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Picking off a melanoma?
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Picking off a melanoma?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Picking off a melanoma?

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    • November 21, 2011 at 12:33 pm
    Jydnew
    Participant

      This question sounds really stupid to me as I formulate it in my head, but I'm compelled by my fear to ask…

      This question sounds really stupid to me as I formulate it in my head, but I'm compelled by my fear to ask… I noticed a 1-2 mm slightly raised black spot on my husband's arm last Thursday night.  He had just been to the dermatologist on November 8 for his semiannual checkup, and nothing was there at the time.  At first, we thought it might be a tick, so he went in the bathroom and sort of flicked it with tweezers and the middle lightened, leaving a reallhy ugly black spot with a pinkish middle.  He said he'd wait a week then call the derm if it still looked weird.

      Last night, I was stupid enough to google "pictures of melanoma" and scared myself into the possibility that it's nodular melanoma.  Then later, I wanted to see it more closely, and I scratched it off, like it was a scab, and with just a little work, the whole black part came off.  Looks like a normal pink spot underneath – like a bite or pimple (not raised, though).  But now I'm reading that it IS possible to scratch off a melanoma, and it can heal normally underneath, concealing the melanoma that will continue to grow deeper into the skin.  He says he's not going to the dermatologist if it heals up normally – he'll go if the black comes back. 

      Is it likely that this is just a scab?  Can you really pick off a melanoma with your fingernail and it might grow back normally?  Can a melanoma show up like that in under 10 days?

      Now I'm worried….

       

      (btw – he is nearly 10 years NED from a stage iiia dx; without that history, I doubt I'd think the spot was anything more than a bite or pimple with a weird scab)

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        • November 21, 2011 at 2:14 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          The key to this is your last statement.  If he didn't already have melanoma, you wouldn't be suspicious.  I seriously doubt it was melanoma.  It doesn't "easily" scratch off.  I think you'd have to work pretty hard to do that.  I think your husband's approach sounds sensible.  If it heals normally, then great.  If it returns, then re-evaluate.  My derm uses a 6 week rule.  If something is still there and bothering you in 6 weeks after you notice it, time to biopsy.  I don't always wait 6 weeks, but it makes me rethink something and give it time to heal on its own first.

          Best wishes,

          Janner

          • November 21, 2011 at 2:14 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            The key to this is your last statement.  If he didn't already have melanoma, you wouldn't be suspicious.  I seriously doubt it was melanoma.  It doesn't "easily" scratch off.  I think you'd have to work pretty hard to do that.  I think your husband's approach sounds sensible.  If it heals normally, then great.  If it returns, then re-evaluate.  My derm uses a 6 week rule.  If something is still there and bothering you in 6 weeks after you notice it, time to biopsy.  I don't always wait 6 weeks, but it makes me rethink something and give it time to heal on its own first.

            Best wishes,

            Janner

            • November 21, 2011 at 2:14 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              The key to this is your last statement.  If he didn't already have melanoma, you wouldn't be suspicious.  I seriously doubt it was melanoma.  It doesn't "easily" scratch off.  I think you'd have to work pretty hard to do that.  I think your husband's approach sounds sensible.  If it heals normally, then great.  If it returns, then re-evaluate.  My derm uses a 6 week rule.  If something is still there and bothering you in 6 weeks after you notice it, time to biopsy.  I don't always wait 6 weeks, but it makes me rethink something and give it time to heal on its own first.

              Best wishes,

              Janner

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