.  If you never get scanned, you'll never know they exist.  These are not related to the atypical lesions you had removed.  As for the pigment in the scar from the other mole, it's not all that uncommon for a freckle or mole to spread when cut into.  I have freckles that have spread into my WLE scars and another mole that has spread into an atypical scar.  It happens.  If you don't like it, ask for it to be removed.  But scars always itch a lot while healing and that really isn't a sign of anything.

                        So yes, I think this is a bit of overthinking.  Not trying to downplay anything, but there are very logical explanations for everything that aren't related to melanoma. 

                        Body checks:  kind of depends how many moles you have — mine take a couple of minutes max and I've had 3 primaries.  But I don't have tons of moles.  I do, however, have tons of freckles especially on my back.  If you are uncomfortable with the checkup, ASK.  Say you want her to look everywhere.  If she won't, then find someone else.  Watch for CHANGE!!!!

                        • November 11, 2015 at 5:24 am
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Hemangiomas and cysts are very commonly found in the liver.  If you never get scanned, you'll never know they exist.  These are not related to the atypical lesions you had removed.  As for the pigment in the scar from the other mole, it's not all that uncommon for a freckle or mole to spread when cut into.  I have freckles that have spread into my WLE scars and another mole that has spread into an atypical scar.  It happens.  If you don't like it, ask for it to be removed.  But scars always itch a lot while healing and that really isn't a sign of anything.

                          So yes, I think this is a bit of overthinking.  Not trying to downplay anything, but there are very logical explanations for everything that aren't related to melanoma. 

                          Body checks:  kind of depends how many moles you have — mine take a couple of minutes max and I've had 3 primaries.  But I don't have tons of moles.  I do, however, have tons of freckles especially on my back.  If you are uncomfortable with the checkup, ASK.  Say you want her to look everywhere.  If she won't, then find someone else.  Watch for CHANGE!!!!

                            • November 11, 2015 at 6:24 am
                            AnitaLoree
                            Participant

                              Boo79, if you are a person with lots of moles as you describe, you should have a thorough, at least initial, skin exam by a competent dermatologist.  Some have posted here re their initial malignant mel being missed or dismissed. Several have posted about our responsibility to carefully examine ourselves, keep track of our moles, take pictures. I wish I had started doing that years ago for my husband (stage IV) who has a large number of moles. Because of his malig mel, one of our grandaughters, who has inherited this multiple mole gene, is now being followed regularly by a good dermatologist who has done baseline photos of all her skin. Within the last month or so, I believe on this site, someone posted a link to a research report on a diagnostic short cut to assessing risk for developing melanoma by counting the number of moles on the right arm. The number was >11 moles gave 4-5 X increased risk for development, i.e., these are people who need to be checked regularly. If I find it I'll post it to you. Best wishes finding a thorough dermatologist. A.L.

                              • November 11, 2015 at 6:24 am
                              AnitaLoree
                              Participant

                                Boo79, if you are a person with lots of moles as you describe, you should have a thorough, at least initial, skin exam by a competent dermatologist.  Some have posted here re their initial malignant mel being missed or dismissed. Several have posted about our responsibility to carefully examine ourselves, keep track of our moles, take pictures. I wish I had started doing that years ago for my husband (stage IV) who has a large number of moles. Because of his malig mel, one of our grandaughters, who has inherited this multiple mole gene, is now being followed regularly by a good dermatologist who has done baseline photos of all her skin. Within the last month or so, I believe on this site, someone posted a link to a research report on a diagnostic short cut to assessing risk for developing melanoma by counting the number of moles on the right arm. The number was >11 moles gave 4-5 X increased risk for development, i.e., these are people who need to be checked regularly. If I find it I'll post it to you. Best wishes finding a thorough dermatologist. A.L.

                                • November 11, 2015 at 6:24 am
                                AnitaLoree
                                Participant

                                  Boo79, if you are a person with lots of moles as you describe, you should have a thorough, at least initial, skin exam by a competent dermatologist.  Some have posted here re their initial malignant mel being missed or dismissed. Several have posted about our responsibility to carefully examine ourselves, keep track of our moles, take pictures. I wish I had started doing that years ago for my husband (stage IV) who has a large number of moles. Because of his malig mel, one of our grandaughters, who has inherited this multiple mole gene, is now being followed regularly by a good dermatologist who has done baseline photos of all her skin. Within the last month or so, I believe on this site, someone posted a link to a research report on a diagnostic short cut to assessing risk for developing melanoma by counting the number of moles on the right arm. The number was >11 moles gave 4-5 X increased risk for development, i.e., these are people who need to be checked regularly. If I find it I'll post it to you. Best wishes finding a thorough dermatologist. A.L.

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