› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Could this be melanoma?
- This topic has 36 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by
aklabow.
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- November 19, 2012 at 12:58 am
I noticed this new mole, maybe 6 months ago. It's been the same. It is probably like, 1mm in size. Absolutely TINY. This pic was taken with a really high def camera.
It has these 3 little black dots in it (they are barely visible with the naked eye, you really need to straaain to see them, probably 1/3 of a milimeter? 1/4 of a mm). It hasn't grown, in my opinion.
Do you think this is cause for concern? I don't have any moles like it, but I am worried.
Time for doctor, or no big deal?
picture.
http://i47.tinypic.com/34h9ymu.jpg
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- November 19, 2012 at 1:57 am
There is no way to know for sure by just "looking". If it is concerning to you, then that probably is reason enough to get it biopsied. My criteria is change for the worst – and if that is changing, I would have it biopsied. Even changing moles don't have to be melanoma, but they are more concerning.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- November 19, 2012 at 1:57 am
There is no way to know for sure by just "looking". If it is concerning to you, then that probably is reason enough to get it biopsied. My criteria is change for the worst – and if that is changing, I would have it biopsied. Even changing moles don't have to be melanoma, but they are more concerning.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:00 am
If I go to the clinic tomorrow can they do it for me there, or will they say just to wait, or go to a derm? I've had a whopping big mole removed. It looked SEVERELY atypical, like a huge melanoma and it came back 100% clean as a whistle, not a single bit of atypical-ness in the biopsy.
I don't mind going to a dermatologist but I hate the stress and worry of waiting.
In your opinion should i be worried?
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:00 am
If I go to the clinic tomorrow can they do it for me there, or will they say just to wait, or go to a derm? I've had a whopping big mole removed. It looked SEVERELY atypical, like a huge melanoma and it came back 100% clean as a whistle, not a single bit of atypical-ness in the biopsy.
I don't mind going to a dermatologist but I hate the stress and worry of waiting.
In your opinion should i be worried?
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:27 am
No clue on whether a clinic will do a biopsy now or later. Definitely depends on the clinic since all are run differently. Since it is so tiny, a punch biopsy could be done. As for worry, I wouldn't be worried. Even if this were melanoma, I believe it would be an extremely early one. But the only way to know for sure is to have it removed. The question is this – would you be more worried leaving it on your body than having it removed? Having it biopsied constitutes a week or so of worry waiting for the pathology. Just watching it means you get to imagine if it is harmful or not with no end in sight. So I'd say do the biopsy and get it out of there to prevent further worry.
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:27 am
No clue on whether a clinic will do a biopsy now or later. Definitely depends on the clinic since all are run differently. Since it is so tiny, a punch biopsy could be done. As for worry, I wouldn't be worried. Even if this were melanoma, I believe it would be an extremely early one. But the only way to know for sure is to have it removed. The question is this – would you be more worried leaving it on your body than having it removed? Having it biopsied constitutes a week or so of worry waiting for the pathology. Just watching it means you get to imagine if it is harmful or not with no end in sight. So I'd say do the biopsy and get it out of there to prevent further worry.
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:35 am
You think this would be really early stage I, if anything? I am not panicking thinking I am going to drop dead of cancer today but at the same time, I am worried that it isn't 100% typical. Then again, a lot of my moles are kinda funny but all of them seem to be totally fine. This just emerged one day. I only noticed the fact it is made of 3 tiny dots because I looked really really really closely. Of course the picture shows it plain and clear but that is a super high resolution image blown up to the size of my 23 inch monitor, lol.
I will definitley ask the clinic if they could consider removing it for me.
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:35 am
You think this would be really early stage I, if anything? I am not panicking thinking I am going to drop dead of cancer today but at the same time, I am worried that it isn't 100% typical. Then again, a lot of my moles are kinda funny but all of them seem to be totally fine. This just emerged one day. I only noticed the fact it is made of 3 tiny dots because I looked really really really closely. Of course the picture shows it plain and clear but that is a super high resolution image blown up to the size of my 23 inch monitor, lol.
I will definitley ask the clinic if they could consider removing it for me.
