Mole Anxiety

[SighNoMore 63]

 

I’m struggling hardcore over a mole I have had for ages. I caught sight of it and it has set me off. It is dark and has a bit of odd shape. My old derm said we just need to watch it. New derm didn’t see anything wrong with it several months ago. She did say it is a bit irregular, but not a worry. I just can’t stop fixating on it.

 

I am beyond worried and want to rush in to be seen. I am conflicted. I was last seen in the fall, and I am fair and have several moles. I just don’t know what to do. 

[MARC 431]

I have had an ugly weird looking spot on my right forearm for years. It is split up into 3 pieces. One part is darker then the other and the borders are irregular and it is slightly raised. I remember when I first saw it I got concerned and I went to the dermatologjst as soon as I could and I showed it to him and he looked at it for a split second and blew it off as nothing. I thought for sure it was skin cancer, so I worried for nothing. 

[ConstantWorrying 8]

On 2/20/2021 at 5:47 PM, SighNoMore said:

 

I’m struggling hardcore over a mole I have had for ages. I caught sight of it and it has set me off. It is dark and has a bit of odd shape. My old derm said we just need to watch it. New derm didn’t see anything wrong with it several months ago. She did say it is a bit irregular, but not a worry. I just can’t stop fixating on it.

 

I am beyond worried and want to rush in to be seen. I am conflicted. I was last seen in the fall, and I am fair and have several moles. I just don’t know what to do. 

If it doesn't change it's not cancer.

Also, there's no evidence that "odd" moles are any more likely to have melanoma arise from within them than "typical" looking moles. Most melanoma starts "de novo," meaning it was melanoma from when it first appeared on the skin, but occasionally melanoma can arise from within a nevus. However, as I said, there's a lack of evidence that "irregular" nevi are any more prone to that happening.

If you've had it for ages, and it's not changing, nothing to worry about. At least, not any more than all of your other moles. 

[MARC 431]

I have known 5 people who had Melanoma and none were from moles. 

[SighNoMore 63]

Thank you all so much. 
 

I do have a good derm and have seen two of them recently while transitioning from one to my new one. It just seems so different than my others, so that it invites panic in. I have a check up coming soon, so will mention it again. 
 

Really appreciate you all talking this out with me. 

[SighNoMore 63]

I am going to see the derm at the end of the month. I  am terrified. 
My mole has darkened over the last 2.5 years. I found an old photo to compare. 
Just hoping it isn’t anything bad. 

[bin_tenn 1252]

10 hours ago, SighNoMore said:

I am going to see the derm at the end of the month. I  am terrified. 
My mole has darkened over the last 2.5 years. I found an old photo to compare. 
Just hoping it isn’t anything bad. 

Moles may darken or lighten with age. Some of them fade away completely over time, often with what's referred to as a "halo nevus." I had one on my right cheek that did that in my 20s. The skin around it formed a lighter "halo", the mole started turning a reddish color, and it eventually disappeared altogether. But like I said, darkening is also normal as we age.

[SighNoMore 63]

Thank you for that. I am just trying to not totally lose it. I am so worked up over this and other things. I hate being plagued with this anxiety. 

On 3/1/2021 at 9:37 PM, bin_tenn said:

Moles may darken or lighten with age. Some of them fade away completely over time, often with what's referred to as a "halo nevus." I had one on my right cheek that did that in my 20s. The skin around it formed a lighter "halo", the mole started turning a reddish color, and it eventually disappeared altogether. But like I said, darkening is also normal as we age.