Damn this skin anxiety!!

[Missy2626 251]

Hi everyone!  Yes, it's me again -- the incessant skin worrier.  My current worry is a pigmented spot on my nineteen year old's upper back, which has been there for years and which I pointed out at various annual physicals to his pediatrician.  As he's grown it has changed in appearance, and I asked the pediatrician at his last checkup to take a look at it.  Unfortunately, being the age he is, I am not in the room, and apparently the doctor made no notation of it in his chart.  I would like to believe that he saw it and found nothing concerning.  Nevertheless, I've proceeded to make an appointment for him and my younger son with a dermatologist for a skin check.  That appointment is next Monday and I have not told them yet -- not sure whether I'm more stressed over the results or my boys' reactions when they find out I'm taking them.  I'm certainly counting down the days to that and pray that everything is normal, as I've booked a last minute vacation to Florida in two weeks, and I would really like to try my best to not have any current health worries on my mind!

WARNING:  The following may be triggering!!

ANYWAYS, I guess I'm posting just to vent or look for reassurance, or whatever.  I've been doing well not consulting Dr. Google for the most part, which is certainly a big help.  I've also stayed away from Facebook for the most part, as I found it just wasn't doing me any favors mentally.  Last night I happened to go on it for a bit, and lo and behold, on my newsfeed was an article posted by the Today Show of a girl in her 30's with literally one half of her forehead stitched up with a skin graft.  Of course, I click on the article and read how this girl (who was very heavily freckled) had what she thought was a liver spot on her forehead that kept growing while she was pregnant.  She thought it was hormonally related, but it became as large as one-half of of her entire forehead.  Well, it turns out it was melanoma and she had to have about one half of her forehead skin removed, along with underlying bone and muscle, and a skin graft put in place.  The images were downright terrible and so upsetting to me -- even the image of her before I clicked on the story was terrible.  The story did go on to say that not only was she heavily freckled, but her mom had died of melanoma in her thirties.  So, I guess taking those details and knowing that I run to the dermatologist for every new spot and pop up on my skin, I should see the story in perspective.  But it certainly triggered me once again, particularly now that I'm thinking about my sons' appointments on Monday.

Thanks for listening to my story!  Not sure if anyone here has any comforting words or thoughts on this one!

[utrocket09 115]

It is normal for moles to change here and there as we age. What you want to look for is things that change drastically within a few weeks. My husband has had 17 skin cancer scares as he has had 17 skin biopsies done. 2 so large he needed to see a plastic surgeon. I am sure your son is fine.

[Missy2626 251]

Awe thanks utrocket!  yes, my son has probably had this spot for about at least six or seven years, I remember pointing it out to his doctor years ago.  It has changed a bit throughout his teenage years and puberty, and I would like to hope that when his doctor checks him at his yearly physical (with his shirt off) it is right there in plain sight, so if anything was concerning the doctor would have pointed it out.  I'll feel better after the derm takes a look at it and I'm hoping it's not a biopsy thing, so that I don't have to stress while on vacation.  Thanks for your reassurances, and i am so happy to hear that your hubby is fine!!

i actually got quite pissed off about that feed and the image on facebook posted by the Today Show -- if I was in a better frame of mind I would have commented on it, saying that it is upsetting and triggering for people with HA.  I certainly understand and encourage education to the general public about skin c*****, but there is no need for that image and a story behind it that is quite unusual.  I'm telling myself that this girl, with her mom having actually died from M, her having completely freckled skin, and a spot growing the entire width of her forehead, really should have been more aware -- I certainly would have been running to the derm, not only for yearly skin checks, but most certainly once the spot started growing in that fashion!

[utrocket09 115]

I have fair skin and freckles and usually only go to the derm about 6 months. My husband also goes every 6 months as he is at high risk of cancer.  I read the story and to me it isnt a huge deal, as my husband has been through it so many times.

 

If your son needs his mole removed, they usually always do a biopsy either a punch or shave.

[Missy2626 251]

I've had a few moles removed which I'd had since I was a teenager; one came back as mildly atypical and two as mild/moderately atypical.  Two others removed were normal.  I guess I'm just stressed that if they want to do a biopsy on my son I will be so worried that it's "M" and I didn't take him in sooner!  Realistically speaking though, he's had it for quite a few years, has little exposure to the sun in that area (only while swimming in the summer months), and has never tanned at tanning booths.  And again, I keep telling myself that his pediatrician has seen it every year at annual physicals.  Boy, it's hard enough to have your own HA but even harder when you start to worry about your kids' and other loved ones' health!!  Seeing that article and the image sent me into the HA tailspin again  

[Holls 1485]

1 hour ago, Missy2626 said:

I've had a few moles removed which I'd had since I was a teenager; one came back as mildly atypical and two as mild/moderately atypical.  Two others removed were normal.  I guess I'm just stressed that if they want to do a biopsy on my son I will be so worried that it's "M" and I didn't take him in sooner!  Realistically speaking though, he's had it for quite a few years, has little exposure to the sun in that area (only while swimming in the summer months), and has never tanned at tanning booths.  And again, I keep telling myself that his pediatrician has seen it every year at annual physicals.  Boy, it's hard enough to have your own HA but even harder when you start to worry about your kids' and other loved ones' health!!  Seeing that article and the image sent me into the HA tailspin again  

I understand your fears I was in your shoes last week. I took my son to the derm for a huge mole on his back that he has had forever. The derm said it looked perfectly normal. He checked on a few others and said he was lucky because women love guys with moles lol . We just worry worry and think the worst.

Find relief in that the spot has been seen by a Dr before. 

[MotherOfMaya 13]

Oh my gosh! I am here because I just read that SAME story! Shame on us!

I have never been a skin worrier but that story has sent me into overdrive. I am also pregnant and found a new, dark, round, little spot on the side of my foot that's got me going crazy! I have worried about everything from ALS to colon cancer, but never my skin. I guess I should not be surprised at how one thing on the internet can send me into a tailspin. I am 35 and have always had a lot of "beauty marks" and have never had a skin check. Now I am so worried it may be too late. I made my poor husband compare this new spot to like 10 others on my body. Oh, the things we do to ourselves!!