AIBU about my skin lesion?

[InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream]

I feel like I might have lost a bit of perspective on this so thought I would post here to see what you all think.

I've had a tiny red dot on my hairline for a few years, which grew considerably into a little pink blob a few mm across about 6-9 months ago. From a quick google I thought it was a harmless cherry angioma or similar and wasn't concerned.

Then several weeks ago it became inflamed, sore and itchy. I googled again, and slightly worryingly found that you can get melanomas without pigment (amelanocytic) that look very similar and are sometimes misdiagnosed as cherry angiomas, so I thought, ah, well, I'll get it checked out then!

So off I pop to the GP, also explaining that the lesion was near to an area I had an actinic keratosis removed a few years ago (relevant), and the GP took one look at it, declared it a harmless cherry angioma, and sent me on my way. She said if it changed or grew I should be referred. I did explain it already had changed and grown.

Anyway, after I got home I felt a bit fobbed off, so I emailed the surgery explaining I was still a bit worried about it etc etc,very sorry to be a nuisance, and they agreed to refer me- lovely jubbly.

I duly had my appointment with the dermatologist today, explained the history, and AGAIN, he barely looked at it and declared it a harmless mole that only needed removing if it changed or grew. I explained how it had been inflamed, sore and itchy-he said you probably caught it on something. I said, no, I didn't. He said, well we can remove it if it's bothering you.

By that point I felt enough of a fraud that I just said no thanks, it's fine, and left.

AIBU TO THINK THIS COULD BE A MALIGNANT MELANOMA AND I'LL BE DEAD IN SIX MONTHS!? (slightly lighthearted)

Really you should have just had it removed, you are going to have to go through all this again now as unless it goes away of its own accord it ain't getting better.

I should point out that although he was grudgingly offering to remove it, he made it quite clear he felt there was no need to even biopsy the lesion, and I felt so uncomfortable by that point I really didn't feel able to say 'yes please, I would like it removed'. I would have just seemed like a hypochondriac.

Yes I know, I'm a twat

Keep an eye on it and if it grows or changes further go back. It's a pain but sometimes they don't do anything about things until it's not resolved itself for a while. It's annoying.

I can understand your frustration with the process you been through as it's not a nice feeling to be fobbed off.
However I seriously think you should go back & have it removed just to be on the safe side.
Otherwise you are going to end up tying yourself up in knots worrying about it.
Plus the dermatologist wouldn't have offered to remove it if he thought you were being a waste of time.
It probably is a harmless but yucky skin growth but better to be safe than sorry.

And who cares if the Dr thought you were a hypochondriac. For all you know he could have been thinking about what he was having for tea, as none of us can read minds (well not all of the time)

I don't understand why you didn't get it removed when they offered?

But yes, definitely go back and get it removed now.

If in doubt cut it out.

Or at least get it biopsied. My partner had a slow growing lesion which 2 GP’s said to leave. Turns out it was DFSP (rare sarcoma) and had to have it removed down to the bone , grafts , multiple surgeries etc.

I know, I know! Even as I was leaving the room I was kicking myself for being such a dick

But in my defence I was really caught off guard. I honestly thought the derm would at least want to biopsy it due to the recent changes, or, if he thought it was harmless, explain why.

I think you should go back and get a biopsy, insist on one.