It would change?

[bertybotts]

If I had melanoma, in 2-3 months, you would see a change in the mole, right?
I've had a mole I've been watching since November. We're heading into mid January and so far... looking the exact same to me as it looked in November. I even have pictures.

If it was melanoma, it would have changed, right?

I do have a derm appt soon. Still worried.

[gcalex]

You are obsessing endlessly about this.  It seems disproportionate, no?

[bertybotts]

It is irrational, except the mole is funny. A doctor told me not to worry because he hadn't seen anything cancerous that small. And I suppose if you take super high def images of any skin spot, it will look "funny."
I get comfort knowing it hasn't changed in 2 months.

[gcalex]

Well from your good advice to other folks you know you should trust the doctor and talk back to the irrational voice telling you to worry.

[SighNoMore]

I have worried about melanoma as well. The more you focus on it the more it will look weird. Most likely in that time there would have been change I would guess.

As gcalex said you are hyper-focused on this and that is only going to escalate the fear.

[bertybotts]

I'm trying super hard not to worry about it. Like I keep telling myself "just because you noticed this now and pay attention to it does not magically make it cancer". And if it was cancerous, I think it would be easy to cure since it is so small. Logic :)

[SighNoMore]

I have tons of moles, many atypical. They have all been fine. I just had my six month check up, but I was late. I go back again in six months. I get VERY nervous before my derm appointments and my fear of skin cancer starts to creep in, and I bet you are doing the same. You are trying to brace yourself for what ifs that may never, ever come!

[bertybotts]

Yep! I've only been to the derm 1 time in my life for a super weird looking mole that was rather large. Got it removed. Came back totally fine in the biopsy. But i had that one all my life.
This one is fairly new in a sun exposed area. But its not huge, it doesn't itch, it doesn't bleed and it isn't THAT funny but I am not an expert...

[SighNoMore]

Same here. I had one removed that I have had for forever. I actually had to return two weeks later due to a mole changing rapidly. My husband encouraged me to go as well, and he is not rattled by pretty much anything.

Even the derm noticed the change. This was in a two week span, so it was rapid. When she removed it she said it was bloody, but it actually looked like it experienced trauma. I remember our little one bit me on the shoulder, but she sent the mole out any way just to be sure. It came back fine.

All that to say you are being proactive by going so don't let the anxiety win!

[bertybotts]

Thanks for your kind words! I get so nervous but I do have a few moles and I honestly will not spend the rest of my (healthy) life sitting and thinking HMMM DID THAT CHANGE??? HMMMMM!!!
It's so dumb!!

Question for you: my partner has dozens, hundreds of moles. I like them, they are cute and a part of his body, and I love his flaws, but he never sees a dermatologist and I have looked at his body tons of times and none of them look like they are changing or too weird. He has tons of weird ones, but they are all the same kind of weird, so I assume that means safe?
Should I urge him to go to the derm or am I projecting my HA Onto him?

[gcalex]

Couldn't hurt to get it checked once.  Even I would do that.

[tnlady10]

I had a mole this summer that I was very worried about...it had changed color, gotten bigger, and become raised when it was flat before...all not great things when talking about moles! I had it looked at by my Derm, who said it was fine and cut it off and biopsied it for me for piece of mind. It was completely harmless. Could this be an option for you? It took two seconds and didn't hurt at all.

[bertybotts]

Yep, I am going to my derm in about a week. YAY!!
So I'll ask him how he feels about biopsies. I will also ask how to go about dealing with melanoma worries

[SighNoMore]

I would have your partner checked. A yearly check up doesn't hurt! That isn't HA in my opinion, but more like being proactive. Now if you said go again a week later with no reason then.... ;)

[bertybotts]

I'll tell him he should make it a part of his life routine. He is a grown adult and can make his own decisions but I can urge him to do good things :)

I am soooo vigalent about my body. It is nuts. I notice new spots like you wouldn't believe.

[SighNoMore]

I do the same! I notice any spot, rash, bump, etc. I am worrying over a rash at the moment so I so can identify!

