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What’s the chance of having melanoma for 6 years with no symptoms?

Forums Cutaneous Melanoma Community What’s the chance of having melanoma for 6 years with no symptoms?

  • Post
    Thalana
    Participant

      I have a mole on my back that really does look like melanoma. It's dark brown, raised, is asyymetrical and has a fair sized border around it. An ex-girlfriend of mine detected it in 2013 but I didn't think anything of it as I was fairly uneducated on skin conditions back then. Fast forward to yesterday and I noticed this mole matches a lot of melanoma moles on google images.

      I suppose it could be an atypical mole, but it has me very concerned, to the point where I feel nothing but nausea and anxiety. I plan to get it checked out in the next week, but this brings me to my question, if this is melanoma, what's the chance that it would produce zero symptoms over a 6 year period?

      I've read this is an aggressive cancer, and I can say that it has become more raised over time. The area surrounding it was often itchy about 2 years ago, but I never thought anything of that. Hasn't itched since then really. I really hope to get some clarity on this soon.

      Thank you for reading.

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    • Replies
        Thalana
        Participant

          I should also mention I spend very little time in the sun. I've never had much of a sunburn.

          chaseisgreat
          Participant

            I had melanoma removed from the bottom of my foot… a place that never receives sunlight. The spot was there for 15 years before I decided to get it checked. It was a slow mover I guess you could say.

             

            that being said, I have a dark ugly spot on my back that doctors are not concerned about and that has been there for just as long.

            Odds are your spot is just a funny mole and you won’t have to worry about it.

            BUT get it looked at for peace of mind, please. And include annual skin checks in your routine of health care. 

            Nympha
            Participant
              Dear Thalana, not every mole which looks like melanomas from Google images has to be positive. I am full of moles with atypical shapes and colours, and I am checked every year by doctor with no positive results. My husband says that my moles are like night sky full of stars.. Don’t stress youself. My grandma had mole on her belly, size and shape of thumb, with two different colours, was pregnant three times and she died as 86 y.o.lady on old age.
              Don’t stress youself, but visit doctor regularly.
              Best luck.
              Veronika
              lkb
              Participant

                I don't know the answer to your question, but if you're even thinking it might be The Beast, why not get a biopsy? Best case scenario is small inconvenience and big peace of mind. Worst case, you know what you have and you'll learn what to do.

                sally g
                Participant

                  YES Get it checked! SallyG

                  MelanomaMike
                  Participant

                    Hi Thalana, im Mike nice to meet ya, {under our shared circumstances anyways!} well, ive been infected with the Melanoma bug now since 2008 and dont think it "By Itself" has affected anything about my lifestyle or body functions, now left "untreated" im sure it would have been alot different, iv had many surgeries since 2008 and started Immunal Therapy back in Nov 2017 and ill tell ya, everthing that has happened to me physicaly is a direct result from Sugeries and Immunal Drugs…when it starts disrupting your organs, glands, and it traveling your Lymphatic Hiways & Biways,  then we have a problem…Just dont let it get that far, be proactive, its alot easier treating one or two or three lisions {or tumors} then 10, 15, 20, 30 Lesions throughout your entire body {organs included}…be carefull and deligent…

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