worrying about biopsy
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worrying about biopsy

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › worrying about biopsy

  • Post
    • August 17, 2015 at 12:41 am
    boydjohn
    Participant

    I had a mole on my leg that a surgeon removed on Wednesday. The mole was very concerning to me (it itched and sometimes was painful to touch) and I had been worrying about it non-stop for 2 years. (that’s when i first noticed it). 3 GPs told me the mole is nothing to worry about, 1 dermatologist also confirmed that the mole doesn’t look like a melanoma but told me to watch for changes. (He looked at the mole with something that looked like a magnifying glass and a light under the glass). Then it came the last dermatologist I saw, and the first thing she said was that it looks dark. She said it is better to have it removed so i can stop worrying, but she seemed to be concerned about how dark my mole was. Is dark always bad? she got an appointment for me from a surgeon the day after i saw her and the surgeon removed the mole (through punch biopsy). The surgeon didn’t also seem to be concerned. First thing he said was well this doesn’t look that bad. 

    My mole was 4mm with brown borders and a dark (almost a dark black) centre. it was flat, and it didn’t grow a lot in 2 years. Maybe 1mm-2mm. (I guess that is still considered a change but i also gained weight, so not sure if that would be the reason for change in size)
    They said I will get the results on the 26th when I go back to remove my stitches. I can’t help the worrying. I do suffer from health anxiety and I’m finding it very hard to cope with the waiting. I actually had a dream last night that I was told I have melanoma. 
    How should one cope with the stress? I’m having nightmares when i sleep and I just think it’s causing a great deal of stress on me which can’t be healthy. I’m a male in my mid 20s.
     
    Is it safe to assume that when 3 GPs and one dermatologist thought the mole is not melanoma, i should stop worrying about it? I have read so many stories about moles that ended up being melanoma and the doctors also considered those moles normal so that makes me even more worried. 
     
    This is a picture of mole the day I had it removed from my leg. 
Viewing 8 reply threads
  • Replies
      • August 17, 2015 at 3:02 am
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      The waiting is often the hardest thing. No-one can diagnose your mole just by looking. Dermatologists are very good at it but even they get it wrong sometimes. The darkness is not necessarily a bad thing. Being multi-colored and changing are generally more worrisome signs. But even those characteristics are not fool-proof. 

      The 26th seems like a long time to wait. You may want to call the office and see if you can get the results any earlier. Until then, though, give some thought to your health anxiety. The stress of worry is not a good thing. Some worrying is normal, but if it is affecting your life you should find someone who can help you with that.

      Please report back on the results of the biopsy!

       

      Tim–MRF

      • August 17, 2015 at 3:02 am
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      The waiting is often the hardest thing. No-one can diagnose your mole just by looking. Dermatologists are very good at it but even they get it wrong sometimes. The darkness is not necessarily a bad thing. Being multi-colored and changing are generally more worrisome signs. But even those characteristics are not fool-proof. 

      The 26th seems like a long time to wait. You may want to call the office and see if you can get the results any earlier. Until then, though, give some thought to your health anxiety. The stress of worry is not a good thing. Some worrying is normal, but if it is affecting your life you should find someone who can help you with that.

      Please report back on the results of the biopsy!

       

      Tim–MRF

      • August 17, 2015 at 3:02 am
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      The waiting is often the hardest thing. No-one can diagnose your mole just by looking. Dermatologists are very good at it but even they get it wrong sometimes. The darkness is not necessarily a bad thing. Being multi-colored and changing are generally more worrisome signs. But even those characteristics are not fool-proof. 

      The 26th seems like a long time to wait. You may want to call the office and see if you can get the results any earlier. Until then, though, give some thought to your health anxiety. The stress of worry is not a good thing. Some worrying is normal, but if it is affecting your life you should find someone who can help you with that.

      Please report back on the results of the biopsy!

       

      Tim–MRF

      • August 17, 2015 at 7:14 am
      stars
      Participant

      Hi – as Tim said, the waiting can be the hardest, and not even the best doc in the world can diagnose with the naked eye – only the final pathology report can give you some peace of mind.  I also get very anxious waiting for results, perhaps we all do. I've found it best to stay as busy as you can to take your mind off things. Much as I'd like to crumple in a heap, I stay working and participating in everyday life. I also agree with Tim that yours is a very long wait for results. I had biopsies Wed last week and results today – I would've had them Friday except the derm doesn't work on Fridays. In the past, when I've had a mel, I've found out within 2 days of biopsy. Try to find out if there's a way to get results sooner. I think it's less likely that you have a melanoma, but quite likely (as you say) that you have health anxiety that is causing you unnecessary distress. Perhaps look at something like cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help you be more balanced in this area (says me, as a fellow worry wart).

