View Full Version : In a panic: New big brown spot on my skin
I'm terribly frightened: I just discovered a new dark brown spot on my skin where there was none before. It seems to have appeared almost overnight, or at least grown very quickly. It's the size of a large pea, and it seems a bit raised.
It's in a private area, and I've never sunbathed in the nude, nor used tanning beds. I'm very light-skinned and easily burn, so for most of my life I've stayed out of the sun.
I've also had pain in my groin area recently, although I can't tell whether my lymph nodes are swollen.
Do new dark brown spots normally appear on people in their 30s? I thought benign spots were a sign of aging.
I will get this checked by a doctor, of course, but I'm terribly frightened and to help me deal with this, I need to know whether I'm experiencing something common...
Are you fair-skinned? I am, and I notice spots like this on my skin every once in a while. You don't have to be older.
I'm 25 and I have had dark spots show up on my skin. My dermatologist wasn't concerned about them. I even had a birth mark show up out of nowhere when I was 14 on my back. It was nothing concerning... don't even notice it now, but it's still there.
Yes, I'm fair skinned. I'm surprised that new dark spots can appear on younger people.
Mine looks symmetrical, mid to dark brown, and a bit raised. How do yours look, swgrl09?
---------- Post added at 21:03 ---------- Previous post was at 20:20 ----------
I'm feeling a whole new kind of fear, since a new brown spot isn't a symptom that can be imagined into existence. It's really there, and it appeared out of nowhere. That's scary! :( Does anyone else have experience with this?
Also: I've had many moles over the years, but I don't remember new ones appearing until last year. I'm 36, and last year I noticed a similar spot on my face appear suddenly, specifically on my temple just behind the hairline. It's light brown, and also about the size of a large pea. The dermatologist looked closely but isn't worried about that one.
I had my first baby in 2012, and I noticed skin changes happening after that. One skin-coloured growth on my face last year, the one I mentioned on my temple, and now this new one.
Does anyone know if pregnancy sparks skin changes like this?
---------- Post added 03-06-14 at 00:17 ---------- Previous post was 02-06-14 at 21:03 ----------
I'm so afraid... Can anyone give me any more feedback about this? I need to talk about this, please... :weep:
---------- Post added at 02:08 ---------- Previous post was at 00:17 ----------
Also, does anyone know what percentage of new moles are benign vs. cancerous?
You must stop panicking, your dr will be able to tell you what it is
Moles can appear right up into your 40s according to my dermatologist, and yes, during pregnancy a lot of women notice new moles due to hormonal changes.
The vast majority of moles are non cancerous.
Xxx
Thanks for your reply, Jonesle! I'm so glad to hear what your dermatologist said.
Just out of curiosity, did he/she specify about the types of moles that may be normal vs. abnormal when they appear?
And on the topic of skin changes during pregnancy, I should clarify that all of my changes came *after* pregnancy. I don't know whether that's a normal change or not... :shrug: The new spot I discovered tonight certainly wasn't around two years ago when I was still pregnant.
---------- Post added at 02:48 ---------- Previous post was at 02:38 ----------
You must stop panicking, your dr will be able to tell you what it is
Moles can appear right up into your 40s according to my dermatologist, and yes, during pregnancy a lot of women notice new moles due to hormonal changes.
The vast majority of moles are non cancerous.
Xxx
Also, if I may ask, if you've dealt with worrisome spots before, what were they like? And did you require biopsies or treatment?
To update my situation, my general surgeon, who removed several moles last month, squeezed me in this morning without an appointment and removed the new mole right away.
He officially categorized it as suspicious, although he said he wouldn't worry about it, and that he doesn't think it'll turn out to be cancerous.
I'd like to believe my surgeon, but I wonder if doctors often hide their concern, so as not to worry their patients...
Sorry for the late reply
He didn't say what new moles would look like but that it was totally normal to have new moles of all shapes colours and sizes.
I never had to have a biopsy and trust me, I thought was 100% sure that each of mine were cancerous. All of mine are different from each other, blotchy, raised, dark, light, but the specialist insists I'm fine, I went twice in a one month period, paid through the nose!
It's my biggest fear and I've obsessed about each one in turn. Having cbt at the moment to battle my anxiety
Xxx
Blimey that was quick. Health care is certainly different in Canada. Even getting to see someone in the UK takes ages, never mind getting in on the same day and having a procedure. I know its hard but try not to worry. Whatever it was, its gone now so thats good news x
No worries, Jonesle. Thank you for your comment. It's good to hear from a dermatologist that new benign spots can be expected in some people.
I think my biggest concern was that I couldn't find any reliable information on whether these sorts of things were common. My surgeon said it isn't all that common, but when new spots do appear, he reassured me that it's rare for them to be sinister.
So, together, you've both helped me feel more reassured today than I was yesterday. :)
---------- Post added at 13:12 ---------- Previous post was at 13:06 ----------
Blimey that was quick. Health care is certainly different in Canada. Even getting to see someone in the UK takes ages, never mind getting in on the same day and having a procedure. I know its hard but try not to worry. Whatever it was, its gone now so thats good news x
Thanks for your comment, Humly. Actually, the receptionist told me the surgeon might want me to consult with the dermatologist before a procedure. That filled me with dread, because if the dermatologist took me on an urgent basis it still would've taken at least two weeks to see her, then another two weeks or so to go back to the surgeon if she wanted to refer me. Oy!
