Concerned this might be nodular melanoma

[Spiderlover]

I have many moles/large seborrhoeic keratoses (previously diagnosed) on my body. A couple have been removed over the years due to their location causing friction and irritation. They were not deemed suspicious.

I do however have a parent who had a malignant melanoma diagnosed at around my age (caught at early stage, removed and all is fine now, many years later).

This particular mole (photo attached) has been just behind my jaw and due to its location, has been mostly ignored. Out of (my) sight, out of mind. The whitish edges are from the Sudocrem that I applied last night.

I’ve been aware of this mole for several years; however, it’s definitely bigger than it used to be.

I think because of its location, it gets irritated by vigorous face wiping, make-up application, etc. It often has a crusty/scabby look to it (one of the moles I had removed also used to get a crusty appearance because clothes rubbed against it).

It doesn’t itch.

It was slightly sore and part of it was weeping yesterday, which made me inspect it more closely with mirrors and a camera. I am quite concerned by its appearance. I’m hopeful it’s just a seborrhoeic keratosis that’s been battered by face wipes and scarf wearing, but just seeking reassurance.

How do GPs tell the difference between an irritated seborrhoeic keratosis and nodular melanoma, or perhaps squamous cell carcinoma?

I have a GP appointment next week, but hoping for reassurance in the meantime.

Nobody?

I have loads too (I'm fair and covered in freckles/moles) and have had a BCC removed. I honestly can't tell the difference myself but that one looks like some of my benign lumpy ones but it's impossible to tell and I don't want to give you the wrong advice - going to the Gp is the right thing to do. Usually they remove the large, dark ones so maybe they will whip it off anyway! Good luck with the appointment.

Thanks @OldEarAche

I won’t be complaining at all if it gets taken off!

I am glad your BCC was removed. What made you realise it was different to all your benign moles? I have loads of moles, and admit most of the time I’m pretty negligent and don’t bother monitoring them, despite my family history.

I am not a dermatologist but it looks like SK to me.

It’s quite uncommon for nodular melanoma to develop in an existing mole. It most frequently develops very quickly as a new lesion (and I mean very quickly)
I had a melanoma a few years ago, didn’t look like a typical melanoma at all, I wasn’t worried, but my GP heard alarm bells and referred it under the two week criteria.
Yours definitely looks like a Seborrheic Keratosis, it’s got all the hallmarks of one-however, I am absolutely not a dermatologist, so the best thing you can do is go to your GP, let them assess it and tell them everything. If you think it’s grown then tell them that

I have one near my hairline that is newly appeared and looks very similar, although I would guess smaller than yours but of course it’s hard to tell from the photo. I got it checked a couple of months ago and the GP said it was completely benign.

You should definitely get it checked since it is new, but other than that it doesn’t look particularly concerning. Are you aware of the ABCDE of melanoma? Have a google, but I think from the photo yours wouldn’t meet any of the criteria other than Evolving.

I've had a couple of dodgy moles referred urgently; both turned out to be benign. The bar for urgent referrals is very low so don't panic if your GP refers you - the fact it's got bigger might trigger something on their checklist.

Your thing looks a bit like the last thing I had removed, which turned out to be a cluster of bloody vessels (can't remember its official name, sorry!) The GP was very concerned about it but the dermatologist was definitely not.

Getting it checked is always the right thing to do.

Some boots pharmacies do mole checking. You can book online to see if they have appointments near you if you want reassurance sooner.

@Spiderlover I didn't even pick it up. I was v young, I think 20/21 and I went to the doctor with a chest infection and he said 'what's this' and I said 'I dunno' (!) and they whipped it off and it was a BCC. I just thought it was a pale mole (it was a funny colour in hindsight!).

Thanks so much everyone. I’m content to wait - I guess a few more days won’t make much of a difference, given it’s been there for at least three years. Though I found an old photo, and it is definitely bigger.

Wow @OldEarAche, that is incredibly young to have a BCC! It’s great it was spotted so early.

I had something that looked similar to that and I thought it was SK but then it bled a little and the surface looked crusty. GP referred me under 2 week protocol and it turned out it was something called Bowens disease and they removed it. I’ve also had basal cell carcinoma. A tiny spot that was treated but which came back. Again, the surface was rough and scaly. I had it removed but am still waiting for light therapy treatment. Do get yours checked out, OP.

I have stage 4 melanoma (nodular) and mine didn't look like that. If that helps!

@Spiderlover how are you now? Do you have an update?