How to get over mole fears?

[zemikec]

So I have a pretty annoying mole/melanoma fear.

How do other people get over a fear of melanoma? To me, anyday, a mole might just spring up that is a concern. Then I'll have to worry until I see a doctor.

This fear already changes how I view my body. I thought a scab on my leg was melanoma. It fell off in the shower, and when I went to show my doctor, there was nothing there.

I have probably less than the average normal of moles. Probably like 30 moles on my whole body. None are larger than 6mm. I'm low risk for melanoma. I'm 27. But I continue to worry.

Why don't other people worry about this?

[emmamoose]

I could almost have written your post myself- except I have many more moles than you.
I try so hard to keep my anxiety under control by keeping myself busy and healthy but then I'll see a mole in the mirror and panic, I'll worry about it for a few days and then the next week it is a different mike which sets me off.
I just don't understand how 'normal people' can see a mole and say to themselves "oh that's interesting, I'll keep an eye" where for me it sends me into a huge panic.

[Lily777]

My family has a history of skin cancer (not melanoma, but other types), and they go in every six months for a full body check from a dermatologist. I think you should do that if your moles concern you. The dermatologist will simply remove any moles they feel are suspicious, and you will have the comfort of knowing that your skin is constantly being evaluated.
If it helps, I will share my story. I had a spot on my lower eyelid, right where your bottom eyelashes grow out. I had it there for a couple of years and it kept scabbing over. I finally went to the dermatologist about it, and to my surprise she said that it was definitely precancerous. I then had to schedule a surgery to remove it; imagine how panicked I was about having to remove something so near my eye and deal with the possible physical effects it would have on my appearance. Long story short, it was removed and healed beautifully. Best part of it, it was NOT precancerous; totally benign. Even my mom, who has had more suspicious areas of her skin removed than I can count, not every area has been cancerous. This just goes to show, that while something may look suspicious, it isn't always. :)

[zemikec]

Thanks for the suggestion, but its best for me not to go to the doctors that often, especially for this. That works well for a lot of people, but my therapist told me that I do it to seek reassurance, which keeps my worry going. I'm doing the same on these boards too, which is probably not good.

I don't think its a bad idea though! I try my hardest to only listen to my PCP now, because I can spiral out of control if I start going to specialists. I saw an Oncologist last year for 6 months because I was being tested for Leukemia.

I would definitely see the derm if I had moles that were worrisome, but I really don't even have that. Its just the fear that I'll wake up and something will randomly appear. Its annoying.