Melanoma scare...

[Mai72]

Today I went into Derm One which is a Dermatology center. I got the full body checkup. The skin doctor looked at my back and noticed two moles that looked suspicious. I had a biopsy done and will know the results in two weeks.

Has anyone had this done before? Is this a common procedure that patients have done when they visit a dermatologist?

I'm worried because I might be in Asia when I get the results. Maybe I can get them extracted in Korea or Thailand if I need to. It would probably be cheaper since I don't have health insurance.

:'(

 

[MongGrel]

I actually went in myself when I had one on my nose I didn't like the looks of and it was cancer a few years ago.

Always a good idea, I caught mine early.


Mohs surgery pretty easy to do.

 

[Mai72]

I actually went in myself when I had one on my nose I didn't like the looks of and it was cancer a few years ago.

Always a good idea, I caught mine early.


Mohs surgery pretty easy to do.

I worry about the one on my back. I remember my mom telling me that I should have someone look at it. This was 20 years ago.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yeah, my doctor forced me to get some tests done on a couple of moles before. /shrug

KT

 

[MustISO]

I had two removed last year. One came back as critical due to the growth of precancerous cells. They had to do surgery to remove the tissue around it and below. It was not fun at all. Hopefully yours are nothing.

 

[Mai72]

Yeah, my doctor forced me to get some tests done on a couple of moles before. /shrug

KT

They came back negative?

My sis had a few done last year and they came back negative.

I guess doctors need to do tests because they can't really tell what it is thru a simple observation. Sometimes I wonder if patients are subjected to needless test so their doctor can get more money.

 

[Mai72]

I had two removed last year. One came back as critical due to the growth of precancerous cells. They had to do surgery to remove the tissue around it and below. It was not fun at all. Hopefully yours are nothing.

The thing is I don't have insurance.

Also, I might be in Asia. Maybe I can get it done there.

 

[Mxylplyx]

My wife started going to the dermatologist regularly since she used to use tanning beds quite a bit when she was younger. Dermatology has among the fastest growing salaries in the medical profession, and I cant help but believe that when you go they will always find an excuse to biopsy SOMETHING so they can bill for a procedure. I don't think my wife has gone one time when they haven't performed a biopsy. All negative so far.

 

[Mai72]

I had two removed last year. One came back as critical due to the growth of precancerous cells. They had to do surgery to remove the tissue around it and below. It was not fun at all. Hopefully yours are nothing.

Did you get a cancer screening when you were told the news?

 

[Mai72]

My wife started going to the dermatologist regularly since she used to use tanning beds quite a bit when she was younger. Dermatology has among the fastest growing salaries in the medical profession, and I cant help but believe that when you go they will always find an excuse to biopsy SOMETHING so they can bill for a procedure. I don't think my wife has gone one time when they haven't performed a biopsy. All negative so far.

I agree, but it's very difficult to know if a mole is cancerous or not just by looking at it. They need to put it under a microscope to get a definite answer.

 

[KeithTalent]

They came back negative?

My sis had a few done last year and they came back negative.

I guess doctors need to do tests because they can't really tell what it is thru a simple observation. Sometimes I wonder if patients are subjected to needless test so their doctor can get more money.

Yeah, negative. Pretty sure it would be hard for them to tell just be eyeing it, so the tests are necessary I guess. I would have been perfectly happy not to have the stupid test though.

KT

 

[MongGrel]

You would have been happy if it came back positive and needed it removed like mine was though.

 

[cheezy321]

Ive had 2 taken off in the past 2 years. Both were severe atypical precancerous. Which means that its not technically cancer yet, but its close.

I had to go back and they took off more to make sure they got it all. The last one I had 5 stitches in my back. Just got the stitches removed yesterday actually.

You should be happy you went. I go into the dermatologist every 6 months now. I didnt go for 5 - 6 years. Being pretty pasty white and living in AZ makes me very susceptible to skin cancer. Gotta stay in front of it!

 

[Aikouka]

You should be happy you went. I go into the dermatologist every 6 months now. I didnt go for 5 - 6 years. Being pretty pasty white and living in AZ makes me very susceptible to skin cancer. Gotta stay in front of it!

...and people say being holed up in mom's basement isn't healthy for me!

 

[Mai72]

...and people say being holed up in mom's basement isn't healthy for me!

Ha! I have a cousin who is in his 50's and has never left home. He sits in his bedroom all day. His mom and father are in their late 80's and early 90's.

That's another story...