Question About My Mole...please Help Posted: 03-22-05 01:04am
Hi. I have a mole on the left side of my
neck below my ear. It was bigger than
usual and started to change in color in
the past 6 months or so. Earlier this
month I went to a doctor and he did a
biopsy on my mole. The report came back
and said I had a dysplastic nevi with
slight atypia and some inflammatory cells.
I am scheduled to get the mole excised on
april 15th. The doctor told me this was
the best report I could get. My two aunts
who have had melanoma said the report was
good also, and my two of my mom's friends
who are doctors, veteranarians, but still
doctors said the reports are good.
However, I get paranoid about stuff like
this. I really don't understand what
exactly my pathology report means. When
the doctor read me the pathology report I
was too freaked out and paniced to really
listen and understand what he was saying.
But should I be worried about this mole
still?? Even though I am getting it
removed in less than a month?? What
exactly does slight atypia mean?? Is this
close to being melanoma?? Can this mole
turn into melanoma in less than a months
time?? Will I be ok?? My mole is like
brown with a little pink and. It is not
raised except a tiny bit in one little
area where the skin from the biopsy was
taken. It has never itched or bled
before. I looked up pics of melanoma and
my mole looks nothing like it, but I am
still paranoid. Can someone please help
me on this??
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bkdaniels
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Question About My Mole...please Help Posted: 03-22-05 01:29am
Hey shgrdii, how are you doing?
All patients diagnosed with 1 or more ams
should undergo a complete cutaneous
examination. Patients with ams should
avoid excessive sun exposure and routinely
use a sunscreen with a sun protective
factor of 15 or greater.
In 1820, norris proposed an association
between nevi and melanoma. He described a
family in which 2 members developed
melanoma, while other family members had
"many moles on various parts of their
bodies."
however, the exact appearance of these
lesions is unknown. The national
institute of health consensus conference
on the diagnosis and treatment of early
melanoma defined a syndrome of familial
atypical mole and melanoma (famm).
The criteria of famm syndrome are as
follows: (1) the occurrence of malignant
melanoma in 1 or more first- or
second-degree relatives; (2) the presence
of numerous (often >50) melanocytic
nevi, some of which are clinically
atypical; and (3) many of the associated
nevi show certain histologic features.
Patients with famm syndrome should have a
complete cutaneous examination performed
at the first office visit and then at
least every 12 months for life. An
individual with an isolated am has little
risk of developing a melanoma and should
not be identified as melanoma prone.
For excellent patient education resources,
visit emedicine's procedures center.
Also, see emedicine's patient education
article mole removal.
Best wishes,
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wakkochic17
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 494 Location: South Carolina
Posted: 03-22-05 19:30pm
Shgrdii ... Your diagnosis means you have
some atypical moles (hence the change in
size/color) but that they are not cancer.
I had two taken out last year with the
same exact diagnosis. It's still the
safest bet to get them taken off if they
change color or size (one of mine changed
color and the other size). It's still
possible that they may have turned into
something down the line, but for right now
you are clear!! Since you do have these
type of moles, however, it's safest to
check yourself regularly so that if any
others change shape, etc you can get them
removed early on.
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shgrdii
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 14
Posted: 03-23-05 00:37am
I just went to my doctor today to fill out
paper work for my surgery to get this
removed. The assistant told me that my
mother had called because I was so worried
and anxious about this thing and she told
me that she talked to the doctor and the
doctor told her that I will be fine and
that I should have nothing to worry about
and that nothing will happen between now
and my surgery on april 15th. Im still a
bit worried, but I feel a lot better. And
thanks to both of you for your help. I
appreciate it.
