Worried Again

[Lisa P]

Hi, everyone – Well, I just got back from my visit with my specialist at Cancer Care Alliance. Since seeing him three months ago, I’ve had two moderately abnormal dysplastic moles removed (excised)– one from my back and one from my arm. Up until now, I understood that there is nothing to say that moderately to severely dysplastic nevi are likely to evolve into melanoma but, when they biopsy something suspicious and it comes back as such, they automatically get rid of them because of my history (three melanoma in two years). Today, my specialist said that he believes that these types of moles are prone to turning into melanoma. He said that there have been times in his career where it was not obvious to the human eye and wasn’t caught in time. Realize, all of this was coming in response to very direct questions that I was asking. By the time I left the office I was pretty anxious. After all, I’ve had so many things taken out of me over the past couple of years, some of which were not very concerning to the eye at all. Still, they came back as abnormal an had to be excised. Can someone set me straight as have a lot of these things. I’ve been told it is not wise to take them all out. Any advice, or calming words would be appreciated more than you know. Thanks to you all, Lisa

[wpatterson4]

Quote:

Still, they came back as abnormal an had to be excised.

I wouldn’t worry, but I wonder why you would have to have a wider excision for an atypical nevus that isn’t melanoma. Maybe you should get a second opinion on that. Your doctor’s vigilance in catching them early is to be commended, but I would ask more questions before getting a wide local for a benign (if atypical) mole.

Maybe if we had THIS guy’s immune system, we wouldn’t have to worry about getting these moles removed:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1152&bih=691&tbm=isch&tbnid=3n6U3xbdMJJt7M:&imgrefurl=http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/31/11/3697/F1.expansion.html&docid=ypM9QEU4jTw-1M&imgurl=http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/31/11/3697/F1.large.jpg&w=1280&h=1201&ei=-RFjUNK9DJTo8wSKloHQDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=584&vpy=87&dur=625&hovh=217&hovw=232&tx=132&ty=115&sig=114714072266883023349&page=1&tbnh=155&tbnw=165&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:95” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1152&bih=691&tbm=isch&tbnid=3n6U3xbdMJJt7M:&imgrefurl=http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/31/11/3697/F1.expansion.html&docid=ypM9QEU4jTw-1M&imgurl=http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/31/11/3697/F1.large.jpg&w=1280&h=1201&ei=-RFjUNK9DJTo8wSKloHQDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=584&vpy=87&dur=625&hovh=217&hovw=232&tx=132&ty=115&sig=114714072266883023349&page=1&tbnh=155&tbnw=165&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:95

[Jenni]

I was told by numerous derms that having atypical moles means the person is higher risk for getting melanoma BUT those specific moles are not necessarily higher risk for turning into melanoma….I think more than half of melanomas arise on new skin.

I battle the same thoughts sometimes, should I get them all cut off, then my chances of cancer are lower……BUT this isn’t true….it isn’t like breast cancer where we can remove the breasts and get a much lower risk of getting breast cancer. It is still likely to pop up on clear skin, SO….take a few deep breaths and try to relax, many many people have atypical moles….and they are just that, strange looking cells, but not cancer!!!

Cheers,

Jenni

[Lisa P]

Hi and thanks to both of you for writing back. As far as excising atypical moles, I have three different specialists, all of whom agree that once something is biopsied and comes back as moderately or severely abormal, it should be excised. In my case, anyway. That’s not to say they are trying to test everything. We only biopsy things that are curious or have changed from when the grid photography was first taken two years ago. God only knows how many atypical moles I have on my body! Jen, thanks for your words of encouragement. I am actually breathing a bit easier for having read them. Lisa

[Author]

Posts