Help Please!

When something grows back, it is most likely to be exactly the same as what was removed previously.  Basically the cells left behind were disturbed and started growing.  No reason to think they have morphed into melanoma, however.  I will say that any pathology done through scar tissue will make a lesion look "worse" than it was previously – scar tissue confuses things under the microscope.  I would suggest that when you get a biopsy, you get whatever type will remove the entire lesion.  Shaves are notorious for not going deep enough to remove the entire lesion.  If you shave through a lesion and it is melanoma, you will lose vital staging info.  (Derms love shaves because they are quick and easy and don't require stitches, but they have a downside if they don't go deep enough to remove the entire lesion).  And if you don't remove all the cells, it is very possible they will grow back.  Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.  Still best to get all regrowth of pigment removed regardless of whether it was benign, atypical or melanoma, but honestly, I wouldn't spend too much time stressing about whether this is melanoma or not.  Just have it removed!

When something grows back, it is most likely to be exactly the same as what was removed previously.  Basically the cells left behind were disturbed and started growing.  No reason to think they have morphed into melanoma, however.  I will say that any pathology done through scar tissue will make a lesion look "worse" than it was previously – scar tissue confuses things under the microscope.  I would suggest that when you get a biopsy, you get whatever type will remove the entire lesion.  Shaves are notorious for not going deep enough to remove the entire lesion.  If you shave through a lesion and it is melanoma, you will lose vital staging info.  (Derms love shaves because they are quick and easy and don't require stitches, but they have a downside if they don't go deep enough to remove the entire lesion).  And if you don't remove all the cells, it is very possible they will grow back.  Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.  Still best to get all regrowth of pigment removed regardless of whether it was benign, atypical or melanoma, but honestly, I wouldn't spend too much time stressing about whether this is melanoma or not.  Just have it removed!

When something grows back, it is most likely to be exactly the same as what was removed previously.  Basically the cells left behind were disturbed and started growing.  No reason to think they have morphed into melanoma, however.  I will say that any pathology done through scar tissue will make a lesion look "worse" than it was previously – scar tissue confuses things under the microscope.  I would suggest that when you get a biopsy, you get whatever type will remove the entire lesion.  Shaves are notorious for not going deep enough to remove the entire lesion.  If you shave through a lesion and it is melanoma, you will lose vital staging info.  (Derms love shaves because they are quick and easy and don't require stitches, but they have a downside if they don't go deep enough to remove the entire lesion).  And if you don't remove all the cells, it is very possible they will grow back.  Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.  Still best to get all regrowth of pigment removed regardless of whether it was benign, atypical or melanoma, but honestly, I wouldn't spend too much time stressing about whether this is melanoma or not.  Just have it removed!