Mole (skin) removal

[Violet Peacock]

This is a bit of a random post for a sewing forum but I need to get this off my chest (literally).

I went to the doctors today for my contraceptive injection (and my goodness, did it hurt this time) but while I was there, I was talking to the doctor about my skin moles. She had a look at a few and is quite concerned about one in particular, on my breastbone, between my boobs. She wants one of the other doctors to have a look at it, and wants to take it off and have it biopsied. I know this is routine and nothing at all to be worryied about, but at the same time, I worry about *everything* so I am worried.  I have a lot of moles and skin tags and she is concerened as to why as well, Im very pale and incredably careful about spf, and protecting myself from the sun. She asked had I been diagnosed with what was causing all the skin tags etc? I didnt even know that was possible, I just have them, and always have, I didnt realise they could be caused by anything.

 
I am a little freaked out about all of this, to be honest. I know that chances are, its just precautionary, but still, my anxious little mind is having a field day. I have a crap pain threshold, so Im worried about the procedure as well as any resulting problem.

Has anyone else dealt with anything similar? I am Needy McNeedy at them moment, and could do with hearing some non horror stories about this kind of thing..(if you have horror stories, you can soooo keep them to yourselves (just kidding  )

Lindsay aka Needy McNeedy

[andib]

Lindsay, Sorry you are stressed

I don't know about the moles, but I am going to have a growth taken off the end of my nose in a few weeks, so I know where you are coming from.  I also had a bunch of skin tags frozen off a few weeks ago.  My MD( a bit pompous, but seems really knowledgeable) said that they form when you get older and in area where you have a lot of friction(but not always).  He also said there is a family propensity. ie my dad is full of tags, so it is not surprising I am too.  I get them where my under wire bra  rubs, around my neck etc.  I think they can grow back too.

Honestly, it is a bit uncomfortable, but nothing a day or so of Motrin doesn't help .  Make sure you see a MD who specializes in skin cancer. That way you get a good opinion if you should be concerned. And someone who will know the right way to remove it. ALso, make sure they biopsy anything they take off of you. You wouldn't want to find out later that there was a problem.  Remember a lot of people have a lot of things taken off their skin, and they are all fine and well.  Stressing will not help you. Just take it one step at a time.  Good Luck, and keep us posted!

[joan71]

Lindsay, the percentage for it to be anything bad is very small.  Yes, I have had 3 moles removed over my many years, one particularly seemed to look suspicious to the doc, and all three biopsied and proved to be negative.  As I age, yes those skin tags seem to be sprouting all over the place.  If I were you, I would have any removed that are susceptible to abrasion by tight fitting garments like a bra.  I did have one under my bra band that began to bleed and had it removed.  I'm not sure if it is the same thing that your doc is calling skin tags?

It is only natural to experience stress about the unknown, so the sooner the better.  Will be thinking of you. and do please, keep us posted.

Joan

[lyra]

My dad and all my grandparents have had basal cell carcinomas removed.  This is the non-spreading type of skin cancer (melanoma is the serious one where it spreads).  Because of this, and because I do so much sailing and burned myself silly a few times during races as a kid, I have to go to the dermatologist at least once a year. I've had tons of moles removed, although thankfully so far the biopsies have all been normal.  So- it really doesn't hurt.  My dermatologist spritzes the mole with a freezing spray, then cuts just enough off- it feels barely like a pinch.    I've gotten probably far too cavalier about it, but it's really no big deal.  You usually don't even need a bandaid after an hour or two. 

And let us know how it goes!

[Gorgeous Things]

Lindsay, I have had so many moles removed over the years, I swear that every time my dermatologist needs to make a tuition payment, she calls me in! My sister had melanoma - she caught it early and it was removed and she's had no recurrence. Her surgery was 16 years ago. Since I have a tier 1 relative who had the disease, they are super-duper cautious with me. The mole removal is really no big deal. With melanoma occurrence on the rise, doctors tend to be really cautious. They take the mole and a margin around it. It's not much, really. They then have it biopsied. All mine so far (knock wood) have come back as displastic but otherwise okay. The worst part about the whole thing is the Novocaine shot, and that's just a pinch.

