Melanoma in situ
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Melanoma in situ

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma in situ

  • Post
    • November 23, 2016 at 9:38 pm
    Sophietx
    Participant

    Hello,

    I was just diagnosed with melanoma in situ in the US. I looked at my old photos and notice that my mole started after my 2nd pregnancy about 12 years ago at age 28. It was a perfect looking, round but very dark flat mole. It was removed and also had WLE at large hospital center. Do all melanomas in situ progress to invasive melanoma? My father had many dark moles and I just assumed it's after him. Should I have 2nd pathology done?

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  • Replies
      • November 23, 2016 at 10:05 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Sorry you had to join us here.  Actually, it is thought that not all melanoma in situs progress.  However, men over 60 are the largest group to get melanoma so it never hurts to have your father see a derm.  Have any of his moles CHANGED?  Those are the concerning ones – the ugly duckling!  As for a second opinion, it's up to you.  If the pathology was read by a dermatopathologist who sees a lot of melanoma, then probably not necessary.  But it's totally up to you and your comfort level.

      • November 23, 2016 at 10:05 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Sorry you had to join us here.  Actually, it is thought that not all melanoma in situs progress.  However, men over 60 are the largest group to get melanoma so it never hurts to have your father see a derm.  Have any of his moles CHANGED?  Those are the concerning ones – the ugly duckling!  As for a second opinion, it's up to you.  If the pathology was read by a dermatopathologist who sees a lot of melanoma, then probably not necessary.  But it's totally up to you and your comfort level.

      • November 23, 2016 at 10:05 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Sorry you had to join us here.  Actually, it is thought that not all melanoma in situs progress.  However, men over 60 are the largest group to get melanoma so it never hurts to have your father see a derm.  Have any of his moles CHANGED?  Those are the concerning ones – the ugly duckling!  As for a second opinion, it's up to you.  If the pathology was read by a dermatopathologist who sees a lot of melanoma, then probably not necessary.  But it's totally up to you and your comfort level.

        • November 23, 2016 at 11:15 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        Thank you! You are correct that this mole did grow over time. It started at 28 years as a dot and made it to about 4-5 mm over time. It was the ugly duckling you are describing – darker than all my other moles. My other moles grew probably by 1-2 mm over 12 years. And this one was new and doubled the size during this time.

        • November 23, 2016 at 11:15 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        Thank you! You are correct that this mole did grow over time. It started at 28 years as a dot and made it to about 4-5 mm over time. It was the ugly duckling you are describing – darker than all my other moles. My other moles grew probably by 1-2 mm over 12 years. And this one was new and doubled the size during this time.

        • November 23, 2016 at 11:15 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        Thank you! You are correct that this mole did grow over time. It started at 28 years as a dot and made it to about 4-5 mm over time. It was the ugly duckling you are describing – darker than all my other moles. My other moles grew probably by 1-2 mm over 12 years. And this one was new and doubled the size during this time.

        • November 24, 2016 at 7:45 am
        stars
        Participant

        My freckles that turned out to be melanoma all changed around pregnancy as well. I think during pregnancy your immune system shuts down for a bit to enable foetus to grow/not be rejected… and that can be a time that melanoma forms. Just my opinion, not a medical opinion.

        • November 24, 2016 at 7:45 am
        stars
        Participant

        My freckles that turned out to be melanoma all changed around pregnancy as well. I think during pregnancy your immune system shuts down for a bit to enable foetus to grow/not be rejected… and that can be a time that melanoma forms. Just my opinion, not a medical opinion.

        • November 24, 2016 at 7:45 am
        stars
        Participant

        My freckles that turned out to be melanoma all changed around pregnancy as well. I think during pregnancy your immune system shuts down for a bit to enable foetus to grow/not be rejected… and that can be a time that melanoma forms. Just my opinion, not a medical opinion.

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:04 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        I do believe my melanoma in situ started the year after 2 pregnancy. Since it was up on my chest. I could document it on many photos. There is a dark dot on the place when my son turned 1. It slowly grew over 12 years to about 4 mm. I wonder was it in situ the whole time? Why was it so slow growing? Or is 4 mm in 12 years fast?

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:04 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        I do believe my melanoma in situ started the year after 2 pregnancy. Since it was up on my chest. I could document it on many photos. There is a dark dot on the place when my son turned 1. It slowly grew over 12 years to about 4 mm. I wonder was it in situ the whole time? Why was it so slow growing? Or is 4 mm in 12 years fast?

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:04 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        I do believe my melanoma in situ started the year after 2 pregnancy. Since it was up on my chest. I could document it on many photos. There is a dark dot on the place when my son turned 1. It slowly grew over 12 years to about 4 mm. I wonder was it in situ the whole time? Why was it so slow growing? Or is 4 mm in 12 years fast?

