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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Concerned over possible melanoma
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Concerned over possible melanoma
by wtwall, Oct 28, 2006 12:00AM
Doc,
I'm a 25 y/o male with a rather large (I think my doctor said something like 9 mm, but it might be bigger) on my back. It's positioned pretty much right in the center, so it's very difficult to see...and thus monitor for changes. I've had this mole since birth...per my parents, it's always been elevated. I have no idea of my family history for cancers, as I was adopted at birth.
In any event, my adoptive mom had some skin cancer removed about two years ago and, probably just b/c it was on her mind, told me I should have our PCP take a look at it just to see if it was okay during my next physical. She said she didn't think it'd changed...and I'd never monitored for it.
I work in an ER and one of the docs there took a look at it and said he thought it was fine. Our PCP said the same, but told me I might as well have my derm (who I see for acne...still) look at it. For the past two years, he's monitored it...first time he saw it, he said it looked fine, but it was large....and said something like "it's a 1/1000 chance of being something, I can take it off if you want." My most recent visit he asked if this lil bump has always been on it...my mom says yes, I can't remember. He kinda dismissed it, gave me the same odds and sent me on my way.
I've decided to have my doctor remove it two weeks from today...just b/c I'm tired of thinking about it. Now I'm uber-anxious about it. I know if it is something, it could of been dangerous for a long time and I could be in trouble. Pics of it are below. Thanks alot for this. :)
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole1.jpg
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole2.jpg
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole3.jpg
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole4.jpg
I'm a 25 y/o male with a rather large (I think my doctor said something like 9 mm, but it might be bigger) on my back. It's positioned pretty much right in the center, so it's very difficult to see...and thus monitor for changes. I've had this mole since birth...per my parents, it's always been elevated. I have no idea of my family history for cancers, as I was adopted at birth.
In any event, my adoptive mom had some skin cancer removed about two years ago and, probably just b/c it was on her mind, told me I should have our PCP take a look at it just to see if it was okay during my next physical. She said she didn't think it'd changed...and I'd never monitored for it.
I work in an ER and one of the docs there took a look at it and said he thought it was fine. Our PCP said the same, but told me I might as well have my derm (who I see for acne...still) look at it. For the past two years, he's monitored it...first time he saw it, he said it looked fine, but it was large....and said something like "it's a 1/1000 chance of being something, I can take it off if you want." My most recent visit he asked if this lil bump has always been on it...my mom says yes, I can't remember. He kinda dismissed it, gave me the same odds and sent me on my way.
I've decided to have my doctor remove it two weeks from today...just b/c I'm tired of thinking about it. Now I'm uber-anxious about it. I know if it is something, it could of been dangerous for a long time and I could be in trouble. Pics of it are below. Thanks alot for this. :)
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole1.jpg
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole2.jpg
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole3.jpg
https://publish.insightbb.com/personalfile/personalsite/cncwall/mole4.jpg
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Oct 29, 2006 12:00AM
, Oct 29, 2006 12:00AM
The pictures are a bit blurry, but it doesn't look like a melanoma to me. You might as well have it off, so you won't worry about it any more, but I'm pretty sure the reprt will be innocuous.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
