Big Mole

I'm a 30 year old male.  I have two moles on my back that are of particular concern.  One is brown, symmetrical, but slightly raised.  The other...well, I've had it as long as I can remember, but for some reason I just started to notice it.  It's large (just shy of 1 cm or so), with varying colors...it's lighter tan that gets a bit darker top to bottom.  It certainly fits C and D of the criteria...not to mention the ugly duckling theory.  A and B are a bit sketchy though.  It's almost perfectly round.  The border I'm not sure about, it seems to have a darker border than the center of the mole, and maybe looks like it went splat...i.e. it looks maybe a little fuzzy around the edge.  It's flat and you really can't tell its there simply by running your fingers over it.

I'm just getting nervous because I've found several lymph nodes that are swollen (one on the left side by my collar bone, one further up just under my ear, and one of the bigger ones under my jaw).  Aside from the latter gland, the other two aren't even the size of a pea.

I'm concerned that the whole IBS thing was just a distraction from what was really going on.  I'm not concerned about cancer in my digestive tract, as a colonoscopy, EGD, and CT scans were performed about 5 months ago, so I'm sure I have IBS.  But I've noticed headaches recently, and I never get those.  I'm concerned that the swollen lymph nodes in my neck indicate a spreading disease.  I have nothing to back that up at the moment, but I have a two-year old that needs his daddy and I'm terrified that something's really wrong.

I scheduled an appointment with a Dermatologist, but that was a week ago with two weeks yet to go.  I can't get in any earlier anywhere else.  I could go to my GP, but I'm sure she'll refer me to the Dermatologist anyway.

Any advice on what to do while I'm waiting would be greatly appreciated.  I'm going out of my mind since I found the swollen nodes.  What have others done to cope with the fear and waiting???

Thank you.

[ChitChatNine]

If you see any type of change or a mole strikes you that "maybe" it should be checked please go to your Dr.  That is how I found out I had an early melanoma and it didn't fit all the criteria .. it got bigger and grew what looked like a tail .. similar to a shrimp's tail ... the color was pretty much all one color with irregular borders .. early detection is key ... getting it looked @ is peace of mind.

Keep us posted and let us know how you make out or if any add'l ?'s.

C~

[ak3258]

you are young and strong ! im sure it may not be what you think it is ! i was diagnosed with melanoma 2 years ago when i was 30 but thank god it was localized and im still here thank god..... i just had a lump on my same arm which was kind of irregular lump and again thank god wasn't the melanoma ! keep positive and pray ! im sure you are in gods hands,, i have 2 you boys my self but pray and positive is your key !

good luck my friend ! let us know ! god be with you !