What is this on my back?

[ThatLilacHedgehog]

Hi everyone,

I have a doctors appointment booked for a raised pinkish bump that’s appeared on my back, it’s around 1.5-2cm.

I would be very grateful for honest opinions so I kind of know what to expect at the docs, does this look like melanoma?

thank you Mumsnet

Not a doctor but I'd say not. Seems fairly regular in shape and uniform colour. Suspect you'll be advised 'surveillance' (in dh's case that means taking a photo every 6 months and going back to the dermatologist if anything changes dramatically).

Any pain in that area? Any more spots?

Not a doctor but I don’t think it’s melanoma but good to get it checked. It’s regular in colour and texture at the mo hence not thinking it’s cancer.

Ahh thank you! Ok at least I kind of know what to expect, I hope your dh’s case is ok

No pain luckily, just this area my DH noticed this week. Thanks for your help

I dont think it is for reasons others have stated

For reassurance, consult GP

Good luck

Thanks for this reply, it’s only come up since wearing my summer dresses and my husband noticed it. It’s weird that it’s like this pinky/fleshy colour

I had a blob removed a few weeks ago. They reassured me that 99% of skin cancer patients survive. Anyway it was a sclerotic fibroma (benign tumour). There was another blob they chose to leave, they said it was a keloid.

Hi, I’m glad yours turned out to be nothing sinister! It’s such a worry. Thanks for your reassurance though. I just looked up keloid and it’s interesting how there are so many other causes than cancer.

im just keeping my fingers crossed it’s nothing too bad.

Thank you, I’m hoping it’s nothing, just concerned as it’s new and it worries me, I already have anxiety so this is sending me sky high

I have keratosis that gets rubbed off by bra strap friction. Mine look like this

Thank you
I'm like you, ie worry OTT - some people are just like that
See what GP says but I'm 99.99% sure he/she will say, no further action just keep an eye on it

Good luck and update us if you can

Thank you! Will keep everyone updated

Op I've had something very similar pop up on my calf that looks very much like this and found it difficult to find anything g on Dr Google to compare it with. My GP has had a good look with his dermascope and doesn't think it's sinister (mentioned could be a dermatofibroma but I don't think it looks like that either 😂🙈). I'm to go back in a few weeks to let him have another look though.

The only thing I think mine looks like is something called a lichenoid keratosis.

I hope yours turns out nothing sinister as your doctor thinks. The worst part about any changes to the skin is the waiting to find out exactly what it is. Thanks so much for your reply and helping 😊

Sorry but I have to correct this.
Skin cancer is a wide heading for a variety of types. Whilst many only spread locally melanoma spreads systemically and I can assure you that many people die from it. Even within melanoma there are further different types. Whilst treatment for melanoma is improving all the time survival rates are a very long way from your statement. I speak as someone with stage 4 melanoma and I can’t tell you how much it pisses me off when someone says oh yes my dad/ friend/ I had skin cancer as if it is all the same thing. It is not.
OP melanoma can be a raised pink blob but your photo looks like it has a tiny head in the middle which makes me think it could be a little cyst but you should definitely see your gp promptly to be safe.

Hey op, since my post I've been to see a dermatologist (privately) and he told me my gp's diagnosis was incorrect. However he still doesn't think mine is anything to worry about but I'm having it taken off and biopsied to be on the safe side. Mine is pink but it has grown out of nowhere with uneven borders. It's is not a dermatofibroma as had been suggested by my GP.

Hi. I also have a blob on my back. Wasn't sure how long it had been there but do have a skin condition called porokeratosis. This looked different though. Did the usual E triage with GP plus a pic. I was offered an appointment with the specialist nurse but not for three weeks. I saw a private GP today who examined me carefully and said its seborrhoeic keratosis and very common. If it was very irritating ( which luckily it's not) it could be removed. Opted for leave alone at the moment. She also gave me a print out and recommended this website: www.pcds.org.uk for any information re skin conditions.

I’ve been to the gp and they took a photo and will be updating me on further actions. They didn’t say too much at the appointment but hopefully that’s a good sign.

without the slight dot in the centre do you think this could be melanoma? How likely is it to be in your opinion

im so sorry to hear you have stage 4 melanoma, I can’t begin to understand how hard that must be, I just hope you’re doing well and getting the correct treatment

I’m so glad you’ve managed to get this seen privately and I will keep my fingers crossed it’s nothing sinister, which hopefully it’s sounding like it should be ok!, honestly I thought I’d get answers at my gp appointment but all they did was take a photo. Hopefully I’ll hear back soon. They did say it’s a good sign the borders are even. But I just am trying to not worry

i hope your biopsy goes well and keep me updated

Hi thanks so much for all this information, I’m glad yours turned out to be seborrhoeic keratosis, I was wondering if mine could be this. But everything on Google looked brown, not pink like mine.

did your blob look similar to mine? Also the website you linked sounds very helpful, I shall have a read. Thanks so much

Honestly it might or might not be melanoma without the central mark.
I have had lumps come up not dissimilar to this since my melanoma diagnosis which have turned out to be nothing to worry about and some which have been more melanoma so it would be wrong of me to speculate and perhaps mislead you.
I completely understand you are very worried but the best thing you can do is try and distract yourself as best you can whilst you await diagnosis. Don't be fobbed off and insist a dermatologist sees you. Gps can and do get it wrong. Went through that myself.
If it is melanoma there are a lot more treatment options now than there were when I was first diagnosed ten years ago.
Very recently a vaccine is being trialled which may replace the current treatment for stage 4 which is immunotherapy. And of course even if you have melanoma it may never reach stage 4.
If I can offer any support please feel free to message me and I also recommend melanomates facebook group if indeed it does turn out to be melanoma.

Yes, it looks just like mine and from your pic looks exactly in the same place. Possibly the GP surgery will send the pic to the dermatologists for their opinion so that they can be sure. Please update us when you hear back. I was really concerned too so I do understand.

I had mine removed today, four stitches. Results in 1-2 weeks. Hopefully it's nothing. When I asked about further treatment if it was anything nasty the consultant said "it won't go that far" and laughed so I'm banking on his very experienced eye and trying not to stress. Op, I would make sure you go back in a few weeks to get them to have another look at it if it's not gone. I assume they are going with the "watch and wait". Did they look at it through a dermascope?

From what the consultant has said to you that sounds like a good sign, hopefully it ends up being nothing. Keep me updated!

my doctor wasn’t concerned when he looked through the dermascope, so that’s a good sign. I just keep worrying it could be amelanotic melanoma because I read those are pink like mine, but must keep positive!

I’ll keep you updated and thanks again!