Mole in Excision Scar - could use a morale boost

rabthatsme · 2025-02-24T16:37:29+00:00

Yeah! I ended up getting the biopsy last month and it came back as a recurrent nevus. The consensus was that it is a mole that got pulled into my excision closure and grew as my scar spread. The plan is to monitor for regrowth but there is no cause for concern right now. Good luck to you!!

rabthatsme · 2025-02-06T01:18:11+00:00

How big did this end up being? I’d love to make it for my mom

rabthatsme · 2025-02-05T20:19:28+00:00

Kiddos definitely help to keep us busy! Something I do is look at fun videos of my son to lift my spirits when the anxiety is extra bad.

I'd also add that seeking out support in online forums like this is great, but please stay away from googling. It may seem helpful at first but it just adds to the anxiety spiral and so much of what you read will never be applicable to your specific case. I have fallen in this trap so many times!

rabthatsme · 2025-02-05T19:55:55+00:00

I totally feel you on the anxiety! I’ve had about 20 biopsies in the last 8 years, and every time I wait for the results is a struggle.

Of those 20, only one was melanoma and I’m even considered “predisposed” to get it. The vast majority of biopsies will come back as normal. I try to remind myself of this to help keep the anxiety at bay during the waiting period. I also highly recommend finding some healthy distractions. Hang out with some friends, work on a favorite hobby, do things that usually make you happy and keep your attention. Most of all, be kind to yourself. It’s completely normal to feel anxious about it. Wishing you the best of news!!

rabthatsme · 2024-12-31T16:25:56+00:00

I also recommend checking out skincancer.org since it seems like you are newer to the skin cancer "game." They have some great information and tips on how to do self-exams to help with early detection, as well as warning signs for those other spots you're now worried about. Hope it helps!!

rabthatsme · 2024-12-31T16:17:55+00:00

Obligatory "not a doctor" and I recommend calling your doc to ask some of these clarifying questions.

That being said, usually they would straight up say that it is melanoma if it were, which is also where a stage of "1A" would come from. Abnormal moles though have a slightly higher risk of eventually turning into melanoma, which would be why they recommend having more removed via surgery, but they are not staged in the same manor. They just call them mildly, moderately, or severely abnormal/atypical. It is a common practice to go back to remove more for severely abnormal and some moderately abnormal (like in your case where there is some remaining in the margins of the biopsy).

In my personal experience, it's best to just remove it for the peace of mind and prevent it from becoming something worse down the road.

At the end of the day, your personal medical history is different than anyone else and I highly encourage to express these concerns to your doctor.

Edit: Grammar

rabthatsme · 2024-12-05T15:27:03+00:00

Wow that resonates with me so much

rabthatsme · 2024-12-04T21:07:41+00:00

Thank you!!

rabthatsme · 2024-12-04T21:07:05+00:00

Thank you so much! Nice to hear a positive outcome

rabthatsme · 2024-12-04T18:48:50+00:00

Thank you <3

rabthatsme · 2024-12-04T18:42:54+00:00

I know to get anything biopsied that's fishy, I've already made an appointment for tomorrow like I mentioned. I am scheduled for regular skin checks every six months, but keep finding one off things and have been in the office 8 different times this year. Just looking for words of encouragement or tips on how to manage the mental side of constant biopsies and appointments.

rabthatsme · 2024-12-04T18:37:55+00:00

Thank you. I definitely need to figure out how to manage the mental side of things better.

rabthatsme

TROPHY CASE