Benign mole removal and new breast lump

Hi there,

I’m currently waiting for an ultrasound for a pea sized, hard lump I found in my left breast upper quadrant. I’m nervous, but I know it’s more than likely something else, but I don’t really know what.

It’s 10 years since I had a benign mole removed from my left forearm, which resulted in two further operations due to them finding changeable cells. I have a large indent in my arm (that looks remarkably like a bite out of my arm) due to a dodgy surgery, I can’t help but feel like it could somehow be linked. 

I’m 35 this year, and genuinely thought I was in perimenopause because I keep having night sweats or it’s being down to my medication but now I’m nervous. I also have been experiencing itchiness in the armpit of the left hand side. How do people keep themselves grounded through this? I’m being seen sometime in the next two weeks.

  • Hi,

    I can understand your worry but I doubt your surgery 10 years ago is linked to the lump you are now undergoing tests for.

    Although research shows that those who have been diagnosed with melanoma are at a slightly higher risk of getting breast cancer (and vice versa), your benign mole would not be considered a risk - it would have to be malignant to possibly cause a risk. If you think they diagnosed it wrongly and it was in fact melanoma, you would have had more serious symptoms & in a much shorter period than 10 years. 

    It's difficult to get through the waiting for appointments & results but try and find a way to distract yourself. Perhaps try meditation or mindfulness or just a long walk in the fresh air & nice scenery can take your mind off your worries for a time. 

    Good luck and I hope you aren't waiting too long,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)