Do moderately atypical moles need clear margins?
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Do moderately atypical moles need clear margins?

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Do moderately atypical moles need clear margins?

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    • May 21, 2017 at 12:29 am
    ginabachman
    Participant

      Hello,

      I had melanoma last year and have had at least 10 severely atypical moles removed and lots of moderate and mild and some benign moles too.  I have tons of moles unfortunately.  

      I am seeing a new doctor who has been removing moles that are moderately dysplastic that do not have clear margins.  They say not to worry about those but I can't help it as my previous medical center removed more skin for moderately dysplastic.  This new cancer center only removes more for severely dysplastic or melanoma.  

      I am a young mother in my early 30's and don't want unnecessary stitches but want to make sure I am doing everything I should be doing.  

      Thank you for your guidance.

      Gina

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    • Replies
        • May 21, 2017 at 3:33 am
        Janner
        Participant

          There is no consensus or "standard of care" for moderately atypical moles.  Maybe you should ask your doctor to try and do a better job of taking larger biopsies to start with?  A wider punch or a deeper shave?  Then you won't be faced with this.  My doctor likes clean margins too, but another doc I went to felt the same as your doc.  I will say that you should watch the scar area for any pigment regrowth.  If anything grows back, ask that it be completely removed.  I don't think I'd worry about this too much – again watch for regrowth and ask for larger biopsies to avoid in the future.  Tell the doctor you'd be more comfortable with clear margins in the future.

            • May 22, 2017 at 5:12 am
            ginabachman
            Participant

              Thank you so much.  I really appreciate it. 

            • May 21, 2017 at 4:36 pm
            messedmelanocytes
            Participant

              I'm going back for a re-exision of a dysplatic mole next week. The pathology report  didn't define the extent of the dysplasia. So, that's the couse of treatment that is being applied for me. I have previously had mm insitu at two sites.

              The process of re-exision for moles that are not mm seems extreme to me, and its a big hassle  having to deal with the sitiches and bandages and bruising, means being unable to enjoy any sports or recreational activities for two weeks because of the sweating. I read somewhere that the chance of any remant cells becoming mm is 1 in 1,000. My surgeon says we proceed to eliminate those odds because we can, it is a doable thing in the war against mm.    

               

                • May 22, 2017 at 5:13 am
                ginabachman
                Participant

                  Thank you so much.  I hope your re-excision goes well.  

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