Melanoma can arise from already present mole or from a normal skin.
Whenever a mole is removed, there are some mole cells left remaining in the skin, and in rare instances, they may re-grow in a new mole that is usually darker than the previous one.
With the shaving method, the chances for this relapse is less than 10% withing few years following the mole removal.
Back of the leg is predominant site for melanoma in women, and every mole that changes in its size, shape, or sensations is better to be removed than left.
Melanoma with 99 mm due to Breslow scale is melanoma that is less than 1 mm thick belonging to the stage 1, and Clarck 3 means that it has invaded deeper into skin layers, but it's still contained completely within the skin.

Best wishes!
Marija

Thanks for the info. Just saw a surgeon who wants to do a sentinel node biopsy with the excision. Are you familiar with that at all? I have to wait till next week.

Get a competent Dermatologist or someone that is completely aware of this and get rid of it now...Don't mess around...

Sorry to hear about your melanoma. I had it on the top of head 9/11/07. It scared the life out of me. But all worked out okay. I had the sentinel nodes checked out on both side of my neck. They were okay as was the margin of skin they removed. I see a dermatologist every three months, get CT and I am doing great. My friend got it a few months after me. She had no sentinel nodes or margin check out. It came back two time already and she is not doing fine. Get the margin and the setinel node check. Melanoma is a killer. Avoid the sun and use blocker if going in it. You will be okay just get it done right the first time. God bless you. Also make body charts. When you find something on your skin mark it down and bring this paper into you dematologist. Jack

Thanks Jack, I am glad to hear you are doing well! I don't know of anyone else who has dealt with this so it helps to have your reply. I am scheduled to see the surgeon next week and will do the sentinel node biopsy Do you remember how long you had to wait for the results, the waiting and not knowing is the hardest part.
Laura

Right after surgery the doctor told me all looked okay. It took about a week for the biopsy but for the most the doctor knew it was okay. Mine was a .75mm. I was told I was stage 1A. I had to go to a oncologist too. The first year I got blood work and CT every three months. Now once a year I see the oncologist and get a CT. I had a lot of sun so the dermatologist had a lot of work. Now my skin is in good shape. But with Clark Level 3, I fear a return. I was told to get it early if it comes back and I will be okay. Also I turned into a health nut.

Hi, left leg upper thigh year 2000. Thought I had a deer tick on me, which turned out to be a mole (melanoma). My Dermo retired as well and I have no idea of stage or size...but it was caught immediately, which made my chances better than good!. This just came up as a tiny black mole. Went to Emory in Atlanta and had it surgically removed, also opted for the sentinnel node biopsy ( mine was in groin area)this is done in case a microscopic cell has escaped, it would go to this lymph node. Had 3 removed and all were clean. Had the Mohls (punch done)....a nice 5 inch scar souviner, which is hardly noticeable anymore. I also had bloodwork and chest xray for the first 5 years. I also go EVERY year for a total body scan! SUN BLOCK girlfriend! please feel free to PM if you wish! You're gonna be great! Hugs!

Thanks Jack and now I have a Fairy Godmother! I appreciate the support so much. I am frustrated because I had this thing removed in 2000, unfortunately it was a shave biopsy and some margins were left and it regrew a melanoma, I only noticed a change in the regrowth this past winter/summer. I don't even care about the scar, just want it out! I see a surgeon for the removal and node biopsy in the next couple of weeks and then wait for the results Will keep you posted, your kind words mean a lot. Laura

Shave bx's are just that, a shave and always leaves the chance of leaving something behind. Boodesigns, I do hope all turns out well for you.

A few of you mentioned sunscreen:

This blocks out ALL UV... Blue Lizard.

My dad had melanoma years ago on his nose and since then and most recenty he is dealing with skin cancer and uses chemo cream on those areas.

I had three small dark / black spots removed last week and all previous moles I've had removed minus one have all come back as abnormal...dysplastic and those can turn to melanoma but not all dysplatic moles turn ugly.

Doesn't help that I'm fair-skinned and had a horrific sunburn/sun poisoning when I was 18 (now mid-40's)...plus a couple of years of tanning beds early 30's...

And I agree with MandMS...melanoma can hide beneath an innocent looking mole or other spots on your skin that are innocent looking.

Every 6 months I get spot-checked. In the meantime I apply a mixture of 12 aspirins disolved in clear fingernail polish and apply for 12 weeks (NOT to be used on moles) and if the spots do not disappear then surgical removal would be in order to determine what it is.

Laura, How are you doing? Hope all went well. Jack