Moles ? Skin cancer?

[TheOpalFox]

Anyone else got a lot of moles? My doctor asked me I noticed any different but I have 200 lol so how am I meant to keep check of them all please ? I also don’t want to worry my whole life about them 🥹 he said about mole mapping ? But it’s so expensive and I can’t afford it :(
I’m having one off today that is being tested for but I only noticed as it was bleeding? Thankyou

I know the mole mapping is expensive, but if the mole being tested comes back either pre-cancerous or cancerous, it is well worth the cost. Find a way to pay for it, and if that means cutting some unnecessary expenses and saving for a year, do it.

Your skin is for life, and failing to prevent skin cancer (i.e. avoiding tanning beds, getting repeat burns, etc.) or failing to catch it early, could mean a shortened lifespan. It is also becoming increasingly common to see advanced stages and aggressive forms (i.e. melanoma) in younger people.

I have lots of atypical moles and can't afford mole-mapping either. I also work outdoors so another "risk factor".

What I do is take photos of all my mole-y areas and save them to my phone, then take another "set" six months later to monitor for any changes. I also see my GP once a year and he checks me over completely, looks at anything "dodgy" with a dermascope and will remove and biopsy any he thinks need it. He spends 15-20 minutes checking over my body. The main thing he said was to check for "ugly ducklings" (ie, moles that look nothing like your other moles) and for any changes.

I had two removed in December (both benign) and have another appointment in a couple of weeks to get a keratosis removed as it keeps catching and bleeding. All free on the NHS and he removes them in the surgery in about 20 minutes.

I think this is a bit unfair - mole-mapping can cost £400 and they recommend you do it annually - that's a lot of money to find.

An NHS GP can do a mole-check for you for free and will take photos of anything they think needs to be monitored. My GP checks all mine once a year as I have lots of moles and work outdoors. I've had a few removed but all have come back benign.

I have loads of moles. A few look concerning. Including one on arm which is raised and has a black dot in the middle.

Never heard of mole mapping and can’t afford it. Had a couple of moles remaining at my GPs as rubbing on bras

Plus have a rare skin condition that is little cysts form around eyes and it goes to nose and mouth areas (As DF has it) - had four removed and one was a BCC - Basel cell carcinoma, slow growing cancer. The area - in eyebrow is cancer free.

There’s apps where you can map your own to keep track of where they are and what they look like, i use skin vision, the fancy mole mapping with the full length picture thing is expensive, but I get mine checked a couple of times a year (I’ve had skin cancer hence the frequency!) at a private gp who looks from head to toe and takes pictures and it’s cheaper about a 120

I had a condition to my recommendation and that was if her biopsy came back either pre-cancerous or cancerous. I did not say that she should do it annually, but if that condition is met, doing it once to get a baseline is a good idea and then she can update it herself with her physician's help annually.

It is a good idea, but she's already said she can't afford it.

it might still be too expensive, but could you get a full body mole check with a private dermatologist rather than an actual mole mapping session? Mine cost £180 last time and I do it every year, they store the photos to compare each year.

Nowhere actually does actual mole mapping closer than a 1.5hr drive from me, so I don’t bother

I have loads as well OP and was only just looking at mole mapping the other day....like you I can't afford it sadly. Interested in the apps as mentioned above. Hopefully when the nursery funding kicks in I can maybe afford it then.

That's the thing I'm pushing back on by saying it is worth the investment, cutting costs and saving for it . . . IF . . . and this is the important part . . . IF her biopsy comes back pre-cancerous or cancerous.

The question is not whether they can "afford it now," but whether with planning and self-discipline, can they afford it a year from now, or even less, dependent on how they spend their money today. For example, forgoing a 2-times weekly habit of a latte at a cafe will net you more than £500 in a year.

I guarantee you that a person at risk for skin cancer, in the long run, will be much more appreciative and grateful for spending their money this way than 2 weekly lattes they forget about the moment they are consumed.