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:58 am
Hi Tommy, I showed my husband Peck the picture of your mole. He is a dermatologist. He said you should definitely have it looked at. Preferably by a dermatologist with a dermatoscope. If that is not possible, he said just have them take it off. He said the chances are good it will be an atypical mole, but best to have it checked out or taken off and biopsied. Let us know what happens, I also have lots of strange looking moles and had my first atypical this year at the age of 45. Hope this helps! Melissa
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:58 am
Hi Tommy, I showed my husband Peck the picture of your mole. He is a dermatologist. He said you should definitely have it looked at. Preferably by a dermatologist with a dermatoscope. If that is not possible, he said just have them take it off. He said the chances are good it will be an atypical mole, but best to have it checked out or taken off and biopsied. Let us know what happens, I also have lots of strange looking moles and had my first atypical this year at the age of 45. Hope this helps! Melissa
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:58 am
Hi Tommy, I showed my husband Peck the picture of your mole. He is a dermatologist. He said you should definitely have it looked at. Preferably by a dermatologist with a dermatoscope. If that is not possible, he said just have them take it off. He said the chances are good it will be an atypical mole, but best to have it checked out or taken off and biopsied. Let us know what happens, I also have lots of strange looking moles and had my first atypical this year at the age of 45. Hope this helps! Melissa
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:35 am
You think this would be really early stage I, if anything? I am not panicking thinking I am going to drop dead of cancer today but at the same time, I am worried that it isn't 100% typical. Then again, a lot of my moles are kinda funny but all of them seem to be totally fine. This just emerged one day. I only noticed the fact it is made of 3 tiny dots because I looked really really really closely. Of course the picture shows it plain and clear but that is a super high resolution image blown up to the size of my 23 inch monitor, lol.
I will definitley ask the clinic if they could consider removing it for me.
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:27 am
No clue on whether a clinic will do a biopsy now or later. Definitely depends on the clinic since all are run differently. Since it is so tiny, a punch biopsy could be done. As for worry, I wouldn't be worried. Even if this were melanoma, I believe it would be an extremely early one. But the only way to know for sure is to have it removed. The question is this – would you be more worried leaving it on your body than having it removed? Having it biopsied constitutes a week or so of worry waiting for the pathology. Just watching it means you get to imagine if it is harmful or not with no end in sight. So I'd say do the biopsy and get it out of there to prevent further worry.
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- November 19, 2012 at 2:00 am
If I go to the clinic tomorrow can they do it for me there, or will they say just to wait, or go to a derm? I've had a whopping big mole removed. It looked SEVERELY atypical, like a huge melanoma and it came back 100% clean as a whistle, not a single bit of atypical-ness in the biopsy.
I don't mind going to a dermatologist but I hate the stress and worry of waiting.
In your opinion should i be worried?
-
- November 19, 2012 at 1:57 am
There is no way to know for sure by just "looking". If it is concerning to you, then that probably is reason enough to get it biopsied. My criteria is change for the worst – and if that is changing, I would have it biopsied. Even changing moles don't have to be melanoma, but they are more concerning.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- November 19, 2012 at 3:16 am
The fact that you found this forum and took the time to photograph the mole and upload the photo means to me that you are concerned about it. Why NOT get it removed? If you are worried about looking like a hysterical worry-wort, you are NOT! If it's any help, my husband has a lot of freckles. He got a sunburn one day. The next day he saw a black speck in one of the freckles on his forearm. He had it biopsied right away and it was melanoma-in-situ. He had a wide local excision (WLE) and had no more trouble. That was 17 years ago. Good thing he wasn't concerned about looking like a hysterical worry-wort, right?!
There are scores of people on this forum who were told that their lesion was "nothing to worry about" and look where they are now? No. Trust yourself. If it concerns you, get it removed.
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- November 19, 2012 at 3:16 am
The fact that you found this forum and took the time to photograph the mole and upload the photo means to me that you are concerned about it. Why NOT get it removed? If you are worried about looking like a hysterical worry-wort, you are NOT! If it's any help, my husband has a lot of freckles. He got a sunburn one day. The next day he saw a black speck in one of the freckles on his forearm. He had it biopsied right away and it was melanoma-in-situ. He had a wide local excision (WLE) and had no more trouble. That was 17 years ago. Good thing he wasn't concerned about looking like a hysterical worry-wort, right?!
There are scores of people on this forum who were told that their lesion was "nothing to worry about" and look where they are now? No. Trust yourself. If it concerns you, get it removed.
