Melanoma worries!!!

[boleyn3]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum as I've only just discovered it (after doing mad googling of my symptoms on a regular basis). After reading some of the posts I thought it would be a good idea to see if anyone else on here is or has been in the same horrible position/mindset that i am in right now.

I'm a massive hypochondriac, I know this because I spend most evenings trying to find things wrong with myself or convincing myself that every single twinge is cancer or a sign of imminent death. I google a lot, a HELL of a lot. I know i shouldn't, but I'm so convinced that if I do not, I'll miss something.

So, I have a mole, and a kind of weird half-looking mole on my chest. Don't know how long its been there, or if its really changed or whatever. I just noticed it a few weeks ago after coming across the topic of skin cancer and doing some extensive research. The result being that Dr. Google has convinced me that I probably have melanoma, of course.

The mole(s) are roughly the same color as my other moles, but with some more 'pinky' tones that make them look a little like spots. They look different to my other moles... even though I have probably over 100 with different colors. They have raised patches on them, too.

Here they are in all their glory... tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2rvzvc9&s=8#.VcFIBPlVhBc (the one on the right and the smaller one next to it) the little one that looks like a mark hurts a bit like a bruise when i push on it too :-(.

I have actually been to see a doctor, who has referred me to a specialist, but informs me that it will be months before I get an appointment, (I haven't even been given one yet a week later) and she also said that she does not think it is melanoma, but also said that you never know with these things? She also said that sometimes what looks like nothing TURNS OUT NOT TO BE? That kind of freaked me out.

Does anybody have anything like this? Or has been through something similar? I would openly welcome any reassurance as I'm currently going crazy with worry!

[Scorpio girl]

Hi there,
I have just had a mole removed that did turn out to be melanoma. I needed to have a section of skin around it removed just in case. Mine was early melanoma and my doctor told me it is very treatable. My advice is to go to your specialist each year but not all moles are melanoma and melanoma is not always a death sentence.
Take care and don't forget to update us.

[56degree]

Hi

As you are so adept at online research you have no doubt taken note of the amount of people on here that have had a skin cancer worry/panic/total freaking nightmare at one point or another. Myself included.

That hopefully tells you something about HA and skin cancer worries. Every adult Caucasian human being on this planet could probably point to a spot somewhere on his or her body that loosely resembles something on a skin cancer awareness chart or worse, a random website. Those of us blessed with the ever giving gift of HA focus to an absolutely irrational extent on these spots and abnormalities to the point that we are absolutely consumed with fear and can think of nothing else.

It isn't helpful that you have a wait on your hands with regards to the specialist but in my experience if there is a genuine concern about the spot then the GP will organise an emergency appointment. Your GP has chosen not to do that so I would bear that in mind.

In the meantime ask yourself what the utility is in worrying about this at all. What will it achieve? Will you feel better or worse as a result of this constant worry?

I am not saying this will clear the thoughts all together but you may consider worry postponement, so every time a worry pops in to your head write it down and deal with it at a set time every day. I know this isn't easy but stick with it, and for me the hardest part of my CBT but you will adapt in time.

Then when you get to your worry period think again about what the utility is in worrying so much. What can be achieved? What is the credible medical evidence and professional opinion telling you about the likelihood of skin cancer? What is the likelihood of it just being a harmless spot as opposed to something more insidious?

And even then, in the unlikely event that it is something that needs more attention, what would the next steps be? Are there treatment options available or is the specialist going to tell you to go home and get your affairs in order? A small hint he is not going to do that. Many skin cancers actually go away of their own volition believe it or not and the vast majority are easily treatable in day surgery. I happen to live in the skin cancer capital of the planet and of the 1000 Aussies that die every year from skin cancer every year the vast majority are folks like Richie benaud - septegenarians and octogenarians that spent much of their early years out in the sun with no regard whatsoever to being sunsmart.

I know all this is difficult but six months ago I was absolutely certain I had at least three melanomas, so I know what you are going through and hope it helps.

[boleyn3]

Hi 56degree,

Thanks so much for your response. It has helped ease my panic. I agree with you, deep down I know it's slightly silly, and I've seen far worse looking moles on the internet. Did yours turn out to be nothing? Did they look anything like mine? And you live in the sunniest place on earth! We don't get much here, even though you can get burnt quite a lot in the summer :-(.

---------- Post added at 17:11 ---------- Previous post was at 17:09 ----------


Hi there,
I have just had a mole removed that did turn out to be melanoma. I needed to have a section of skin around it removed just in case. Mine was early melanoma and my doctor told me it is very treatable. My advice is to go to your specialist each year but not all moles are melanoma and melanoma is not always a death sentence.
Take care and don't forget to update us.

What did your's look like? And has it completely gone now? I hope your doing ok. I can imagine that was really scary.

[tmckenzie-orr]

It really doesnt look like a melonoma , i wouldnt worry google is evil, if your gonna google google a online dermatology course thats what i did it definately helped i can start worrying myself if i start looking at my moles i try not to look at them so cannot worry keep positive :D and try not to focus

[boleyn3]

It really doesnt look like a melonoma , i wouldnt worry google is evil, if your gonna google google a online dermatology course thats what i did it definately helped i can start worrying myself if i start looking at my moles i try not to look at them so cannot worry keep positive :D and try not to focus

Hi! I know Google really is evil I shouldn't even be allowed on the internet. I think I'm getting better at not doing it though... :unsure:

I wish I was as strong as you to not pay attention, but once it's in there it doesn't go away until I'm either bored of it or have just found something else to worry about!

Thanks for the reassurance, it's amazing how much even hearing that on here helps ease the anxiety. I might just do that as well - I've seen a few others have done that too, at least it's a real education on the matter rather than the evil Google just showing the worst case!

[tmckenzie-orr]

I aint strong at all far from it i was panicking about moles all last month then i swopped on tonsil worrys and then i sorta worry about different moles but try not to let them bother me but then i think stop being silly but then THE WHAT IF!! comes out to play and im like what if its cancer and im leaving it OMG OMG OMG haha if i dont look at it it doesnt play on my mind this forum is great it really helps, If u eveer need a chat or somebody to talk too just pm me positive thoughts x

[56degree]

Hi

Mine didn't look much like yours as we have a different skin tone. To me, mine looked far worse. But that isn't the point. The point is I had convinced myself I was going to imminently die from melanoma.

Turns out they were just harmless moles that I wasted so much time and energy worrying about, which made me feel sick. Please try not to repeat my mistake. Life is for living and not for worrying about.

[Scorpio girl]

Mine was growing in size but it wasn't dark in colour. Dermatologists are able to see with their magnifying glasses if the cells look abnormal enough to warrant taking the mole out. Even then most are benign. It was super scary to receive that diagnosis but that is why I get checked by a specialist every year. My test have shown that there were no cells found in the large section that they took out with the wide loop excision.

[countrygirl]

I have seen melanoma on my aunty and hers was classic big and black with a red edge. This was 26 years ago and she is still alive and kicking at 86yrs old!

If you GP was at all worried about melanoma you would have got a 2 week referral if you are in uk. when she said they are not always what they appear to be she was probably referring to the vague possibility of it being one of the very mild skin cancers that can be safely left time wise as they do not spread around the body but thats only a vague chance anyway.