Hi All! I had a biopsy last week and am looking for some words of wisdom while I wait. Two years ago, I had a BCC removed and a few months ago, my biopsy results showed a moderate dysplastic nevi.

Last week, a mole on my lower side caught my attention and I decided to pick at it, to check for abnormalities. When I scraped my nail over it, it bled and also a little bit of black flaked off. How alarmed should I be? It was slightly raised, dark black, clear borders and about the size of a pencil eraser. Also, does the fact that it was raised mean that it would have to be nodular?

I have had many skin checks in the pasy few years and this particular mole never warranted even a comment from the PA's, but when I went in and pointed it out, the PA was pretty concerned. He did a shave biopsy and now I am waiting. I have now read that shave biopsies should never be done on suspected melanomas. Does this mean that if it is melanoma, they will not be able to correctly diagnose the depth?

Also, if it comes back as melanoma, what is the next step? Do you automatically go for a sentinel node biopsy? I am so terrified of surgery (mainly being put to sleep) that I am already losing sleep over this possibility).

Any words of advice/experience would be greatly appreciated =)

Cheryl~