› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Itching mole
- This topic has 30 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 12 months ago by
JuleFL.
- Post
-
- April 6, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Does anyone know how quickly a melanoma can evolve after a mole has become itchy and sore?
The reason I'm asking is that about 2 months ago a mole on my back started itching. I saw my doctor about a month ago but still has to wait 3 more weeks before I can see the dermatologist. I've now noticed that it's changing rather quickly. I don't know how long it has been changing for as being on my back I haven't wantched it much before it started itching.
Does anyone know how quickly a melanoma can evolve after a mole has become itchy and sore?
The reason I'm asking is that about 2 months ago a mole on my back started itching. I saw my doctor about a month ago but still has to wait 3 more weeks before I can see the dermatologist. I've now noticed that it's changing rather quickly. I don't know how long it has been changing for as being on my back I haven't wantched it much before it started itching.
I'm now really worried. I have loads of moles and some clearly growing. i have no family history, but is fair skinned, burns rather than tans and was repeatedly burned as a kid.
- Replies
-
-
- April 6, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Some melanomas evolve very slowly and take years to become significant. Others can grow quite quickly. Other moles can change and NEVER become melanoma. The thing is, you can't tell without a biopsy.
One thing I could suggest is calling the dermatologist and asking about their cancellation list. Tell them you have a changing/itching mole that you really need to have removed. See if they can squeeze you in. If you keep calling, they might find a spot for you earlier.
Best wishes this is not melanoma,
Janner
-
- April 6, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Some melanomas evolve very slowly and take years to become significant. Others can grow quite quickly. Other moles can change and NEVER become melanoma. The thing is, you can't tell without a biopsy.
One thing I could suggest is calling the dermatologist and asking about their cancellation list. Tell them you have a changing/itching mole that you really need to have removed. See if they can squeeze you in. If you keep calling, they might find a spot for you earlier.
Best wishes this is not melanoma,
Janner
-
- April 6, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Have you dealt with melanoma before?
This question is really impossible to answer due to the fact everyone is different.
Mine never itched, but I did notice it changed fairly quickly. Some are slow to change, some not though.
If you are not comfortable with this derm, try to find another that you are comfortable with.
Many, many other things it could be instead…betting it's nothing.
Michael
-
- April 6, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Have you dealt with melanoma before?
This question is really impossible to answer due to the fact everyone is different.
Mine never itched, but I did notice it changed fairly quickly. Some are slow to change, some not though.
If you are not comfortable with this derm, try to find another that you are comfortable with.
Many, many other things it could be instead…betting it's nothing.
Michael
-
- April 6, 2011 at 9:41 pm
My mole itched for about that long before I got sick and tired of it and decided to do something about it, unfortunately it was melanoma. I asked my oncologist why most sites don't list itching as one of the symptoms because that was the only sign. My doc thought the mole looked just fine and only removed it because I asked him to (thank-you God!). Anyway the Onc said itching is not a regular enough symptom to list, that it only happens in a small percentage of cases.
While I don't ever recommend panic, and I would say if you have to wait 3 weeks then it's Ok but call and see if they will put you on a waiting list to get in sooner. Also, if the derm says it looks OK, just for "kicks", get it removed because it is bothering you from the itching. It'll be peace of mind.
Good Luck.
Mary
Stage 3
-
- April 6, 2011 at 9:41 pm
My mole itched for about that long before I got sick and tired of it and decided to do something about it, unfortunately it was melanoma. I asked my oncologist why most sites don't list itching as one of the symptoms because that was the only sign. My doc thought the mole looked just fine and only removed it because I asked him to (thank-you God!). Anyway the Onc said itching is not a regular enough symptom to list, that it only happens in a small percentage of cases.
While I don't ever recommend panic, and I would say if you have to wait 3 weeks then it's Ok but call and see if they will put you on a waiting list to get in sooner. Also, if the derm says it looks OK, just for "kicks", get it removed because it is bothering you from the itching. It'll be peace of mind.
Good Luck.
