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Can Atypical Moles Regress?
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Can Atypical Moles Regress?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Can Atypical Moles Regress?

  • Post
    • November 11, 2015 at 7:34 am
    RobGoldsmith
    Participant

      I have a mole which has regressed.. well this is what my GPs think.

      I went to see a GP who has a specialist field in Dermotology, he used a dermoscope on all of my moles (I have a lot). He then found this mole which is half pink, probably almost 3/4ths pink. 

      The GP thinks it is a benign atypical mole which has regressed. He is having me sent to a derm on Monday to have it cut out however. I have looked online fort days and I can hardly find any cases of a benign mole regressing on someone in their early 30s. 

       

      Literally everything I read says melanoma. Why are there no reports of images of an atypical mole regressing right back? It must have been doing it for 6 months plus. 

      🙁

      [img]http://www.robsastrophotography.co.uk/mole.jpg[/img]

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 11, 2015 at 6:53 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Regression is a normal process for regular moles.  It's not uncommon to die at an old age without any moles – they all regressed.  If the mole wasn't worrisome before it started regressing, then it's unlikely to be a problem.  I have had a couple of moles regress and I didn't biopsy them because they didn't bother me prior to regression.  You don't see much in the way of articles discussing normal regression because it doesn't really impact life or prognosis.  It's normal.  But with melanoma, it has different Implications so that's what you'll find researching.

          • November 11, 2015 at 6:53 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Regression is a normal process for regular moles.  It's not uncommon to die at an old age without any moles – they all regressed.  If the mole wasn't worrisome before it started regressing, then it's unlikely to be a problem.  I have had a couple of moles regress and I didn't biopsy them because they didn't bother me prior to regression.  You don't see much in the way of articles discussing normal regression because it doesn't really impact life or prognosis.  It's normal.  But with melanoma, it has different Implications so that's what you'll find researching.

              • November 13, 2015 at 12:35 pm
              swissie
              Participant

                Janner, can I ask you something?

                What does it mean if an atypical mole regresses? Does that mean it changes from Atypical back to a normal mole? Mine was "strongly regressive".
                Thanks for your help,

                • November 13, 2015 at 12:41 pm
                swissie
                Participant

                  Sorry I was unclear.

                  I had a mole removed. It was said to be strongly regressive atypical.
                  Is that from atypical to normal?
                  Or can it have been from melanoma to atypical and even maybe further back from melanoma to normal?

                  Thanks

                  • November 13, 2015 at 6:40 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    Regression doesn't have anything to do with how atypical a melanocyte is.  Regression is when the body's immune system attacks (destroys) cells.  It doesn't matter if the melanocyte is totally normal, atypical or melanoma.  The immune system thinks the cell is a problem and attacks it.

                    • November 13, 2015 at 6:40 pm
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      Regression doesn't have anything to do with how atypical a melanocyte is.  Regression is when the body's immune system attacks (destroys) cells.  It doesn't matter if the melanocyte is totally normal, atypical or melanoma.  The immune system thinks the cell is a problem and attacks it.

                      • November 13, 2015 at 6:40 pm
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Regression doesn't have anything to do with how atypical a melanocyte is.  Regression is when the body's immune system attacks (destroys) cells.  It doesn't matter if the melanocyte is totally normal, atypical or melanoma.  The immune system thinks the cell is a problem and attacks it.

                        • November 16, 2015 at 8:54 am
                        swissie
                        Participant

                          thank you so much for your explanation.
                          So regression is good!

                          • November 16, 2015 at 8:54 am
                          swissie
                          Participant

                            thank you so much for your explanation.
                            So regression is good!

                            • November 16, 2015 at 6:10 pm
                            Janner
                            Participant

                              Regression is a double edged  sword – especially when it comes to melanoma.  Because the body has destroyed part/all of the lesion, you don't know the original depth or if the body missed some cells and they decided to travel before all the cells were attacked.  Staging is more difficult.   People with unknown primaries are thought to have had melanoma moles that totally regressed.  But you can also have something like vitiligo where the body attacks normal melanocytes and you lose the pigment color on your skin.  Totally benign (although not cosmetically desirable unless you are Michael Jackson) example.  Regression is a bit of a wild card.

                              • November 16, 2015 at 6:10 pm
                              Janner
                              Participant

                                Regression is a double edged  sword – especially when it comes to melanoma.  Because the body has destroyed part/all of the lesion, you don't know the original depth or if the body missed some cells and they decided to travel before all the cells were attacked.  Staging is more difficult.   People with unknown primaries are thought to have had melanoma moles that totally regressed.  But you can also have something like vitiligo where the body attacks normal melanocytes and you lose the pigment color on your skin.  Totally benign (although not cosmetically desirable unless you are Michael Jackson) example.  Regression is a bit of a wild card.

                                • November 16, 2015 at 6:10 pm
                                Janner
                                Participant

                                  Regression is a double edged  sword – especially when it comes to melanoma.  Because the body has destroyed part/all of the lesion, you don't know the original depth or if the body missed some cells and they decided to travel before all the cells were attacked.  Staging is more difficult.   People with unknown primaries are thought to have had melanoma moles that totally regressed.  But you can also have something like vitiligo where the body attacks normal melanocytes and you lose the pigment color on your skin.  Totally benign (although not cosmetically desirable unless you are Michael Jackson) example.  Regression is a bit of a wild card.

                                  • November 16, 2015 at 8:54 am
                                  swissie
                                  Participant

                                    thank you so much for your explanation.
                                    So regression is good!

                                    • November 13, 2015 at 12:41 pm
                                    swissie
                                    Participant

                                      Sorry I was unclear.

                                      I had a mole removed. It was said to be strongly regressive atypical.
                                      Is that from atypical to normal?
                                      Or can it have been from melanoma to atypical and even maybe further back from melanoma to normal?

                                      Thanks

                                      • November 13, 2015 at 12:41 pm
                                      swissie
                                      Participant

                                        Sorry I was unclear.

                                        I had a mole removed. It was said to be strongly regressive atypical.
                                        Is that from atypical to normal?
                                        Or can it have been from melanoma to atypical and even maybe further back from melanoma to normal?

                                        Thanks

                                        • November 13, 2015 at 12:35 pm
                                        swissie
                                        Participant

                                          Janner, can I ask you something?

                                          What does it mean if an atypical mole regresses? Does that mean it changes from Atypical back to a normal mole? Mine was "strongly regressive".
                                          Thanks for your help,

                                          • November 13, 2015 at 12:35 pm
                                          swissie
                                          Participant

                                            Janner, can I ask you something?

                                            What does it mean if an atypical mole regresses? Does that mean it changes from Atypical back to a normal mole? Mine was "strongly regressive".
                                            Thanks for your help,

                                          • November 11, 2015 at 6:53 pm
                                          Janner
                                          Participant

                                            Regression is a normal process for regular moles.  It's not uncommon to die at an old age without any moles – they all regressed.  If the mole wasn't worrisome before it started regressing, then it's unlikely to be a problem.  I have had a couple of moles regress and I didn't biopsy them because they didn't bother me prior to regression.  You don't see much in the way of articles discussing normal regression because it doesn't really impact life or prognosis.  It's normal.  But with melanoma, it has different Implications so that's what you'll find researching.

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