MOLES MOLES. Plz respond.

[bigjetplane6]

First off, F U HEALTH ANXIETY. I’m sick and tired of living with you every damn day of my life and never being happy and carefree. Every day is something new and something I am worried with.
I have been keeping an eye on a mole obsessively. It has for sure changed over the past year, in size and color. Well I have already been freaking out about it, and I looked on the other side of my arm and I also have a mole there that has changed in size and color. Now I have 2 moles that I’m worrying about. Moles are around the same area literally in a direct line.
I’m terrified to go to the doctor to get it checked out. Appointment to see the doctor is until the end of October. Until then, I rely on you guys.
Anybody else have had moles, 1 or more than one, that changed in color and shape and size within months that you were sure were bad and came back normal?
Changes in moles whether in shape, color, size in more than 1 mole always bad or can there be benign reasons as well?
Please share your insight and stories guys

 

[bin_tenn]

It's absolutely normal, in most cases, for moles to evolve over time. Sometimes they darken, or grow, or sometimes they may even shrink/fade (becoming a "halo nevus") and disappear. I've had one or two halo nevi that faded away completely, and now you can't tell I ever had them. I've also had some grow somewhat over the years.

It's best to get changing moles checked out, because there's not really such a thing as being "too safe", if there are changes. But again, most of the time it's normal.

 

[bigjetplane6]

It's absolutely normal, in most cases, for moles to evolve over time. Sometimes they darken, or grow, or sometimes they may even shrink/fade (becoming a "halo nevus") and disappear. I've had one or two halo nevi that faded away completely, and now you can't tell I ever had them. I've also had some grow somewhat over the years.

It's best to get changing moles checked out, because there's not really such a thing as being "too safe", if there are changes. But again, most of the time it's normal.

This is literally taking over my life. I just don’t understand why only those 2 moles out of all of the moles that I have are changing.

 

[Loki83]

I’ve had moles grow and change over time, I’ve had new moles appear and I’ve had a bunch removed. Every single time I thought they looked weird and changed for the worst they have come back benign. Within the year I had one on my back removed that looked a lot different than my other moles and it came back atypical but benign. Dermatologist said come back in six months to check and said things looked great, come back in a year for a routine screening. I’ve come to believe that the moles we think are dangerously changing and focus on are normal processes and I’m now comfortable with keeping an eye out for big rapid changes where someone else would see it and be like woah that does look weird and leaving it to my yearly visit to keep me feeling OK and assured. From my experiences nothing looks extraordinary and would just talk to your doctor about your worries during your appointment and come up with a plan for yearly screenings. Mine takes pictures so they can compare moles between visits to monitor changes, which reassured me.

 

[bin_tenn]

This is literally taking over my life. I just don’t understand why only those 2 moles out of all of the moles that I have are changing.

It happens, the body is always doing "something". I recommend looking into CBT therapy, even if you do it without a therapist of your own. More specifically, research and practice acceptance and mindfulness/meditation. These things don't have to take over your life, but I entirely understand how easily they do take over, as well as how difficult it is to change that.

 

[bigjetplane6]

I’ve had moles grow and change over time, I’ve had new moles appear and I’ve had a bunch removed. Every single time I thought they looked weird and changed for the worst they have come back benign. Within the year I had one on my back removed that looked a lot different than my other moles and it came back atypical but benign. Dermatologist said come back in six months to check and said things looked great, come back in a year for a routine screening. I’ve come to believe that the moles we think are dangerously changing and focus on are normal processes and I’m now comfortable with keeping an eye out for big rapid changes where someone else would see it and be like woah that does look weird and leaving it to my yearly visit to keep me feeling OK and assured. From my experiences nothing looks extraordinary and would just talk to your doctor about your worries during your appointment and come up with a plan for yearly screenings. Mine takes pictures so they can compare moles between visits to monitor changes, which reassured me.

Did you have any moles that got larger and changed color, and were ok? I got 2 right now that are both changing color and size. Those are the ones that have me loosing sleep.

 

[Loki83]

Yes I have. I would not look at them and then I would see them and be like I think that mole got a little different in color and others that grew and they were fine. I know how hard it is but I would not worry and discuss a plan with your doctor to monitor them with yearly screenings. I get a whole body one at my dermatologist every year.

 

[E.B]

First off, F U HEALTH ANXIETY. I’m sick and tired of living with you every damn day of my life and never being happy and carefree. Every day is something new and something I am worried with.
I have been keeping an eye on a mole obsessively. It has for sure changed over the past year, in size and color. Well I have already been freaking out about it, and I looked on the other side of my arm and I also have a mole there that has changed in size and color. Now I have 2 moles that I’m worrying about. Moles are around the same area literally in a direct line.
I’m terrified to go to the doctor to get it checked out. Appointment to see the doctor is until the end of October. Until then, I rely on you guys.
Anybody else have had moles, 1 or more than one, that changed in color and shape and size within months that you were sure were bad and came back normal?
Changes in moles whether in shape, color, size in more than 1 mole always bad or can there be benign reasons as well?
Please share your insight and stories guys

One thing i do want to comment on is "how every day it is something "...

I can relate to that, there are certainly seasons like that for sure and i have experienced them, but their will also be care free times as well. Hang in there.

 

[bigjetplane6]

Yes I have. I would not look at them and then I would see them and be like I think that mole got a little different in color and others that grew and they were fine. I know how hard it is but I would not worry and discuss a plan with your doctor to monitor them with yearly screenings. I get a whole body one at my dermatologist every year.

Any moles that started changing color around the same time and around the same area but all the others were normal looking and just those 2 we’re changing color and size??

 

[bin_tenn]

Just ask your doc about it at your appointment in October. You'll be fine. Don't check them constantly. For one, that'll cause anxiety. Two, that anxiety will likely make you perceive them as even worse than they really are. And finally, if there is indeed any change, you won't really notice because you will have been looking at them constantly. Limit yourself to checking once every few weeks or so, until the appointment.

 

[Laumau]

I was actually diagnosed with malignant melanoma over five years ago. It wasn’t a mole. It was just a little mark on my arm. It was greyish pink and it hadn’t been there before at all. I noticed it in the mirror and went to the doctor. He didn’t know what it was so he sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist did not think it was melanoma at all. But he did a biopsy anyways and it came back malignant melanoma. It was stage zero so he removed it. Now I go back every year for a skin check and I’ve been clear ever since. Hang in there! HA can be a cruel mistress.

 

[bin_tenn]

I was actually diagnosed with malignant melanoma over five years ago. It wasn’t a mole. It was just a little mark on my arm. It was greyish pink and it hadn’t been there before at all. I noticed it in the mirror and went to the doctor. He didn’t know what it was so he sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist did not think it was melanoma at all. But he did a biopsy anyways and it came back malignant melanoma. It was stage zero so he removed it. Now I go back every year for a skin check and I’ve been clear ever since. Hang in there! HA can be a cruel mistress.

I'm glad you caught it early, and I hope you can remain free of it! Thank you for sharing.