I was too anxious to deal with that, so, since I had recently been to the surgeon for mole removals, I thought I'd take the risk and just drop in on him today. He happens to run a relaxed ship, meaning he's almost always running behind schedule. It was an annoyance the first time I had to wait an hour to see him. But today, when he nonchalantly squeezed me in for my unscheduled consultation, I realized how grateful I was. I didn't have to talk him into doing the procedure, as I expected--he offered to remove the mole for me if I wanted, so I accepted. And gratefully too! I don't think this would've happened with other doctors here though.
That is good that he squeezed you in, my doctor is pretty good like that too although my dr and private dermatologist pretty much said no to taking any moles off, if I'd insisted I'm sure they would have but there we go.
I know way too much about moles and cancer from my consultations with dr google, so many scare stories, I wish I could delete them all from my head!
Xxx
I'm glad you got sorted bulan. Take care x
That is good that he squeezed you in, my doctor is pretty good like that too although my dr and private dermatologist pretty much said no to taking any moles off, if I'd insisted I'm sure they would have but there we go.
I know way too much about moles and cancer from my consultations with dr google, so many scare stories, I wish I could delete them all from my head!
Xxx
About the first part, I wonder why they'd refuse to remove your moles. I assume you'd have to pay them for it out of pocket (as I did, here in Canada) if your dermatologist believed your moles weren't sinister. But one way or another, the doctor would get paid. Any idea why they'd refuse? Sometimes the patient just prefers to have a lesion removed, even if it's innocent, whether for aesthetic reasons or for peace of mind.
About the second part, I can relate. Painfully so! I've seen too much on the internet, and it's nearly impossible to wipe the stories and images from my mind. Maybe if I were able to forget those, I'd be able to remember other everyday things I'm constantly forgetting. (Mommy brain, and all that. :) )
---------- Post added at 13:44 ---------- Previous post was at 13:43 ----------
I'm glad you got sorted bulan. Take care x
Thank you, Humly. Now comes another worrisome three-week wait for biopsy results... :scared15:
FYI... Every mole my GP has removed was characterized as "suspicious" or the type that looked "pre-cancerous". She just freezes them and they fall off in a week. I believe they say that to cover their butts. I've not had one "suspicious" enough that they've been biopsied.
Positive thoughts
They said that removing moles leaves you with scars and there's always risk of infection, and doesn't completely eliminate cancer arising there anyway. Because they didn't see them as suspicious (my derm didn't even tell me to keep an eye on them, which he explained with some of his patients he does think there's a need to keep an eye) they didn't want to put me through that when there was absolutely no need. I guess if I had one removed I'd find another one to want removed. If I removed every single one I wouldn't have much skin left lol!
Xxx
FYI... Every mole my GP has removed was characterized as "suspicious" or the type that looked "pre-cancerous". She just freezes them and they fall off in a week. I believe they say that to cover their butts. I've not had one "suspicious" enough that they've been biopsied.
Positive thoughts
That's reassuring to hear, Fishmanpa. Thank you.
I also noticed another difference in our two systems (U.S. & Canada). All of the moles I've had removed were automatically biopsied--even ones the dermatologist thought were perfectly innocent. I find it interesting that they don't do this in the U.S., although it makes sense from an economic perspective.
---------- Post added at 14:06 ---------- Previous post was at 14:00 ----------
Jonesle, that makes sense.
I have to admit, I don't mind the scars at all. The only thought in my mind is taking steps to prevent anything that might separate me from my family, especially my baby. So I don't tend to notice the scars.
Meanwhile, my surgeon wasn't concerned about infection. And yes, my dermatologist also instructed me to keep watching for any changes in my skin, regardless of the spots I have removed. It's a good reminder, and not one I'll have a problem implementing, which is probably true for any of us with anxiety about the health of our skin... :)
Haha yep he didn't need to tell me to keep an eye! Got my hawk eye on them all, which is silly as it's on my mind, I'm practising some cbt techniques I've learnt, unsure it's working ATM, got one particular little bugger which is concerning me for no reason other than.... Well no reason! It itched once and now I keep fiddling with it *facepalm*
Xxx
I sure need some CBT techniques too, especially as I wait for the biopsy results. It'll be three weeks before I find out.
How does anyone handle these in-between times? The waiting feels like it'll stretch on indefinitely. Meanwhile, my imagination runs away with the idea that stage 4 cancer is taking over my body. I feel terrible admitting it, because it sounds so extreme and unhealthy, but unfortunately that's the reality I'm dealing with.
Yes, I'm aware that my health anxiety increases my stress, lowers my immune system, and makes me vulnerable to real illness. And yet, knowing that doesn't help me stop my thought patterns from going downhill.
I truly want to get control of this, and many people here seem to appreciate CBT. Can anyone recommend a good, free resource?
I truly want to get control of this, and many people here seem to appreciate CBT. Can anyone recommend a good, free resource?
Funny... this is the third time I posted this link tonight
CBT4PANIC (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=131665)
Many here have had great success with it and I've used it personally for depression and "scanxiety".
Positive thoughts
Thank you, Fishmanpa! I'm glad to hear it has worked for you. :)
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