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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Over Anxious about Pathology report
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.
Over Anxious about Pathology report
by kdholt, Jun 25, 2009 04:37PM
Dr Rockoff thank you for getting back to me in a timely manner. I have some more questions and I can't get into my derm for 2 more weeks. I wrote to you yesterday about my moderately to severe dysplastic compound nevus. The report said something about architectual changes as well. Here's my question- what does moderately to severe mean? Is that the same as severe? And isn't a severe mole considered cancer? What is the natural progression for a melanoma? I know you said pathology would have indicated if it was a melanoma. Do I still need to be concerned that the reexcision could come back as cancer? Also, I have a tiny (1mm?) mole that I will show my derm in two weeks. It is black so I am concerned. Are melanomas that small? Also, how quickly do melanomas grow. My derm originally could not get me in until the end of July for the reexcision. I had to travel to a farther away office just to get in in two weeks cause I knew I would worry the whole time. If a derm is worried or suspects cancer would they have tried to get me in much sooner than the end of July? I know I am asking a lot of questions, but I had breast cancer a year ago and panic over EVERYTHING now. Thanks for getting back to me.
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Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Jun 26, 2009 05:15AM
, Jun 26, 2009 05:15AMTo: kdholt
Moderate and severe are relative terms that are hard to define. It's like if you said, "That man is pretty tall," or "that man is very tall." But neither one means cancer. If you have a mole removed that isn't melanoma, then you don't have melanoma and don't need to be concerned about progression. 1 mm dark moles are just moles, not melanoma. Just show it to the dermatologist when you go. You are correct that the dermatologist would have had you come back sooner if he or she thought it was melanoma, only the biopsy says it's not.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
