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General health

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Original poster

Mole removal -please reassure me!

12 replies

BonnieBeaumont · 10/01/2014 15:10

I have lots of moles on my body. As most of them are on my back I can't monitor them as effectively as the others I can see so I have been paying privately for a dermatologist to do a mole check. In April of last year they were all fine.
On Tuesday I went back for a review and he found one he described as being 'slightly odd'. He gave me the option to watch or remove so I've opted for removal next week but I've made the fatal mistake of googling. If he felt it was serious he'd have whipped it off straight away right?

OP posts:

Original poster

BonnieBeaumont · 10/01/2014 15:11

It might be worth mentioning that I was pregnant between appointments but lost twins in July.

OP posts:

vjg13 · 10/01/2014 17:33

My husband had an odd looking mole removed from his back, the histology showed it was ok but he was still called back for a follow up appointment which initially worried him! Hope all goes well.

demolitionduo · 10/01/2014 21:24

I've had several suspect ones taken off (5 I think), that were in fact nothing to worry about. I had previously had melanoma hence the cautious approach.

Surgery takes planning (sterile area/nurse on hand etc) so is rarely done on the spot- no need to worry on that score.

The fact that you are screened regularly is good so any potential abnormality would be detected quickly & removal would usually be all the treatment you'd need, providing caught early.

The actual removal sounds worse than it is. Worst bit is the stingy anaesthetic (lasts a few moments) & then it should be painless. Expect a bit of soreness but nothing that paracetomol or ibuprofen can't deal with.

Hope it goes OK for you.

Original poster

BonnieBeaumont · 10/01/2014 21:30

Thank you both so much for taking the time to reply. I've read that pregnancy hormones can cause moles to change so I'm hoping that's all it is!

OP posts:

LittleNoona · 10/01/2014 21:35

I had a mole removed from the base of my throat. It became itchy and raised and then I kept catching it and making it bleed.

It was a really quick and painless procedure. The injection of anesthetic stung a little but didn't actually hurt. I had a few stitches and was sent on my way.

Results came back clear and the scar is barely noticeable now.

Don't worry, you will be fine!

LittleNoona · 10/01/2014 21:37

Ooops, forgot to add that if the dr genuinely thought it was something sinister, you would not have been the wait and see option

Dollydishus · 10/01/2014 21:44

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I've had dodgy moles removed...all fine once they were checked in the lab. Is quite an easy procedure..I had it done one lunch hour for one of them. Anaesthetic does hurt a little but then nothing.

Agree that if there was a real concern then watch and wait wouldn't have been an option.

Friend has just had a massive (truly, 3 inches across, raised, bleeding) mole removed that she had been ignoring for ages. It was a melanoma but it's been caught successfully and removed (albeit) with skin graft etc etc and no further treatment required. Not suggesting that this is a good approach at all... But she'd ignored this one for years. You are being screened regularly so anything untoward will be caught very early indeed.

Theimpossiblegirl · 10/01/2014 21:59

Sorry for your loss.

I had a large mole removed from my back. It was a painless procedure and turned out to be fine, but I am from the better safe than sorry school of thought too. It was two-tone and hard to monitor. They went quite deep so I had some sensation during the healing process but it's been a huge relief to not have to worry about it any more.

When they told me it was fine I cried, I had been very worried but had kept it under wraps.

Original poster

BonnieBeaumont · 10/01/2014 23:18

Thank you all so much!

OP posts:

FattyNewYear · 10/01/2014 23:33

Hi Bonnie,

I kind of know how you are feeling. I went to my GP for neck pain this week and he spotted a mole and asked me about it. Tbh, I had noticed it just before Xmas and thought it was new but kind of filed it away and buried my head in the sand.

By the end of my appointment photos taken with a camera with a dermascope attached to it had been uploaded to a computer and emailed to my local dermatology dept.

My GP said he hoped they would reply by today and would call me to let me know what they said. I may be told its all OK. They may book me a routine appointment or if concerned an urgent appointment.

Sadly I didnt get a call back today so am still quite apprehensive. Hoping I hear some good news in Monday. For me its the waiting around I dont like. I just want it off if its remotely suspicious.

Good luck with the removal. Hope it goes OK and all is OK for you.

Clobbered · 10/01/2014 23:48

Yes pregnancy hormones can affect moles, so most likely that is all it is. Agree that the consultant is being cautious and would not have offered 'wait and see' if it was at all suspicious. Local anaesthetic is same as you get at the dentist and similar level of discomfort, only less so because it's on your back, which isn't very sensitive.

ghostinthecanvas · 10/01/2014 23:54

DH had a mole removed on his neck. Twas the kind no one wants However, after a couple of goes at removing it, all is well. He has a lot on his back that I need to monitor. I would think that, as they were already keeping an eye on you and have spotted the changes early -all will be well. Also, DH speaks very highly of the NHS, he had a very positive experience. Hope it's the same for you op.

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