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Shave Biopsy

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Hello!!!!

I had a shave biopsy today on two moles. One on my chest right between my boobs (which i had for a while but dont really remember when it came) and one on my back (which i had for as long as i can remember). At first I was more concearned about the one on my chest because it had a tiny black spot about the size of a pin point dead center, that might of always been, but you never know. Now I am more concearned about the one that was on my back, looking at the skin now, it looks like the one on my chest was completely taken off by the shave and the skin under neath looks normal now, besides the expected reddish tint. The one on my back however, now still has a small dark area, which leads me to think that, that certain area of the mole was deeper then the rest of the mole. So my question is, does that mean that its more likely to be melanoma then not?! I will get my results back by the beginning of next week, but in the mean time I am freaking out more now then I was before. Both my grandpa and grandma on my dad's side had melanoma, and it killed my grandma, my gpa is still alive and kickin though:). I am 20 years old, white, with dark brown hair and blueish greenish eyes, I have used tanning beds in the past speroticly (sp?), for proabaly two months every time, I would go every day like 5 days a week, and not use any type of lotion, because i barely burn, and when i did, if ever it would be super mild. I regret it now soooo much, and will never use one again, I now resort to jergen natural glow, which i LOVE.

Also, Ive read the shave biopsys are the worst thing a dermatologist can do for a suspected melanoma..is that true?
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replied January 20th, 2011
Unfortunately, only your final biopsy results will be able to confirm whether or not you have melanoma.

I'm glad that you have changed your views on suncreen use and tanning beds!

If a melanoma is suspected, then it is better to do an excisional biopsy of the lesion rather than a shave biopsy. Shave biopsies often cut through melanoma tumors, making it more difficult to accurately stage the thickness of the tumor (melanoma thickness, or depth of invasion, is a very important factor in terms of the likelihood that the tumor may have already spread to the lymph nodes, or beyond). There is also the hypothetical risk that cutting through the tumor might allow tumor cells to be released into the lymphatic system or blood vessels, thus possibly allowing tumor cells spread.


Sincerely,


Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

www.doctorwascher.com

Author, "A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race"


A landmark, evidence-based guide to a healthy cancer-prevention lifestyle, based on cutting-edge cancer research.
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