Ann

[Terri K]

I go for routine checks once a year.   I went last Tuesday and my dermatologist removed several skin tags, moles and suspicious things.  Some were cut and some were frozen off.   So I had scabby places on my face and still have some on other parts of my body - but that's what you have to do.    I have always religiously used sunscreen because of my fair skin.  I had a cancerous, non pigmented skin cancer removed from just below my left eye when I was only 28.    My father had many cancerous places on his arms and face removed over the years; my great grandmother (mother's side) had skin cancer on her face even though they wore those big prairie bonnets while working the fields in northwestern Kansas. 

[lessalt]

Lindsay, I have fair skin and was a sun worshiper in my younger years. Until I reached my forties I did not have a skin tag, mole or freckle on my entire body. All of a sudden I began developing all kinds of things. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from the side of my nose 20 years ago (to me it looked like an enlarged pore) but have had no reoccurence. I go to the Dermatologist every 6 months - in fact today was my appointment - I had six moles frozen - two were ones that came back. I had a skin tag on my lower lid for years. When a friend remarked that it was very distracting I had it removed. Give thanks that you have a medical professional that is looking out for you.

[Violet Peacock]

Hello

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I had the mole surgically removed this morning. I had lydicaine (which was a first and kinda cool) and I have some stitches but all in all not too scary.

Still a bit shaky, but mostly from adrenaline..

I told the Dr that I was a dressmaker and I'd be on his case if the stitches were not perfect..he laughed!

Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences.

Lindsay

[Kira]

Lindsay, I bet your former mole will heal quite nicely.  Very few of my removals scarred, light skin and all.


I'm another gal like lessalt ... I've got two birthmark moles coming back that were removed over 15 years ago.  I've had the dermatologist look at them, and he is not concerned.  I have to admit that I've missed them, but what a shocker a couple of years back when they re-developed.

I've had a couple of skin tags over the years, I've always cut them off myself.  My hubby's not as determined, and the dermo zaps his.  We've never been told there is any cause for concern with skin tags.  (Heck, my dogs even develop skin tags.)

I got a card from the dermo once shortly after my moles began re-appearing.  It showed pictures of the changes to watch out for ... irregularities developing in the shape, hair growth where there wasn't before, and color irregularities.  These were obvious changes, and I've never had any of my moles develop oddities.

I've had all the protruding moles on my neck and back removed because they were irritated by bras and necklaces.  The others I've left alone.

Kira

[Violet Peacock]

Hello

Thanks again for all the advice and stories.

I got my biopsy results back yesterday and while its not the worst news, it looks like we caught a pre cancerous mole. I have to go and have more surgery on the area to make sure the cells are all gone and I have a few others that may be coming off too.

Boy, am I glad I got this one removed when I did.

Lindsay

[Jennifer S.]

Lindsay, I am glad to hear that your have already had the mole removed and that they caught it in time.  I had a growth removed from my forehead that was very suspicious two years ago. I too, come from a fair skinned family with a  strong predisposition to skin cancer. Every year I go in to my derm. at least twice a year to keep on top of the program.

[Violet Peacock]

Lindsay, I am glad to hear that your have already had the mole removed and that they caught it in time.  I had a growth removed from my forehead that was very suspicious two years ago. I too, come from a fair skinned family with a  strong predisposition to skin cancer. Every year I go in to my derm. at least twice a year to keep on top of the program.

Thanks..

I just got my stitches removed, and my wound is ugly but healing. I now have an appointment to see a dermatologist to discuss more removals and re-opening the current wound to take more tissue from around it. Not fun, but a heck of a lot better than getting skin cancer.

 

[mushroomeater]

a mole that doesn't stop growing even when you have stopped a long time ago, can be quite annoying.   i wonder how much would the mole removal cost...

[andib]

I would guess upward of $300-$500.

[Gorgeous Things]

Lindsay, I'm glad you got the mole removed. Getting more margin is a pain in the butt, but it's not that bad. I have hundreds of moles and almost every one that my derm removes has come back as "pre-cancerous". That seems to be a catchall phrase that means it's dysplastic but not alarming yet. I frequently joke with my dermatologist that she should just take a cheese scraper to the backs of my legs and have done with it. For me the worst part about having moles removed is that I can't work out while the stitches are in. The good news is that, since I avoid the sun like it was plutonium, I don't have as many wrinkles as I otherwise might!

Ann