Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went in for a yearly skin check and the doctor took a biopsy of a mole.

Should I be nervous or are biopsies fairly routine?

I think everything they remove they have to biopsy for insurance to cover it.

This, but it’s also just good practice. If a mole look suspicious enough to remove, then they should biopsy it.

Anonymous wrote:I think it is derm doctors’ contracts to take a chunk out of you for testing every time you are there.

Not true. I have been going to a dermatologist annually for 25 years and have only had maybe four moles biopsied in all that time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is derm doctors’ contracts to take a chunk out of you for testing every time you are there.

I've only had this done once, and I'm fair skinned and 50. FYI, insurance doesn't cover the biopsy.

I had a biopsy that insurance covered. DH has had all his covered as well. Weird that yours didn’t cover it. I wonder if you should have appealed? Or maybe you just hadn’t met your deductible yet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many areas of concern are you allowed to point out during these exams?

Derms look at every area of your body. You can and should point out as many of areas of concern that you have.

Everyone should get annual skin checks, from a dermatologist.

This.

I'm a ginger and have had annual checks since a teen. DH is Afr. Am. and also gets annual checks. Our Derm says it is somewhat rare in her experience for darker skinned people to get annual checks and she wishes more would do so as issues are often found later and can be much more serious.

Anonymous wrote:I went in for a yearly skin check and the doctor took a biopsy of a mole.

Should I be nervous or are biopsies fairly routine?

I think everything they remove they have to biopsy for insurance to cover it.

Better to check than skip.

I've never had one without them cutting something for testing, but I have a lot of moles. Don't stress.

Dumb question but does getting fatter make moles stretch?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many areas of concern are you allowed to point out during these exams?

Derms look at every area of your body. You can and should point out as many of areas of concern that you have.

Everyone should get annual skin checks, from a dermatologist.

Did they give you an approximate wait time for biopsy results? If so, add a few days or so to that and just ... wait. It is hard, but you can't do anything right now so try to distract yourself in ways that work for you -- spend time with family and friends, stay active, watch a movie, meditate, etc. And stay away from ChatGPT and Google.

Good luck. I know the wait is hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did they think of the mole last year?

It was noticed but nothing much. This year doctor said it appeared different than the other moles on my body so they wanted it checked. I am trying not to stress.

Change in a mole is not a “good” thing. But you are doing exactly what you should be doing. Good luck!

I point out everything new, and they always cut some off, some I find, and some they find. Have neen going yearly wince about 45. Currently 60, so far one Mohs surgery and once cancerous mole biopsied and then cut out. Since that cancerous one, I am now on the 6 month plan, rather than the yearly plan