No, no, no, they are not moving from Stage 3 to Stage 4 melanoma. People don't get multiple melanomas at one time. Your nurse practitioner sounds as though she has the correct approach, and perhaps her relaxed attitude, quite appropriate, is what you interpreted as not listening carefully enough. I suspect she didn't listen--and din;t want to fan your already significant anxiety. By all means get another opinion if you think you need it, but it is not necessary in general to remove multiple moles.
Dr. Rockoff
I saw the Nurse Practicioner yesterday in hopes of calming my feares of melanoma. While she was friendly, I still dont feel that she examined me or listened to my fears as intently as I would have liked. I told her that if she is worried about several other moles, I would rather just go ahead and have them all removed at once (as soon as possible) and not drag this out over 6 months. She again stated that she wanted to wait until she removed the BCC from my back (1/16) and then we can go from there. She said she would then biopsy one of my remaining suspicious moles and if it came back as being precancerous or anything else unusual, she would then remove them all. I guess she knows what she is doing, but everything I keep reading stesses early detection of melanoma is key and yet I dont sense any urgency from the nurse. I decided I would do it her way, but get a scond opinion in the meantime, as there are still 2 moles that I am afraid may be melanoma. So I called 3 Drs offices today and none of them can see me til the end of the month. I know its pessimistic to think this way, as the days tick by, I worry more and more that these moles may be moving from Stage 3 to 4 Melanoma. I must say that I did feel better when she said that if there was anything standing out glaringly at her, she would biopsy it now rather than later, but she said there wasnt. But then I worry as I hear that melanomas are so eary to miss at first glance.
Cheryl:
BCC doesn't change odds very much for melanoma. Just hang in there a little while before you speculate further about Stage 4 melanomas.....
Dr. Rockoff
Mainly, because most spots are moles, not melanoma. Also, most moles are at least a bit irregular. Also, it's been there for years with what would have to be minimal change, from your description. Please get it looked at, but I'm sure you'll be fine.
Dr. Rockoff
Hi Again!
So I am starting to feel better, but forgot to mention, I was diagnosed with BCC on my back just last week. I keep reading that having BCC makes my odds of having melanoma increase.
Do you happen to know approx what percentage of melanomas spread? Like, can you have Stage 4 melanoma that hasnt spread? My biggest concern is that I am sure that is hasnt grown larger radially, but Im afraid that just means that it has been growing deeper over the last 4 years...
Thanks Again!
Cheryl~
Okay, Im starting to feel a little better =) Thanks so much for responding so quickly. Just out of curiosity, what characteristics would make you fairly sure that this spot is just a mole? The irregularity just has me really concerned...I know its not a large bump, so I pretty much ruled out nodular, but I have read that superficial melanoma will spread as well.
Merry Christmas to you as well!
Please relax. You almost certainly have just a mole, nothing more. I certainly agree that you should have it looked at, and your doctor may well decide to biopsy it, if only for your peace of mind. But there's no reason at all to think that the kind of spot you're describing has already spread. (Nodular melanomas that grow vertically feel like lumps, by the way, not flat.) I strongly advise you to take your mind off this and enjoy the holiday.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff