Black dot on cheek - freaking out

[Anonymous]

I have a black dot on my cheek and it isn't a blackhead. My Mom died of melanoma and I am freaking out.

Anyone have a nevus or something like this? It's like a pencil dot on my face and I just freaked myself out when I saw it due to family histor.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure you need to see a dermatologist rather than asking DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Go to your dermatologist's office first thing on Monday morning. Ask to be seen w/o a previous appointment since it's an emergency. It really might be. Or it might not, but either way best to get it checked. Good luck! I hope you're OK. FWIW, all 3 people I know who had melanoma caught it early and are fine. One is my friend's mom who had a black dot on her knee - her husband noticed it and they excised it ASAP.

[Anonymous]

OP I think there are black freckles and nevus too. See a dermatologist but I imagine all is ok.

[Anonymous]

I would see a dermatologist ASAP. It may be nothing, but it will take a dermatologist to know for sure. Make sure to tell the appointment scheduler about your family history, and don't hesitate to call more than 1 derm to see who can take you soonest. Early treatment is essential for melanoma.

[Anonymous]

ABCDE.

Asymmetrical?
How's the Border?
Color -- is it even or no?
Diameter?
Is it Evolving/changing?

Definitely get it checked out. Could be nothing. Even if it's skin cancer, prognosis is extremely high with early detection. Make an appointment today.

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/melanoma-warning-signs-and-images/do-you-know-your-abcdes

[Anonymous]

OP When is your derm appointment?

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU ALLOW THEM TO BURN OR FREEZE THE SPOT. They need to biopsy it.

I had malignant melanoma over a decade ago and had gone to my gps office and he wanted to burn my mole off. I didn't make the appointment but went to a derm to check something else and he noticed the spot. I never would have known it was melanoma had it been burned off.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs. I will try to see a dermatologist asap. It literally is a dot. I am surprised I noticed it. So it's like a black dot the size of a pencil tip on my cheek. It's hard to go the ABCDE thing since it's so small but will get it looked at ASAP.

was just hoping someone had something similar they could talk to me about until I get an appt.

[Anonymous]

Melanoma is very treatable if caught early. just go to the deem soon.

[Anonymous]

One day I noticed a tiny black dot, like the one your describe, inside a lighter, existing mole. The derm removed it and it was benign. Then it happened again with a mole on my stomach, and it too was benign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. I will try to see a dermatologist asap. It literally is a dot. I am surprised I noticed it. So it's like a black dot the size of a pencil tip on my cheek. It's hard to go the ABCDE thing since it's so small but will get it looked at ASAP.

was just hoping someone had something similar they could talk to me about until I get an appt.

ABCDE poster here, also with a family history of fatal melanoma.

Last year, I had a tiny dark espresso-brown mole pop up on my hand. Seemingly out of the blue, overnight - I tried to scratch it off thinking it was a pen mark or crumb. Tiny, very dark, definitely new. It hasn't changed at all since it showed up one day, so I think it's just a new nevus. If you're prone to them, you can get new ones as you get older.

Get it checked out to be safe, but could really be nothing.

[Anonymous]

I had malignant melanoma diagnosed in the early 90s. I had a strange spot on my arm that I ignored for a couple of years. I showed it to a Kaiser doctor who said it was nothing. A year later I was at a derms office and I pointed it out to him and, fortunately for me, he biopsied it. When we got the results, I had to go in and have more skin removed around the incision and that was biopsied. I was fine. A few months later I went to a specialist at Georgetown. He removed several moles from my torso and biopsied them. All was clear. Back then they liked to aggressively remove as many moles as possible. I don't know if they do that now.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much (OP here). Love the stories of folks who had weird moles and all was ok, including the PP with melanoma! Phew! Getting it checked out but have relaxed more now.

Virtual hugs to those who responded during a freak-out moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP When is your derm appointment?

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU ALLOW THEM TO BURN OR FREEZE THE SPOT. They need to biopsy it.

I had malignant melanoma over a decade ago and had gone to my gps office and he wanted to burn my mole off. I didn't make the appointment but went to a derm to check something else and he noticed the spot. I never would have known it was melanoma had it been burned off.

Right-O. YOu want someone experienced in Mohs treatment. While they scrape of tiny cell from your face or other exposed areas, the tiny slices are being examined for malignancy or pre-cancer situations. They stop cutting only when they are sure they have it all. Then, if the patient (like my dad who was in the service and never wore a shirt or suntan lotion for decades) has more, they move on, often removing many skin tags and possible malignancies in one sesseion.

[Anonymous]

Unless it's a pencil eraser size or bigger, dermatologists aren't interested. I too have a family history of melanoma and I watch my spots constantly.