› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Childhood melanoma
- This topic has 30 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by
tbmorgan.
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- November 21, 2015 at 1:43 pm
My 6 year old son has a mole on his back that has changed in the last two months. He has Ben Sen by a dermatologist in the UK. The dermatologist was not a paediatric specialist. At the start of the appointment she told us that she thought it was fine and she would make an appointment for 12 months. Then changed her mind and he is now seeing a paediatric dermatologist in 3 months. I'm really worried. The mole is small but has a light pink area spreading around it. I'm not sure if I should get a second opinion or wait for the appointment in three months? Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
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- November 21, 2015 at 2:10 pm
If you ask a melanoma board, you will only get one response. Don't wait. We are not objective. It could be nothing, certainly. If it has changed in proportion to the child's growth, that is normal. But if there are significant changes, everyone here will say get seen sooner. Melanoma in children is rare and it doesn't have to be that at all. But why wait to find out?
Best Wishes
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- November 21, 2015 at 2:10 pm
If you ask a melanoma board, you will only get one response. Don't wait. We are not objective. It could be nothing, certainly. If it has changed in proportion to the child's growth, that is normal. But if there are significant changes, everyone here will say get seen sooner. Melanoma in children is rare and it doesn't have to be that at all. But why wait to find out?
Best Wishes
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- November 21, 2015 at 2:10 pm
If you ask a melanoma board, you will only get one response. Don't wait. We are not objective. It could be nothing, certainly. If it has changed in proportion to the child's growth, that is normal. But if there are significant changes, everyone here will say get seen sooner. Melanoma in children is rare and it doesn't have to be that at all. But why wait to find out?
Best Wishes
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- November 21, 2015 at 7:18 pm
Thank you. I appreciate that the people on this forum are mostly people who have/do suffer with melanoma. The thing is there isn't that much information here in the UK about how quickly it can develop. The mole has changed in the last two months so I think that is not along with usual child development or growth. Thank you for your reply. I think really I'm just thinking that the doctors will think I'm over reacting but better that than wait and it be something serious.
Thank you and best wishes to you xxx
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- November 21, 2015 at 7:18 pm
Thank you. I appreciate that the people on this forum are mostly people who have/do suffer with melanoma. The thing is there isn't that much information here in the UK about how quickly it can develop. The mole has changed in the last two months so I think that is not along with usual child development or growth. Thank you for your reply. I think really I'm just thinking that the doctors will think I'm over reacting but better that than wait and it be something serious.
Thank you and best wishes to you xxx
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- November 21, 2015 at 7:18 pm
Thank you. I appreciate that the people on this forum are mostly people who have/do suffer with melanoma. The thing is there isn't that much information here in the UK about how quickly it can develop. The mole has changed in the last two months so I think that is not along with usual child development or growth. Thank you for your reply. I think really I'm just thinking that the doctors will think I'm over reacting but better that than wait and it be something serious.
Thank you and best wishes to you xxx
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- November 21, 2015 at 8:15 pm
It could be a Spitz nevus — but those are very difficult to distinguish from melanoma even though they are totally benign. Spitz nevus in kids are common. Melanoma isn't. But the bottom line is — it has to be biopsied to know for certain.
I say overreact because in the melanoma community, we say look for CHANGE. If you're seeing significant change, then that isn't overreacting in my mind. That's reasonable suspicion. And if it comes back as nothing, you'll be better prepared in the future. And besides, your doc doesn't have to live with your decision, you do.
Let us know how it goes!
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- November 21, 2015 at 8:15 pm
It could be a Spitz nevus — but those are very difficult to distinguish from melanoma even though they are totally benign. Spitz nevus in kids are common. Melanoma isn't. But the bottom line is — it has to be biopsied to know for certain.
I say overreact because in the melanoma community, we say look for CHANGE. If you're seeing significant change, then that isn't overreacting in my mind. That's reasonable suspicion. And if it comes back as nothing, you'll be better prepared in the future. And besides, your doc doesn't have to live with your decision, you do.
Let us know how it goes!
