Worried about mole

[Juju17]

Hey everyone,

I am freaking out because one or two weeks ago I noticed what I tought was a spot on my back. Didn't think anything of it. This weekend, I felt it again and tought well let's take care of this. And when I looked in the mirror, I noticed it wasn't a spot, it was mole I had for forever. I never noticed it being so raised, like a bump.

I touched it and I made it bleed. It is healing right now but I am so so scared because I am absolutely convinced it is melanoma...

I am seeing my PCP in two days for this because I have to see a professional ASAP but the earliest derm appointment I could have is in late September...

I am freaking out about this. I try to put this aside but I can't...

 

[Cuchculan]

Not all moles mean the end of the world. My own mother had this huge thing removed from her arm a few months back. This was horrible to look at. Turned out to be harmless. They did check out before removing it. Trust me, if you had of seen this, you would have thought it was something more serious. Now to look at her arm you wouldn't even know were it had been. You are doing the right thing. Get it looked at. If they think it is serious they will want to do things quickly. But just try and remember that not all moles mean something bad or horrible.

 

[Fraser]

If your doctor thinks it looks suspicious, you will not have to wait for Sept for a derm appointment; you'll be triaged for an earlier examination (or is there another reason you can't go until then?). If your doctor thinks it looks like nothing, the question becomes whether or not you'll be able to believe him/her. My guess is that due to your concern and your sense that the mole has changed over time, you'll have it biopsied. That's a very normal response to a patient being concerned about a mole, and doesn't mean much. But as someone with health anxiety, how will you handle that? You might want to start addressing your health anxiety proactively (if you aren't already).

 

[Juju17]

Thank you for your replies.

I know I am no expert in skin issues/moles but I can't help but think that there is no way this mole changed and it not being anything worrisome. But I try to remind myself that I have a very veryyyy poor track record in diagnosing myself.

I usually don't doubt my doctor's opinion but I know for a fact that even if he tells me this is not sinister, I am still going to the derm (with less anxiety) in September.

Late September was the sooner I could have an appointment with my current derm because of summer break. I tried with other derm offices but they either don't accept new patients or only give me an appointment for February (despite explaining the reason why I wanted an appointement)...

I was seeing a therapist (a CBT certified one) up until June but I stopped going because she often yawned during the sessions and didn't seem to want to help me (didn't ask many questions, let me talk a lot, didn't provide me any info as to how the mind works etc.).

 

[bin_tenn]

but I can't help but think that there is no way this mole changed and it not being anything worrisome

Why can't it be harmless? It's a fact that moles can and do change over time. Sure, it's wise to get any changes checked out, but changes in moles are still rarely a sign of malignancy (per Google, and I'm not a doctor). Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's also said that skin cancer (or at least malignant melanoma) tends to arise more often from otherwise normal skin, and less often from existing moles.

 

[Cuchculan]

Another true story for you. Another family member went to the doctor to have something similar looked at. Know what the doctor done? Put his hand across and simply removed it, saying it was nothing. I did laugh when I was told about that. Because I know the person was worried about it. And ir was nothing too. Never grew back. Things like this can happen too.

 

[Juju17]

Why can't it be harmless? It's a fact that moles can and do change over time. Sure, it's wise to get any changes checked out, but changes in moles are still rarely a sign of malignancy (per Google, and I'm not a doctor). Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's also said that skin cancer (or at least malignant melanoma) tends to arise more often from otherwise normal skin, and less often from existing moles.

I know I am not qualified to say if it actually is worrisome or not but I am just following the ABCDE rules and it definitely fits the E rule. So that in itself is enough for me to be concerned...

 

[Cuchculan]

Very easy to be concerned. I think what Bin was getting at is that you won't know the answer yourself. Only a doctor would. Bit like us answering posts here on this forum. We can't tell people that something medical is OK. That would be wrong of us. We can share a few stories. But the medical side of things always comes down to the medical experts. Which none of us are.

 

[bin_tenn]

Very easy to be concerned. I think what Bin was getting at is that you won't know the answer yourself. Only a doctor would. Bit like us answering posts here on this forum. We can't tell people that something medical is OK. That would be wrong of us. We can share a few stories. But the medical side of things always comes down to the medical experts. Which none of us are.

Yep, that's all I was getting at. IMO it's unlikely anything to worry about, but none of us - including the OP - would be able to know. No harm in going to the doctor, probably the wisest decision.