      Stars

      • August 17, 2015 at 7:14 am
      stars
      Participant

      Hi – as Tim said, the waiting can be the hardest, and not even the best doc in the world can diagnose with the naked eye – only the final pathology report can give you some peace of mind.  I also get very anxious waiting for results, perhaps we all do. I've found it best to stay as busy as you can to take your mind off things. Much as I'd like to crumple in a heap, I stay working and participating in everyday life. I also agree with Tim that yours is a very long wait for results. I had biopsies Wed last week and results today – I would've had them Friday except the derm doesn't work on Fridays. In the past, when I've had a mel, I've found out within 2 days of biopsy. Try to find out if there's a way to get results sooner. I think it's less likely that you have a melanoma, but quite likely (as you say) that you have health anxiety that is causing you unnecessary distress. Perhaps look at something like cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help you be more balanced in this area (says me, as a fellow worry wart).

      Stars

      • August 17, 2015 at 7:14 am
      stars
      Participant

      Hi – as Tim said, the waiting can be the hardest, and not even the best doc in the world can diagnose with the naked eye – only the final pathology report can give you some peace of mind.  I also get very anxious waiting for results, perhaps we all do. I've found it best to stay as busy as you can to take your mind off things. Much as I'd like to crumple in a heap, I stay working and participating in everyday life. I also agree with Tim that yours is a very long wait for results. I had biopsies Wed last week and results today – I would've had them Friday except the derm doesn't work on Fridays. In the past, when I've had a mel, I've found out within 2 days of biopsy. Try to find out if there's a way to get results sooner. I think it's less likely that you have a melanoma, but quite likely (as you say) that you have health anxiety that is causing you unnecessary distress. Perhaps look at something like cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help you be more balanced in this area (says me, as a fellow worry wart).

      Stars

      • August 18, 2015 at 11:25 pm
      boydjohn
      Participant

      I finally got my Biopsy Results. It seems like I have a dysplastic nevus with atypia cells and not melanoma. Glad I got this sucker out. There are some more information here that I don't understand but I guess I should just do yearly skin check ups and I will be fine. Here is the results. 

      Gross: SCO a punch skin biopsy measuring 0.3×0.3×0.4 cm in greatest dimension EIT. 

       

      Microscopic: Sections show elongation of rete ridges with nests of plump melanocytes at the dermo-edpidermal junction. In some areas the nests show bridging between adjacent rete ridges. There is mild nuclear atypia of some of the melanocytic nests. In the upper dermis there is a patchy perivascular lymphocycic infiltrate with melanophages. In one or two focal areas there is mild papillary fibroplasia but this is not a significant feature. There are no nevus cells present in the dermis. The overall configuration combined with melanocyctic atypia would suggest that this is a dysplastic nevus. In the plane of section examined the lesion appears to be completely excised. 

       

      Diagnosis: Dysplastic Nevus

      • August 18, 2015 at 11:25 pm
      boydjohn
      Participant

      I finally got my Biopsy Results. It seems like I have a dysplastic nevus with atypia cells and not melanoma. Glad I got this sucker out. There are some more information here that I don't understand but I guess I should just do yearly skin check ups and I will be fine. Here is the results. 

      Gross: SCO a punch skin biopsy measuring 0.3×0.3×0.4 cm in greatest dimension EIT. 

       

      Microscopic: Sections show elongation of rete ridges with nests of plump melanocytes at the dermo-edpidermal junction. In some areas the nests show bridging between adjacent rete ridges. There is mild nuclear atypia of some of the melanocytic nests. In the upper dermis there is a patchy perivascular lymphocycic infiltrate with melanophages. In one or two focal areas there is mild papillary fibroplasia but this is not a significant feature. There are no nevus cells present in the dermis. The overall configuration combined with melanocyctic atypia would suggest that this is a dysplastic nevus. In the plane of section examined the lesion appears to be completely excised. 

       

      Diagnosis: Dysplastic Nevus

      • August 18, 2015 at 11:25 pm
      boydjohn
      Participant

      I finally got my Biopsy Results. It seems like I have a dysplastic nevus with atypia cells and not melanoma. Glad I got this sucker out. There are some more information here that I don't understand but I guess I should just do yearly skin check ups and I will be fine. Here is the results. 

      Gross: SCO a punch skin biopsy measuring 0.3×0.3×0.4 cm in greatest dimension EIT. 

       

      Microscopic: Sections show elongation of rete ridges with nests of plump melanocytes at the dermo-edpidermal junction. In some areas the nests show bridging between adjacent rete ridges. There is mild nuclear atypia of some of the melanocytic nests. In the upper dermis there is a patchy perivascular lymphocycic infiltrate with melanophages. In one or two focal areas there is mild papillary fibroplasia but this is not a significant feature. There are no nevus cells present in the dermis. The overall configuration combined with melanocyctic atypia would suggest that this is a dysplastic nevus. In the plane of section examined the lesion appears to be completely excised. 

       

      Diagnosis: Dysplastic Nevus

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