Just found this mole on my back!

I seriously doubt that you are feeling swollen lymph nodes.  I think you are "catastrophizing" due to your anxiety.  I didn't look at your pictures side by side, but I don't see much change, if any.  When is your appointment with the dermatologist?  Spend your energy on trying to get the appointment as soon as possible, and then try to relax.  A week or so is not going to make any difference, but if you don't get your anxiety under control you're going to have a stroke!  I know it's hard … but worry never solved anything.

I seriously doubt that you are feeling swollen lymph nodes.  I think you are "catastrophizing" due to your anxiety.  I didn't look at your pictures side by side, but I don't see much change, if any.  When is your appointment with the dermatologist?  Spend your energy on trying to get the appointment as soon as possible, and then try to relax.  A week or so is not going to make any difference, but if you don't get your anxiety under control you're going to have a stroke!  I know it's hard … but worry never solved anything.

I seriously doubt that you are feeling swollen lymph nodes.  I think you are "catastrophizing" due to your anxiety.  I didn't look at your pictures side by side, but I don't see much change, if any.  When is your appointment with the dermatologist?  Spend your energy on trying to get the appointment as soon as possible, and then try to relax.  A week or so is not going to make any difference, but if you don't get your anxiety under control you're going to have a stroke!  I know it's hard … but worry never solved anything.

My best advice, stay off melanoma related internet until you have a biopsy. Reading all of the scary things on the web will only make your anxiety worse. I know it is hard, but the only thing you can do is make an appointment with a derm, get it examined, and get it biopsied. No one can give you an answer as to what you have until you do that. Stress and anxiety is not healthy for anyone. Take care of yourself.

My best advice, stay off melanoma related internet until you have a biopsy. Reading all of the scary things on the web will only make your anxiety worse. I know it is hard, but the only thing you can do is make an appointment with a derm, get it examined, and get it biopsied. No one can give you an answer as to what you have until you do that. Stress and anxiety is not healthy for anyone. Take care of yourself.

My best advice, stay off melanoma related internet until you have a biopsy. Reading all of the scary things on the web will only make your anxiety worse. I know it is hard, but the only thing you can do is make an appointment with a derm, get it examined, and get it biopsied. No one can give you an answer as to what you have until you do that. Stress and anxiety is not healthy for anyone. Take care of yourself.

I can only repeat what Susan and Jenn have said. None of us are specialists and even a specialist wouldn't diagnose melanoma from a photo.

To me, your level of anxiety is more unusual than your mole.

In a way I can sympathise with that. My phobia of doctors and hospitals puts my fear of what my melanoma will do to me in the shade! I would honestly prefer to die than be hospitalised.

Put your energy into getting an early appointment with a dermatologist. Explain to him/her that nothing short of a biopsy is going to put your mind at rest.

I ended up having six months of intensive psychotherapy. I can now get as far as a clinic and deal with nurses without having a panic attack. I can just about be in a room with a familiar doctor provided he or she keeps her distance and my husband is with me.

I can only repeat what Susan and Jenn have said. None of us are specialists and even a specialist wouldn't diagnose melanoma from a photo.

To me, your level of anxiety is more unusual than your mole.

In a way I can sympathise with that. My phobia of doctors and hospitals puts my fear of what my melanoma will do to me in the shade! I would honestly prefer to die than be hospitalised.

Put your energy into getting an early appointment with a dermatologist. Explain to him/her that nothing short of a biopsy is going to put your mind at rest.

I ended up having six months of intensive psychotherapy. I can now get as far as a clinic and deal with nurses without having a panic attack. I can just about be in a room with a familiar doctor provided he or she keeps her distance and my husband is with me.

I can only repeat what Susan and Jenn have said. None of us are specialists and even a specialist wouldn't diagnose melanoma from a photo.

To me, your level of anxiety is more unusual than your mole.

In a way I can sympathise with that. My phobia of doctors and hospitals puts my fear of what my melanoma will do to me in the shade! I would honestly prefer to die than be hospitalised.

Put your energy into getting an early appointment with a dermatologist. Explain to him/her that nothing short of a biopsy is going to put your mind at rest.

I ended up having six months of intensive psychotherapy. I can now get as far as a clinic and deal with nurses without having a panic attack. I can just about be in a room with a familiar doctor provided he or she keeps her distance and my husband is with me.

When do you see the dermatologist?

When do you see the dermatologist?

When do you see the dermatologist?

I agree with Moira, your anxiety levels are very high, and I can personally understand how difficult it can be to get that under control. You cannot be sure it is melanoma. The lymph nodes in one's neck are the easiest to get swollen, mine get swollen all of the time from allergies and colds and whatever else my body might need to deal with.. none of those reasons being melanoma. I hope your derm appointment is this week, for your sake, having this level of anxiety and hyper-attention to this mole is not healthy. 