 

[Juju17]

Hey guys,

My appointement with my PCP was yesterday. I explained the situation, he looked at the mole and pretty quickly said that the mole didn't look like anything bad. He said that yes change in mole is not something they like to see but that in my case, the mole looked totally fine overall and he couln't notice any bump/lump/swelling (since I stopped applying cream and obssesively touching it, it's been pretty much flat). He took a picture of it to show me and compared with a picture of Google of normal/"bad" mole to basically show me that the mole didn't raise much red flags. He said I could go to the derm but that I would have an appointement in 6-9 months. I told him it was already booked for September and he was surprised and told me I was very lucky to have an appointement this soon. He finally told me that this was no emergency and the September appointement was good enough.
Now as Fraser mentionned, I need to be OK with all this. I read that PCP/GP are not good at detecting melanoma. But at the same time he seemed pretty sure of himself, knows me and knows I have health anxiety. So I am gessing that if there was any doubt he would have done something more...

 

[bin_tenn]

I read that PCP/GP are not good at detecting melanoma. But at the same time he seemed pretty sure of himself, knows me and knows I have health anxiety. So I am gessing that if there was any doubt he would have done something more...

Typical of anxiety to make you second guess the doctor. Sure, it's true that a PCP/GP doesn't specialize in skin conditions, but they're trained to identify obvious signs of skin conditions. Just like a regular doctor can't necessarily evaluate heart health - they'll send you to a cardiologist. Same concept, different organ. BUT you can trust your doctor, they wouldn't blatantly tell you wrong if something were off.

 

[Jennifer]

Why on earth would it take 6 to 9 months, that's insane.
Its only July, September is even to long to wait.
My dermatologist advertises same day appointments, I've not tried that I usually just call and take the offered next apt which is usually the next week.

 

[Cuchculan]

You would be amazed at the waiting times in some countries. The healthcare system is a joke here in Ireland. Know some people that got appointments that were up to 2 years away. You might get a call after a year asking if you still want to wait on the list. It is a bloody joke. Now granted if they think it is something very bad they will rush it through. Knew one man who had issues with his back. When he walked he was almost touching the ground with his hands. Appointment he got was about 4 years away. Operation would have sorted his back out. Sad to say he didn't last 4 more years. They could have fixed him up in no time at all. They just thought others needed treatment before him. It can be all screwed up over here.

 

[Jennifer]

At some point its like why bother? I don't get how they can get away with that. Im sorry for those that have to wait like this.

 

[Fraser]

Why on earth would it take 6 to 9 months, that's insane.
Its only July, September is even to long to wait.
My dermatologist advertises same day appointments, I've not tried that I usually just call and take the offered next apt which is usually the next week.

The OP would not have to wait 6 to 9 months in the event that their mole actually looked suspicious. I had an ultrasound a while ago that found a tumor that looks "in keeping" with a benign tumor. Now I have to wait to see a specialist and then I'll have to wait for who knows how long to get surgery. But if the ultrasound result looked suspicious it would be a different story. The truth is, the burden on the healthcare system caused by HA sufferers such as ourselves is pretty substantial and especially during Covid hospital resources are limited. I agree that faster wait times would be much better.

 

[Jennifer]

I had an ultrasound a while ago that found a tumor that looks "in keeping" with a benign tumor.

(Oh my lord, "in keeping", they are guessing. Our docs will tell us they don't think its anything but the only way to be positive is pathology)

The truth is, the burden on the healthcare system caused by HA sufferers such as ourselves is pretty substantial

I am not a HAer that goes to the dr, I have the opposite issue I avoid them. That said, I have read numerous times about the NHS "burden on the healthcare" .. I call BS, someone's brainwashed all of you, they are there to take care of us calling us a burden is demeaning and insulting.

 

[Fraser]

I am not a HAer that goes to the dr, I have the opposite issue I avoid them. That said, I have read numerous times about the NHS "burden on the healthcare" .. I call BS, someone's brainwashed all of you, they are there to take care of us calling us a burden is demeaning and insulting.

HA suffers increase the material and time demands placed on available healthcare resources. If you'd prefer to use another word besides "burden", that truth remains.

 

[Jennifer]

available healthcare resources.

This may be key. We pay for healthcare (many employers pick up this tab, or its a shared cost) but our available heathcare resources are endless.

 

[Fraser]

This may be key. We pay for healthcare (many employers pick up this tab, or its a shared cost) but our available heathcare resources are endless.

I don't understand. There are a limited number of doctors. There are a limited number of any given treatment, medicine, device, hospital beds etc.

 

[Jennifer]

I don't understand. There are a limited number of doctors. There are a limited number of any given treatment, medicine, device, hospital beds etc.

Covid at its worst was the only time in my lifetime there was a concern about running short on medical supplies or hospital beds and we still didn't.

Other than that time, having limited services or facilities does not cross our minds.

I need to have a mole on my neck checked out, its my HA that is preventing me from going, the day I get the nerve up, I can call my dermatologist myself and get a same day appointment.

Not every dr or apt is same day unless we are feeling really unwell. My husband had a blocked ear, thought maybe ear infection, he called his Dr and got in that afternoon.

Its just so different here, I can't imagine waiting months on end for an apt or being made to feel like I'm a burden or using up our precious medical supplies or the drs time.

When we need them, we need them now.