› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Question about a mole ASAP!
- This topic has 21 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 3 months ago by
Linny.
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- February 14, 2015 at 5:26 pm
I have a mole on my chest …it's bigger then the tip of a pencil but smaller then the eraser… It is a light brown and I really don't know how long it's been there… I just had a full body check on Tuesday.. Almost a week ago…
About 4 months prior I had melanoma in situ on my leg… Now I'm nervous about all my moles…
the the one on my chest like I said isn't super big and its light brown.. It's not raised but if you touch it it feels like a bump……
i I guess im concerned about the bump is that normal? And In just nervous its melanoma but looks normal. And I did take a picture of it for monitoring and I don't know if it's gotten bigger or anything :/ im kinda freaking out
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- February 15, 2015 at 2:09 am
Your doc saw it last week and wasn't worried. You've already stated that you suffer from anxiety, you need to develop a system so this isn't an issue. Take a photograph! Once a month, compare the mole against it. Truthfully, it doesn't sound like the "ugly duckling" you are looking for. Most melanomas are very slow growing. You need a way to keep your imagination in check and a scientific way to look for change. The photos are a big help. Get them done and use them from now on. You know your doc gave you an all clear for a year and it sounds as if this isn't sitting well with you. Check moles once a month, not daily! Every melanoma I have had showed obvious change. Even my second one had change and I had to wait several months to see a derm (insurance issues). I knew it was melanoma, but it was still very early in situ. Waiting several months changed nothing.
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- February 15, 2015 at 2:09 am
Your doc saw it last week and wasn't worried. You've already stated that you suffer from anxiety, you need to develop a system so this isn't an issue. Take a photograph! Once a month, compare the mole against it. Truthfully, it doesn't sound like the "ugly duckling" you are looking for. Most melanomas are very slow growing. You need a way to keep your imagination in check and a scientific way to look for change. The photos are a big help. Get them done and use them from now on. You know your doc gave you an all clear for a year and it sounds as if this isn't sitting well with you. Check moles once a month, not daily! Every melanoma I have had showed obvious change. Even my second one had change and I had to wait several months to see a derm (insurance issues). I knew it was melanoma, but it was still very early in situ. Waiting several months changed nothing.
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- February 15, 2015 at 2:09 am
Your doc saw it last week and wasn't worried. You've already stated that you suffer from anxiety, you need to develop a system so this isn't an issue. Take a photograph! Once a month, compare the mole against it. Truthfully, it doesn't sound like the "ugly duckling" you are looking for. Most melanomas are very slow growing. You need a way to keep your imagination in check and a scientific way to look for change. The photos are a big help. Get them done and use them from now on. You know your doc gave you an all clear for a year and it sounds as if this isn't sitting well with you. Check moles once a month, not daily! Every melanoma I have had showed obvious change. Even my second one had change and I had to wait several months to see a derm (insurance issues). I knew it was melanoma, but it was still very early in situ. Waiting several months changed nothing.
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- February 15, 2015 at 2:34 am
I know thanks… I guess reading things on the Internet is something I should not do . Even tho I have spent a lot of time doing so…
The ones that look normal and are melanoma scare me or the ones the doctors think are okay and really aren't scare me..
I guess your your right my anxiety is getting the better of me
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- February 15, 2015 at 2:34 am
I know thanks… I guess reading things on the Internet is something I should not do . Even tho I have spent a lot of time doing so…
The ones that look normal and are melanoma scare me or the ones the doctors think are okay and really aren't scare me..
I guess your your right my anxiety is getting the better of me
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- February 15, 2015 at 4:51 pm
If you watch for CHANGE (MONTHLY), you'll know what is wrong for YOU. Reading other stories on the internet will only increase your anxiety and you know it. You don't know anyone elses body, what is normal for them, what is not. You know YOU! Their story is not your story and making it yours is foolish.
Again, about a 10% chance you will have another melanoma primary and you know how to check your own body. Again I recommend photos. NINETY PERCENT CHANCE you are done with melanoma forever. All the time you spend researching melanoma is letting it win and stealing away time from your current life that HAS NO MELANOMA. I know it is difficult, but I always recommend staying away from the internet – especially for people like you. It does more harm that good. I get this. I was there at one point too. You have a choice here, to control the things you can control (pics, monthly checkups, sun safety, doc visits) or you can worry about things you have absolutely no control over (whether you get another melanoma). Embrace what you can control and strive hard to let go of the other.
One more thought – you MUST remember that all internet sites for melanoma will be skewed toward worst case scenarios. That is the way the internet works. If you had one melanoma in situ primary and 3 years down the line you are back living your normal life, WHY would you ever be posting your positive story on an internet site? You see the EXCEPTIONS that come back, not the vast majority of early stagers who come here when newly diagnosed, then move on. PERSPECTIVE is needed!