When anxiety gets to this point, you might start to think you see "change" in this mole when in reality it isn't changing at all, it's just your mind over thinking it. Our minds can be our worst enemy at times. 

Take care of yourself.

I agree with Moira, your anxiety levels are very high, and I can personally understand how difficult it can be to get that under control. You cannot be sure it is melanoma. The lymph nodes in one's neck are the easiest to get swollen, mine get swollen all of the time from allergies and colds and whatever else my body might need to deal with.. none of those reasons being melanoma. I hope your derm appointment is this week, for your sake, having this level of anxiety and hyper-attention to this mole is not healthy. 

When anxiety gets to this point, you might start to think you see "change" in this mole when in reality it isn't changing at all, it's just your mind over thinking it. Our minds can be our worst enemy at times. 

Take care of yourself.

I am not sure if replying is helping but here goes again.

You are worried about your mole. You have done the correct thing. You have seen a doctor. You have a referral to a dermatologiist.

It sounds like you are having panic attacks. From what you are sayiing, one of the triggers for your panic attacks may be fear of dying. I strongy advise you seek help. I sought help for my phobia. I can now deal with the panic attacks I have when faced with a doctor or a hospital.

I am not sure if replying is helping but here goes again.

You are worried about your mole. You have done the correct thing. You have seen a doctor. You have a referral to a dermatologiist.

It sounds like you are having panic attacks. From what you are sayiing, one of the triggers for your panic attacks may be fear of dying. I strongy advise you seek help. I sought help for my phobia. I can now deal with the panic attacks I have when faced with a doctor or a hospital.

I am not sure if replying is helping but here goes again.

You are worried about your mole. You have done the correct thing. You have seen a doctor. You have a referral to a dermatologiist.

It sounds like you are having panic attacks. From what you are sayiing, one of the triggers for your panic attacks may be fear of dying. I strongy advise you seek help. I sought help for my phobia. I can now deal with the panic attacks I have when faced with a doctor or a hospital.

Moira makes a good point about seeking help. 

Also, just want to point out that a melanoma diagnosis does not mean someone is going to die soon. There are a whole bunch of stage 4 folks on here doing great, living life, and NOT dying. Advacements in medicine have come a long way. 

An ongoing cough can occur for SO many reasons… I had an ongoing cough for months.. and there was nothing weird happening in my lungs. (It was most likely allergy related, it is that season).

Not sure any of our advice is going to help, but we've tried. 

Moira makes a good point about seeking help. 

Also, just want to point out that a melanoma diagnosis does not mean someone is going to die soon. There are a whole bunch of stage 4 folks on here doing great, living life, and NOT dying. Advacements in medicine have come a long way. 

An ongoing cough can occur for SO many reasons… I had an ongoing cough for months.. and there was nothing weird happening in my lungs. (It was most likely allergy related, it is that season).

Not sure any of our advice is going to help, but we've tried. 

Moira makes a good point about seeking help. 

Also, just want to point out that a melanoma diagnosis does not mean someone is going to die soon. There are a whole bunch of stage 4 folks on here doing great, living life, and NOT dying. Advacements in medicine have come a long way. 

An ongoing cough can occur for SO many reasons… I had an ongoing cough for months.. and there was nothing weird happening in my lungs. (It was most likely allergy related, it is that season).

Not sure any of our advice is going to help, but we've tried. 

There is absolutely a chance that it is benign. There are so many different ways our skin and moles can change. My brother has had multiple black ugly scary changing moles removed and biopsied over the years and he has never had melanoma. Not a single one. There is not a real rule book on how a melanoma looks, since it is very different for everyone, and reading the stuff online and seeing the pictures associated doesn't help most people, since some people just have ugly changing moles sometimes. 

I hope all goes well at your appointment. 

If you need help relaxing, try some breathing exercises, focusing on inhales and exhales and clearing your mind. You'll be ok 🙂

There is absolutely a chance that it is benign. There are so many different ways our skin and moles can change. My brother has had multiple black ugly scary changing moles removed and biopsied over the years and he has never had melanoma. Not a single one. There is not a real rule book on how a melanoma looks, since it is very different for everyone, and reading the stuff online and seeing the pictures associated doesn't help most people, since some people just have ugly changing moles sometimes. 

I hope all goes well at your appointment. 

If you need help relaxing, try some breathing exercises, focusing on inhales and exhales and clearing your mind. You'll be ok 🙂

There is absolutely a chance that it is benign. There are so many different ways our skin and moles can change. My brother has had multiple black ugly scary changing moles removed and biopsied over the years and he has never had melanoma. Not a single one. There is not a real rule book on how a melanoma looks, since it is very different for everyone, and reading the stuff online and seeing the pictures associated doesn't help most people, since some people just have ugly changing moles sometimes. 

