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Cancer > Skin Cancer Forum > had one melanoma removed, dr wants to remove another mole
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Q: had one melanoma removed, dr wants to remove another mole
asked by: skirpy on December 1st, 2007
New User
Hello,

Here is my story.......

I am a very fair skinned person and have never took a tan, always burned when i went out in the sun, i never really liked warm weather or sitting out in the sun anyway.

But a couple of years ago, i tried a sunbed and i actually got a tan using it, so i started using the sunbed regularly maybe 1-2 times a week to get a bit of colour on me. These beds were quite high powered and i always burned before i got a tan.

About a year ago i noticed a strange shaped mole on the back of my left shoulder, i could only see it when i looked in the mirror. It didn't itch or bleed and was smooth on my skin, it actually looked like a mole that had started to break up with a little dark bit in the center.

I got a doctors appointment and he refered me to a pimented lesion clinic, they took a photo of the mole and i came back a month later, i was told that it had changed shape and that i should have it removed. A few weeks later i got a skin biopsy and the mole was removed.

A few weeks later i got a letter saying that the lesion removed proved to be a melanoma, the good news was that it was a very thin lesion and should not cause me problems in the future. But in these situations, the standard practice was to re-excise the scar to get a slightly wider margin around the lesion, i had this done and have had regular checkups every 3 months until now.

Every time i get a checkup, they check my moles and feel my glands in my neck armpits and groin, 3 months ago i got a checkup and all my moles were fine, i had another checkup a few days ago and the doctor says she would like to remove another mole as it may have changed, its on my back and can't tell what it was like before.

When i get this mole removed and it proves to be a melanoma, what would happen then?

Would they remove all my moles just to be on the safe side?

I was not really taking this condition seriously until i was told i would need to have this other mole removed, now i am feeling a bit worried.

I am getting a bit paranoid, if i notice a lump or bump on my body now or i feel unwell i am thinking it has somethiing to do with skin cancer.

This may have nothing to do with me using a sunbed, it could have been me running about without a top in the hot sunshine when i was very young but i wish i hadn't used one now.

Thanks for reading.
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MandMs
replied on December 13th, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
They practice frequent check ups after melanoma is once diagnosed and treated, just because you are in risk group to develop another and because of its malignant character.
They won't remove all your moles just to be on the safe side, but will remove the ones that will change in their appearance between two appointments, or if you in a meantime notice any suspicious change you'll need to contact your dermatologist as soon as possible.
Although most people with thin melanomas are cured by simply having the mole removed, a few people later develop another melanoma.
It's better to be sure than sorry later.
Is this new suspected mole in the same area?
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skirpy
replied on December 13th, 2007
New User
Hi,

Thanks for the reply!

The mole is on the middle of my back on the other side from where the first mole was removed.

I have another mole just below the one that is to be removed that looks more or less the same but they never said anything about that mole.

Cheers.
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JACK37
replied on January 4th, 2008
Experienced User
Had Melanoma Removed From the Top of My Head
I JUST HAVE A MELANOMA REMOVED FROM THE TOP OF MY HEAD (9/11/07) I WAS TOLD TO SEE A SKIN DOCTOR EVERY THREE MONTHS ....I AM GOING TO TWO OF THE THEM EVERY THREE MONTHS. SO REALLY I SEE ONE EVERY 45 DAYS. THIS GIVE ME GREAT FEAR. I AM 70 AND THIS IS MY FIRST HEALTH PROBLEM. I FEEL YOU SHOULD KEEP GOING TO YOUR DOCTOR AS ASKED AND ANYTHING THE YOU THINK IS BAD OR THAT YOU JUST DO NOT WANT IT ...GET IT TAKEN OFF THAT WHAT I DO. DID YOU GET MAPPING OF THE NOLES. THEY HAD TO CUT INTO MY NECK. I NEVER KNEW SKIN CANCER WAS THIS PAINFULL. I WILL PARY FOR YOU.
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nightangel73
replied on January 11th, 2008
Extremely eHealthy
I just had a mole removed this last monday and today I got the biopsy results. It wasn't cancerous but they come out to be displastic. Does anybody know how long a mole can have displastic cells before it turns into a melanoma? I will ask the doctor this but if somebody knows the answer please share.
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