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- November 19, 2012 at 4:09 am
Hey, thanks for the reply. I know I worry but I'd rather be safe than sorry. It is soooo small tho and I had one that was gigantic removed. It was like 2 cm big. And it came back a-okay! Looked damn like melanoma too, atypical, hideous, blotchy, scaly… and the derm said it performed beautifully in the biopsy. Weird!!!
But this is new, it's been here for about 6 months maybe more. I figure it is probably ok but since it's soooo damn small I may as well give it the boot. Would you worry? Do you think a walk in clinic can hack it off? I don't even know if stitches are POSSIBLE in such a small wound. It's a mm big! I'm fairly sure I have scratched and cut myself deeper in my life than this tiny speck.
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- November 19, 2012 at 4:09 am
Hey, thanks for the reply. I know I worry but I'd rather be safe than sorry. It is soooo small tho and I had one that was gigantic removed. It was like 2 cm big. And it came back a-okay! Looked damn like melanoma too, atypical, hideous, blotchy, scaly… and the derm said it performed beautifully in the biopsy. Weird!!!
But this is new, it's been here for about 6 months maybe more. I figure it is probably ok but since it's soooo damn small I may as well give it the boot. Would you worry? Do you think a walk in clinic can hack it off? I don't even know if stitches are POSSIBLE in such a small wound. It's a mm big! I'm fairly sure I have scratched and cut myself deeper in my life than this tiny speck.
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- November 19, 2012 at 5:43 am
Since my husband and my brother have both had melanoma, I have learned the importance having a punch biopsy instead of a shave biopsy and of determining the Breslow depth. Are you certain that the clinic is able to do that correctly? Personally, I'd go to a dermatologist experienced with melanoma (not face lifts).
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- November 19, 2012 at 5:43 am
Since my husband and my brother have both had melanoma, I have learned the importance having a punch biopsy instead of a shave biopsy and of determining the Breslow depth. Are you certain that the clinic is able to do that correctly? Personally, I'd go to a dermatologist experienced with melanoma (not face lifts).
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- November 19, 2012 at 5:46 am
If they cut it out, that should be fine. I had a dermatologist cut my big mole out just fine. I am assuming since this is 1/10th of the size of that one, the clinic could do it?
I am not sure if I am supposed to be worried or not… It is just soooo sooo sooooooooo small you wouldn't even notice it, honestly. If it was on another part of my body that isn't my chest (where it is, or arms/legs) there is just no humanly possible way I'd ever see it with my own eyes.
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- November 19, 2012 at 5:46 am
If they cut it out, that should be fine. I had a dermatologist cut my big mole out just fine. I am assuming since this is 1/10th of the size of that one, the clinic could do it?
I am not sure if I am supposed to be worried or not… It is just soooo sooo sooooooooo small you wouldn't even notice it, honestly. If it was on another part of my body that isn't my chest (where it is, or arms/legs) there is just no humanly possible way I'd ever see it with my own eyes.
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- November 19, 2012 at 5:46 am
If they cut it out, that should be fine. I had a dermatologist cut my big mole out just fine. I am assuming since this is 1/10th of the size of that one, the clinic could do it?
I am not sure if I am supposed to be worried or not… It is just soooo sooo sooooooooo small you wouldn't even notice it, honestly. If it was on another part of my body that isn't my chest (where it is, or arms/legs) there is just no humanly possible way I'd ever see it with my own eyes.
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- November 19, 2012 at 5:43 am
Since my husband and my brother have both had melanoma, I have learned the importance having a punch biopsy instead of a shave biopsy and of determining the Breslow depth. Are you certain that the clinic is able to do that correctly? Personally, I'd go to a dermatologist experienced with melanoma (not face lifts).
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- November 19, 2012 at 4:09 am
Hey, thanks for the reply. I know I worry but I'd rather be safe than sorry. It is soooo small tho and I had one that was gigantic removed. It was like 2 cm big. And it came back a-okay! Looked damn like melanoma too, atypical, hideous, blotchy, scaly… and the derm said it performed beautifully in the biopsy. Weird!!!
But this is new, it's been here for about 6 months maybe more. I figure it is probably ok but since it's soooo damn small I may as well give it the boot. Would you worry? Do you think a walk in clinic can hack it off? I don't even know if stitches are POSSIBLE in such a small wound. It's a mm big! I'm fairly sure I have scratched and cut myself deeper in my life than this tiny speck.
