Does anyone have experience of moles, mole removal and the possibility of a skin cancer

[BlueInkSpill]

I have a lot of moles on my body. When I was sin my teens I was utterly careless in the sun. When I enter my 20s I was forced into suncare. I suppose due to work. I was usually working during heatwaves. When I came into my late 20s, I wasn't able to spend time in the sun. I found the sun and heat difficult. Over the past decade I practised sun safety. I stayed away from the sun a lot of the times. I used sun cream but not all the time and looked for shade when I was out in the sun.

I now have a mole on my arm that is questionable. Its only a small mole but it has a black centre. My gp referred me to get it removed. I am waiting for an appointment. The mole is located on my arm. I am looking at my arm and I can see other moles that I don't like. I don't know if they are offending moles. There are at least 4 moles with 2 different shades of brown in them.

Should I point out these moles for my mole removal procedure and get them removed too.

There's another mole on my leg that I don't like. It's big. It used to be itchy. Should I get that looked at too?

They'll very likely do a whole body mole check as part of the referral (they did at my dermatologist appt for a dodgy brown line under my nail (which turned out to be nothing). If they don't, request a mole check and/or point out any moles you are worried about.

In my experience (a few years ago but I see no reason to think it would've changed) when you see the dermatologist they'll do a full body mole check. They ask you to strip down to underwear and look for/ closely at any worrying ones, then recommend removal of anything suspicious looking. They'll also ask about your sun exposure history (and family history).

I'd absolutely mention any and all moles you have any concerns about whilst you are there, anyway - to reassure yourself that all of them have been checked if nothing else.

I forgot to mention, I wasn't referred to the dermatologist. I would except a dermatologist to look at the moles and skin. I was referred directly to the plastic surgeon department.

I am going in with one mole to the plastic surgeon for removal but there are a few more moles I don't like the look of. Not in relation to my appearance but it just looks slightly offending in relation to a cancer in my opinion as in two different colours.

Australian here… I just want to say don’t automatically assume that a 2-colour mole is cancerous. Don’t freak yourself out. Go along and you’ll be thoroughly checked out.

Have you had moles removed before? It’s not my idea of a good time but generally it’s really not that bad. They send them off for analysis and so far mine have been ok - even the one that had recently changed and my GP went pale when he saw it. So don’t panic 💐

Oh, and - ask for a dermo referral as well for a full-body check. If you’re prone to moles it’s a good idea to have them thoroughly investigated.