› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Could I have melanoma?
- This topic has 24 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 3 months ago by
MakennaP.
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- August 19, 2015 at 5:51 pm
I'm a 17 year old female. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. About a year ago, this mark showed up on my wrist. It was extremely itchy. After a lot of research, I realized it looked like a melanoma. It was asymmetrical, multicolored (brown, black, and a dark red color), had a ragged border, and was slightly raised. The skin around it was really red. I had multiple people tell me to get it checked out because it looked like a melanoma. But after a few weeks, I scratched it off, so I kind of just forgot about it. I've read that it is possible to scratch them off, but Ive also read that it isn't. There is now a light tan scar on my wrist where it was.
Now, a year later, I haven't been feeling well. I noticed a painful lump in my left side, right below my ribs. I went to urgent care and the doctor said it's most likely a swollen lymph node. She didn't feel any other swollen lymph nodes. The day after I went to urgent care, I found a swollen lymph node in my neck. I also have a sore on my on my scalp that has been there for about 6 months and won't heal. It bleeds a lot and is sort of crusty. I didn't think it could be related, but after doing more research the past few days, I found out that many people who have melanoma have sores that don't heal. This is every symptom I've had in the past month or so: Headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, severe fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, pain between shoulder blades, pain in lower back, and sore legs when walking, even short distances. I've had a low-grade fever for a week. I've also been coughing occasionally and experiencing shortness of breath. My symptoms have gotten much worse over the past week. I've been staying up all night, vomiting. I also had a nosebleed that started out of nowhere, though I don't know how that could be related. The doctor didn't do anything about this, except tell me to keep an eye on the lump in my side.
This was taken when I first noticed it.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPBZ0SaBxINzI-g_fp-DKf6I7aDxquPiEgtvAto
This was taken a few days before a scratched it off.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOpewPRlmgkNoTCXe3Zkg0g2WvFPdaNAPON-2CY
- Replies
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- August 19, 2015 at 6:08 pm
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- August 19, 2015 at 6:08 pm
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- August 19, 2015 at 6:08 pm
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- August 19, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Hi,
From everything you have said you really need to get in and see a good doctor ASAP. I say this based on the issues you have on your scalp and the previous mole you scratched off and what you've said about it. A good dermatologist can look at your scalp talk to you about it and do a punch biopsy the same day.
Sometimes URGENT care doctors are the best to see. If you have a primary doctor make an appointment ASAP and get into seem them. They can get you a referral if you need one and help you get a need biopsy order to ally your fears and confirm what exactly is going on with you.
Also, talk to your parents about this and your fears. They, or another family member, can help you move things along if you start to feel overwhelmed and should come to you to the appointments.
Keep in my that this could be something other than cancer, but that you do need to have issues like you have described with your skin and lymph nodes checked out ASAP. Ignoring things like this could have significant consequences…
Keep us posted on what you find.
Good Luck,
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- August 19, 2015 at 11:31 pm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/134851688@N02/?
Here's the link to to my flickr. I posted the pictures. I wasn't sure of how to post pictures on here. My first time posting on a forum. Lol. I hope you can see them this time.
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- August 19, 2015 at 11:31 pm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/134851688@N02/?
Here's the link to to my flickr. I posted the pictures. I wasn't sure of how to post pictures on here. My first time posting on a forum. Lol. I hope you can see them this time.
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- August 19, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Hi!
I would strongly recommend that you see a dermatologist asap! While we can't diagnose you, seek treatment. It is better to be safe than sorry. I had a mole that I have lived with for my entire life. I delayed seeking treatment for a year because it looked normal. I am now stage 3a amelanotic melanoma. It is better to be safe, then sorry. I wish you the best of luck!
Kathy
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- August 19, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Hi!
I would strongly recommend that you see a dermatologist asap! While we can't diagnose you, seek treatment. It is better to be safe than sorry. I had a mole that I have lived with for my entire life. I delayed seeking treatment for a year because it looked normal. I am now stage 3a amelanotic melanoma. It is better to be safe, then sorry. I wish you the best of luck!
Kathy
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- August 26, 2015 at 11:08 am
I think you really need an advice of a good doctor asap. Melanoma is considered as a cancer, which develops in melanocytes i.e. the pigment cells occur in the skin. It is estimated that every year more than 50,000 new cases of melanoma diagnoses occur in the United States. The only way to confirm whether your suspicious looking mole or spot is a melanoma or not is being tested. Doctor will generally recommend diagnostic excision (a type of skin biopsy) in which the excision skin sample are removed to examined under a microscope. It will be helpful in confirming whether you have a disease or not.
