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Sore mole

Shann1234
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Hi, I’ve had this mole under my left armpit for as long as I can remember, my Mom says since I was about 12 ish. I’m currently 35 weeks pregnant, and have 2 children (4&2). I’ve recently started getting pain when things catch or the mole is touched. Now it’s not a mole like you see mostly on the internet it’s big , dangling and dark in colour , it has always been like that. I have the same mole in the right armpit & on my groin. (They have no issues). I went to the doctors, she told me it looks normal, she’s not concerned but because I’m having some pain she will refer me to dermatology. However I didn’t expect her to put me on the 2ww (which I know means urgent), I already have an appointment for Monday, to have some clinical images? I’ve woken this morning and the area around the mole looks like it potentially could have bled in the night. It’s constantly being caught by my bra or the edge of my clothing , it’s difficult to explain where it is. But it’s not completely under my armpit it’s showing enough to be constantly caught by clothes. 
What will happen at my appointment Monday? Will I find out results or will I have to wait? I was only told it’s to take some clinical images. Is it more likely it’s cancer due to pain & potentially bleeding due to being knocked, will they remove us regardless of the outcome or not? I am absolutely petrified , I’m suffering really bad with health anxiety. I do not want to die :( Thankyou for reading this far and I hope it really is nothing. 

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    Hi,

    Firstly, it's good that you already have an appointment so that you aren't waiting too long to get it checked out.

    On Monday your mole will be photographed using a dermatascope - a handheld microscope that also takes photos of the cell structure of the mole. The person doing this is not a doctor, so they can't offer any advice. The photos will be sent to a consultant dermatologist for them to examine them. You will either get a letter to say the mole looks benign (no change in the cell structure) so you will not need it removing. Or you will get an appointment to see the dermatologist so they can take a proper look at it in person. If they then think it needs removing for a biopsy you will be given an appointment to go back for day surgery where it will be removed under local anesthetic. The biopsy results will then say whether it's malignant or not.

    Melanoma can bleed but it doesn't usually cause pain so, if the mole is more like a skin tag it may be catching on your clothes, causing bleeding.

    Existing moles can change during pregnancy due to hormonal changes but most changes are benign. 75% of patients referred to dermatology are found to have benign or dysplastic moles - these are moles whose cells are starting to change but haven't yet become cancerous. 

    There is a very good chance that your mole is fine but try to distract yourself whilst waiting for the results of your teledermy appointment. You aren't going to die - it may be nothing but if it is melanoma there is every chance it's been caught early & it will be successfully treated with surgery.

    Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009) 

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie , 

    tjankyou so much. I’m only 24 , I’ve never had any issues like this before. I keep googling (which I know it’s the worst thing). It wasn’t bleeding or anything like that when I first went to the GP. It started off with I noticed it was painfull when touched , or caught with clothing. I only noticed that it possibly has bled this morning, but I couldn’t be 100% sure. It does look like it has been caught in the night, it does look like a skin tag, it’s not a mole that’s flat or even slightly raised it’s completely dangling from the skin. Which again it’s always been like that from memory. I’m trying not to be irrational, but I just keep thinking the absolute worst. Thankyou again 

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