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Did Biopsy- now what?
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Did Biopsy- now what?

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Did Biopsy- now what?

  • Post
    • July 30, 2018 at 4:41 pm
    kilz
    Participant

      Hi everyone, thanks so much already for the reassurance and support in response to my first (very anxious) post. I’m a 29 year old Russian female with no history of skin cancer in myself or my family. My second opinion dermatologist recommended said ‘I don’t think it’s melanlma, but I won’t know without a pathology report, so I have to do a biopsy.’ He recommended a 2mm punch biopsy which was done today, with two stitches. The lesion on my cheek was described as ‘4.5mm dark brown macule on left cheek with central grey speckling.’ I have a few questions I’m hoping someone could help me understand better. Why did he remove such a small part of it instead of the entire thing if they truly suspected diagnosis of melanoma? Could removing a few cells cause them to become melanoma later (or is that a stupid question?) and, what will happen after the biopsy results? If the report says mild to moderate atypical, they will generally leave it alone to heal and I will move on, correct? But if it’s severely atypical or worse (melanoma), then they will recommend surgery to get the entire mole off with clear margins? 

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        • July 31, 2018 at 12:00 am
        Bubbles
        Participant

          There are no answers until you have the results from your biopsy.  That is the long and the short of it…for you and all of us.  By definition a biopsy is a sample.  From that sample the lab will analyze the specimen to determine what you are dealing with.  And no, having a biopsy does NOT create melanoma.  Once you know what you have, your doc will advise you on what to do next.  Breathe.  Live.  And….wait. Yours, celeste

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