Dermatologist has me nervous... *Update*

[SketchMaster]

I had a mole on the side of my head that kept getting caught by my comb and got really irritated, so I went to the Doc this Thursday to get it looked at. The doc checked it and said it seemed like a normal mole, but noticed that I have a lot of moles (been covered with them since I was a kid) and told me it would be a good idea to go to a dermatologist every year for a full check. I was informed that the dermatologist in the same building is a good one, but it can take months to get in, so I should swing by on my way out to setup an appointment. I finished up with my doc and then stopped by the dermatologist office on my way out.

By chance the dermatologist just had someone cancel, so they could see me right then. The dermatologist looked at the mole on the side of my head and also said it was normal, but she could take it off since it's causing issues. She then started looking at the rest of my body, and as she did her tone went from cheerful to a bit stressed.

Her: "Have you ever been to a dermatologist before?"

"No."

Her: "How long have you had these moles on your back? Do you know if they've grown at all?"

"Umm... A while... I think? I know the one on my spine has been there at least since I was 16." (I'm now about to turn 29)

Her: “Has anyone in your family ever had any form of skin cancer?”

“I think one person… An uncle maybe? I know that most of my siblings had some moles removed just to be on the safe side, but none of them came back with anything interesting.”

Her: “Did you burn a lot as a kid?

“I did when I was a kid, but as I got into my early teens I either stayed in the shade or put on the highest SPF I could find.”

Her: "Ok... I really don't like the looks of these... I'm going to take some biopsies and get them checked. Because... Yeah... Geeze... I’m really glad you came in today..."

0_0'

"Ok..."

She numbed up the areas, then cut out three of my moles (including the one on my head), putting each into a small plastic sample jar. As she was cutting, the realization hit me that this may actually turn out to be something very serious. Until I walked into the dermatologist’s office, my biggest concern of the day was getting all the paperwork done for my new apartment while trying to stay on top of my projects at work. She put Band-Aids over the biopsy sites and then told me that they will have the results in a week. If they come back normal, I’ll just have to setup and yearly check-up; but if they come back abnormal, I will need to come back and let them take a closer look at all my moles to make sure nothing bad is brewing.

I walked out of the office stunned… The tone she had did not give me any good feelings about the pending results. I tried my best to get through the rest of the day without letting it bother me, but the idea of being told I have cancer started to gnaw at me. When I left work I called my Mom to ask her about who in the family it was that had skin cancer. She told me that only two of her brothers ever got skin cancer: One that was a jet pilot (got it on his face were the skin wasn't covered by the mask) and one that worked outside all day on a hydroelectric plant. They both had full recoveries and are still alive today, and no one else in the family has had it. I told her what the dermatologist said, and Mom helped ease my mind a little by telling me that’s the same reaction all my other (six) siblings got from dermatologists when they looked at them; none of them ever got diagnosed with skin cancer.

While Mom helped me calm down a bit… I made a very big mistake by going onto the internet and reading all the info and stories I could about skin cancer. I am now in full freak out mode and hoping that I get the results back ASAP with no abnormal cells found.

TLDR
Doc has me worried I may have skin cancer. Waiting to get the results of the test next week.


**UPDATE**

Doc called me today with mostly good news: The results came back mildly abnormal. So no cancer, but I need to keep an eye on things. I've set up another apt in six months to fallow up, and I'll likely go every six months just to make sure nothing gets a head start to grow.

Thanks for all the well-wishes!

 

[Ichinisan]

I chopped mine without the help of a dermatologist.

Anyway, the scenario you describe sounds like you might have "got played."

...but it's better to be safe than sorry, I guess.

 

[Strk]

Moles/freckles are no big deal. It's when they change that you need to be concerned. And even then, it doesn't necessarily mean anything. They could all be benign. I wouldn't worry about it until there's a reason to worry about it. Also, the dermatologist has nothing to go on other than you having a lot of moles. If you've had them your whole life and they haven't changed, then they are harmless (I.e. you would have been dead a while ago).

Just wait for the results and worry later

 

[lxskllr]

Gotta die some time. I wouldn't worry about it. The only bad part of dying is worrying about dying ;^)

 

[SandEagle]

if the first question she asked was 'what type of insurance you have', run away....she wants the money!

otherwise good luck and here's hoping it aint skin cancer

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm not sure if this will reassure you or do the opposite but...

The level of melanoma located on the back in men has been going up disproportionately.

Its possible that your dermy has read about this and is being overly cautious (quite correctly).

For your reassurance the studies are most relevant to older men but it's always good to catch things early.

 

[Ruptga]

What you need to do now is drink alcohol.

 

[MarkXIX]

I've had the same experience repeatedly. Given that at least one family member (grandparent) had a melanoma removed previously, I get checked twice a year.

So far I've had six moles biopsied and removed in the manner you describe.

The biopsy sites will heal quickly, keep 'em clean and covered until they do.

As for removal surgery (if you need it), it should be outpatient surgery. They will numb the area and cut out the suspect area and apply stitches as required. Then they will send that portion in for biopsy as well, where the lab will test the edges of the cut flesh to ensure that no suspect skin cells remain.

I had one area they had to cut on twice. The tissue they removed the first time came back suspect and they cut deeper and wider the second time and it came back clean the second time.

 

[Rage187]

I've had malignant cancer. No biggie. Not a death sentence if they catch it early.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I had a beauty mark on my nose (right nostril) and the dermatologists tried to pressure me about how it could be worth worrying about, and when I played it down they just tried to insult me by saying it looked weird. Unfortunately I was too afraid to resist, so they ended up cutting one of my favorite physical features out and left an ugly pink bump in its place. Dermatologists are some of the lowest practitioners of medicine, op, don't listen to anything they say.

