Melanoma? Terrified

[healthanx]

I’m only 19. I’m absolutely petrified, I’ve this for the past year but only now shit scared. I have severe health anxiety so there’s no telling me different, I’m convinced it’s melanoma. I really really believe it, for one the freckle is 2 different colours and if I was to half it down the middle the 2 sides would be completed different. I can’t contact GP until Monday I’m so scared I won’t be able to sleep or eat with worry. Has anyone had a scare like this before and it be completely nothing? The only positive about it is, it’s completely flat and you can’t feel it’s there, only see it. Just feels like skin. Which I think? Usually means nothing or if it is something, it’s early stage? Should I post a pic?

What have you learned so far about how to deal with health anxiety?

What strategies do you have?

As you know, posting on here and getting reassurance is only a repeating cycle that isn't helpful, so what would be helpful here?

Your Gp will look at at and assess it. They may decided to recommend you have a biopsy of it taken and sent to a lab (that is the only way to determine if something is melanoma). Many moles that are looked at are not melanoma.

Completely flat freckle does not sound at all like skin cancer Op. Your GP will check it and almost certainly be able to reassure you.

Ahh, health anxiety can be so awful, especially when you're young and have limited experience of dealing with it, hope you're not feeling too bad this evening. As I'm sure you know, anxiety is a faulty flight or fight response - the brain signals that there is danger even though you are safe. Sometimes it makes up dangers completely and, at other times, it exaggerates a mild threat. Regarding reassurance, it's not quite black and white. Obviously, demanding a barrage of tests for every health worry that crosses your mind until you have 100% certainty that you are well will only reinforce the illusion that your perceived 'dangers' need taking seriously and fuel the anxiety. However, a reassuring reminder that your worries are likely to be exaggerations and can be dealt with in a calm, measured way can be extremely helpful and, over time, help to lessen the anxiety. In your case, it's probably worth reminding yourself of some sensible likelihoods:
You're very young which will put you at very low risk.
Most of us have irregular or freckles or moles which are harmless (I know I do, I've had them checked).
It sounds like it's pretty innocuous if you describe it as an irregular freckle
Nothing is going to happen between now and Monday, then you can contact the GP who can take a look for you.

Take some deep breaths and be kind to yourself. You will be ok - but make sure you try and get some help for your anxiety too xx

I had a mole on my back that changed. Had every suspicious sign going, it was raised, changed colour to have 2 colours, was itchy and bled! So basically red flags all over the place. Anyway had a 2wks referral query melanoma….and it was benign! They still removed it and quite abit of tissue around it to be on the safe side. Defo get your freckle looked at be a professional but hopefully my experience of a happy ending gives you some comfort

Melanoma scares are very common with health anxiety. Most of us have moles and freckles so it’s something that can be focused on and if you stare at a freckle long enough it begins to look weird. The doctor will most likely tell you that it’s fine, freckles and moles with more than 1 colour in them are very common (I have a couple) but the question is will you listen and is you do manage to convince yourself it’s not melanoma will you just move onto the next problem or symptom? Probably yes because your real issue is anxiety. You are ill and you have to treat the illness you have got. Please speak to your GP about your health anxiety because otherwise your life will be one long nightmare of going back and forth to doctors for reassurance you will never get.

I am in my mid 30's and had a new mole appear 3 years ago. In that time period it also grew and changed and looked irregular as fuck, and I clocked it as one to watch as it was also constantly inflamed.

When I figured out it was "new" (I thought I'd had it forever until I compared a few old photos) I panicked and got it checked out. Derm wanted to watch and wait, and when I went back for it to be checked a second time he confirmed that he could see changes so cut it out and biopsied it

Turned out fine! It has loads of red flags but was just a new, normal mole. At 19 yours still at the point where growing new ones is totally normal. Go get it checked but please don't let anxiety about it consume your life!