Could this be melanoma?

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  • Post
    • June 6, 2015 at 7:49 am
    Anonymouss
    Participant

      I apologize if I'm overreacting and I also apologize for taking everyone's time incase this is a false alert.

      So, I'm an 19 year old boy/guy who lives in scandinavia, Just 10 days ago I noticed a little brown spot on my leg, it sorta looked like a wannabe mole of some sort. It was about a milimeter wide I believe, but over the past 10 days, it has grown and today it started to bleed.

      It feels somewhat dry and I can feel that it's not just the skin, it's below the skin aswell, when I squeeze it I can feel that it goes about 1 – 1.5 cm down into my leg, as if it has roots or something. Everytime I squeeze it, it bleeds, I've washed it with alcohol to prevent it from getting infected, it doesnt hurt nor does it itch.

      And being the curious type, I couldnt resist but to google this which lead me here, I found some pictures that were alike and some that were not but they all kept highlighting the name "melanoma" which has been branded into my mind now.

      I havent been able to sleep all night due to the fear of it being melanoma and the more I google this the more anxious I feel about it, and since it's a weekend and hospitals are closed unless it's an emergency, I can't get any professional feedback other than post images to people who are experienced with this and hope that some of you can guide me. 

      Here are two images of what it looks like on my leg. Not sure if its safe for work, it might look a bit nasty… 

       

      http://s5.postimg.org/8et7phtqe/20150606_092536.jpg

       

      http://s5.postimg.org/bzp38py9y/20150606_092528.jpg

       

      I can post more if it's necessary, sorry for the bad quality. I don't really know what else to say, does this look like melanoma? and if it is, what stage could it be at? am I in danger? How long does it take for it progress/evolve? I'm extremly anxious about this,  I'm sorry.

      I know most people here have gone through things I wouldnt dare to imagine and I really admire you all for your strength, I thank you all in advance, and I'm really sorry for taking your time.

       

      Here are a few notes that could help:

      – I'm pretty healthy

      – I don't use any chemicals on my body nor do I go outside often, i'm rarely exposed to the sun.

      – When I was younger I used to have a skin disorder which made my skin lose its pigment/it turned white, so they had to do UV treatment which cured me.

      – Nobody in my family is known to have suffered from cancer or any sort of cancer as far as I know.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • June 6, 2015 at 8:01 pm
        273c
        Participant

          Call on Monday to make an appointment.  I am answering more as a mom then someone who knows what a melanoma  looks like.  My husband didn't have a primary site.  If you were my kid, yes I have a kid your age, I would guess spider bite but you defitinetly want to get it checked out by a dermatologist.  Know that it might also  be a basal cell carcinoma, also cancer but far less problematic then melanoma. 

          Try not to worry too much whatever it is you are catching it early.  

          Hope this helps,

          Kathy

            • June 7, 2015 at 4:58 am
            Anonymouss
            Participant

              Thank you Kathy, this helped me calm down a lot, I really, really, really appreciate it, thank you so much and I'm sorry for taking your time. heart

              • June 7, 2015 at 4:58 am
              Anonymouss
              Participant

                Thank you Kathy, this helped me calm down a lot, I really, really, really appreciate it, thank you so much and I'm sorry for taking your time. heart

                • June 7, 2015 at 4:58 am
                Anonymouss
                Participant

                  Thank you Kathy, this helped me calm down a lot, I really, really, really appreciate it, thank you so much and I'm sorry for taking your time. heart

                • June 6, 2015 at 8:01 pm
                273c
                Participant

                  Call on Monday to make an appointment.  I am answering more as a mom then someone who knows what a melanoma  looks like.  My husband didn't have a primary site.  If you were my kid, yes I have a kid your age, I would guess spider bite but you defitinetly want to get it checked out by a dermatologist.  Know that it might also  be a basal cell carcinoma, also cancer but far less problematic then melanoma. 

                  Try not to worry too much whatever it is you are catching it early.  

                  Hope this helps,

                  Kathy

                  • June 6, 2015 at 8:01 pm
                  273c
                  Participant

                    Call on Monday to make an appointment.  I am answering more as a mom then someone who knows what a melanoma  looks like.  My husband didn't have a primary site.  If you were my kid, yes I have a kid your age, I would guess spider bite but you defitinetly want to get it checked out by a dermatologist.  Know that it might also  be a basal cell carcinoma, also cancer but far less problematic then melanoma. 

                    Try not to worry too much whatever it is you are catching it early.  

