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Bleeding mole
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Bleeding mole

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Bleeding mole

  • Post
    • December 23, 2017 at 2:04 am
    murnaloo
    Participant

      Hi all,

      Just looking for any similar experiences (and, to be honest, some reassurance).

      Yesterday I went for a run, then came home and took a shower. While drying my hair I noticed a mole on my left arm, just above my elbow, was bleeding. I was diagnosed with Stage Ib in April 2016 (a very thin melanoma) and had a WLE at that time.

      I live in London, where the health system moves very slowly, but I did get an appointment with my GP this morning. He admitted he is no expert in melanoma and because it had been bleeding it was inflamed and hard to get a good look at.

      I also managed to get an appointment with a private dermatologist this afternoon, who said essentially the same thing. He said he'd remove it for me, but can't until after the first of the year.

      I have an appointmet with another dermatologist (where I had my quarterly follow-ups for a year) on 3 January.

      All of these doctors have said waiting until 3 January is not a problem and with Christmas and New Year's coming up, I don't really have much choice.

      I'm particularly freaking out because since February I have told the dermatologists at my follow-ups that this mole didn't look right to me. Four different dermatologists have told me it's fine over the past six months. I was also just at the GP last week, seeing the GP who does specialise in dermatology, and he said the mole was fine (and it was not bleeding then). It is on the back of my arm, so I can't get a good look at it, I admit.

      I made the mistake of googling "bleeding mole" and am now having panic attacks. The dermatologist today said bleeding moles are more common than you'd think and don't have to mean melanoma. Of course, given my history, he said I should have the mole removed regardless. But, again, this won't happen until early January. I'm worried I will go crazy with anxiety before then. I am in the final nine months of my PhD and I have a lot of work to do in the upcoming weeks, but I can't focus when I'm so anxious and scared. I hate feeling like this.

      I don't want this to ruin my Christmas (or my husband's Christmas, as I've essentially cried since I spotted the mole bleeding yesterday).

      Does anyone have any advice or thoughts they'd be willing to share on how to cope and about what plan of action I should have?

      Thank you and happy holidays to all!

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    • Replies
        • December 23, 2017 at 1:20 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Beefing moles don't always mean cancer.  Given the location, it is easily possible that  something just irritated it.  Don't jump to conclusions.  And if you read about ulcerated moles, you must remember that ulceration is something seen at the microscopic level by a pathologist, not by naked eye.  Just get it taken care of.  It's not cancer until they say it is and researching and stressing now is just letting your imagination run away.

            • December 23, 2017 at 11:13 pm
            Dasupah14
            Participant
              First of all, internet exaggerates. Your mole will very probably be benign. Bleeding is extremely common as well as a mole changing in size, color or shape. The only thing is that internet tries to convince you to go to the doctor. Good luck
              • December 24, 2017 at 2:14 am
              murnaloo
              Participant

                Thank you for the words of reason. Typically I'm very level-headed, but this caught me off-guard. I will put the googling away for the holidays. Thanks again!

              • December 26, 2017 at 5:49 am
              MelanomaMike
              Participant

                Hello Murnaloo, My first diagnosis was a "bleeding Mole" on my left leg {knee area}  but mine was "Raised", Crusty and about the size of a dime {a dime is a ten cent coin here in the US} about 5/8's of an inch in diameter, it looked like a wart really. Well, in my case it was Melanoma, stage 3,  that was in 2008. Since then i have a total of 6 surgeries under my belt, all  tumors where all in same leg, different locations including lymphnodes {left groin}. Today its in my both lungs and im sucking up Pembrolizumab like crazy {my treatment} I hope this didnt scare you but, it is a reality, and it is for quite a few. Good luck & lets hope our Sister from across the Pond {you}  is gunna be okay…{Merry Christmas to!}

                • January 6, 2018 at 11:02 am
                murnaloo
                Participant

                  I saw the dermatologist this week. The mole has not bled since before Christmas. He said it looks fine, but I will still have it removed on the 22nd. Just because the doctor said it looks fine doesn’t mean it is. I was told another mike was fine for a year and that turned out to be a melanoma. The 22nd can’t get here fast enough. 

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