Could this be melanoma?
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Could this be melanoma?

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Could this be melanoma?

  • Post
    • March 20, 2013 at 6:41 pm
    beachgirl11
    Participant

      Hi everyone!  I know there is a good chance that nobody will know for sure, but I am really curious for opinions.

      Hi everyone!  I know there is a good chance that nobody will know for sure, but I am really curious for opinions.

      I am 21 years old and I am a bit of a hypochondriac.  I have a variety of moles on my body and I have had them since I was a child.  I have always had this mole on my forearm, right below where the crease is where my arm bends.  It is a teeny tiny bit raised.  It appears to be the same size that it always was, except I noticed a dark dot on the right-hand side of the mole.  To be honest, I am not sure if this is new or not.  The mole has always been dark but the dot looks even darker than the mole itself.

      Here is what it looks like:

      http://oi45.tinypic.com/180hs2.jpg

      It is not very big.  It is nowhere near the size of a pencil eraser, which I heard is used to test the "diameter" part of the ABCDE test.

      I can't decide whether it's worth it to go to the doctor or not, or just wait to see if it changes.  Three people on both sides of my family have had skin cancer, but at much older ages than where I am – triple my age at least.  I am only in the sun really in the summer and even that's not much.  I know I would have to go to the doctor and then get a referral for a dermatologist.  There is a good chance they might not be taking any new patients.

      Opinions?  Thank you so much!

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 20, 2013 at 7:21 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          There is no way that any of us can say "yeah" or "nay".  Melanoma doesn't always follow the ABCD's.  "E" for evolving is the key for me and my three melanomas.  What I'd suggest you do now – regardless of anything else – is take a good close up picture of the mole.  Find good lighting you can duplicate.  Put your camera on macro (usually a flower icon).  This lets you focus up close.  Then you can monitor the mole MONTHLY under that same lighting used to take the picture.  (Any sooner than that often makes it more difficult to track changes).  So, if you get a derm appointment and it takes you a while to get it, you'll have this visual record and will be able to see if anything is changing in the meantime.  I have looked at moles on my body and been certain they have changed.  Then I pull out a picture and voila!, that dark spot was there all the time.  The photos help keep our imaginations honest and are a good method of tracking something we're just not all that sure about. 

          Given that you have no family history of melanoma, no extreme sun behaviors and a lesion that doesn't really fit the ABCDE's of melanoma, it's unlikely this is melanoma.  However, if you are able to monitor change, then I'd definitely have it removed.  Change doesn't mean is has to be melanoma, but it would be a higher risk lesion.  With your admission that you might be a bit of a "hypochondriac", monitoring might pose a problem.  That requires a bit of patience and uncertainty.  The pictures may help monitor, but monitoring isn't a "yes it is" or "no it is not" answer.  The ONLY way to determine for sure is having it biopsied. 

          Best wishes,

          Janner

          • March 20, 2013 at 7:21 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            There is no way that any of us can say "yeah" or "nay".  Melanoma doesn't always follow the ABCD's.  "E" for evolving is the key for me and my three melanomas.  What I'd suggest you do now – regardless of anything else – is take a good close up picture of the mole.  Find good lighting you can duplicate.  Put your camera on macro (usually a flower icon).  This lets you focus up close.  Then you can monitor the mole MONTHLY under that same lighting used to take the picture.  (Any sooner than that often makes it more difficult to track changes).  So, if you get a derm appointment and it takes you a while to get it, you'll have this visual record and will be able to see if anything is changing in the meantime.  I have looked at moles on my body and been certain they have changed.  Then I pull out a picture and voila!, that dark spot was there all the time.  The photos help keep our imaginations honest and are a good method of tracking something we're just not all that sure about. 

            Given that you have no family history of melanoma, no extreme sun behaviors and a lesion that doesn't really fit the ABCDE's of melanoma, it's unlikely this is melanoma.  However, if you are able to monitor change, then I'd definitely have it removed.  Change doesn't mean is has to be melanoma, but it would be a higher risk lesion.  With your admission that you might be a bit of a "hypochondriac", monitoring might pose a problem.  That requires a bit of patience and uncertainty.  The pictures may help monitor, but monitoring isn't a "yes it is" or "no it is not" answer.  The ONLY way to determine for sure is having it biopsied. 

            Best wishes,

            Janner

            • March 20, 2013 at 7:21 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              There is no way that any of us can say "yeah" or "nay".  Melanoma doesn't always follow the ABCD's.  "E" for evolving is the key for me and my three melanomas.  What I'd suggest you do now – regardless of anything else – is take a good close up picture of the mole.  Find good lighting you can duplicate.  Put your camera on macro (usually a flower icon).  This lets you focus up close.  Then you can monitor the mole MONTHLY under that same lighting used to take the picture.  (Any sooner than that often makes it more difficult to track changes).  So, if you get a derm appointment and it takes you a while to get it, you'll have this visual record and will be able to see if anything is changing in the meantime.  I have looked at moles on my body and been certain they have changed.  Then I pull out a picture and voila!, that dark spot was there all the time.  The photos help keep our imaginations honest and are a good method of tracking something we're just not all that sure about. 

              Given that you have no family history of melanoma, no extreme sun behaviors and a lesion that doesn't really fit the ABCDE's of melanoma, it's unlikely this is melanoma.  However, if you are able to monitor change, then I'd definitely have it removed.  Change doesn't mean is has to be melanoma, but it would be a higher risk lesion.  With your admission that you might be a bit of a "hypochondriac", monitoring might pose a problem.  That requires a bit of patience and uncertainty.  The pictures may help monitor, but monitoring isn't a "yes it is" or "no it is not" answer.  The ONLY way to determine for sure is having it biopsied. 

              Best wishes,

              Janner

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