worried sick - do I have malignant melanoma?

[miamiri]

I have more than 50 moles and frequently inspect them - last week I discovered 2 moles on my arm with black spots inside them (crusty) and one on my leg. I immediately made an appointment with a dermatologist but waiting til thursday is so grueling. Any back ache makes me think I have melanoma spread to everywhere in my body.

Does anyone know if it is possible to have severla spots that are melanoma in stage 0 on different parts of the skin at the same time or if this means that the cancer has spread to my whole body..

Please, anyone who could give me some advice would be appreciated.

Miriam

[ChitChatNine]

I have called many times come the 8 day mark.  Call and tell them it is "getting to you" and you need to know!  Very rarely have I made it to my 2 week followup appt.  You have the right to know and be nice and usually they will be cordial in return.

My longest was 12days and they thought it was a lipoma cancer once; my doc gave me his home cell # and said to call if I couldn't take it anymore; knowing I had his cell gave me the strength to hang in there and it was totally benign scar tissue from a cyst we never knew I had that burst and got infected and grew what is called a granuloma.  I still have a scar (it is 1/4" above a thyroid incision that started all this .. as I had the granuloma removed only 3 mos post op so they didn't know what this thing was) but it's a very small price to be cancer free in that area!!!!

Let me know how you do .. feel free to send me a PM if I"m not on the community.

Cheryl (I'm the CoCL of Thyroid .. but travel around LOL)

[miamiri]

I am very thankful for all the posts from you! I have had three moles taken out this Thursday and am now waiting two weeks to hear the prognosis. It is hard but it helps me to be able to talk about it here. Thanks much to all who helped me!

Miriam

[ChitChatNine]

The key thing for you to remember is that whatever it is it's EARLY and early detection is key.  They may be atypical .. which isn't cancer, but isn't looking right under the microscope either.  I've had a few like you describe and those turned out totally benign! Crusty and all with the color as you describe.  Hang in there .. it'll probably be removed and then you need to wait some more for the results from the biopsy.  The waiting is the hardest.

The one small very early melanoma I had actually change shape, not color or crusties on me .. it grew as I say, a tail, very quickly in an otherwise round mole; so ea. case is so so diffferent.

Glad you have an upcoming appt.

C~

[Twilight_Princess]

Try not to worry. I do tend to worry too. Usually a dermatologist can tell by looking at it what it is and if it should be removed, but a biopsy still needs to be done. Please try not to worry. It's only a couple of days until you see the doctor.

[JOGIRL423]

I tend to worry like you do...but I think its very unlikely that you have 3 spots of Stage 0 melanoma at the same time.

This is easier said than done, but try to relax, I am telling myself that right now!

Good luck to you...let us know how it turns out!

jogirl