Hi,

I've had a crusty, itchy mole before and it was benign when biopsied. However, no two people will have exactly the same type of mole so you can't compare experiences. That is why moles need checking by dermatology and any that look suspicious are removed for biopsy. Yours may be fine or it may not so it's good that you've been referred. 75% of referrals are fine so hopefully yours will be too.

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

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi Angie,

Thank you for your response! I didn't ask many questions at the time as I have several health issues which I have had to battle for diagnosis for.

Even with my mole, the first GP was intending to dismiss it until I told him it has definitely grown and changed colour and he brought in a senior GP who agreed for a referral to be sent to dermatology.

In terms of experiences, I meant experience going to the GP, contact with dermatology etc. I was wondering this to be able to ease my own mind and speak to people who have been through similar things.

Dermatology contacted me today saying that they've received my referral so I will definitely keep you updated.

Thanks for your help and hope all is well.

I understand. My GP (27 years ago) didn't think the mole on my skin was anything to worry about but referred me to dermatology 'just in case!' I had had the mole all my life but it had turned black the year before and I'd left it until I needed the GP for another health issue.

2 weeks later the dermatologist took one look, got a colleague to check it and both said they thought it was melanoma but I needed a biopsy to confirm it. A few days later I had a local anaesthetic and the mole removed - I was back home a few hours later. Another 2 weeks later I had the stitches removed and the results - melanoma. The depth was 0.7mm which meant 5 years of regular checks. Sadly it spread to my lymph nodes after 13 years but surgery and 11 years of monitoring means I'm still here, in remission.

Things have changed since then. At the referral appointment the dermatologist now uses a dermascope to look at the mole instead of using the naked eye. The scope shows any change in cell activity and they make a decision as to whether it needs removing. Most consultants don't commit as to their thoughts because a) only a biopsy can give a 100% diagnosis and b) they are careful not to add to the patient's anxiety, especially if there is a chance it may be benign.

If a biopsy is needed, Covid backlog means it averages 4 weeks for the mole removal. It's still done under local anaesthetic as a day patient and it's now taking 6 to 8 weeks for results. 

Having said all that, the chance of it being melanoma is small. Most patient's moles are benign or precancerous (dysplastic). If it's melanoma and it's been caught before it's grown too deep, surgical removal and monitoring is all that's required. Over the years drug treatment has been introduced for patients like myself and it's showing great success so it's much better than when I was first diagnosed.

I hope this information has helped. Good luck,

Angie

Hi Angie

I see lots of your post on here and they are very good.

I was wondering what you think about a mole I had removed 12 years ago by laser. It was only beceause of cosmetic reason. I had this mole since childhood I did not like it. It was on my chest. That time I lived in Thailand I went to a very good private hospital where they suggested laser I did not realised that actually after this the mole can not be checked for cancer because it gets burned.

However, my question is, if it was cancer would it show after 12 years?

Many thanks

Hi,

That's a difficult question that even clinicians can't answer. Moles that are malignant grow below the skin, like roots. A laser will destroy the mole on the surface but leave the roots behind and these may continue to grow and spread. However, as each year goes by there is less chance your mole was malignant as, after 12 years, you would expect to have  had some symptoms appear. 

All you can do is to check the nodal areas nearest your chest for any lumps. These will be your neck and under your armpits. Just have a gentle feel of the areas with your fingertips each month. If you feel a small, painless lump, see your GP and tell them about your mole removal. 

Hopefully your mole was perfectly fine as most moles are. Try not to worry after all this time but just be aware of what to look out for. 

Angie

Hi Angie

Thank you so much for your answer, that is definitely reeasurring. I did ask couple of clinicians and like you said, they thought after 12 years more likely symptomps would appear but of course you can't always be 100% sure.

Just another question, 4 years ago I accidently ripped off a small mole close to my knickers and obviously this was never checked either. Do you think I should be checking for lumps around groin area just in case?

You mention that your cancerous mole spread after 12 years to your lympth... did you find that by yourself?

Many thanks

JK

Hi,

Yes, there's no harm in checking the groin area too. If you managed to rip off a mole there is more chance it was a skin tag mole which aren't usually malignant but there is no harm checking the area.

I found the lump in my groin whilst in the shower - I knew it hadn't been there the day before! According to my consultant, 99% of lumps and suspicious moles are found by the patient because we know what to watch out for!

Angie

Hi Angie

Thank you so much for your reasurring answers.

This whole skin cancer plays so much on my mind. 

I also just remembered that 4 years ago i had removed lots of skin tags under my arms, on my neck. This was done by a dermatologist in my country (czech rep) who has been dermatologist for 40 years. She also removed something which I till now think it could have been small mole rather than skin tag, it was slightly darker. She never actually checked with the dermostop, just looked at it with a naked eye and burned it off. I have been so scared now that she could have potentaily removed a canceress mole. It was close to my groin, and quite small.

What do you think?

Many thanks

JK

With so much experience I'm sure she would have known if it was anything serious. Skin tags can come in differing shades so she will have been happy that it was a harmless skin tag.