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Scared I have skin cancer and its too late

Claire3636
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Hi 

Please could anyone reassure me or tell me their experience of this. 

A month ago my partner noticed a black mole on my lower back. I looked online and it said if all black it's ok. I thought it was ok and I'll keep eye on it.

2 weeks later my beautician also mentioned this mole but this time she told me it was half brown and half black and I should get it looked at. This sent me into a panic as I have health anxiety already.

I did an econsult and sent pictures to my doctor. He called me in a few days later and was very matter of fact telling me it could be skin cancer.

I got an urgent referral within 2 weeks. I was hoping for some reassurance from the dermatologist. She was lovely but said it was suspicious and needs to be removed. They had space the next day so I went in and had it removed.

That was when it hit me that this could be cancer. I cried all the way home as its all happened so quickly and was in shock.

They've told me the results could take 4 to 6 weeks. I've stupidly looked online and all the black coloured moles are melanoma the deadliest form of cancer.

Due to it being on my back I don't know how long it's been there. I'm convinced it's cancer and it's spread. Any ache or pain I think the cancer has spread.

The fact all articles say you wouldn't feel ill or know if melanoma had spread makes me so scared. It's like I've already written myself off.

I'm getting married in November and all I can think about is what's the point as I'm going to die in my 30s.

Has anyone had a black mole that's turned out to be ok?

Any advise or how to cope with the wait would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

Claire 

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    Hi Claire,

    I know how worrying this is but please don't Google - the information is out of date and only fuels worry rather than showing that not everyone's dodgy mole turns out to be malignant.

    There is a 75% chance that the results will be clear. If not, there is a 20% chance the mole is dysplastic (pre-cancerous) which means, once removed, it can't turn cancerous. Failing that, there is a 5% chance it could be melanoma but even if it is, there is still a 97% chance that it can be sorted. If caught early, once removed you are good to go with just a few check ups. Even if not caught early, treatment for melanoma these days has come on leaps & bounds and is showing great success. So don't immediately think that your mole is the worse case scenario.

    My mole turned black & grew bigger. I left it a year before seeing my GP. That was 25 years ago and it was melanoma. Even though it spread later (my own fault for leaving it a year) I'm still here, fit, healthy and without any sign of cancer. So please don't panic and take each step of this as it comes. Hopefully your results will come back benign but if not, it can be treated.

    Now you have to distract yourself from Googling and worrying by keeping busy with your wedding plans. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

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    Hi Claire,

    I know how worrying this is but please don't Google - the information is out of date and only fuels worry rather than showing that not everyone's dodgy mole turns out to be malignant.

    There is a 75% chance that the results will be clear. If not, there is a 20% chance the mole is dysplastic (pre-cancerous) which means, once removed, it can't turn cancerous. Failing that, there is a 5% chance it could be melanoma but even if it is, there is still a 97% chance that it can be sorted. If caught early, once removed you are good to go with just a few check ups. Even if not caught early, treatment for melanoma these days has come on leaps & bounds and is showing great success. So don't immediately think that your mole is the worse case scenario.

    My mole turned black & grew bigger. I left it a year before seeing my GP. That was 25 years ago and it was melanoma. Even though it spread later (my own fault for leaving it a year) I'm still here, fit, healthy and without any sign of cancer. So please don't panic and take each step of this as it comes. Hopefully your results will come back benign but if not, it can be treated.

    Now you have to distract yourself from Googling and worrying by keeping busy with your wedding plans. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

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