I hope all goes well at your appointment. 

If you need help relaxing, try some breathing exercises, focusing on inhales and exhales and clearing your mind. You'll be ok 🙂

I agree with Moira, your anxiety levels are very high, and I can personally understand how difficult it can be to get that under control. You cannot be sure it is melanoma. The lymph nodes in one's neck are the easiest to get swollen, mine get swollen all of the time from allergies and colds and whatever else my body might need to deal with.. none of those reasons being melanoma. I hope your derm appointment is this week, for your sake, having this level of anxiety and hyper-attention to this mole is not healthy. 

When anxiety gets to this point, you might start to think you see "change" in this mole when in reality it isn't changing at all, it's just your mind over thinking it. Our minds can be our worst enemy at times. 

Take care of yourself.

Anyone should get a new or changing mole checked out. That does not automatically mean it will be a bad diagnosis. That just means, yes, most would take some concern in what you have and would make the same steps of getting a referral to a dermatologist. You've done all you can for now, next step is your appointment. 

Anyone should get a new or changing mole checked out. That does not automatically mean it will be a bad diagnosis. That just means, yes, most would take some concern in what you have and would make the same steps of getting a referral to a dermatologist. You've done all you can for now, next step is your appointment. 

Anyone should get a new or changing mole checked out. That does not automatically mean it will be a bad diagnosis. That just means, yes, most would take some concern in what you have and would make the same steps of getting a referral to a dermatologist. You've done all you can for now, next step is your appointment. 

Concerned?  Yes.  Planning my funeral?  No.  

I'm not trying to be hateful here, but there are many, many people here on this board who are fighting for their lives, with melanoma in the brain, lungs, liver, etc.  And they are fighting!  They aren't buying burial plots, or picking out music for their last service.  They are researching the best treatments for their particular situation, they are here offering hope and help for others in the same fight, and they are proving that every day they live is a good day!  

You have a single mole that looks a little "different".  You have done the right thing and made an appointment to get it biopsied.  You have NO idea if that mole is even a problem, so get hold of yourself.  Tell yourself "this is probably NOT melanoma, but if it IS, I've caught it early and at a time where the medical advancements have made it a disease to live with, not die from!

Let us know how the appointment goes.

Concerned?  Yes.  Planning my funeral?  No.  

I'm not trying to be hateful here, but there are many, many people here on this board who are fighting for their lives, with melanoma in the brain, lungs, liver, etc.  And they are fighting!  They aren't buying burial plots, or picking out music for their last service.  They are researching the best treatments for their particular situation, they are here offering hope and help for others in the same fight, and they are proving that every day they live is a good day!  

You have a single mole that looks a little "different".  You have done the right thing and made an appointment to get it biopsied.  You have NO idea if that mole is even a problem, so get hold of yourself.  Tell yourself "this is probably NOT melanoma, but if it IS, I've caught it early and at a time where the medical advancements have made it a disease to live with, not die from!

Let us know how the appointment goes.

Concerned?  Yes.  Planning my funeral?  No.  

I'm not trying to be hateful here, but there are many, many people here on this board who are fighting for their lives, with melanoma in the brain, lungs, liver, etc.  And they are fighting!  They aren't buying burial plots, or picking out music for their last service.  They are researching the best treatments for their particular situation, they are here offering hope and help for others in the same fight, and they are proving that every day they live is a good day!  

You have a single mole that looks a little "different".  You have done the right thing and made an appointment to get it biopsied.  You have NO idea if that mole is even a problem, so get hold of yourself.  Tell yourself "this is probably NOT melanoma, but if it IS, I've caught it early and at a time where the medical advancements have made it a disease to live with, not die from!

Let us know how the appointment goes.

The derm can see certain characteristics under the scope that would give clear signs of melanoma or not. He did not see any signs that it would be melanoma so he isn't very worried about it, which is great!

It is also good that you asked to get it biopsied anyway, since that is the only way to get an exact diagnosis.

Usually it is primary care doctors that misdiagnose and don't refer patients with scary looking moles (like mine did). 

Sounds like a pretty positive appointment. Sending good calming thoughts your way that the biopsy goes well. Don't let your mind go anywhere scary anymore, there is no need!

The derm can see certain characteristics under the scope that would give clear signs of melanoma or not. He did not see any signs that it would be melanoma so he isn't very worried about it, which is great!

It is also good that you asked to get it biopsied anyway, since that is the only way to get an exact diagnosis.

Usually it is primary care doctors that misdiagnose and don't refer patients with scary looking moles (like mine did). 