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- November 21, 2015 at 8:15 pm
It could be a Spitz nevus — but those are very difficult to distinguish from melanoma even though they are totally benign. Spitz nevus in kids are common. Melanoma isn't. But the bottom line is — it has to be biopsied to know for certain.
I say overreact because in the melanoma community, we say look for CHANGE. If you're seeing significant change, then that isn't overreacting in my mind. That's reasonable suspicion. And if it comes back as nothing, you'll be better prepared in the future. And besides, your doc doesn't have to live with your decision, you do.
Let us know how it goes!
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- November 21, 2015 at 9:51 pm
It sounds like she is taking the approach that skin clinics here take – image, then check in three months to check for any change. Did she take an image (dermascopic image?). If not, then I would get a second opinion. The changes in my melanoma over three months were microscopic, not visible to the naked eye, only visible on a very high resolution dermascopic image where the .5mm freckle could be viewed on screen about dinner plate size, with every spot and dot visible inside. Look, don't worry – get that 2nd opinion asap and if in doubt, excise. A biopsy is no big deal.
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- November 21, 2015 at 9:51 pm
It sounds like she is taking the approach that skin clinics here take – image, then check in three months to check for any change. Did she take an image (dermascopic image?). If not, then I would get a second opinion. The changes in my melanoma over three months were microscopic, not visible to the naked eye, only visible on a very high resolution dermascopic image where the .5mm freckle could be viewed on screen about dinner plate size, with every spot and dot visible inside. Look, don't worry – get that 2nd opinion asap and if in doubt, excise. A biopsy is no big deal.
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- November 21, 2015 at 9:51 pm
It sounds like she is taking the approach that skin clinics here take – image, then check in three months to check for any change. Did she take an image (dermascopic image?). If not, then I would get a second opinion. The changes in my melanoma over three months were microscopic, not visible to the naked eye, only visible on a very high resolution dermascopic image where the .5mm freckle could be viewed on screen about dinner plate size, with every spot and dot visible inside. Look, don't worry – get that 2nd opinion asap and if in doubt, excise. A biopsy is no big deal.
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- November 22, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Hi there I live in UK and I do not want to worry you at all but give you my thoughts I was left over a year messing around with my GP saying my mole was nothing not go in to what she did but I went back 6 times finally got to a dermatologist they took it off and in a week I was there having further surgery. I was not convinced it was all clear but they said checks every three months for 5 years and if it comes back it will be in lymph nodes and they will get it. Was they wrong it must have seeded further deep or away from my original mole and after 4 years of checks and complaining of not feeling ok and discomfort at the bottom of my back they eventually did a scan. Well melanoma on lungs liver lymph nodes and else were . I was devastated after telling them at the beginning what if it had not gone. I do not trust them anymore and if I had done private scans myself which I was going too but they said no need to cus they would pick it up on checks who knows it might not have been as bad. I am 48 with 2 children and a loving husband and cannot bare the thought of not seeing my children grow up ect. I am now fighting for my life to be here. So my advice is if you not happy do not wait push for scans checks what ever needed and if in a position to pay private do so.
Hope this helps you just want you to be on top of your situation I wish I could turn back yhe clock and do what I wanted to do and not listen to advice I got at the time.
scooby123
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- November 22, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Hi there I live in UK and I do not want to worry you at all but give you my thoughts I was left over a year messing around with my GP saying my mole was nothing not go in to what she did but I went back 6 times finally got to a dermatologist they took it off and in a week I was there having further surgery. I was not convinced it was all clear but they said checks every three months for 5 years and if it comes back it will be in lymph nodes and they will get it. Was they wrong it must have seeded further deep or away from my original mole and after 4 years of checks and complaining of not feeling ok and discomfort at the bottom of my back they eventually did a scan. Well melanoma on lungs liver lymph nodes and else were . I was devastated after telling them at the beginning what if it had not gone. I do not trust them anymore and if I had done private scans myself which I was going too but they said no need to cus they would pick it up on checks who knows it might not have been as bad. I am 48 with 2 children and a loving husband and cannot bare the thought of not seeing my children grow up ect. I am now fighting for my life to be here. So my advice is if you not happy do not wait push for scans checks what ever needed and if in a position to pay private do so.