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- November 19, 2012 at 3:16 am
The fact that you found this forum and took the time to photograph the mole and upload the photo means to me that you are concerned about it. Why NOT get it removed? If you are worried about looking like a hysterical worry-wort, you are NOT! If it's any help, my husband has a lot of freckles. He got a sunburn one day. The next day he saw a black speck in one of the freckles on his forearm. He had it biopsied right away and it was melanoma-in-situ. He had a wide local excision (WLE) and had no more trouble. That was 17 years ago. Good thing he wasn't concerned about looking like a hysterical worry-wort, right?!
There are scores of people on this forum who were told that their lesion was "nothing to worry about" and look where they are now? No. Trust yourself. If it concerns you, get it removed.
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- November 19, 2012 at 8:35 am
Brief answerr; 1could any spot be melanoma/ Actually, YES. Is it likely to be if it is not changing, No. Is it bothering you? THAT is enough reason to get it removed. It's nice to be SURE.
I've had tumors that the PET/CT report said was nothing. If I thought they might be wrong, I had an operation. The fast growing lumps I was sure were melanoma was. I had other operations to remove growing a few fast growing lumps that I did not think were melanoma's. I have been correct in every instance so far. I have no regrets about the operations (not just on the skin surface) that were not melanoma and I hadn't really thought were, to start with. I didn't really "worry" before the operations and pathology reports, but sure have not worried after getting a pathology report that says no sign of melanoma, was fatty tissue, etc. Piece of mind has much to be said for it.
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- November 19, 2012 at 8:35 am
Brief answerr; 1could any spot be melanoma/ Actually, YES. Is it likely to be if it is not changing, No. Is it bothering you? THAT is enough reason to get it removed. It's nice to be SURE.
I've had tumors that the PET/CT report said was nothing. If I thought they might be wrong, I had an operation. The fast growing lumps I was sure were melanoma was. I had other operations to remove growing a few fast growing lumps that I did not think were melanoma's. I have been correct in every instance so far. I have no regrets about the operations (not just on the skin surface) that were not melanoma and I hadn't really thought were, to start with. I didn't really "worry" before the operations and pathology reports, but sure have not worried after getting a pathology report that says no sign of melanoma, was fatty tissue, etc. Piece of mind has much to be said for it.
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- November 19, 2012 at 8:35 am
Brief answerr; 1could any spot be melanoma/ Actually, YES. Is it likely to be if it is not changing, No. Is it bothering you? THAT is enough reason to get it removed. It's nice to be SURE.
I've had tumors that the PET/CT report said was nothing. If I thought they might be wrong, I had an operation. The fast growing lumps I was sure were melanoma was. I had other operations to remove growing a few fast growing lumps that I did not think were melanoma's. I have been correct in every instance so far. I have no regrets about the operations (not just on the skin surface) that were not melanoma and I hadn't really thought were, to start with. I didn't really "worry" before the operations and pathology reports, but sure have not worried after getting a pathology report that says no sign of melanoma, was fatty tissue, etc. Piece of mind has much to be said for it.
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- November 22, 2012 at 3:25 am
Well, I am surprised that nobody has identified this as a possible other skin cancer. The lesion has no pigment and it has some blood vessels (the red spots). Your skin shows little sun damage so it may be just a benign spot as well.
The lack of rapid change is a good sign that it is not a nodular melanoma (the most dangerous type that grows quickly) and it does not even look like one.
My call – no big deal. Get it looked at when you have your annual skin check.
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- November 22, 2012 at 3:25 am
Well, I am surprised that nobody has identified this as a possible other skin cancer. The lesion has no pigment and it has some blood vessels (the red spots). Your skin shows little sun damage so it may be just a benign spot as well.
The lack of rapid change is a good sign that it is not a nodular melanoma (the most dangerous type that grows quickly) and it does not even look like one.
My call – no big deal. Get it looked at when you have your annual skin check.
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- November 22, 2012 at 3:25 am
Well, I am surprised that nobody has identified this as a possible other skin cancer. The lesion has no pigment and it has some blood vessels (the red spots). Your skin shows little sun damage so it may be just a benign spot as well.
The lack of rapid change is a good sign that it is not a nodular melanoma (the most dangerous type that grows quickly) and it does not even look like one.
My call – no big deal. Get it looked at when you have your annual skin check.
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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