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- February 15, 2015 at 4:51 pm
If you watch for CHANGE (MONTHLY), you'll know what is wrong for YOU. Reading other stories on the internet will only increase your anxiety and you know it. You don't know anyone elses body, what is normal for them, what is not. You know YOU! Their story is not your story and making it yours is foolish.
Again, about a 10% chance you will have another melanoma primary and you know how to check your own body. Again I recommend photos. NINETY PERCENT CHANCE you are done with melanoma forever. All the time you spend researching melanoma is letting it win and stealing away time from your current life that HAS NO MELANOMA. I know it is difficult, but I always recommend staying away from the internet – especially for people like you. It does more harm that good. I get this. I was there at one point too. You have a choice here, to control the things you can control (pics, monthly checkups, sun safety, doc visits) or you can worry about things you have absolutely no control over (whether you get another melanoma). Embrace what you can control and strive hard to let go of the other.
One more thought – you MUST remember that all internet sites for melanoma will be skewed toward worst case scenarios. That is the way the internet works. If you had one melanoma in situ primary and 3 years down the line you are back living your normal life, WHY would you ever be posting your positive story on an internet site? You see the EXCEPTIONS that come back, not the vast majority of early stagers who come here when newly diagnosed, then move on. PERSPECTIVE is needed!
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- February 15, 2015 at 4:51 pm
If you watch for CHANGE (MONTHLY), you'll know what is wrong for YOU. Reading other stories on the internet will only increase your anxiety and you know it. You don't know anyone elses body, what is normal for them, what is not. You know YOU! Their story is not your story and making it yours is foolish.
Again, about a 10% chance you will have another melanoma primary and you know how to check your own body. Again I recommend photos. NINETY PERCENT CHANCE you are done with melanoma forever. All the time you spend researching melanoma is letting it win and stealing away time from your current life that HAS NO MELANOMA. I know it is difficult, but I always recommend staying away from the internet – especially for people like you. It does more harm that good. I get this. I was there at one point too. You have a choice here, to control the things you can control (pics, monthly checkups, sun safety, doc visits) or you can worry about things you have absolutely no control over (whether you get another melanoma). Embrace what you can control and strive hard to let go of the other.
One more thought – you MUST remember that all internet sites for melanoma will be skewed toward worst case scenarios. That is the way the internet works. If you had one melanoma in situ primary and 3 years down the line you are back living your normal life, WHY would you ever be posting your positive story on an internet site? You see the EXCEPTIONS that come back, not the vast majority of early stagers who come here when newly diagnosed, then move on. PERSPECTIVE is needed!
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- February 16, 2015 at 7:25 pm
It does sound like your anxiety is getting the best of you.
Janner and Jerry have given you good advice.
Instead of focusing on that 5%-10% (whatever the number is) chance that it may recur, try turning that around and tell yourself you have better than a 90% chance of never having to deal with it again.
In addition to being vigilant, just practice "safe sunning": wear your sunscreen and if you know you're going to be out in the sun for a while, wear a brimmed hat. There also are a number of UV protective bathing suits available from Lands End and Coolibar that are pretty cute.
And most important — stop reading about melanoma on the internet. If you have questions, just ask here. 🙂
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- February 16, 2015 at 7:25 pm
It does sound like your anxiety is getting the best of you.
Janner and Jerry have given you good advice.
Instead of focusing on that 5%-10% (whatever the number is) chance that it may recur, try turning that around and tell yourself you have better than a 90% chance of never having to deal with it again.
In addition to being vigilant, just practice "safe sunning": wear your sunscreen and if you know you're going to be out in the sun for a while, wear a brimmed hat. There also are a number of UV protective bathing suits available from Lands End and Coolibar that are pretty cute.
And most important — stop reading about melanoma on the internet. If you have questions, just ask here. 🙂
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- February 16, 2015 at 7:25 pm
It does sound like your anxiety is getting the best of you.
Janner and Jerry have given you good advice.
Instead of focusing on that 5%-10% (whatever the number is) chance that it may recur, try turning that around and tell yourself you have better than a 90% chance of never having to deal with it again.
In addition to being vigilant, just practice "safe sunning": wear your sunscreen and if you know you're going to be out in the sun for a while, wear a brimmed hat. There also are a number of UV protective bathing suits available from Lands End and Coolibar that are pretty cute.
And most important — stop reading about melanoma on the internet. If you have questions, just ask here. 🙂
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- February 15, 2015 at 2:34 am
I know thanks… I guess reading things on the Internet is something I should not do . Even tho I have spent a lot of time doing so…
The ones that look normal and are melanoma scare me or the ones the doctors think are okay and really aren't scare me..
I guess your your right my anxiety is getting the better of me
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- February 16, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Reading Janner's posts on the internet is a smart thing to do. Reading mine (i jumped to stage IV 12-8 years ago) because my GP doesn't know a melanoma from a hemorrhoid!) is much more scary. Statistically you are on the good side. Be Vigilant, not paranoid, learn from knkowledgeable people and enjoy life between the worring! PS even thugh I wen to stage iv quickly (after GP ignoring my complaints for 3 1;2 years), I stil enjoy much of life.
