Melanoma

Scuzi

Scuzi

Scuzi

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Let me start by making it entirely clear that I am not asking for any form of medical advice in this thread. It is intended to ask for anyone's experience and not for opinion or advice. I will seek professional advice from a doctor.

Anyway, has anyone had this or known anyone with it? If so, what was your experience? How did you find out you had it? How long was it before you were treated? What was your experience of the treatment?

The story is that at the weekend I felt an itch on my lower back just above my ass. I had a look in the mirror and noticed quite a large mole which I don't remember seeing before. After a day or two of itching, it finally began to bleed when I was drying myself after a shower. I thought nothing of it.

I told my mum who almost had a fit. She had a look at it and suggested that it could be very serious and that I'd be stupid not to get it looked at ASAP. This worried me a bit so I did some research on the internet and discovered the "ABCDE" method for diagnosis of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malignant_melanoma]Malignant Melanoma[/URL] (i.e. Skin cancer). This ****ing mole ticks a lot of the boxes so after some deliberation (I really hate doctors and hospitals) I have decided to go down to the doctors tomorrow to see if I can get this looked at ASAP.

I'm not a hypochondriac, far from it. I insisted that I didn't need to go to the hospital after my motorbike accident a few years ago when my right kneecap was at the back of my leg :p

This scares me though. I suppose this thread is just intended to hear from anyone who has experienced this as I am completely out of my depth here.
 
I wouldn't be freaking out yet, it isn't unheard of to get moles appear that are completely benign. Just have it checked to be sure.
 
*sigh*

Sorry, never saw that link.

Hope everything is ok, and remember get a second opinion from docs. :p
 
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It sounds like you've caught it early which is always a good thing if it is a melanoma. Best option is to go to the doctors and they'll get it tested to see where you stand.

Easily treatable by minor surgery if it's caught early :) Good luck chap
 
I can't really help, but I hope it goes well for you..

I accidentally picked a mole off once then just stuck it back on :p

Nothing happened so I think I'm OK :cool:
 
The ultimate thing is what you've already mentioned Scuzi, I mean they could and probably will say its absolutely fine and maybe its been aggravated?

One thing I will say, never EVER read too much into any medical 'symptom' it can make you feel the worse.

I've been to see the doc about a freckle on my hand, which looked weird. Nothing to worry about said the doc and away I went.
 
Bleeding can be a common symotom of almost anything, dont worry.

I am sure if the mole was cancerous you woud have noticed changes by now, i.e. weight loss or what have you.

Go to the doctors tomorrow, they will get some tests done and it will be fine.



at least your not bothered about the Z4 anymore
 
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My uncle used to obey the sun so to speak, he had a dodgy mole a few months back just like your describing. He had a biopsy on it, came back negative for cancer, turned out it was a benign tumour and was sorted easily. People freak out when they find lumps or abnormalities, but more often than not its nothing to be worried about and can be sorted quickly without long term effects.
 
I had a similar thing about 18-24 months ago, went to the docs and he wasn't all that concerned with it. Although it seems it ticks a lot of the boxes, itching/bleeding can be caused by many things. In my case I think I must have scratched it or something as it healed up just the same as any other cut. The fact you haven't noticed it before is obviously a bit more of an issue, but how many times do you examine the moles on your back? Could have been there ages.

In my case he said to come back in a week or so if it hadn't healed up, it did and all is well. Even if it does happen to be melanoma, as far as I'm aware it's a very simple 'slice it out' procedure with a very high success rate when caught early - the fact you've only just noticed it suggests it hasn't been around all that long.

Worst thing you can do is read up too much about it; I find the more I read about something the more convinced I am that I have it :p
 
Scuzi said:
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Hi mate, might not be much use to you but here goes. My dad had a 'mole' appear on his face, itched quite a bit and came out of pretty much no where. Went to see his doctor (as he has cancer already, thought it would be best to get checked out) who immediately referred him to a dermatologist.

When at the dermatologist, she almost immediately said 'yep, malignant melanoma'. Within about an hour, the little bugga was chopped off and sent to the lab for further testing. Turns out, because my dad has spent so much time in the sun all his life, he has to be careful what he does. The sun has killed the skin on his lips and has made his skin fragile. He has the all clear from any more melanomas for the time being, but with his history there is a very good chance there will be more.

Best get down the doctors for check, just to be on the safe side. Is amazing what the doctors can do now. Your best of catching it sooner rather than later.

Edit: Doctors will get you in ASAP as soon as you mention a lump or growth, i had one appear and was down the surgery, getting looked at within 30 mins. Turns out it was just foliculitus, but better to be safe than sorry.

Edit edit: If you want any more in-depth info, feel free to add me to msn, will be on for about the next half hour :)
 
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You're right about reading up on medical issues. I have scared the crap out of myself with bloody Wikipedia and WebMD :p

I really do hope it turns out to be nothing major (who wants cancer, right?). My main concern is that the doctor will take a brief look, mock me for being a paranoid idiot and send me on my way only to find out later that all is not right. I've seen it happen in the movies!

Damn you internet!

Thanks for the wellwishes and support. It's certainly helping calm the initial "panic".
 
Its not unusual for them to be come infected Hence the swelling& itching ive had them for 30 years and had surgery to remove 2 which was puely for cosmetic reasons only,and the fact that they bothered me,but DO let them have a look go along and get it checked out,its there job its what they do,they wont think any less of you for coming along,believe me it will make you feel a whole lot better afterwards I hounded my dermatologist to remove the other 2 but they wouldnt and just told me to keep an eye on them that was ten plus years ago.
Oh and as for the surgery they just freeze it and cut it out you dont feel a thing and its all over before you can say the alphabet
 
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Chances are the doctor would much rather someone go in with a legitimate concern and it to be nothing, than for someone to not go in due to worries about being mocked.

If it's nothing, he'll probably give you some advice for the future.
 
eddie101 said:
Edit: Doctors will get you in ASAP as soon as you mention a lump or growth.
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Not strictly true from personal experience. I had a growth under my skin on my cheek, doctor just gave me antibiotics, went back cos they werent working, tried me on different antibiotics and it went.
 
Had a similar mole myself. Turned out to be fine. But get it checked immediately and don't just take the docs word for it, get a referral to a skin specialist.
 
Scuzi said:
Thanks for the wellwishes and support. It's certainly helping calm the initial "panic".
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I'm about to undo that a bit. Sorry.

I lost a close relative (Aunt I think, but I'm not entirely sure about that) to cancer. My memory isn't entirely accurate about her age at the time, but late-20s/early-30s is about right, and from memory that's not all that far from you.

It was all traced back to a melanoma caused by too much sun worshipping that turned malignant. It wasn't caught in time and spread, and she died one week after my 21st birthday. :(

You've done the right thing going to the docs. It isn't about hypochondria, it's about being safe and getting checked out. I've gone to the docs myself with lumps and while they've been somewhat dismissive, it's far better for both me and them that they turned out to be harmless.

Good luck and best wishes.
 
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