 

[wand3r3r]

There is good reason to be concerned.

Do you know what the moles looked like? Any abnormality or color change can be possible indicators.

Skin cancer cases have increased two-and-a-half fold over the last 30 years but survival rates have also soared, according to researchers from Glasgow.
Researchers from the Alan Lyell Centre for Dermatology in Glasgow found a significant rise in cases since 1990.
But they also noted that 85% per cent of men and 90% of women now survive for at least five years after diagnosis.
Between 1983 and 1987, survival at five years after diagnosis was just 64% for men and 81.9% for women.
The authors said better sun protection and earlier detection had led to better survival rates.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29002732

 

[Phynaz]

Skin cancer is extremely treatable. Don't worry about it.

 

[CottonRabbit]

I had a beauty mark on my nose (right nostril) and the dermatologists tried to pressure me about how it could be worth worrying about, and when I played it down they just tried to insult me by saying it looked weird. Unfortunately I was too afraid to resist, so they ended up cutting one of my favorite physical features out and left an ugly pink bump in its place. Dermatologists are some of the lowest practitioners of medicine, op, don't listen to anything they say.

Dermatologists are generally from the top of their class in medical school. It is one of the hardest specialties to get in to. They are far more experienced than any advice you will get here.

 

[SketchMaster]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm just going to try and not think about it too much until I get the results, and then deal with any bad news when it comes. While I'm sure the doctors on the medical campus try to help each other out, I don't think anyone was trying to scam me.

I have a lot of moles that look irregular, mixed colors, have moles directly next to them, and all the other bad sings. The trick of that is they all look like each other, and as long as you find matching sets of moles they are not likely cancerous. It's trying to find the odd man out in a sea of possibilities that makes me so risky, it's like a fireman trying to spot a house fire when smoke is pouring out of everyone's chimneys.

 

[futurefields]

Like this?

 

[T9D]

Damn dude your worrying is going to kill you before anything else get's a chance. Chill out and relax. Until they say you're dieing there is no point in freaking out.

 

[Newbian]

But in this case it might be.

Good luck.

 

[futurefields]

 

[MustISO]

I had two flat moles that I noticed were sort of merging together. Went and got the biopsy and it came back as critical. Had outpatient surgery and hopefully that's the last time I have to endure that. It was very painful.

 

[JEDIYoda]

She numbed up the areas, then cut out three of my moles (including the one on my head), putting each into a small plastic sample jar. As she was cutting, the realization hit me that this may actually turn out to be something very serious. Until I walked into the dermatologist’s office, my biggest concern of the day was getting all the paperwork done for my new apartment while trying to stay on top of my projects at work. She put Band-Aids over the biopsy sites and then told me that they will have the results in a week. If they come back normal, I’ll just have to setup and yearly check-up; but if they come back abnormal, I will need to come back and let them take a closer look at all my moles to make sure nothing bad is brewing.

I walked out of the office stunned… The tone she had did not give me any good feelings about the pending results. I tried my best to get through the rest of the day without letting it bother me, but the idea of being told I have cancer started to gnaw at me. When I left work I called my Mom to ask her about who in the family it was that had skin cancer. She told me that only two of her brothers ever got skin cancer: One that was a jet pilot (got it on his face were the skin wasn't covered by the mask) and one that worked outside all day on a hydroelectric plant. They both had full recoveries and are still alive today, and no one else in the family has had it. I told her what the dermatologist said, and Mom helped ease my mind a little by telling me that’s the same reaction all my other (six) siblings got from dermatologists when they looked at them; none of them ever got diagnosed with skin cancer.

While Mom helped me calm down a bit… I made a very big mistake by going onto the internet and reading all the info and stories I could about skin cancer. I am now in full freak out mode and hoping that I get the results back ASAP with no abnormal cells found.

TLDR
Doc has me worried I may have skin cancer. Waiting to get the results of the test next week.

Don`t worry....that exact same scenario happened when my wife went to see a dermatologist.....that is just SOP!! If it does turn out bad at least you had it looked at now, rather than a month or 2 from now.....

IMO nothing to worry about!

 

[alkemyst]

if the first question she asked was 'what type of insurance you have', run away....she wants the money!

otherwise good luck and here's hoping it aint skin cancer

That is an honest answer so the patient doesn't get stuck with a bill.

If you think healthcare should be free, move outside the USA.

 

[MongGrel]

I had one on my nose years ago that actually turned out to be cancer, but Mohhs surgery took care of it.

You do need to pay attention to them.

And Alky is back, ()

 

[Kyle]

I had a beauty mark on my nose (right nostril) and the dermatologists tried to pressure me about how it could be worth worrying about, and when I played it down they just tried to insult me by saying it looked weird. Unfortunately I was too afraid to resist, so they ended up cutting one of my favorite physical features out and left an ugly pink bump in its place. Dermatologists are some of the lowest practitioners of medicine, op, don't listen to anything they say.

Wow that's horrible advise

 

[Grooveriding]

Follow up on it for your welfare's sake. I know in the US healthcare unfortunately has attenuate financial concerns, but it's not something to be ignored if a dermatologist thinks it is worth pursuing. These are not charlatans, as a specialist they have 10 years of education and experience specific to this.

It's not something you want to ignore and find out down the road was malignant and has worked its way down and spread.

 

[feralkid]

Skin cancer is extremely treatable. Don't worry about it.