Hi,

I can understand your worry and it's good that you are seeing a dermatologist on Tuesday. 

A mole needs checking if it matches one or more of the ABCDE criteria, however it doesn't always mean it's cancerous. Some moles can look dodgy but turn out to be atypical (dysplastic) moles - they are benign but have the capacity to turn cancerous in the future so they need to be removed. Of all patients with a dodgy mole that see a dermatologist, 75% are given a clean bill of health, so the odds are good that you could be the same. Should the dermatologist be unsure, they will arrange for it to be removed for biopsy. This is done as a day patient at a later date.

My mole was removed 24 years ago - it was a Stage 1b melanoma. Since that time I have had 7 further moles/lesions removed that were suspect & they have all turned out to be benign. So you see how the odds work! Mine did return 13 years later, having spread to my nodes, but I'm still here, fit & healthy, to tell the tale.

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

Angie

Hi,

It came back in my groin & pelvic nodes 13 years after my initial diagnosis. The melanoma must have spread to the node before I had it removed (hence why I shouldn't have left it a year to get checked). It sat in the node & caused no problems until it decided to multiply 13 years later! The good thing is that, in the ensuing time, drug therapies have been found that help fight the return & spread of the disease so the future is more optimistic for those diagnosed with melanoma now.

I know it's hard not to dwell on it but try & distract yourself doing things you enjoy (not easy at the moment, I know). Hopefully Tuesday will be here quickly & the dermatologist will be able to ease your mind.

Take care,

Angie

Hi Angie, I'm really happy to hear that you are doing good and very positive women and strong everything you have went through, I had my appointment and the dermatologist says it doesn't look cancerous and I do have another mole beside it that is changing like the mole I had checked today, she told me to keep an eye on them and not to worry, thankyou for your support x