Top dermatologist freaked out upon suspicious mole

[Anonymous]

I went to see the dermatologist for something different and casually mentioned a new mole that appeared. The doctor, who I have known for 12 yrs and is very laid back, seemed a bit alarmed. He said he had to biopsy it asap. It was the size of a pen point and very black and yet already slightly raised.

I have had more than a few burns in my life from narrow band uvb light treatments for a different skin disorder. His reaction really frightened me because not only is he considered to be the best derm dr in nova, he's usually so easygoing. At my appointment he was different. I had a friend many years ago who ignored a blackish mole on her back for a few yrs. She used to lie out in the sun with her kids by her pool. By the time she got it biopsied it was too late. She died about a year later.

So worried its melanoma. Could use some words of advice, support.

[Anonymous]

You're lucky to have a good dermatologist!

[Anonymous]

Most melanoma is fully treatable. I had one in my early 20s (swim team and carelessness with sunscreen on my back) and, other than removal, a chest X ray to verify that it hadn't metasticized and now regular monitoring, there's been no health concerns.

I'd actually be upset at his reaction. He can't know the biopsy results on sight so why freak a patient out ahead of time?

[Anonymous]

Same thing happened to me. Dr cut it off (and then some) for biopsy and said he was 90% certain it was cancerous. Freaked me out. Turns out it was totally fine. But I do go for an annual exam now.

[Anonymous]

Same thing happened to me. I have about 50 moles and see a derm twice a year for a skin exam. I had one mole that was tiny, black and raised and new. Derm was concerned but thought it was probably ok. Turned out it was one step below a melanoma. I had to have a wide excision, about 3-4 inch scar. It was diagnosed as a severely dysplastic mole. And it was tiny and didn't have any weird colorations. But the key was that it was very different than my other moles, even though it was small.

It's been almost a decade, and you can barely see the wide excision scar. I still go for my twice a year exams, and no scary moles have been observed.

[Anonymous]

Who is considered the best derm in NVa?

[Anonymous]

All of the qualities you describe are indicative of melanoma. How bad, you won't know until the biopsy comes back. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I go annually to Hopkins for a full body check of moles. Good you got yours checked. If you got it early you are in good shape.

Not all derms specialize in melanoma, so perhaps his alarm was rooted in caution more than knowledge - you have to be careful about the derms that are really into cosmetic stuff - I have found them to be very uninformed about melanoma.

With a bad family history this is why I don't mess around and go to one at Hopkins that specializes in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is considered the best derm in NVa?

Please do tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the qualities you describe are indicative of melanoma. How bad, you won't know until the biopsy comes back. Good luck.

Don't listen to this guy. I'm the pp who said the same thing happened to me. Black slightly raised irregularly shaped new and fast growing mole that was the size of a pencil eraser. Dr was super concerned, told me he was confident it was cancerous, so he cut a wider excision as he explained the biopsy results would dictate how much to remove beyond the perimeter and he wanted to avoid a second excision.

Biopsy results were totally fine. It was nothing at all despite having all the classic signs of cancer.

So please don't freak out until you know what you are actually dealing with.

[Anonymous]

OP here. It's so hard towait 10 days and not freak out. My mole was different from allmy other moles, being that it was pitch black.

I'll try to keep busy with the kids. Nothing like small children to take your mind off yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It's so hard towait 10 days and not freak out. My mole was different from allmy other moles, being that it was pitch black.

I'll try to keep busy with the kids. Nothing like small children to take your mind off yourself.

Who is the top dermatologist?

[Anonymous]

Ditto

[Anonymous]

This has happened to me. One was a new tiny black spot in an already existing, lighter mole. The doc excised it and it turned out to be benign.

The next time I noticed a new, tiny mole - and my usually laid back doc seemed alarmed at the word "new" and seemed to think it was something concerning. Turns out it was a very early stage basal cell.

If it's a brand new mole, you're catching whatever it is early.
And it very well may be benign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go annually to Hopkins for a full body check of moles. Good you got yours checked. If you got it early you are in good shape.

Not all derms specialize in melanoma, so perhaps his alarm was rooted in caution more than knowledge - you have to be careful about the derms that are really into cosmetic stuff - I have found them to be very uninformed about melanoma.

With a bad family history this is why I don't mess around and go to one at Hopkins that specializes in it.

NP here - I'm in NoVa -and really the only dermatologists around here that are options are into the cosmetic stuff. Am I doing something wrong? Are they good enough for annual skin exams/biopsies?