                    Hope this helps,

                    Kathy

                    • June 6, 2015 at 8:19 pm
                    casagrayson
                    Participant

                      At your age, the chances of this being melanoma are incredibly slim, especially given no history of sunburns or tanning beds.  It is more than likely a bit or an ingrown hair follicle near the little mole that is now irritated because you've been irritating it!  🙂  It could also be a basal cell or squamous cell cancer, neither very likely IMO, but both are easily treatable.  You definitely need to get it looked at, if nothing but for your peace of mind.  In the meantime, don't worry, because this is not a situation that requires immediate emergency care. A few days, or even a few weeks, won't make a difference — except I'm afraid you will worry yourself to death!

                      Stay OFF the internet.  There is no way to compare your lesion with others on the internet, as things can appear exactly the same but one be cancer and the other completely benign.  All it will do is drive you crazy. Put a bandaid over it, with a little antibiotic ointment if you have it, and forget about it until you can have a doctor look at it.  And who knows? It might clear up all by itself.

                      Enjoy your weekend!!!

                        • June 7, 2015 at 5:01 am
                        Anonymouss
                        Participant

                          Thank you very much, this and Kathy's comment really helped me, I'm extremly grateful and as i said to kathy, words can't describe how much i appreciate your comments. I'll make sure to call a doctor on monday and have it checked out.

                           

                          Thank you, and I'm sorry for taking your time also! heart

                           

                          Thank you all for helping 🙂 

                          • June 7, 2015 at 5:01 am
                          Anonymouss
                          Participant

                            Thank you very much, this and Kathy's comment really helped me, I'm extremly grateful and as i said to kathy, words can't describe how much i appreciate your comments. I'll make sure to call a doctor on monday and have it checked out.

                             

                            Thank you, and I'm sorry for taking your time also! heart

                             

                            Thank you all for helping 🙂 

                            • June 8, 2015 at 4:27 am
                            casagrayson
                            Participant

                              You aren't taking up time!  That's what we are all here for … to try and help through the tough times.  Keep us updated, okay?

                              Susan

                              • June 8, 2015 at 4:27 am
                              casagrayson
                              Participant

                                You aren't taking up time!  That's what we are all here for … to try and help through the tough times.  Keep us updated, okay?

                                Susan

                                • June 8, 2015 at 4:27 am
                                casagrayson
                                Participant

                                  You aren't taking up time!  That's what we are all here for … to try and help through the tough times.  Keep us updated, okay?

                                  Susan

                                  • June 7, 2015 at 5:01 am
                                  Anonymouss
                                  Participant

                                    Thank you very much, this and Kathy's comment really helped me, I'm extremly grateful and as i said to kathy, words can't describe how much i appreciate your comments. I'll make sure to call a doctor on monday and have it checked out.

                                     

                                    Thank you, and I'm sorry for taking your time also! heart

                                     

                                    Thank you all for helping 🙂 

                                  • June 6, 2015 at 8:19 pm
                                  casagrayson
                                  Participant

                                    At your age, the chances of this being melanoma are incredibly slim, especially given no history of sunburns or tanning beds.  It is more than likely a bit or an ingrown hair follicle near the little mole that is now irritated because you've been irritating it!  🙂  It could also be a basal cell or squamous cell cancer, neither very likely IMO, but both are easily treatable.  You definitely need to get it looked at, if nothing but for your peace of mind.  In the meantime, don't worry, because this is not a situation that requires immediate emergency care. A few days, or even a few weeks, won't make a difference — except I'm afraid you will worry yourself to death!

                                    Stay OFF the internet.  There is no way to compare your lesion with others on the internet, as things can appear exactly the same but one be cancer and the other completely benign.  All it will do is drive you crazy. Put a bandaid over it, with a little antibiotic ointment if you have it, and forget about it until you can have a doctor look at it.  And who knows? It might clear up all by itself.

                                    Enjoy your weekend!!!

                                    • June 6, 2015 at 8:19 pm
                                    casagrayson
                                    Participant

                                      At your age, the chances of this being melanoma are incredibly slim, especially given no history of sunburns or tanning beds.  It is more than likely a bit or an ingrown hair follicle near the little mole that is now irritated because you've been irritating it!  🙂  It could also be a basal cell or squamous cell cancer, neither very likely IMO, but both are easily treatable.  You definitely need to get it looked at, if nothing but for your peace of mind.  In the meantime, don't worry, because this is not a situation that requires immediate emergency care. A few days, or even a few weeks, won't make a difference — except I'm afraid you will worry yourself to death!

                                      Stay OFF the internet.  There is no way to compare your lesion with others on the internet, as things can appear exactly the same but one be cancer and the other completely benign.  All it will do is drive you crazy. Put a bandaid over it, with a little antibiotic ointment if you have it, and forget about it until you can have a doctor look at it.  And who knows? It might clear up all by itself.

                                      Enjoy your weekend!!!

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