Anxiety over potential (?) NM – please help

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  • Post
    • May 14, 2014 at 11:13 pm
    tonydetroit
    Participant

      Hi everyone –

      I just had my first skin check in many years (31 y/o, male with a fair number of moles).  I've never been a sun god, but I've had a few runins with sunburn.

      First the good news, a leison on my arm I was concerned about turned out to simply be a sore of unknown origins.  

      The not-so-bad news: During the visit, the PA had decided to biopsy another mole on my back which was darker than the others.  Biopsy results showed it was mildly atypical.  

      The easy question:

      Derm's office has now requested that since shave biopsy was used for both, the mildly atypical area should be fully excised so that it never is able to "become a problem".  However, I'm reading online that full excision is not always recommended if the mole was mildly atypical…  does anyone have anything to share on that?

      The worry:

      About a month and a half ago I noticed a bump on my right shin (left side between the front and back portions).  Not a huge bump, but noticeable.  During my Derm visit, the PA never mentioned the bump even though he inspected that area and the speed of the entire check up had me more focused on the the word "biopsy" (first timer here) than to notify him about the bump.  Over the week I waited for the generally good news from the biopsy results, I began to of course google my nights away looking at pictures and generally convincing myself I was en route to Melanoma.

      This leads me back to the bump… subconsiously I began a few nights back to press the bump and found that I could press it downward… however… (and keep in mind this was while I was in a dark room late at night after I should have been sleeping) I pressed the bump and it seemed to burst and flatten… I felt some liquidy substance briefly.  Now the bump is generally flat and looks more like a small open sore.  

      The big question:

      Is it possible to 'press' Nodular Melanoma until it bursts and flattens?  Could 'pressing' down on the bump be pushing Melanoma deeper, even though the bump area is not mainly flat? The bump area has started to heal (I keep wanting to touch it though to ensure it's still mainly flat and not elevated, which probably isn't helping the healing process)… 

      Lasty:

      I just want to commend the brave people on this forum.  Of all the scary anxiety that has filled my last two weeks (I feel like I'm a few years older)… you all have proven the internet doesn't have to be a scary place.  

      Thank you for taking my concern seriously.  

      -A

       

       

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    • Replies
        • May 14, 2014 at 11:38 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Mildly atypical – some are fine with removal, some want clean margins.  You could leave as is and only have the excision if pigmented portions came back – up to you.  It was unlikely to ever become melanoma.

          No, you do not have nodular melanoma.  Melanoma is a solid tumor.  You can't press and flatten it.  That sound something more like a cyst or possibly a dermatofibroma (oftem found on legs).   Watch your moles for CHANGE!

           

          • May 14, 2014 at 11:38 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Mildly atypical – some are fine with removal, some want clean margins.  You could leave as is and only have the excision if pigmented portions came back – up to you.  It was unlikely to ever become melanoma.

            No, you do not have nodular melanoma.  Melanoma is a solid tumor.  You can't press and flatten it.  That sound something more like a cyst or possibly a dermatofibroma (oftem found on legs).   Watch your moles for CHANGE!

             

              • May 18, 2014 at 2:46 pm
              melanomafighter
              Participant
                Janner is most experienced on her and has great knowledge and has emailed me and talked with me on here about my personal journey..which provided me with great comfort and understanding…when I read your concern I have to reply my small bump I thought was nothing and I too could push and not hurt and could make disappear, never went away and when I finally told my Dr it had been there for about two months he wanted a needle biopesy done…when I went to Surgeon to have that done he didnt do that ordered immediate surgery to remove thats where my whole nightmare began..I was awake as I thought quick cut..not my driving leg..back to work that day…I seen it..they told me it probably wasnt cancer because there was no blood supply to it..but they would be in touch….it was not a small bump once they got it..it was a lymphe node…took them over a month to determine that and what had caused it to get the size of an egg…it was in the very center of that node malignant melanoma…so I suggest having that spot checked to be sure…my bump was on my left thigh and was not as big as a marble..I just knew it shouldnt be there but had no idea it would have turned into all this..on a brighter note after taking 28 more nodes all next to that one…did interferon for a month on the high dose…all negative and every skin ck..pet scan and ct of brain and body have been negaive since 2010…good luck to you…
                • May 18, 2014 at 2:46 pm
                melanomafighter
                Participant
                  Janner is most experienced on her and has great knowledge and has emailed me and talked with me on here about my personal journey..which provided me with great comfort and understanding…when I read your concern I have to reply my small bump I thought was nothing and I too could push and not hurt and could make disappear, never went away and when I finally told my Dr it had been there for about two months he wanted a needle biopesy done…when I went to Surgeon to have that done he didnt do that ordered immediate surgery to remove thats where my whole nightmare began..I was awake as I thought quick cut..not my driving leg..back to work that day…I seen it..they told me it probably wasnt cancer because there was no blood supply to it..but they would be in touch….it was not a small bump once they got it..it was a lymphe node…took them over a month to determine that and what had caused it to get the size of an egg…it was in the very center of that node malignant melanoma…so I suggest having that spot checked to be sure…my bump was on my left thigh and was not as big as a marble..I just knew it shouldnt be there but had no idea it would have turned into all this..on a brighter note after taking 28 more nodes all next to that one…did interferon for a month on the high dose…all negative and every skin ck..pet scan and ct of brain and body have been negaive since 2010…good luck to you…
                  • May 18, 2014 at 2:46 pm
                  melanomafighter
                  Participant
                    Janner is most experienced on her and has great knowledge and has emailed me and talked with me on here about my personal journey..which provided me with great comfort and understanding…when I read your concern I have to reply my small bump I thought was nothing and I too could push and not hurt and could make disappear, never went away and when I finally told my Dr it had been there for about two months he wanted a needle biopesy done…when I went to Surgeon to have that done he didnt do that ordered immediate surgery to remove thats where my whole nightmare began..I was awake as I thought quick cut..not my driving leg..back to work that day…I seen it..they told me it probably wasnt cancer because there was no blood supply to it..but they would be in touch….it was not a small bump once they got it..it was a lymphe node…took them over a month to determine that and what had caused it to get the size of an egg…it was in the very center of that node malignant melanoma…so I suggest having that spot checked to be sure…my bump was on my left thigh and was not as big as a marble..I just knew it shouldnt be there but had no idea it would have turned into all this..on a brighter note after taking 28 more nodes all next to that one…did interferon for a month on the high dose…all negative and every skin ck..pet scan and ct of brain and body have been negaive since 2010…good luck to you…
                  • May 14, 2014 at 11:38 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    Mildly atypical – some are fine with removal, some want clean margins.  You could leave as is and only have the excision if pigmented portions came back – up to you.  It was unlikely to ever become melanoma.

                    No, you do not have nodular melanoma.  Melanoma is a solid tumor.  You can't press and flatten it.  That sound something more like a cyst or possibly a dermatofibroma (oftem found on legs).   Watch your moles for CHANGE!

                     

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