Hope this helps you just want you to be on top of your situation I wish I could turn back yhe clock and do what I wanted to do and not listen to advice I got at the time.
scooby123
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- November 22, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Hi there I live in UK and I do not want to worry you at all but give you my thoughts I was left over a year messing around with my GP saying my mole was nothing not go in to what she did but I went back 6 times finally got to a dermatologist they took it off and in a week I was there having further surgery. I was not convinced it was all clear but they said checks every three months for 5 years and if it comes back it will be in lymph nodes and they will get it. Was they wrong it must have seeded further deep or away from my original mole and after 4 years of checks and complaining of not feeling ok and discomfort at the bottom of my back they eventually did a scan. Well melanoma on lungs liver lymph nodes and else were . I was devastated after telling them at the beginning what if it had not gone. I do not trust them anymore and if I had done private scans myself which I was going too but they said no need to cus they would pick it up on checks who knows it might not have been as bad. I am 48 with 2 children and a loving husband and cannot bare the thought of not seeing my children grow up ect. I am now fighting for my life to be here. So my advice is if you not happy do not wait push for scans checks what ever needed and if in a position to pay private do so.
Hope this helps you just want you to be on top of your situation I wish I could turn back yhe clock and do what I wanted to do and not listen to advice I got at the time.
scooby123
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- November 24, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Hello,
I am a father of a 2 year old who was born with congenital metastatic melanoma. He is diagnosed as stage 4, but after his brain tumor was removed his condition has been limited to his skin.
He has 50 to 100 small moles on all his extremities, and the majority look like little pink round moles that would be normal for most people but not for him. I went to an adult dermatologist when TJ was 2 months old and he assured me that it would not be melanoma. 2 weeks later the biopsy of a mole on his leg came back postiive as melanoma. At the time he had the brain tumor and only one small mole on the calf of his leg.
I do no mean to scare you, but get the biopsy immediately. It is better to know than not know and melanoma acts very fast. My son had his brain tumor partially removed at 10 days old, and the entire thing grew back in less than two months, and we did it all over again.
My view is that knowledge is power and knowing what that mole is as soon as possible is very important. Please have a biopsy and let us know how it goes.
Respectfully,
Tobin
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- November 24, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Hello,
I am a father of a 2 year old who was born with congenital metastatic melanoma. He is diagnosed as stage 4, but after his brain tumor was removed his condition has been limited to his skin.
He has 50 to 100 small moles on all his extremities, and the majority look like little pink round moles that would be normal for most people but not for him. I went to an adult dermatologist when TJ was 2 months old and he assured me that it would not be melanoma. 2 weeks later the biopsy of a mole on his leg came back postiive as melanoma. At the time he had the brain tumor and only one small mole on the calf of his leg.
I do no mean to scare you, but get the biopsy immediately. It is better to know than not know and melanoma acts very fast. My son had his brain tumor partially removed at 10 days old, and the entire thing grew back in less than two months, and we did it all over again.
My view is that knowledge is power and knowing what that mole is as soon as possible is very important. Please have a biopsy and let us know how it goes.
Respectfully,
Tobin
-
- November 24, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Hello,
I am a father of a 2 year old who was born with congenital metastatic melanoma. He is diagnosed as stage 4, but after his brain tumor was removed his condition has been limited to his skin.
He has 50 to 100 small moles on all his extremities, and the majority look like little pink round moles that would be normal for most people but not for him. I went to an adult dermatologist when TJ was 2 months old and he assured me that it would not be melanoma. 2 weeks later the biopsy of a mole on his leg came back postiive as melanoma. At the time he had the brain tumor and only one small mole on the calf of his leg.
I do no mean to scare you, but get the biopsy immediately. It is better to know than not know and melanoma acts very fast. My son had his brain tumor partially removed at 10 days old, and the entire thing grew back in less than two months, and we did it all over again.
My view is that knowledge is power and knowing what that mole is as soon as possible is very important. Please have a biopsy and let us know how it goes.
Respectfully,
Tobin
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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