[bertybotts]

It is so frustrating, eh? Skin does change. It will get new little spots, we are just organic matter.

[Hohum]

One of my old Doctors had been a Dermatologist in another country before me migrated and became a family doc. He was an awesome resource to talk to about skin issues. I remember having a discussion with him about melanoma once. He said that in his career, the only melanoma he'd seen which was advanced and serious were the ones where people had ignored/not spotted really obvious changes until it was too late. In his words "once it had become a black, bleeding lump, only then would they would go to the Doctor".  I guess as someone with HA I cannot even imagine this, but I know there are people out there who either don't know, or don't even consider their skin health until something is obviously really wrong.

I think a little vigilance goes a long way with your skin. I have tried to get away from self-checking as much as possible as it's a big HA-trigger for me, but I do keep my yearly physical and get my Doc to check everything out for me. In fact I'm going in this week for him to look at a pre-existing mole on my back which has started to look darker. I plan to ask for a referral to a Derm, and will arrange for annual appointments with them too.

But I really think you're right - skin just changes over time. The vast, vast majority of moles, even new and/or weird-looking ones are benign and no cause for alarm. Of the few which actually are melanoma, the vast majority (I think over 90%) are caught early and cured by surgical excision alone. It's such a tiny percentage which become really serious.

Sounds like you're on top of your skin issues, so regardless of what this dot is (and I'm sure it's benign), it's going to be dealt with in plenty of time by a specialist! Good luck at your appointment!

[bertybotts]

One of my old Doctors had been a Dermatologist in another country before me migrated and became a family doc. He was an awesome resource to talk to about skin issues. I remember having a discussion with him about melanoma once. He said that in his career, the only melanoma he'd seen which was advanced and serious were the ones where people had ignored/not spotted really obvious changes until it was too late. In his words "once it had become a black, bleeding lump, only then would they would go to the Doctor".  I guess as someone with HA I cannot even imagine this, but I know there are people out there who either don't know, or don't even consider their skin health until something is obviously really wrong.

I think a little vigilance goes a long way with your skin. I have tried to get away from self-checking as much as possible as it's a big HA-trigger for me, but I do keep my yearly physical and get my Doc to check everything out for me. In fact I'm going in this week for him to look at a pre-existing mole on my back which has started to look darker. I plan to ask for a referral to a Derm, and will arrange for annual appointments with them too.

But I really think you're right - skin just changes over time. The vast, vast majority of moles, even new and/or weird-looking ones are benign and no cause for alarm. Of the few which actually are melanoma, the vast majority (I think over 90%) are caught early and cured by surgical excision alone. It's such a tiny percentage which become really serious.

Sounds like you're on top of your skin issues, so regardless of what this dot is (and I'm sure it's benign), it's going to be dealt with in plenty of time by a specialist! Good luck at your appointment!

Wow, love your post! Big hugs, thanks a ton!

I def. agree -- some people are like "what? SKIN cancer? What the heck is skin cancer? You mean this bleeding oozing sore that used to be a mole could be cancer?" - they really don't know!
I like my SPF and I like to wear hats, sweaters, sunscreen, etc. in the summer. My boyfriend is Mr. Pale As Can Be and has five trillion freckles and just being in the sun for 4.111385 seconds is enough to send him home with a scorched tan. So he is always pestering me about SPF :) I like that though, a good reminder!!

[sassparella]

At 1mm in size even if it were a melanoma it would be easily treated, but I think that the fact it's unchanged after 3 months is also a good sign. You're doing the right thing and seeing a dermatologist who will be able to put your mind at rest.

Good luck for the appointment :)

[mollyfin]

It's always good to be vigilant about moles and point out any that appear to be changing to your doctor, but what you're describing doesn't sound like anything but a mole to me.  Sometimes moles look weird.  I had one that the doctor thought might have some sketchy plans so he wanted it removed and biopsied just to be super-safe.  It was fine.

[bertybotts]

Thanks all!

I am working hard on totally playing it cool. I have 7 days left. Just recently it was 3 months to go! Now it's a week - nothing, right? It will fly by. No reason to panic!