about the dermatologist

[Tiggeroo]

some threads on here have reminded me of something I need to do. I am fair skinned and have had my share of burns. I have several moles, some should definitely be looked at.
I'm a pooh sized person and have heard that a basic skin cancer screening is really embarrassing. I heard you stand naked and they make a mark of every spot and then take photos of it all. Is this true.

 

[kendall]

Tiggeroo,

I think it depends on the dermatologist. I go to my dermatologist twice/year, for ~ 6years, and I sit/lie on a table with a lovely opens-in-the-back gown and a discreet white sheet - never have I had to stand naked. And we have measured/photographed a few moles, again discreetly. Ask the doc's office what their procedure is for a mole check. The process should not be embarassing.

 

[mookie]

This is so good to know. I am in the same situation, but have been reluctant to go since I'm pregnant. (I think it's more of an excuse...they can/should still be able to look at and remove moles even though I'm pregnant, right?)

One of these moles should definitely be looked at. I'm just afraid of the removal, too - it's a pretty big one.

 

[kldmom2000]

I was a clinical assistant to a dermatologist about 8 yrs ago and currently go to another derm myself now (since the one I worked for retired) and I've not come across a derm that practices that way??? Both where I worked and now where I go, the patient is given a johnny and you lie on a table and only one portion of your body at a time is exposed for examination. Neither the derm I worked for or the one I go to take photos (though I've heard some do). My experience has shown mainly the measurement of each mole and the dermatologist documents each one on a diagram in your chart w/ the size/color/etc... I'm sure you can ask around for referrals to a derm through friends/family to find one that does not practice in the manner in which you're concerned about. You can even ask the secretary or nurse before you book an appt. how a skin screening with that physician works?

It is imperative to make sure that you get your skin screened especially if you are fair skinned.... skin cancer really stinks and can hit at any age and to people of any gender/skin-tone/etc...

Be alert too on your own for the A,B,C,D, E's of moles....
A-Asymmetry (one side is not the same as the other)
B-Border irregularity (not a perfect circle)
C-Color-(esp. different colors in the same mole)
D-Diameter (bigger than an eraser on a pencil)
E-Evolution (moles that you notice changes in)

Of course not all skin cancers fit these descriptions, though it's a baseline that you can use to do a monthly skin exam on yourself. Beware too of any moles that bleed or a sore that does not heal....

Good luck to you and I hope that you find a dermatologist that puts you at ease!

 

[HOGFAN]

my girl dermatologist has never taken pictures. when I call to make an appointment, I am given a choice of either
1.upper body check
2. full body check(and I mean checked EVERYWHERE)

I always opt for the upper body check because I find the other one a bit embarassing.

 

[kldmom2000]

This is so good to know. I am in the same situation, but have been reluctant to go since I'm pregnant. (I think it's more of an excuse...they can/should still be able to look at and remove moles even though I'm pregnant, right?)

One of these moles should definitely be looked at. I'm just afraid of the removal, too - it's a pretty big one.

Removals are not bad at all depending on where the mole is. I've had numerous biopsies and excisions on moles. One was quite large that I was born with and was located under my arm. My dermatologist opted to have a surgeon remove it since it required many stitches and was in a difficult spot. They generally just inject a lidocaine solution to numb the area. The initial injection of the numbing agent is the worst part and is not even all that bad... then you should only feel some slight tugging sensation as they excise the mole and then stitch it up. I never really had any major soreness when the lidocaine wore off. You usually go back in 2 weeks for suture removal and to get your pathology results. Please don't let your pregnancy deter you from getting it checked... I've seen so many horrible things in only 2 yrs of working in dermatology

(((((HUGS)))))

 

[Tiggeroo]

I'm not worried about removals. But I have a problem with keloids so it may have to be handled differently. Some of the ones I'm worried about are on my thighs. So to have them looked at I need to have a fullll body check??

 

[fivefordisney]

GO! GO! GO!!!!! I am a melanoma survivor.

Before I was married, I wanted to have a mole removed from my back because it was ugly. I didn't want it in my wedding photos. LOL!

Well, that momentary bout with vanity really saved my life. My dermatologist who was only a few years older that I was gave me a huge lecture about my skin. I was baking in the sun pretty regularly--I am very fair, blue eyes... Anyway, she asked me to return in 6 months for a body check. I did. I continued to get body checks, periodically having things removed and sent to the lab.

Well, one day she wanted to remove a mole that did not look bad to me. A few days later, I got the call "melanoma in situ". I had a large amount of the skin on my calf removed. She stitched me up and I really didn't think about it. The labs came back -- they had gotten all the melanoma cells.

I really did not think about it deeply until recently. Melanoma can be deadly. The thought of it just freaks me out now.

It's funny, I have been with the same dermatologist for about 15 years. During that time, her practice has evolved to include much more cosmetic stuff. You know, botox,restylane, laser thermage, laser hair removal. In fact, it takes forever to get a body check...almost a year. Want botox? They'll schedule you next week. Rather annoying, huh? I stay with her though because I feel like she saved my life. She's very proud, almost arrogant, about her talent and that serves me well. She would never want to make a mistake or miss a bad mole.

Please don't worry about your weight or how the doctors will perceive your body. YOU are important--not what anyone thinks about your appearance.

GO! GO! GO!

 

[GJM]

The last time I went, I kept on my underware and they gave me a gown. She didn't take any pictures or mark any moles. I am also fair skin and have had many sunburns in my life.

The one mole I wanted removed she wasn't concerned about - I had 2 on my back that I didn't know that she was concerned about and removed them. I was worried for days until the results come back. Everything was OK.

Go - it makes me feel so much better knowing everything is OK