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Original poster

Mole assessment - terrified

7 replies

FTMaz · 03/07/2024 14:19

Hello,
I have a mole on my forehead about 1cm below my hairline. It has always been a raised, symmetrical light brown shape. Recently on photos I started to think it looked bigger, as silly as this sounds my hair used to be very long but I had it cut short recently and thought maybe that was drawing more attention to it. However my Mum spoke to me about it today and said she thinks it’s getting better and I should get it checked. As I am financially able to do so I have booked an appointment privately to have it removed on Tuesday and sent off to the lab. However I am absolutely terrified and feel like it had been getting bigger over the past year or so I’ve just not been so concerned as to do anything about it. I also have a 5 month old which is making my worries worse.

does anyone have any similar experience with a mole and what was the outcome? The mole remains symmetrical and the same colour but is bigger. thank you

OP posts:
ChopSue · 03/07/2024 17:06

I’m seeing a dermatologist this week about one on my arm. My GP referred me. I thought I could see changes and she said it met referral criteria because it had different colours and is also asymmetrical. Have to say I’m not feeling worried, my GP said if it’s dodgy they will just remove it. I’ll take it from there, if that’s the case but I’m not panicking. I tend to worry about other people but be calm about myself though. I can update you later in the week if I know any more.

What did they say in your appointment (guessing you had one to trigger the removal)?

Original poster
FTMaz · 03/07/2024 17:30

ChopSue · 03/07/2024 17:06

I’m seeing a dermatologist this week about one on my arm. My GP referred me. I thought I could see changes and she said it met referral criteria because it had different colours and is also asymmetrical. Have to say I’m not feeling worried, my GP said if it’s dodgy they will just remove it. I’ll take it from there, if that’s the case but I’m not panicking. I tend to worry about other people but be calm about myself though. I can update you later in the week if I know any more.

What did they say in your appointment (guessing you had one to trigger the removal)?

Hi
yea that would be great if you could let me know how it goes. I think I’m more worried about me because I have a young baby. I haven’t had a GP appointment, I’ve wanted it removed for cosmetic reasons for a while and after my Mum said it looked like it was getting bigger I made an appointment privately myself as even if they conclude it looks fine I still want it removed.

OP posts:
Elphame · 03/07/2024 23:07

I have had a dozen or more "atypical" moles removed to date. Some that ticked all the worrying boxes.

To date every single one has been absolutely fine. You are doing the right thing getting it checked out though.

ChopSue · 04/07/2024 11:12

@FTMaz

I had my appointment. She said even before looking with the dermoscope that it was fine, and dermoscope confirmed it.

She talked me through the ABCD thing, asymmetrical border colour diameter. Mine has different colours which she said is pigment, melanin due to the sun, and could be dodgy. But it’s fairly symmetrical- she said she imagines if it were a pizza, could she cut fairly even slices! - has a border and is about 1cm diameter. She said they look for moles which have a bit of a life of their own and grow in different directions. Mine looks like a v typical mole/liver spot and she said more will likely appear as I age (I’m 50s).

I think yours being symmetrical and the same colour are good signs. I think it’s always the right thing to get anything checked but hopefully they’ll confirm all is well for you asap.

Original poster
FTMaz · 04/07/2024 20:47

ChopSue · 04/07/2024 11:12

@FTMaz

I had my appointment. She said even before looking with the dermoscope that it was fine, and dermoscope confirmed it.

She talked me through the ABCD thing, asymmetrical border colour diameter. Mine has different colours which she said is pigment, melanin due to the sun, and could be dodgy. But it’s fairly symmetrical- she said she imagines if it were a pizza, could she cut fairly even slices! - has a border and is about 1cm diameter. She said they look for moles which have a bit of a life of their own and grow in different directions. Mine looks like a v typical mole/liver spot and she said more will likely appear as I age (I’m 50s).

I think yours being symmetrical and the same colour are good signs. I think it’s always the right thing to get anything checked but hopefully they’ll confirm all is well for you asap.

Hi
thank you so much for the update. I’m glad everything was okay, did you decide to not have it removed?

OP posts:
BluebellsAndDaisies1 · 04/07/2024 21:08

Hi OP, I came across your thread and had to comment as I was in a similar position a couple of months ago with a mole I thought was getting bigger. I was so worried that it had actually been getting bigger for a while and I'd left it too long, I too have very young children... Anyway, the GP I saw was actually fantastic, checked it really carefully with his magnifying tool etc, said it looked absolutely fine, told me what type of mole it was (I forget the name now) and explained that these moles can become more raised over time. He also asked my age and when I said I'm 30 he said as I'm still young I'm actually likely to still be making new moles at the moment too. The key is to look for the asymmetrical border, differences in colour etc. You're absolutely right to get this checked out but hopefully my experience provides some reassurance Smile

Original poster
FTMaz · 09/07/2024 18:52

BluebellsAndDaisies1 · 04/07/2024 21:08

Hi OP, I came across your thread and had to comment as I was in a similar position a couple of months ago with a mole I thought was getting bigger. I was so worried that it had actually been getting bigger for a while and I'd left it too long, I too have very young children... Anyway, the GP I saw was actually fantastic, checked it really carefully with his magnifying tool etc, said it looked absolutely fine, told me what type of mole it was (I forget the name now) and explained that these moles can become more raised over time. He also asked my age and when I said I'm 30 he said as I'm still young I'm actually likely to still be making new moles at the moment too. The key is to look for the asymmetrical border, differences in colour etc. You're absolutely right to get this checked out but hopefully my experience provides some reassurance Smile

Hi

so sorry I’ve only just seen this. Thank you for such a kind reply. I had it removed today. The doctor said it looked and fine and if it were NHS they wouldn’t refer me or remove it. However I chose to have it removed and sent to the lab anyway to be on the safe side x

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