Mary
Stage 3
-
- April 6, 2011 at 10:58 pm
I have to confirm what everyone else said and urge you to do whatever you can to be seen by the dermatologist quickly. If the mole is nothing, that's great, and you haven't lost anything. However, in my case, the itching was the only thing that made me mention my completely round, colorless lesion to the derm. Even he thought it was at worst, a basal cell carcinoma, but within a period of 3 weeks, the diagnosis changed from benign to a very aggressive nodular melanoma with spread to the lymph nodes. I wish I had known that all melanoma isn't ugly and pigmented and that itching can be a symptom. Those weeks might have made a difference in the prognosis.
I will be thinking about you and hoping that yours really is nothing!
-
- April 29, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Thanks everyone,
In the end I waited till it was my turn and saw the dermatologist. However, and are you all ready for this……She agreed the mole needs further investigation and will see me again end of NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm feeling really frustrated. We're already paying into a system that's supposedto provide us with the healthcare we need and now I'm being forced to go pay for a private dermatologist on the side.
-
- April 29, 2011 at 1:45 pm
November? Did you ask her why she wanted to wait so long when she herself feels it needs further investigation? Does she feel this is something benign?
Who is your ins. co? Call them and see if you can go to another derm and get a second opinion and have this mole biopsied for your peace of mind. I am not saying it is melanoma as there are literally thousands of other skin thingys it could be instead, but on the off chance it it melanoma, catching it early as possible is always the key.
You have no profile here. Have you dealt with melanoma before?
Michael
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:06 pm
I'm pulling my hair out here from frustration right now. I have my husband telling me that surely I didn't tell the receptionist what it was all about as noone would wait that long.
I don't have an insurance company. The way it works here is that you pay into the national health scheme and they provide you with appropriate healthcare – at least so far they have.
I have no idea why I have to wait so long except that it's the next available appointment, which I find very hard to believe.
No, I have no history of melanoma thankfully.
I have actually got a second one that worries me as well now with irregular shape and colours. I noticed about a month ago that the colour has started to extend into the skin sorrounding it.
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Are you in Canada? UK? Some primary care physicians may do a biopsy, other's will only refer you to a dermatologist. I know wait times for specialists can be long – we've seen that here before. You might try to see if your primary care will do a biopsy. In the meantime, I would photograph your two moles of concern. Then you can document if there is any change really taking place. For me, change is the #1 priority to indicate something should be biopsied. (I've had 3 melanomas). However, change doesn't mean it is melanoma, just more concerning. I think it is easier to justify a biopsy when you can say "this has changed". I'm not sure if you can be placed on a cancellation list for a sooner appointment. In the states, we can often do that – but it might not work that way elsewhere. I know it's frustrating, but just remember that melanoma still is quite rare. Hopefully, these thing are really nothing to be concerned about. But I would see if there is any way you could be placed on a cancelation list for an earlier appointment.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:59 pm
I'm in Spain. Here it's all oh so very bureaucratic. I didn't expect 7 months wait though – not for something like this. I saw my doctor, who send me to hospital. There they did exactly what my doctor did and gave me the appoint ment for November for someone else to do the same again and give me an appointment to have it removed if they see it necessary.
In the UK my primary doctor removed two moles the week after I saw her.
-
- April 30, 2011 at 1:54 am
Lavge,
I'm so sorry! It never ever occurred to me to ask "where are you?" Even if I had known you were in Spain, it never would have occurred to me that the system is as it is. This is very much a learning experience! As much about systems in different countries as about melanoma!
Do you have any recourse? Anyone at all you can appeal to? Can you go back to your original dr and show her a calendar and point out how long it is until November and beg, plead, and bribe? I find my peanut butter fudge works wonders! I can send you the recipe.
There must be a way for you to get seen before November!
OK, Lord, please, please, open a door for Lavge! You know the system in Spain better than the Spanish themselves do! Please, in Your mercy, help our friend here. Amen.
-
- April 30, 2011 at 1:54 am
Lavge,
I'm so sorry! It never ever occurred to me to ask "where are you?" Even if I had known you were in Spain, it never would have occurred to me that the system is as it is. This is very much a learning experience! As much about systems in different countries as about melanoma!
Do you have any recourse? Anyone at all you can appeal to? Can you go back to your original dr and show her a calendar and point out how long it is until November and beg, plead, and bribe? I find my peanut butter fudge works wonders! I can send you the recipe.
