› Forums › General Melanoma Community › My Dermatologist keeps saying “We will keep watching them”
- This topic has 24 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 9 months ago by
scared_roger.
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- August 2, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Hi,
I am 33 and I have a lot (30+) of moles that my dermatologist called nervi… something. Some are bigger, some are smaller.
A few of them are bigger than 6mm and a few have irregular margins. I never had one removed.
I go to a check-up every 5-6 months, and the question is always "have you noticed any change?".
Well I did not Notice… but what if I am wrong?
My dermatologist checks every one with a dermatoscope (I think it's called).
My question:
Is he able to see the Danger / change / etc with that instrument? I worry that I was unable to notice a change in some, and… well I don't want to… you know.
Thank you.
- Replies
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- August 3, 2014 at 7:27 am
Take photographs yourself. If they aren't changing, they really aren't a problem. The dermatoscope is just a lighted magnifying glass — a tool, but it doesn't diagnose. Truthfully, you most likely will see change, and it will be an ugly duckling. If all your moles look similar (even with size and uneven edges), then chances are they are fine. It's good you know about melanoma and are vigilant so you WILL see anything that is really different. (All my lesions changed, and all were obvious to me and "different" from the rest).
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- August 3, 2014 at 7:27 am
Take photographs yourself. If they aren't changing, they really aren't a problem. The dermatoscope is just a lighted magnifying glass — a tool, but it doesn't diagnose. Truthfully, you most likely will see change, and it will be an ugly duckling. If all your moles look similar (even with size and uneven edges), then chances are they are fine. It's good you know about melanoma and are vigilant so you WILL see anything that is really different. (All my lesions changed, and all were obvious to me and "different" from the rest).
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- August 3, 2014 at 7:50 am
Thank you for the reply Janner.
A few further questions, for you or anyone who has time and knowledge to answer:
1). why should I not try to eliminate them one by one? Is there any danger in the procedure? I mean should one not try to eliminate the chance to find one that has changed?
2). if I do regular check-ups every 6 months, and there will be a time when my dermatologist will say: we have to get this one out. After the procedure there is no guarantee that the disease has not spread, correct? There is no time frame for melanoma evolution (say we did not see anything wrong 6 months ago, but now after the biopsy we found out that it's stage xxx and so on)
3). Except being carefull about the sun (I try to get 5-10 mins of sun daily – T-shirt & no sun block), alimentation (healty food / no chips) & weekly / monthly self – inspections, Is there anything else I can do to minimise the chance that malenoma(or other types of skin cancer) defeats my imune system? Or any other types of medical inspections I should look into, since the Dermatoscope is not a diagonose tool?
4). Where / what should I read in order to be able to sleep/work again, because after I started reading this forum my brain has gone berserk and I can't leave this damn nightmare thoughts loop.
Thank you!
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- August 3, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Wholesale mole removal has not been shown to decrease your cancer risk. 50% of melanomas arise from new lesions. Most types of melanoma are slow growing. Yearly visits are typically recommended for someone without a family history and who doesn't have DNS (you don't because 30 moles doesn't meet that criteria). So doing 6 month visits is more than is recommended at this time. You know enough that honestly I'd expect you to find a melanoma yourself, not your doc. You will notice obvious change.
Sun safety and regular derm visits are all we can recommend for minimizing your chances. I'd really recommend you try to leave this forum. You know enough, now move on. I recommend this to many newly diagnosed as well because letting melanoma and everyone's story here consume you does not promote healthy living. You haven't even been diagnosed. You may never be diagnosed. You are doing the important things and you are aware. That's great! Now go! Don't come back here. Your mental health is important too and you need to see that that is a more important immediate problem than some possible future melanoma. While melanoma rates are increasing, it still is a relatively rare cancer in terms of numbers. Do yourself a favor and move on….
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- August 3, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Wholesale mole removal has not been shown to decrease your cancer risk. 50% of melanomas arise from new lesions. Most types of melanoma are slow growing. Yearly visits are typically recommended for someone without a family history and who doesn't have DNS (you don't because 30 moles doesn't meet that criteria). So doing 6 month visits is more than is recommended at this time. You know enough that honestly I'd expect you to find a melanoma yourself, not your doc. You will notice obvious change.
