Question while waiting on biopsy results

This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 11 months ago by Threefitty.

Post

- June 2, 2017 at 12:53 am
- Quote
Nick44
Participant
Hi all, I'm in that terrifying window after my first-ever biopsy. Being pretty freaked out, I thought I'd try to gather some info here while I wait. My main question is basically how worried I should be about the following situation:

I'm a 35 year old white male, and just had my first dermotologist checkup in 2 years. She immediately noticed a funny looking mole on my outer ear, which is apparently a danger zone. I saw a different dermotologist for this same mole about 2 years prior, and he wasn't very alarmed. I haven't noticed it change shape or color. It was a little blueish, not raised at all, totally guessing but maybe 4mm, fairly symmetrical, and a few people like my mom and wife have commented on it.

So the new dermatologist immediately says she wants to biopsy this thing, and before I know it my ear is numbed and they've got the scrape razor out. I'm ok with all of this – safety first. So they scrape out a big old chunk of my ear. The mole was not raised, but they dug down pretty deep – again totally guessing but maybe 2mm or a little more. It's a good size chunk out of my ear.

Here's why I'm freaked out – that sucker goes deeper than that! She said she wasn't going to take all of it since it went that deep, and she had enough for the biopsy. You can still clearly see the mole in the crater left behind. So here's the million dollar question — does this funny looking THAT DEEP mean cancer for sure? Do benign moles go deep into the skin? Any insight is welcome as I settle into this terrifying week of waiting for results. Thank you!

-Nickk

Viewing 5 reply threads

Replies

- - June 2, 2017 at 12:58 am
  - Quote
  jennunicorn
  Participant
  Deep does not automatically mean cancer, benign/atypical moles can be deep too. All you can do is wait for the results, the hardest part. Hoping it turns out to be nothing.
- - June 2, 2017 at 1:25 pm
  - Quote
  UBContributor
  Participant
  You might be freaking out over nothing…just wait for results, best of luck!
- - June 2, 2017 at 5:40 pm
  - Quote
  Franny
  Participant
  Biopsies are scary as we think the worse could happen. It is better to know what is going on though. Try some meditation techniques to keep you calm and do activities that get your endorphins going like running, biking, gym etc.
- - June 2, 2017 at 5:40 pm
  - Quote
  Franny
  Participant
  Biopsies are scary as we think the worse could happen. It is better to know what is going on though. Try some meditation techniques to keep you calm and do activities that get your endorphins going like running, biking, gym etc.
- - June 2, 2017 at 5:40 pm
  - Quote
  Franny
  Participant
  Biopsies are scary as we think the worse could happen. It is better to know what is going on though. Try some meditation techniques to keep you calm and do activities that get your endorphins going like running, biking, gym etc.
- - June 5, 2017 at 4:30 pm
  - Quote
  Threefitty
  Participant
  A litlle tangent to your question. I found that not every doctor and office is smooth is setting forth in advance test info delivery protocol. Calling in for results b/c you don't know how else they would get back to you makes the mind race and can be very anxiety provoking. If you don't know how those results will be delivered, have someone else call and ask. Then you can at least know how you will know, when and where. That helps me compartmentalize during the wait. More on point, welcome to this area of strength training, one of many. Hope your membership to the club is denied.