mole removed today...scared

[jfem]

I am a 40 yo woman (Italian with olive skin)...pretty much never burned, but never really used SPF until about 10-15 years ago. Now only use SPF 50 or higher, or avoid sun...I do have some freckles, proabaly from sun-exposure.

Went to have a full body check for the first time.My husband was dx w/colon cancer last month ( made him have a colonoscopy at 40 even though he had very little fam hx), thankfully it was stage 1.

So I decided we need to be preventative...skin check needed to be done.
Anyway, went to the MD, and everything was fine excpet she removed a suspicious lesion on my lower leg. It was brown with a black spot to it. Very small, size of a period.
I asked her if she were concerned, and she said I only remove things that concern me. So I asked her to elaborate a bit, and she said, well I don't have a crystal ball, byt I think it's probably an atypical mole that need t be removed.

I have never had this done before, and now I am convinced that I have melanoma. I'm obviously a bit sensitive to the cancer thing now, but I can't get this out of my head.

My questions are:
Do you think if she thought it were melanoma she would have said somthing else?
Can you tell if something "looks" atypical, or looks " like melanoma" and would you say it?
Can a mole be removed and NOT be cancer? Or is it for sure melanoma?

THe biopsy result is in a week, and with 4 kids 11 and under, and the stress of the colon cancer scare...this just may put me over the edge.
I know you can't tell me anything for sure, but I just want you opinion.

THanks
Jane

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't think you have melanoma.  Your description does not sound like melanoma.  I think the dermatologist was just taking a precaution.  (I can't say what she would have said if she were more worried--every doctor speaks differently.)  At most, I think you'll need to have some skin around the biopsy site taken off to make sure the spot doesn't return.  Obviously, you'll need to wait for the biopsy report to be sure, but I have little doubt that you won't hear any bad news.

Take it easy.  You'll be fine.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[jfem]

I forgot to add that it was not raised, did not itch and I really don't think I have ever noticed it changing...
I mean, I have seen it before, and I don't or haven't noticed that it changed ...it's always kind of had that little black area in it... I think .

[Englishman]

I had a mole that looked suspicious. They removed it, sent it off for an inspection and they said it was normal. So from my experience they remove moles if they have any suspicion. Good luck.

[jfem]

Thank you for your comments...

I just assumed that if they took a mole off, it had to be melanoma...

I guess I was just not prepared for that, plus, I've had my fill of cancer issues with my husband, so I guess I'm a little sensitive...

Did the MD say anything when he or she removed it?

I just wonder if they can tell if it's a higher chance of melanoma or not, you know?


ANyway, thanks for you story...

[jte777]

Lots of people have moles removed every day and the VAST majority are harmless. Atypical does not mean that it is melanoma. You also said it was VERY small which also is a good thing. I do wish your doctor had been more sympathetic and supportive, especially since your husband just had a close brush with cancer and you are probably highly vulnerable to fixating on this disease.

Unfortunately nowadays it seems that many doctors think they are too busy. Quite often Dr. Rockoff asks why people do not ask their doctors their  questions, and when my family or I have gone to see a doctor it always appears that they wish we would just go away and let them get on to the next person.

So try not to worry. I am sure Dr. Rockoff will be able to help you put things into perspective. Atypical does not mean cancer. Today doctors are just not taking any chances and check everything no matter how trivial it may seem. Is a shame she was not more caring, but that does not change the fact that you are in all likelihood okay.

[jfem]

I just have to say that you guys have really made me feel better....

THank you for taking the time out of your day to reassure me.

Yes, I agree, I'm a bit over-sensitve in this area. It's been a LONG 6 weeks in our lives, and  it has been filled with all sorts of emotion.

I think what happened is that I went in for what I thought was just some preventative skin checks, NEVER thinking they would even think there were suspicious moles, let alone actually take one off!!
This is what happened to my husband and I with his colon cancer. We went in at my urging, NEVER thinking anything would come of it, especially since 2 doctors said I was crazy for making him do it and that he didn't need it unilt he was at least 45 or 50...and then we were hit with that " C " word...

Everything turned out fine ( stage 1-thank God I didn't listen to the doctors...)but it was still a shock and I think that's what has gotten me so freaked.

I did ask her, and she said that it was an atypical mole that needed to come out...that was it. SHe wouldn't elaborate on anything...

Anyway, thanks again for your kind words and for reassuring me that not everyone that has a mole taken out gets melanoma!!!

Jane

[jfem]

Thanks for your kind words...

I know I'm just freaked because of what has been going on with my husband....

Thanks for the reassurance...

Jane

[Englishman]

I know loads of people who have had moles chopped off and everyone turned out to be normal. It is routine. Personally, I didn't even worry one bit.

I wish you and your husband the best.

[jfem]

Thanks...I really have stopped worrying...altough I do wish the biopsy would come back already!!!