Scared - Melanoma

[Laura3128]

Hi All,

I noticed a mole on my back last night had gotten much darker than It was. I then looked back at photos last year and in June it wasn’t as dark and September it looks like it was darker but it’s sooo dark now. I will make a appointment with the GP tomorrow, however I was there last week to have another mole on my back looked at (new one) which was fine, I am assuming if the current darker one I am now crapping myself about had stood out to him he would of said something?!?! Has anyone else had moles go darker and be ok? First picture is now, last picture is before! I suffer with terrible heath anxiety and I’m in a right state.

They seem fine to me but great to get it checked. Even if it is dodgy, it’s fine as long as detected early.

try not worry - I am sure all will be well

Not an expert & you are right to get any change checked out - but I don’t think these look abnormal, a friend of mine has 2 family members who had melanoma & apparently they looked a bit like a squished insect ie with leg like bits coming off the main body, yours are very regular looking. I have also had a full mole check recently and one on my back had grown quite a bit, but was absolutely fine.

It’s likely fine and you are doing the right thing by getting it checked out nice and early.

For what it’s worth, I had skin cancer and it’s one of the ‘better’ cancers to have, the survival rate is something like 95-99%.

Best thing you can do is go back to the gp and ask to have a look and show the older photo for comparison.It will put your mind at rest

Every mole on the new photo looks darker, are you sure it isn't just the light?

They look fine to me, though of course get it checked. My husband had melanoma twice and they didn’t look like that - though they can appear in different ways.

@jimjamjames its definitely a lot darker and not the lighting it has gone from brown to DARK brown.

I contacted the doctors this morning and have an appointment for Friday - the wait feel tremendous because of my health anxiety.

it’s just because it’s so Dark, but no other changes which I am guessing is a good thing.

Glad you are getting it checked out but just wanted to let you know that they don’t look like at all my family member’s MMs which were bigger, more irregular in shape and colour, not like a mole at all in fact.

I had a very dark mole that stood out on my lower back. Had it checked years ago and the dermatologist said it wasn’t showing anything worrying.
Had it checked again by another derm 2 years ago who took it off for me. It came back atypical. All borders clear and was not cancer, but possibly could’ve progressed that way.
Mind wasn’t too dissimilar to yours. No other changes is a very good thing.
Also, I had had mine sat there a good 5 years before it came off and it was still ok. Try not to worry, but you’re right to get it seen.

I had a mole go darker like this and it was indeed a melanoma. It's known as an "ugly duckling" mole as it stands out from the surrounding moles. I ignored it for 18 months and then had a biopsy. It was a very early stage 1a melanoma (despite me leaving it for so long). I had the surrounding area removed (the mole was removed at the biopsy) and that was it. That was two years ago and no more melanomas have appeared. The chances are yours is not a melanoma but it's always good to have it checked.

Sorry but it completely depends which type of skin cancer you have. Melanoma is not "one of the better ones" and the survival rates are certainly not 95-99%.
I actually have stage 4 melanoma and so speak from extensive personal experience and of the friends I made with this awful disease, three of whom are now gone.
Whilst I would like to say to the OP that your photos are not obviously worrying you are right to get it checked. I didn't want to add to your worry by correcting yellowdafodill but misinformation is dangerous to others reading this thread who might then take false comfort.

How is it now OP?x