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:05 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        I had genetic testing done in the US for panel of cancers including Melanoma. And no link.

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:05 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        I had genetic testing done in the US for panel of cancers including Melanoma. And no link.

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:05 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        I had genetic testing done in the US for panel of cancers including Melanoma. And no link.

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:10 pm
        jennunicorn
        Participant

        Everyone's melanoma growth is different. Some grow very slow, some faster, some only grow outward like yours and stay in the outer layer of skin (in situ) and some stay small on the outside but grown down and deep. It varies greatly. You're on the best end of that spectrum, glad you got it removed and will be vigilant with your family getting their skin monitered.

        Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:10 pm
        jennunicorn
        Participant

        Everyone's melanoma growth is different. Some grow very slow, some faster, some only grow outward like yours and stay in the outer layer of skin (in situ) and some stay small on the outside but grown down and deep. It varies greatly. You're on the best end of that spectrum, glad you got it removed and will be vigilant with your family getting their skin monitered.

        Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

        • November 24, 2016 at 6:10 pm
        jennunicorn
        Participant

        Everyone's melanoma growth is different. Some grow very slow, some faster, some only grow outward like yours and stay in the outer layer of skin (in situ) and some stay small on the outside but grown down and deep. It varies greatly. You're on the best end of that spectrum, glad you got it removed and will be vigilant with your family getting their skin monitered.

        Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

        • November 26, 2016 at 11:05 am
        stars
        Participant

        Me too, if I look back at my wedding photos I can see a smallish freckle – after three years that had turned into a larger, light speckly freckle that turned out to be a very thin melanoma (not in situ, unfortunately). There's been a few people diagnosed because of photos or film – like this swimmer in Australia:

        http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/22/health/australia-swimmer-mack-horton-mole/

        • November 26, 2016 at 6:04 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        Thanks Jenn! Hope you had nice Thanksgiving if you are in the US

        • November 26, 2016 at 6:04 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        Thanks Jenn! Hope you had nice Thanksgiving if you are in the US

        • November 26, 2016 at 6:04 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        Thanks Jenn! Hope you had nice Thanksgiving if you are in the US

        • November 26, 2016 at 6:11 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        It's great that it's thin melanoma. Has this swimmer been also diagnosed with Melanoma. I am dissapointed in dermatologists. It seem reading the posts here that so many times melanoma has been misdiagnosed for long time. I had this mole for 12 years and it remained the same just was getting bigger over time. I have had more than 3 visits with a dermatologis for regular skin check. 

        Crazy – I am returning from the Caribbean today and taking my son on Monday. He has like 5 big moles few black ones on his head and face. We are leaving vacation with almost no tan:-) it wasn't that hard. We took a break around lunch time and used a lot of sun screan and other protection.

        • November 26, 2016 at 6:11 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        It's great that it's thin melanoma. Has this swimmer been also diagnosed with Melanoma. I am dissapointed in dermatologists. It seem reading the posts here that so many times melanoma has been misdiagnosed for long time. I had this mole for 12 years and it remained the same just was getting bigger over time. I have had more than 3 visits with a dermatologis for regular skin check. 

        Crazy – I am returning from the Caribbean today and taking my son on Monday. He has like 5 big moles few black ones on his head and face. We are leaving vacation with almost no tan:-) it wasn't that hard. We took a break around lunch time and used a lot of sun screan and other protection.

        • November 26, 2016 at 6:11 pm
        Sophietx
        Participant

        It's great that it's thin melanoma. Has this swimmer been also diagnosed with Melanoma. I am dissapointed in dermatologists. It seem reading the posts here that so many times melanoma has been misdiagnosed for long time. I had this mole for 12 years and it remained the same just was getting bigger over time. I have had more than 3 visits with a dermatologis for regular skin check. 

        Crazy – I am returning from the Caribbean today and taking my son on Monday. He has like 5 big moles few black ones on his head and face. We are leaving vacation with almost no tan:-) it wasn't that hard. We took a break around lunch time and used a lot of sun screan and other protection.

        • November 26, 2016 at 11:05 am
        stars
        Participant

        Me too, if I look back at my wedding photos I can see a smallish freckle – after three years that had turned into a larger, light speckly freckle that turned out to be a very thin melanoma (not in situ, unfortunately). There's been a few people diagnosed because of photos or film – like this swimmer in Australia:

        http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/22/health/australia-swimmer-mack-horton-mole/

        • November 26, 2016 at 11:05 am
        stars
        Participant

        Me too, if I look back at my wedding photos I can see a smallish freckle – after three years that had turned into a larger, light speckly freckle that turned out to be a very thin melanoma (not in situ, unfortunately). There's been a few people diagnosed because of photos or film – like this swimmer in Australia:

        http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/22/health/australia-swimmer-mack-horton-mole/

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