Sounds like a pretty positive appointment. Sending good calming thoughts your way that the biopsy goes well. Don't let your mind go anywhere scary anymore, there is no need!

The derm can see certain characteristics under the scope that would give clear signs of melanoma or not. He did not see any signs that it would be melanoma so he isn't very worried about it, which is great!

It is also good that you asked to get it biopsied anyway, since that is the only way to get an exact diagnosis.

Usually it is primary care doctors that misdiagnose and don't refer patients with scary looking moles (like mine did). 

Sounds like a pretty positive appointment. Sending good calming thoughts your way that the biopsy goes well. Don't let your mind go anywhere scary anymore, there is no need!

I do not know what to say to you. You have seen a doctor. You have seen a dermatologist. Neither of them believe that the mole is anything to worry about although they have offered to biopsy it to give you peace of mind.

However, now you have convinced yourself that you definitely have melanoma and that it has spread to your lungs and your brain. I am sorry but this sounds like hypochondria to me. I believe you need to see a psychologist to get your anxiety under control.

I hope the biopsy goes smoothly and that you can bring yourself to believe the pathologist's report.

I have decided not to reply again as I think I may be fueling your obsession.

I wish you all the best for the future.

I do not know what to say to you. You have seen a doctor. You have seen a dermatologist. Neither of them believe that the mole is anything to worry about although they have offered to biopsy it to give you peace of mind.

However, now you have convinced yourself that you definitely have melanoma and that it has spread to your lungs and your brain. I am sorry but this sounds like hypochondria to me. I believe you need to see a psychologist to get your anxiety under control.

I hope the biopsy goes smoothly and that you can bring yourself to believe the pathologist's report.

I have decided not to reply again as I think I may be fueling your obsession.

I wish you all the best for the future.

I do not know what to say to you. You have seen a doctor. You have seen a dermatologist. Neither of them believe that the mole is anything to worry about although they have offered to biopsy it to give you peace of mind.

However, now you have convinced yourself that you definitely have melanoma and that it has spread to your lungs and your brain. I am sorry but this sounds like hypochondria to me. I believe you need to see a psychologist to get your anxiety under control.

I hope the biopsy goes smoothly and that you can bring yourself to believe the pathologist's report.

I have decided not to reply again as I think I may be fueling your obsession.

I wish you all the best for the future.

I am agreeing, again, with Moira, this will be my last post as well.

You need to see a counselor, you are dealing with an anxiety disorder more than anything else right now.

Just so you know, I have bad tinnitus and get headaches all of the time… and I have NO tumors anywhere in my body. Just know that you are experiencing normal things. And color on melanoma doesn't usually  disappear, I would take that as a positive sign that it probably isn't melanoma. Also, you may just think you're experiencing things that are not actually happening because you're reading worst case scenario stuff online and that is making your mind go to a very anxious and unhealthy place.

It's up to you if you want to feel this way until you know your biopsy results. 

I wish you all the best in your physical and mental health.

Maybe this will ease your mind a tiny bit: I had nodular melanoma. It was on my leg for 5 months before I got it biopsied. I am not stage 4, I am not dying, I am healthy and happy. 

Maybe this will ease your mind a tiny bit: I had nodular melanoma. It was on my leg for 5 months before I got it biopsied. I am not stage 4, I am not dying, I am healthy and happy. 

Maybe this will ease your mind a tiny bit: I had nodular melanoma. It was on my leg for 5 months before I got it biopsied. I am not stage 4, I am not dying, I am healthy and happy. 

I am agreeing, again, with Moira, this will be my last post as well.

You need to see a counselor, you are dealing with an anxiety disorder more than anything else right now.

Just so you know, I have bad tinnitus and get headaches all of the time… and I have NO tumors anywhere in my body. Just know that you are experiencing normal things. And color on melanoma doesn't usually  disappear, I would take that as a positive sign that it probably isn't melanoma. Also, you may just think you're experiencing things that are not actually happening because you're reading worst case scenario stuff online and that is making your mind go to a very anxious and unhealthy place.

It's up to you if you want to feel this way until you know your biopsy results. 

I wish you all the best in your physical and mental health.

I am agreeing, again, with Moira, this will be my last post as well.

You need to see a counselor, you are dealing with an anxiety disorder more than anything else right now.

Just so you know, I have bad tinnitus and get headaches all of the time… and I have NO tumors anywhere in my body. Just know that you are experiencing normal things. And color on melanoma doesn't usually  disappear, I would take that as a positive sign that it probably isn't melanoma. Also, you may just think you're experiencing things that are not actually happening because you're reading worst case scenario stuff online and that is making your mind go to a very anxious and unhealthy place.

It's up to you if you want to feel this way until you know your biopsy results. 

I wish you all the best in your physical and mental health.