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- February 16, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Reading Janner's posts on the internet is a smart thing to do. Reading mine (i jumped to stage IV 12-8 years ago) because my GP doesn't know a melanoma from a hemorrhoid!) is much more scary. Statistically you are on the good side. Be Vigilant, not paranoid, learn from knkowledgeable people and enjoy life between the worring! PS even thugh I wen to stage iv quickly (after GP ignoring my complaints for 3 1;2 years), I stil enjoy much of life.
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- February 16, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Reading Janner's posts on the internet is a smart thing to do. Reading mine (i jumped to stage IV 12-8 years ago) because my GP doesn't know a melanoma from a hemorrhoid!) is much more scary. Statistically you are on the good side. Be Vigilant, not paranoid, learn from knkowledgeable people and enjoy life between the worring! PS even thugh I wen to stage iv quickly (after GP ignoring my complaints for 3 1;2 years), I stil enjoy much of life.
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- February 16, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Janner that is very true… And jerry your story scares me it's scares me because someone is diagnosed say stage 1 then in months to years later is stage 4… I know everyone is different but that's so scary!!
Now i freak out about most of my moles … One on my shoulder is a dark brown and I even measured it .. It's smaller then a pencil eraser its 2mm and the one I first posted about is 2-3 1/2 mm… I get scared cause I think they look pretty normal symmetrical and not bigger then 6mm pretty standard color light brown and another dark brown but I don't remember of they were always there or if they have changed
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- February 16, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Janner that is very true… And jerry your story scares me it's scares me because someone is diagnosed say stage 1 then in months to years later is stage 4… I know everyone is different but that's so scary!!
Now i freak out about most of my moles … One on my shoulder is a dark brown and I even measured it .. It's smaller then a pencil eraser its 2mm and the one I first posted about is 2-3 1/2 mm… I get scared cause I think they look pretty normal symmetrical and not bigger then 6mm pretty standard color light brown and another dark brown but I don't remember of they were always there or if they have changed
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- February 16, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Janner that is very true… And jerry your story scares me it's scares me because someone is diagnosed say stage 1 then in months to years later is stage 4… I know everyone is different but that's so scary!!
Now i freak out about most of my moles … One on my shoulder is a dark brown and I even measured it .. It's smaller then a pencil eraser its 2mm and the one I first posted about is 2-3 1/2 mm… I get scared cause I think they look pretty normal symmetrical and not bigger then 6mm pretty standard color light brown and another dark brown but I don't remember of they were always there or if they have changed
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- February 16, 2015 at 6:38 pm
You don't have to remember, you start now by taking pictures. If they weren't changing before, then no big deal. And if they were changing, they will continue to change in the future. I've had moles I were certain had changed. Then I pulled out my photographs and found out that it was just my imagination and nothing else. The mole matched the photographs. You need to create a baseline now and these are the photos you use to compare in the future. Your derm has already seen nothing that alarms him at this point. Despite reading about how derms don't always catch melanoma — most do have a pretty good eye! So create your baseline now and use that from now on.
Get off the internet and stop reading about those exceptions. You're not going to find many stories like mine where I was diagnosed with my first stage I primary almost 23 years ago – and I am still stage I. I post to give perspective, but most in my same shoes would be long gone from sites like this.
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- February 16, 2015 at 6:38 pm
You don't have to remember, you start now by taking pictures. If they weren't changing before, then no big deal. And if they were changing, they will continue to change in the future. I've had moles I were certain had changed. Then I pulled out my photographs and found out that it was just my imagination and nothing else. The mole matched the photographs. You need to create a baseline now and these are the photos you use to compare in the future. Your derm has already seen nothing that alarms him at this point. Despite reading about how derms don't always catch melanoma — most do have a pretty good eye! So create your baseline now and use that from now on.
Get off the internet and stop reading about those exceptions. You're not going to find many stories like mine where I was diagnosed with my first stage I primary almost 23 years ago – and I am still stage I. I post to give perspective, but most in my same shoes would be long gone from sites like this.
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- February 16, 2015 at 6:38 pm
You don't have to remember, you start now by taking pictures. If they weren't changing before, then no big deal. And if they were changing, they will continue to change in the future. I've had moles I were certain had changed. Then I pulled out my photographs and found out that it was just my imagination and nothing else. The mole matched the photographs. You need to create a baseline now and these are the photos you use to compare in the future. Your derm has already seen nothing that alarms him at this point. Despite reading about how derms don't always catch melanoma — most do have a pretty good eye! So create your baseline now and use that from now on.
Get off the internet and stop reading about those exceptions. You're not going to find many stories like mine where I was diagnosed with my first stage I primary almost 23 years ago – and I am still stage I. I post to give perspective, but most in my same shoes would be long gone from sites like this.
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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