Sun safety and regular derm visits are all we can recommend for minimizing your chances. I'd really recommend you try to leave this forum. You know enough, now move on. I recommend this to many newly diagnosed as well because letting melanoma and everyone's story here consume you does not promote healthy living. You haven't even been diagnosed. You may never be diagnosed. You are doing the important things and you are aware. That's great! Now go! Don't come back here. Your mental health is important too and you need to see that that is a more important immediate problem than some possible future melanoma. While melanoma rates are increasing, it still is a relatively rare cancer in terms of numbers. Do yourself a favor and move on….
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- August 3, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Wholesale mole removal has not been shown to decrease your cancer risk. 50% of melanomas arise from new lesions. Most types of melanoma are slow growing. Yearly visits are typically recommended for someone without a family history and who doesn't have DNS (you don't because 30 moles doesn't meet that criteria). So doing 6 month visits is more than is recommended at this time. You know enough that honestly I'd expect you to find a melanoma yourself, not your doc. You will notice obvious change.
Sun safety and regular derm visits are all we can recommend for minimizing your chances. I'd really recommend you try to leave this forum. You know enough, now move on. I recommend this to many newly diagnosed as well because letting melanoma and everyone's story here consume you does not promote healthy living. You haven't even been diagnosed. You may never be diagnosed. You are doing the important things and you are aware. That's great! Now go! Don't come back here. Your mental health is important too and you need to see that that is a more important immediate problem than some possible future melanoma. While melanoma rates are increasing, it still is a relatively rare cancer in terms of numbers. Do yourself a favor and move on….
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- August 3, 2014 at 7:50 am
Thank you for the reply Janner.
A few further questions, for you or anyone who has time and knowledge to answer:
1). why should I not try to eliminate them one by one? Is there any danger in the procedure? I mean should one not try to eliminate the chance to find one that has changed?
2). if I do regular check-ups every 6 months, and there will be a time when my dermatologist will say: we have to get this one out. After the procedure there is no guarantee that the disease has not spread, correct? There is no time frame for melanoma evolution (say we did not see anything wrong 6 months ago, but now after the biopsy we found out that it's stage xxx and so on)
3). Except being carefull about the sun (I try to get 5-10 mins of sun daily – T-shirt & no sun block), alimentation (healty food / no chips) & weekly / monthly self – inspections, Is there anything else I can do to minimise the chance that malenoma(or other types of skin cancer) defeats my imune system? Or any other types of medical inspections I should look into, since the Dermatoscope is not a diagonose tool?
4). Where / what should I read in order to be able to sleep/work again, because after I started reading this forum my brain has gone berserk and I can't leave this damn nightmare thoughts loop.
Thank you!
-
- August 3, 2014 at 7:50 am
Thank you for the reply Janner.
A few further questions, for you or anyone who has time and knowledge to answer:
1). why should I not try to eliminate them one by one? Is there any danger in the procedure? I mean should one not try to eliminate the chance to find one that has changed?
2). if I do regular check-ups every 6 months, and there will be a time when my dermatologist will say: we have to get this one out. After the procedure there is no guarantee that the disease has not spread, correct? There is no time frame for melanoma evolution (say we did not see anything wrong 6 months ago, but now after the biopsy we found out that it's stage xxx and so on)
3). Except being carefull about the sun (I try to get 5-10 mins of sun daily – T-shirt & no sun block), alimentation (healty food / no chips) & weekly / monthly self – inspections, Is there anything else I can do to minimise the chance that malenoma(or other types of skin cancer) defeats my imune system? Or any other types of medical inspections I should look into, since the Dermatoscope is not a diagonose tool?
4). Where / what should I read in order to be able to sleep/work again, because after I started reading this forum my brain has gone berserk and I can't leave this damn nightmare thoughts loop.
Thank you!
-
- August 3, 2014 at 7:27 am
Take photographs yourself. If they aren't changing, they really aren't a problem. The dermatoscope is just a lighted magnifying glass — a tool, but it doesn't diagnose. Truthfully, you most likely will see change, and it will be an ugly duckling. If all your moles look similar (even with size and uneven edges), then chances are they are fine. It's good you know about melanoma and are vigilant so you WILL see anything that is really different. (All my lesions changed, and all were obvious to me and "different" from the rest).
