Red Swollen Suspicious Mole - Freaking Out - Melanoma?

44/m.

About 10 days ago I felt an odd itch on my back. I didn't think much of it. 4 days ago I felt some pain and looked in the mirror and one of my long time moles (about 5-6mm) was red, swollen, and itchy.

I went to urgent care. The doctor said it may be an infection but he didn't think it looked like melanoma but I should still see the derm.

I don't know how it could be infected. I do not touch it ever so I couldn't have scratched it.

My question is, if I'm already having a reaction is it likely melanoma? And would the reaction mean that it is further along? I've obviously googled and then I didn't sleep at all last night. I'm trying to get an appointment with my derm but they usually take a lot of time.

Any advice is appreciated.

Parents
  • Hi

    I am in a similar situation to you. I find it infuriating that unless it looks like the most clicked images on Google of malignant melanoma the GPS say it’s not one. My dad was told by his GP his wasn’t and to go on his 10 day business trip before she bothers to refer him. I intuitively knew it was even though he’s not necessarily the skin type and not an I, I set my alarm to book him another appointment as soon as they opened when he got back. Luckily she agreed it had got bigger and although she didn’t think it was cancer it was worth a dermatologist having a look so referred him. The day the dermatologist saw it he booked him a same day appointment in the theatre as a matter of emergency to get it removed before it spread to lymph’s, and was all just in time! 
    I don’t have private healthcare like my Dad did, I pray for me and all the others who have cancer to please see someone who can make the right judgement and doesn’t need it to be 100% Google certified as I don’t know many who are, why don’t they realise this.

    id be vigilant in getting it checked if I were you, don’t rely on their intuition until it’s confirmed what it is for certain. 

  • I am getting it checked by a dermatologist today. However, I did Google and find something called "Meyerson Nevus" that at least explains what may be going on for me. In this "unusual" phenomenon, a benign mole develops a ring of eczema rash around it which can last for weeks. Apparently they do not know why it occurs, but in the vast majority of the cases, Meyerson's phenomenon is not an indication of malignancy. It happens on benign moles. 

    I will follow-up here after I see the dermatologist.

    I am so glad your dad got checked in time! I wish we had more dermatologists so that they could see people more quickly.

Reply
  • I am getting it checked by a dermatologist today. However, I did Google and find something called "Meyerson Nevus" that at least explains what may be going on for me. In this "unusual" phenomenon, a benign mole develops a ring of eczema rash around it which can last for weeks. Apparently they do not know why it occurs, but in the vast majority of the cases, Meyerson's phenomenon is not an indication of malignancy. It happens on benign moles. 

    I will follow-up here after I see the dermatologist.

    I am so glad your dad got checked in time! I wish we had more dermatologists so that they could see people more quickly.

Children
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