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- August 27, 2015 at 7:20 am
I went to my doctor a week ago. She prescribed Prilosec for my stomach pains, but it’s not doing anything. I’m still vomiting and I’ve completely lost my appetite. I went 3 days without eating, and when I finally ate yesterday, I couldn’t keep it down. She also prescribed Keflex because I had a lot of mucus, but that isn’t doing much either. My lymph nodes are still swollen, no pain. Two more lymph nodes have swelled up since I saw my doctor. She said to wait two weeks to see if the medications start working. If I’m still feeling sick in a week, I have to go back for further testing. -
- August 27, 2015 at 7:28 am
She also tested for strep throat and mono. Both came back negative. The thing that keeps running through my mind is I have melanoma and it spread to my lymph nodes and my stomach. I’m just playing the waiting game with these medications to see if they end up helping. -
- August 27, 2015 at 7:28 am
She also tested for strep throat and mono. Both came back negative. The thing that keeps running through my mind is I have melanoma and it spread to my lymph nodes and my stomach. I’m just playing the waiting game with these medications to see if they end up helping. -
- August 27, 2015 at 7:28 am
She also tested for strep throat and mono. Both came back negative. The thing that keeps running through my mind is I have melanoma and it spread to my lymph nodes and my stomach. I’m just playing the waiting game with these medications to see if they end up helping. -
- August 27, 2015 at 7:20 am
I went to my doctor a week ago. She prescribed Prilosec for my stomach pains, but it’s not doing anything. I’m still vomiting and I’ve completely lost my appetite. I went 3 days without eating, and when I finally ate yesterday, I couldn’t keep it down. She also prescribed Keflex because I had a lot of mucus, but that isn’t doing much either. My lymph nodes are still swollen, no pain. Two more lymph nodes have swelled up since I saw my doctor. She said to wait two weeks to see if the medications start working. If I’m still feeling sick in a week, I have to go back for further testing. -
- August 27, 2015 at 7:20 am
I went to my doctor a week ago. She prescribed Prilosec for my stomach pains, but it’s not doing anything. I’m still vomiting and I’ve completely lost my appetite. I went 3 days without eating, and when I finally ate yesterday, I couldn’t keep it down. She also prescribed Keflex because I had a lot of mucus, but that isn’t doing much either. My lymph nodes are still swollen, no pain. Two more lymph nodes have swelled up since I saw my doctor. She said to wait two weeks to see if the medications start working. If I’m still feeling sick in a week, I have to go back for further testing. -
- August 26, 2015 at 11:08 am
I think you really need an advice of a good doctor asap. Melanoma is considered as a cancer, which develops in melanocytes i.e. the pigment cells occur in the skin. It is estimated that every year more than 50,000 new cases of melanoma diagnoses occur in the United States. The only way to confirm whether your suspicious looking mole or spot is a melanoma or not is being tested. Doctor will generally recommend diagnostic excision (a type of skin biopsy) in which the excision skin sample are removed to examined under a microscope. It will be helpful in confirming whether you have a disease or not.
-
- August 26, 2015 at 11:08 am
I think you really need an advice of a good doctor asap. Melanoma is considered as a cancer, which develops in melanocytes i.e. the pigment cells occur in the skin. It is estimated that every year more than 50,000 new cases of melanoma diagnoses occur in the United States. The only way to confirm whether your suspicious looking mole or spot is a melanoma or not is being tested. Doctor will generally recommend diagnostic excision (a type of skin biopsy) in which the excision skin sample are removed to examined under a microscope. It will be helpful in confirming whether you have a disease or not.
-
- August 19, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Hi!
I would strongly recommend that you see a dermatologist asap! While we can't diagnose you, seek treatment. It is better to be safe than sorry. I had a mole that I have lived with for my entire life. I delayed seeking treatment for a year because it looked normal. I am now stage 3a amelanotic melanoma. It is better to be safe, then sorry. I wish you the best of luck!
Kathy
-
- August 19, 2015 at 11:31 pm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/134851688@N02/?
Here's the link to to my flickr. I posted the pictures. I wasn't sure of how to post pictures on here. My first time posting on a forum. Lol. I hope you can see them this time.
-
- August 19, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Hi,
From everything you have said you really need to get in and see a good doctor ASAP. I say this based on the issues you have on your scalp and the previous mole you scratched off and what you've said about it. A good dermatologist can look at your scalp talk to you about it and do a punch biopsy the same day.
Sometimes URGENT care doctors are the best to see. If you have a primary doctor make an appointment ASAP and get into seem them. They can get you a referral if you need one and help you get a need biopsy order to ally your fears and confirm what exactly is going on with you.
Also, talk to your parents about this and your fears. They, or another family member, can help you move things along if you start to feel overwhelmed and should come to you to the appointments.
Keep in my that this could be something other than cancer, but that you do need to have issues like you have described with your skin and lymph nodes checked out ASAP. Ignoring things like this could have significant consequences…
Keep us posted on what you find.
Good Luck,
-
- August 19, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Hi,
From everything you have said you really need to get in and see a good doctor ASAP. I say this based on the issues you have on your scalp and the previous mole you scratched off and what you've said about it. A good dermatologist can look at your scalp talk to you about it and do a punch biopsy the same day.
Sometimes URGENT care doctors are the best to see. If you have a primary doctor make an appointment ASAP and get into seem them. They can get you a referral if you need one and help you get a need biopsy order to ally your fears and confirm what exactly is going on with you.
Also, talk to your parents about this and your fears. They, or another family member, can help you move things along if you start to feel overwhelmed and should come to you to the appointments.
Keep in my that this could be something other than cancer, but that you do need to have issues like you have described with your skin and lymph nodes checked out ASAP. Ignoring things like this could have significant consequences…
Keep us posted on what you find.
Good Luck,
-
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