Nodular Melanoma

[jgaer]

I posted a few weeks backs after I had a small 3mm size pinkish/reddish nodule come up on my arm.  After a few weeks it went from 3mm to a little less than 2mm in size and that's when I decided to pick it off.  I picked, pinched and forcefully rubbed it off and made it much worse than I would have ever imagined.  It's well on its way to being healed now but at one end of the scar their is a tiny litle bump that you can't really see without looking at it until after you put vaseline on it and look closely in the sun light.  You can't really feel it unless you press hard on the entire lesion and then it's barely noticeable.  It's not getting any bigger and has been a little raised there every since I rubbed it off with a warm washcloth.  It's the same color of the area than healing and on the outside edge of area that I rubbed off.  I was wondering if it could be scar tissue and will go away?  As you can tell I'm very worried since I have scratched it off and need you to please answer some questions below for me.

If it was nodular melanoma will it grow back to the surface where I can see it or will it just grow deeper.

Should I just keep an eye on this one little area and if it enlarges have it removed?

Should this be biopsied even though it's healing back nicely?

Does nodular melanoma typically start out as a pinkish/red bump?

If this was melanoma would it have gotten smaller over a period of a few weeks.

What would you do if you were me?

What are the chances this could be nodular melanoma?

I had two GP's look at it early on and say it was nothing of concern.  I was afraid they didn't this type of cancer much and still continued to worry.

I had a dermatolgist look at it and he says now that I have scratched it off he can't tell me what it was and have a good day.  He said if he biopsied it it would show up a scar tissue.


Please answer my questions above. I realize you haven't seen it but I would like some recommendations from an expert.


Thanks,

JG

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Probably.  These questions are not useful.  Please see my answer for further details.  If you need another opinion, please see another doctor for comment.

Dr. Rockoff

[jgaer]

Please answer the question below.


Would it grow back to the surface if it was a melanoma?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

What would I do if I were you?  I would stop obsessing about this and move on.  I have no idea why you would think a little scratched bump is a nodular melanoma, especially after three doctors told you otherwise.  Please stop obsessing./  Thank you.

Dr. Rockoff