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- August 4, 2014 at 7:28 am
Go with what Janner tells you. If you get paranoid Melanoma wins, even if you NEVER get it. Be VIGILANT, not paranoid. HAve someone take pictures from a set distancd and even iinclude a ruler (preferablly in milimeters) so that size change cn be told better. Look for color changes. If you want to get something removed, let it be something that either you see a change in or that starts causing lot of itchng. Otherwise enjoy life!
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- August 4, 2014 at 7:28 am
Go with what Janner tells you. If you get paranoid Melanoma wins, even if you NEVER get it. Be VIGILANT, not paranoid. HAve someone take pictures from a set distancd and even iinclude a ruler (preferablly in milimeters) so that size change cn be told better. Look for color changes. If you want to get something removed, let it be something that either you see a change in or that starts causing lot of itchng. Otherwise enjoy life!
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- August 4, 2014 at 7:28 am
Go with what Janner tells you. If you get paranoid Melanoma wins, even if you NEVER get it. Be VIGILANT, not paranoid. HAve someone take pictures from a set distancd and even iinclude a ruler (preferablly in milimeters) so that size change cn be told better. Look for color changes. If you want to get something removed, let it be something that either you see a change in or that starts causing lot of itchng. Otherwise enjoy life!
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- August 6, 2014 at 3:17 am
Mine looked like a pimple/wart. Didn’t change color and it stayed the same size once I noticed it. I let it go because I thought it was nothing. I wish I could go back. If you see one or a couple that you have your concerns about, take action. It’s always better to stay on the safe side! -
- August 6, 2014 at 3:17 am
Mine looked like a pimple/wart. Didn’t change color and it stayed the same size once I noticed it. I let it go because I thought it was nothing. I wish I could go back. If you see one or a couple that you have your concerns about, take action. It’s always better to stay on the safe side! -
- August 6, 2014 at 3:17 am
Mine looked like a pimple/wart. Didn’t change color and it stayed the same size once I noticed it. I let it go because I thought it was nothing. I wish I could go back. If you see one or a couple that you have your concerns about, take action. It’s always better to stay on the safe side!-
- August 6, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I do regular checks every 5-6 months.
My main concern is:
– can the dermatologist spot malenoma? I don't want to find out too late "oh, well… you had it for 10 years and you said it did not change… and we did not know it was malenoma. now it has spread to x y z. sorry".
Also thank you everyone for the input!
-
- August 6, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I do regular checks every 5-6 months.
My main concern is:
– can the dermatologist spot malenoma? I don't want to find out too late "oh, well… you had it for 10 years and you said it did not change… and we did not know it was malenoma. now it has spread to x y z. sorry".
Also thank you everyone for the input!
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- August 7, 2014 at 5:01 am
I understand brittany. It is indeed unfortunate.
The thing is I live in a place called Romania(far far away… in space and time).
I have a lot of dysplastic nervi few 'normal' moles. Now (2014) I know that having so many dysplastic nervi… it's bad.
Education (in this domain) reached me too late. I'm sorry, but that's that. We will see what the future holds! (hopefully it's full of Win!)
Have a great day!
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- August 7, 2014 at 5:01 am
I understand brittany. It is indeed unfortunate.
The thing is I live in a place called Romania(far far away… in space and time).
I have a lot of dysplastic nervi few 'normal' moles. Now (2014) I know that having so many dysplastic nervi… it's bad.
Education (in this domain) reached me too late. I'm sorry, but that's that. We will see what the future holds! (hopefully it's full of Win!)
Have a great day!
-
- August 7, 2014 at 5:01 am
I understand brittany. It is indeed unfortunate.
The thing is I live in a place called Romania(far far away… in space and time).
I have a lot of dysplastic nervi few 'normal' moles. Now (2014) I know that having so many dysplastic nervi… it's bad.
Education (in this domain) reached me too late. I'm sorry, but that's that. We will see what the future holds! (hopefully it's full of Win!)
Have a great day!
-
- August 6, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I do regular checks every 5-6 months.
My main concern is:
– can the dermatologist spot malenoma? I don't want to find out too late "oh, well… you had it for 10 years and you said it did not change… and we did not know it was malenoma. now it has spread to x y z. sorry".
Also thank you everyone for the input!
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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