Hi Michael,

I haven't had a mole that matches your description but in my many years of having melanoma I know that they can come in all shapes, sizes and colours. I know it's very worrying but the good thing is that you are having it removed and you should have an answer soon. I find that it's the worrying whilst waiting for an answer that's the most debilitating so try & distract yourself as best you can. Hopefully the results will show it's fine but if it comes back as melanoma don't despair. Medical research and new treatments are moving at speed where melanoma is concerned. In recent years it has gone from there being no treatment to there now being many options so it's not as bleak as it once was. 

I wish you all the best and please let us know how you get on,

Angie

Hi Michael10,

Our younger son was born with a pale brown mole/birthmark on his neck. When he was still a baby a doctor said don't be too surprised if that changes colour in later life, but get it checked out if it does, like with any skin changes. He's 25 now and the mark is the same. I guess the warning shows that these things do happen sometimes.

Hope everything turns out well for you.

regards, gamechanger

Hey, how did it go?

I'm only interested in knowing for the fact I've had a mole appear that is regular and was black and it has now just changed to a dark red with a pink dot inside it, after about 5 months from it appearing. 

Currently waiting to see the Dr, but like you have said there is not much about a regular mole being cancerous, just ones that are oddly shaped and such. 

Thanks 

Ryan

Hi RyanJF,

It's not unusal for new moles to appear up to the age of 40, anything after that age is definately something to get checked out. However, you are right to see a GP if it has now started to change colour. A mole doesn't have to be oddly shaped or bleeding etc to be suspicious - a completely normal looking mole that changes colour is one to look out for too. My mole, since birth, was round, regular shaped, brown in colour and 6mm in diameter. The only reason I went to get it checked was because it started to get darker until it was almost black. It was melanoma. Sometimes moles that look dodgy can actually be fine whilst ones that look fine can turn out to be dodgy - this is why it's such a lottery when it comes to spotting melanoma.

GP's, until recently, have had a hard time of getting it right but now more GP's are being trained in how to use a dermascope which shows them any suspcious cells in the mole. If your GP practice has a GP trained in the use of this equipment please ask to see them if it's not automatically offered. 

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

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)