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Atypical melanocytic hyperplasia
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Atypical melanocytic hyperplasia

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Atypical melanocytic hyperplasia

  • Post
    • December 29, 2015 at 4:59 pm
    Donnasue0611
    Participant

      Hey guys. I'm new here. My son has had several severely atypicals removed (he's 15)…and we had another removed yesterday. I understand his. I know what to look for now and I even have pointed out several to my Derm who agreed that they needed to go. 

       

      I had a mole removed that bothered me. I picked at it several times (I know bad idea)…and this last time it grew back darker and stung a bit. It also looked very few around it periodically throughout the day. My Derm said it looked okay but he always takes off what I want. It was perfectly round but was elevated. It came back as "severely atypical melanocytic hyperplasia" which my Derm says isn't melanoma or melanoma in situ…but the step before it. 

       

      Many questions. What do I look for in these lesions to insure that I don't have more?  How close to melanoma is it?  Do all melanomas cause some sort of discomfort???  Or  not?

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • December 29, 2015 at 11:06 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Watch for CHANGE.  That's more important than anything.  Melanoma is not a cut and dried diagnosis, it's a bunch of factors added up to give a final diagnosis.  Severely dysplastic lesions has some factors that are starting to look like melanoma, but not enough.  There is no way to know if the lesion would have ever progressed to melanoma although severely dysplastic lesions have a higher risk than other dysplastic lesions. 

          Some people have itching with their melanomas.  I had 3 with absolutely no physical discomfort.  All had changed and that is the #1 criteria I use for removal.  No change, it stays.  Changing, it goes.  Changing moles don't have to be melanoma, they are just higher risk.

          Take pictures and watch for change – that's the best advice I can give anyone to help monitor their own moles!

            • December 30, 2015 at 3:46 am
            Donnasue0611
            Participant

              Thank you for your reply!  Could my picking at this mole made it progress toward melanoma?  Also, I'm pregnant…do hormones play a part in melanoma?

              • December 30, 2015 at 5:12 am
              Janner
              Participant

                Both trauma and pregnancy can cause moles to change but there is no way to know if either could make a lesion change toward melanoma.  Pregnancy and pregnancy hormones will definitely cause moles to change but there is conflicting evidence if the hormones feed melanoma.  That's a whole separate topic.  There are people who have had trauma to a mole and it has later become melanoma but I think that's more an exception than a rule.  Bottom line, don't pick moles and watch for changing moles carefully – especially while pregnant!

                • December 30, 2015 at 5:12 am
                Janner
                Participant

                  Both trauma and pregnancy can cause moles to change but there is no way to know if either could make a lesion change toward melanoma.  Pregnancy and pregnancy hormones will definitely cause moles to change but there is conflicting evidence if the hormones feed melanoma.  That's a whole separate topic.  There are people who have had trauma to a mole and it has later become melanoma but I think that's more an exception than a rule.  Bottom line, don't pick moles and watch for changing moles carefully – especially while pregnant!

                  • December 30, 2015 at 5:12 am
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    Both trauma and pregnancy can cause moles to change but there is no way to know if either could make a lesion change toward melanoma.  Pregnancy and pregnancy hormones will definitely cause moles to change but there is conflicting evidence if the hormones feed melanoma.  That's a whole separate topic.  There are people who have had trauma to a mole and it has later become melanoma but I think that's more an exception than a rule.  Bottom line, don't pick moles and watch for changing moles carefully – especially while pregnant!

                    • December 30, 2015 at 3:46 am
                    Donnasue0611
                    Participant

                      Thank you for your reply!  Could my picking at this mole made it progress toward melanoma?  Also, I'm pregnant…do hormones play a part in melanoma?

                      • December 30, 2015 at 3:46 am
                      Donnasue0611
                      Participant

                        Thank you for your reply!  Could my picking at this mole made it progress toward melanoma?  Also, I'm pregnant…do hormones play a part in melanoma?

                      • December 29, 2015 at 11:06 pm
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Watch for CHANGE.  That's more important than anything.  Melanoma is not a cut and dried diagnosis, it's a bunch of factors added up to give a final diagnosis.  Severely dysplastic lesions has some factors that are starting to look like melanoma, but not enough.  There is no way to know if the lesion would have ever progressed to melanoma although severely dysplastic lesions have a higher risk than other dysplastic lesions. 

                        Some people have itching with their melanomas.  I had 3 with absolutely no physical discomfort.  All had changed and that is the #1 criteria I use for removal.  No change, it stays.  Changing, it goes.  Changing moles don't have to be melanoma, they are just higher risk.

                        Take pictures and watch for change – that's the best advice I can give anyone to help monitor their own moles!

                        • December 29, 2015 at 11:06 pm
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Watch for CHANGE.  That's more important than anything.  Melanoma is not a cut and dried diagnosis, it's a bunch of factors added up to give a final diagnosis.  Severely dysplastic lesions has some factors that are starting to look like melanoma, but not enough.  There is no way to know if the lesion would have ever progressed to melanoma although severely dysplastic lesions have a higher risk than other dysplastic lesions. 

                          Some people have itching with their melanomas.  I had 3 with absolutely no physical discomfort.  All had changed and that is the #1 criteria I use for removal.  No change, it stays.  Changing, it goes.  Changing moles don't have to be melanoma, they are just higher risk.

                          Take pictures and watch for change – that's the best advice I can give anyone to help monitor their own moles!

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