There must be a way for you to get seen before November!
OK, Lord, please, please, open a door for Lavge! You know the system in Spain better than the Spanish themselves do! Please, in Your mercy, help our friend here. Amen.
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:59 pm
I'm in Spain. Here it's all oh so very bureaucratic. I didn't expect 7 months wait though – not for something like this. I saw my doctor, who send me to hospital. There they did exactly what my doctor did and gave me the appoint ment for November for someone else to do the same again and give me an appointment to have it removed if they see it necessary.
In the UK my primary doctor removed two moles the week after I saw her.
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Are you in Canada? UK? Some primary care physicians may do a biopsy, other's will only refer you to a dermatologist. I know wait times for specialists can be long – we've seen that here before. You might try to see if your primary care will do a biopsy. In the meantime, I would photograph your two moles of concern. Then you can document if there is any change really taking place. For me, change is the #1 priority to indicate something should be biopsied. (I've had 3 melanomas). However, change doesn't mean it is melanoma, just more concerning. I think it is easier to justify a biopsy when you can say "this has changed". I'm not sure if you can be placed on a cancellation list for a sooner appointment. In the states, we can often do that – but it might not work that way elsewhere. I know it's frustrating, but just remember that melanoma still is quite rare. Hopefully, these thing are really nothing to be concerned about. But I would see if there is any way you could be placed on a cancelation list for an earlier appointment.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:06 pm
I'm pulling my hair out here from frustration right now. I have my husband telling me that surely I didn't tell the receptionist what it was all about as noone would wait that long.
I don't have an insurance company. The way it works here is that you pay into the national health scheme and they provide you with appropriate healthcare – at least so far they have.
I have no idea why I have to wait so long except that it's the next available appointment, which I find very hard to believe.
No, I have no history of melanoma thankfully.
I have actually got a second one that worries me as well now with irregular shape and colours. I noticed about a month ago that the colour has started to extend into the skin sorrounding it.
-
- April 29, 2011 at 1:45 pm
November? Did you ask her why she wanted to wait so long when she herself feels it needs further investigation? Does she feel this is something benign?
Who is your ins. co? Call them and see if you can go to another derm and get a second opinion and have this mole biopsied for your peace of mind. I am not saying it is melanoma as there are literally thousands of other skin thingys it could be instead, but on the off chance it it melanoma, catching it early as possible is always the key.
You have no profile here. Have you dealt with melanoma before?
Michael
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Did the doc set the November appoitment up? I just love it when the doc says….come back in such and such time and then you go out the receptionist and she says "the next avaiable time is is 6 months". I am one to call the docs wait on hold for him and let him take care of the scheduling. The front desk people just have the calander in front of them…..but if the doctor says "let me look at the schedule and we will fit it in". It seems to work out. If it is the doc that wants to see you in Nov. I would question it.
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Did the doc set the November appoitment up? I just love it when the doc says….come back in such and such time and then you go out the receptionist and she says "the next avaiable time is is 6 months". I am one to call the docs wait on hold for him and let him take care of the scheduling. The front desk people just have the calander in front of them…..but if the doctor says "let me look at the schedule and we will fit it in". It seems to work out. If it is the doc that wants to see you in Nov. I would question it.
-
- April 29, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Thanks everyone,
In the end I waited till it was my turn and saw the dermatologist. However, and are you all ready for this……She agreed the mole needs further investigation and will see me again end of NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm feeling really frustrated. We're already paying into a system that's supposedto provide us with the healthcare we need and now I'm being forced to go pay for a private dermatologist on the side.
-
- April 6, 2011 at 10:58 pm
I have to confirm what everyone else said and urge you to do whatever you can to be seen by the dermatologist quickly. If the mole is nothing, that's great, and you haven't lost anything. However, in my case, the itching was the only thing that made me mention my completely round, colorless lesion to the derm. Even he thought it was at worst, a basal cell carcinoma, but within a period of 3 weeks, the diagnosis changed from benign to a very aggressive nodular melanoma with spread to the lymph nodes. I wish I had known that all melanoma isn't ugly and pigmented and that itching can be a symptom. Those weeks might have made a difference in the prognosis.
