I understand I'm in exactly the same position not knowing it's just awful!! You aren't alone hope it all goes well for you xxx

Hi 

Thanks Angie I've just had a biopsy and waiting results and glad you're being helpful on here as I am the same as the others.  My mole I've had for years was 3mm - 2 years ago and the dermatologist looked at it with a dermascope and said that's not cancer and just keep an eye on it so I trusted him saying that.  It is now 4mm x 5mm and became slightly raised so I went back and he said it was suspicious so has removed it and they said it was thin (my mind is saying they were saying that just to make me feel better).  Can they tell from a biopsy if it is thin? Is that rate of growth a positive or bad sign?  
 

Thank you

Fran 

Hi Fran,

Yes they can estimate the depth of the mole from the biopsy tissue as they have to ensure they have removed a large margin around the mole, both in diameter and depth. A thin mole is a very good sign and an indication that it's been caught early and may not have breached the epidermis or superficial dermis. If the mole turns out to be melanoma, a thin mole means it's early stage melanoma and has between a 95% - 100% chance of causing no further problem in the future. Sometimes moles can grow large & spread across the skin & look worrying but they don't necessarily growth at the same rate of depth below the skin - which is the most important indicator.

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

Angie

Hi Angie

Thanks so much for your time to reply which has given me some comfort while waiting as I didn't know they could judge it - they used a punch biopsy.  I will let you know and wish all people on here the very best it's good to have a place to talk thank you xx

Hi Angie

Thanks so much for your time to reply which has given me some comfort while waiting as I didn't know they could judge it - they used a punch biopsy.  I will let you know and wish all people on here the very best it's good to have a place to talk thank you xx

Hi Angie

I have my results and it is a melanoma 0.6 of a mm deep and something about a cell count being low which they said is good so hopefully that's ok?  Just need a wider margin excision next week.  They checked my body for any other moles and will keep me under review for a year.  I think I am lucky and thank you for your support and wish all patients the very best xxx Fran x

Hi Frano,

It's really good that your melanoma has been caught early. 0.6mm is very shallow and the low 'cell count' is called mitotis - this is the speed at which the cells are dividing - a low count means great news as it was growing very slowly. Good luck with your WLE next week and please let us know how you get on,

Angie x