Hello, 

This is not my first time here but I guess I just wanted to get my thoughts down. Also, I have found it difficult to find any posts similar to my situation. 

In around November 2023, after a new tattoo I noticed a mole on my back. I kind of forgot about it and in December 2024 I started feeling a 'crawling'type feeling on my back on the same side as the mole. I got my son to touch the mole and that is exactly where the crawly feeling was. It also tingles and I've noticed that sometimes after eating I feel a tingling sensation, almost like I'm feeding something. 

I went to the GP who said that the mole has different colours in it so is referring me. I have an appointment on Wednesday but this is just for the photograph thing (sorry for the non-technical wording!).

The concern for me is when I looked through old photographs, it definitely ws not there in 2019, but it definitely was there in 2021, although it was a little smaller. However, pictures are not necessarily the best as the only one I could find was from a distance so I had to enlarge the image to see it. 

I guess my biggest fear now is that if it is melanoma as suspected, how advanced would it be if I've left it for that many years. I am also black, but fair skinned so this is another concern. I do have freckles on my face and I also now have a lot of very small freckles on my back and I'm guessing this larger one (around 5mm) may have started as a freckle looking mole. As it is on my back I cannot really see it so well, even with a handheld mirror so am relying on other people or photographs to see it. 

I am absolutely terrified that I have allowed this thing to evolve and even though I only first noticed it in 2023, it has been growing over a number of years. I also know that the size on the skin is not indicative of what is happening underneath the skin. 

The mole is flat and light and dry dark brown in places. 

I guess I'm asking if anyone else has been through a similar situation and if so what was the outcome for you?

N