I will be thinking about you and hoping that yours really is nothing!
-
- April 29, 2011 at 1:36 pm
You don't say how it's changing or what you consider "quickly." My mole itched. I ignored it. It started darkening. I ignored it. Then one day, I woke up and the thing had developed what I call a "bubble" at the tip. Within 2 weeks that entire mole was noticeably raised. Called two derm offices and neither could see me for three – four months. I told the receptionists about my changing mole and it didn't make a difference. I took that thing with me to Duke for school that July 2008 with a SEPTEMBER 28th appt with a derm. My first Wednesday there the thing started bleeding when I brushed it with a towel while drying off.
Got myself to Duke Urgent Care and a PA removed it, sent it off, came back melanoma, UC doctor already had me an appt with a melanoma specialist at Duke when he called to give me the path results. All that without ever seeing a derm. If your derm won't see you, see somebody else…even if it's an Urgent care facility, make sure they remove 1 full mm of tissue (no matter HOW good the tissue looks underneath).
Sometimes we just have to take matters in our own hands, and this is one of those times for you my friend. My melanoma was already in my first sentinel lymnph node. In July. This is really one of my growing pet peeves with derm offices. When we call to make appts, we're speaking to people who often aren't trained to understand the potential seriousness of a quickly changing mole. They ought to be trained to understand that and be able to work people into what may seem to be an otherwise "full" schedule!
Lord, in your mercy, help our friend here! Amen.
Grace and peace to you,
Carol
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:13 pm
November????it's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil…pester your PCP to get you another derm ASAP, call every day if you have to…get that thing off and biopsied…
-
- April 29, 2011 at 2:13 pm
November????it's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil…pester your PCP to get you another derm ASAP, call every day if you have to…get that thing off and biopsied…
-
- April 29, 2011 at 1:36 pm
You don't say how it's changing or what you consider "quickly." My mole itched. I ignored it. It started darkening. I ignored it. Then one day, I woke up and the thing had developed what I call a "bubble" at the tip. Within 2 weeks that entire mole was noticeably raised. Called two derm offices and neither could see me for three – four months. I told the receptionists about my changing mole and it didn't make a difference. I took that thing with me to Duke for school that July 2008 with a SEPTEMBER 28th appt with a derm. My first Wednesday there the thing started bleeding when I brushed it with a towel while drying off.
Got myself to Duke Urgent Care and a PA removed it, sent it off, came back melanoma, UC doctor already had me an appt with a melanoma specialist at Duke when he called to give me the path results. All that without ever seeing a derm. If your derm won't see you, see somebody else…even if it's an Urgent care facility, make sure they remove 1 full mm of tissue (no matter HOW good the tissue looks underneath).
Sometimes we just have to take matters in our own hands, and this is one of those times for you my friend. My melanoma was already in my first sentinel lymnph node. In July. This is really one of my growing pet peeves with derm offices. When we call to make appts, we're speaking to people who often aren't trained to understand the potential seriousness of a quickly changing mole. They ought to be trained to understand that and be able to work people into what may seem to be an otherwise "full" schedule!
Lord, in your mercy, help our friend here! Amen.
Grace and peace to you,
Carol
-
- May 3, 2011 at 11:10 pm
I am sorry to hear about this most frustrating situation. The urgent care visit might be a good solution around the appointment game. Just for everyone’s information, my part time neighbor is a surgeon who works on cancer patients and he told me that if I ever come across something suspicious, to see a surgeon. He does not care for most derms (sorry, but my husband went to a negligent one and I’m leery now). If you are happy with your derm, then by all means continue under his/her care.I hope you can get this checked soon and that all is well.
-
- May 3, 2011 at 11:10 pm
I am sorry to hear about this most frustrating situation. The urgent care visit might be a good solution around the appointment game. Just for everyone’s information, my part time neighbor is a surgeon who works on cancer patients and he told me that if I ever come across something suspicious, to see a surgeon. He does not care for most derms (sorry, but my husband went to a negligent one and I’m leery now). If you are happy with your derm, then by all means continue under his/her care.I hope you can get this checked soon and that all is well.
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.