Skin cancer/moles question

[mommaU4]

I think many years of laying out in the sun with out sunblock and many, many visits to tanning salons may be catching up with me. I have two moles that just look "funny" to me. I called my doctor and she said to schedule an appt and she would look at and see if it was something that needed to be biopsied. Okay, what does that mean? Anyone ever been through anything like this or know anyone who has?
Now I'm just scared. Maybe ignorance is bliss and I'll just ignore this the way I do most of my health issues.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I had a couple moles that i needed to get biopsied about a year ago..The actual biopsy was not bad at all...just a quick needle (I get worked up about needles, so my primary dr gave me some kind of relaxing pill)..
When the biopsy came back, i had to get the mole removed--that was a bit more, but not too bad...Again, i had the relaxing pill and the dermatologist gave me this cream to put on my skin that helps n umb it. I couldnt feel it, the worst part was seeing the needles..afterwards, i was very sore (the area was on my chest) but they gave me medicne...the stitches had to come out in about a week..get it checked!!

 

[7beasley]

I don't want to scare you but you are doing the right thing having the moles checked and if I was you I would have them checked asap. If you can go to a dermatoligist for the check instead of your regular doctor do that!

My dad and my father in law were both diagnosed with Melanoma last summer --- it is a more prevalent disease then you would think. The ABCD of melanoma are as follows:

A --- asymetrical -- meaning if you were to fold the mole in half it would not match.

B --- borders --- if it has jagged borders rather than smooth

C --- color --- multiple colors or very dark almost black

D -- diameter --- large - typically larger than a pencil eraser.

Melanoma is a disease that needs to be caught early for the best chance -- usually if you get it in stage 1 the prognosis is excellent so be vigilant and get checked.

DO NOT LET your doctor (especially if it is your primary care doctor) do a SHAVE BIOPSY --- NO SHAVE BIOPSY - this is critical becuase if they do a shave biopsy and it comes back positive for melanoma they will not be able to stage it properly which will interfere with your treatment/diagnosis. If the doctor thinks the moles look questionable insist the doctor do a PUNCH BIOPSY.

Most likely the moles are nothing but if you have recently noticed a change in one or both of them, tell that to the doctor -- especially if they have changed size or are bleeding or anything like that.

Feel free to PM me - since both my dad and father in law have just gone through this I (unfortunately) know ALOT about the subject.

In closing ---- DO NOT ALLOW A SHAVE BIOPSY and go to a Dermatologist for the check up if at all possible -- even if you have to wait a little longer to get the appointment -- it is better to have an expert check it out.

Have positive thoughts - most likely it is nothing!

Good luck!
Nicole

 

[llp479]

Go and get it done. I was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma 19 years ago when I was in my 20's. I don't mess around with anything anymore. I don't like the way a mole looks, I have it taken off. I don't even mess with a biopsy, just get it off.

 

[mommaU4]

Wow. I guess I better just get it done and not mess around with this. Thanks for the info.
And for llp479, I'm glad your okay.
7beasley, I hope your dad and FiL are alright now. Thanks again. I'll call my doctor Monday and see her and ask for a referral to a dermatologist.

 

[CarolynNC]

Wow. I guess I better just get it done and not mess around with this. Thanks for the info.
And for llp479, I'm glad your okay.
7beasley, I hope your dad and FiL are alright now. Thanks again. I'll call my doctor Monday and see her and ask for a referral to a dermatologist.

Great informative post 7beasley. mommaU4, Glad to hear you are calling on Monday for an appointment. I grew up loving the beach and rarely wore sun block. My skin is paying for it now. I now have my entire body checked twice per year and my dermatologist checks every square inch. If anything looks questionable we take pictures for regular comparison and check those areas more frequently.

I'd like to repeat 7beasley's caution about the type of biopsy. Insist on a punch biopsy if one is necessary. Good luck. I'm keeping positive thoughts and sending pixie dust.

 

[OhMari]

My sons friend who is 17 just had 2 moles removed off his back. His dad died 2 years ago of melanoma. They though they had it all removed, but cancer spread to his brain and he died within 3 years of his prognosis.

This kid is barely ever out in the sun, they treated his moles because of heredity. His dad was a person that barely spent anytime outside in the sun either. So just because you aren't a sun goddes, don't think twice about checking funny moles out.

 

[rockin_rep]

My sons friend who is 17 just had 2 moles removed off his back. His dad died 2 years ago of melanoma. They though they had it all removed, but cancer spread to his brain and he died within 3 years of his prognosis.

This kid is barely ever out in the sun, they treated his moles because of heredity. His dad was a person that barely spent anytime outside in the sun either. So just because you aren't a sun goddes, don't think twice about checking funny moles out.

Topping because this is critical!

You don't have to be a ex-sun worshipper to get melanoma ~ even babies can have it! (very sad but true.)

Yes, i too know waayy more than i'd like as we've known more than a few people with it ~ including those that died.....

When in doubt, get it checked. Get it removed.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

So just because you aren't a sun goddes, don't think twice about checking funny moles out.

I am in the sun occasionaly, but my one mole was on my back where my bathing suit strap completely covered
and the other was on my chest-still completely covered..

i go in 1x a year to get checked

 

[kldmom2000]

I worked as a clinical assistant to a dermatologist for years and I'm a paranoid mom now about the sun after seeing all that I did.... I'm glad you are making the step to getting them checked, but I have one piece of advice for you-your primary MD can indeed biopsy them (in entails nothing more than getting a small injection of xylocaine/lidocaine to numb the area, and then depending on how big them are, she may excise them and send it out to pathology to determine if it is indeed cancerous or she may just snip out a small part of it to have it checked-you may or may not need stitches depending on the way he/she does the biopsy-it's a piece of cake-I've had it done numerous times) but, I highly, highly, highly recommend that whether or not they come back malignant or benign, you should definitely make an appointment with a dermatologist. I can't tell you the # of patients that the derm I worked for saw that their primary care told them that the mole "looked fine" and it turned out to be basal, squamous cell, or even melanoma.... Primary care MD's are not skin specialists... dermatologists spend many more years in that particular field hence the term "specialists"... I've seen them pick up on things that would normally be missed by a regular MD. They will document the size and location of any "suspicous" moles and urge you to return every 6 months-1 year to evaluate any changes in them..... just my 2 cents!!!! GL! Keeping you in my thoughts!!!

 

[mom2boys]

DH has a history of "atypical" moles. His entire back is covered in moles. He goes every 6 months - just went yesterday - to have them looked at. He has a wonderful dermotologist. DH had four "removed" yesterday. This dermotologist is agressive with the moles which DH & I appreciate. The dermotologist will send them out to the lab for biospy. If anything comes back atypical, the doc will cut futher to make sure there is no part of that mole remaining. It was scary at first. However, DH has been going through this for years. The key is to catch them while they are atypical and before they devolope into something more serious.
I would definitely ask the primary care for a referal to a good dermotologist for this. The key is to have them looked at on a regualr basis. You are doing the right thing by having them checked. Try not to worry.