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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Changing moles during pregnancy

37 replies

weezie78 · 02/11/2013 20:50

Hi there.
I am new to this but feel the need to ask for advice. I have had a mole on my breast for as long as I can remember. I had it checked 18 months ago while I was still breastfeeding. I was told it was fine. I am now 19 weeks pregnant and had it checked again this week, I have been told that it has very slightly changed, not in colour or size, I am not sure what kind of change my doctor means! I have been referred to a specialist who I see next week but I am petrified this is melanoma and it has been left for too long.
Has anyone had this kind of experience? Do moles change in pregnancy? I keep reading such conflicting advice.
Thanks

OP posts:
mousmous · 02/11/2013 20:53

moles can change in pregnancy.
I had one that 'split' into 2. had them removed and it turned out they were not malignant.
good for your dr to be so on the ball and refer you!

Original poster
weezie78 · 02/11/2013 20:59

Thank you I am so terrified, can't think of anything else and I am having panic attacks.

OP posts:
Shhhbabyno5 · 02/11/2013 21:17

Hi,

I have had a few moles checked in pregnancy as they had changed, and one removed but that was because it was an irritant. They do change in pregnancy without any sinister reason so please try not to worry.

More interestingly is the dr I saw said that melanoma is extremely rare and a GP will maybe see one or two cases in a whole career. So try not to worry it is extremely unlikely you have anything wrong and even more unlikely it would be melanoma.

Hth

mousmous · 02/11/2013 21:18

it probably isn't melanoma, I think you would have noticed.
during pregnancy pigments go haywire, that's why some women get a linea nigra and melasma (pigmentation spots).

Original poster
weezie78 · 02/11/2013 21:27

Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure what the doctor has seen as I can't notice any significant change. I thought it had maybe grown a little due to bf, that's why I had it checked last year. Doctor said on Monday it hasn't grown but changed very slightly.
It is the only mole I have and I used to call it my beauty spot....I feel sick every time I look at it now!!

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 02/11/2013 21:31

I had a mole removed in pregnancy. I think changes are v common.

cakeandcustard · 02/11/2013 21:43

Yes, moles can change in pregnancy. Two of mine changed and grew noticably when I was first pregnant. I was referred to a consultant at the hospital but he said it was nothing to worry about, all he said was he could take a photo if I wanted to compare at a later date. I declined as they are in a rather delicate area Blush I'm sure you'll be fine!

Original poster
weezie78 · 02/11/2013 22:03

All of your posts are very reassuring. Ive been in such a state since Monday, which isn't healthy for my baby. I have even booked an appointment with a private specialist as they can see me a week earlier than NHS. I know a week isn't a lot but I can't spend another week with this anxiety!

OP posts:
Writerwannabe83 · 03/11/2013 08:47

I remember reading in a pregnancy book about how hormones can affect moles so what you are experiencing is probably completely normal. I have had 2 moles removed in the past because they were dodgy (this was many, many years ago) so I'm keeping an eye on the main one that I have left on my abdomen which sits a a bit below my belly button. I haven't noticed any changes so far but my bump is making it harder to see and obviously as my skin is stretching it is naturally changing shape. Don't get too stressed about seeing the Specialist, I'm sure he will be able to reassure you x

Ireallymustbemad · 03/11/2013 08:49

Definitely moles ganged in pregnancy. I had a suspect mole removed prior to pregnancy and then went back to the dermatologist when I had ones that changed in pregnancy. They were nothing to worry about and he said that moles often change in pregnancy.

Ireallymustbemad · 03/11/2013 08:49

Change not ganged !!

terilou87 · 03/11/2013 09:06

Hi, moles can and do change in pregnancy, my dad has recently been diagnosed with melanoma but his mole was a definite change that he had noticed himself ( and stupidly waited 6 month to get it checked due to moving doctors).
I think it's unlikely that a slight change during a hormonal stage will turn out to be anything sinister, and the good thing is it has been noticed and you can either get it removed or keep an eye on it to prevent it getting cancerous.
my dad's gp knew his was turning cancerous and told him straight away, I think your gp would of told you if that's what the thought. Hope everything turns out well for you x x x

Original poster
weezie78 · 03/11/2013 12:38

Sorry to hear about your dad terrilou87, I hope he's ok.
There certainly hasn't been any large change I have noticed in it, I thought it had grown a little last year and that's what prompted me to have it checked. Doctor said then that it was fine. I suffer really badly with anxiety so this gas knocked me for 6, I've never felt so scared.
It is on my breast and my breasts have definitely been through some change with breast feeding and now being pregnant again, I just have to keep telling myself that!

OP posts:
Original poster
weezie78 · 03/11/2013 13:05

Sorry to hear about your dad terrilou87, I hope he's ok.
There certainly hasn't been any large change I have noticed in it, I thought it had grown a little last year and that's what prompted me to have it checked. Doctor said then that it was fine. I suffer really badly with anxiety so this gas knocked me for 6, I've never felt so scared.
It is on my breast and my breasts have definitely been through some change with breast feeding and now being pregnant again, I just have to keep telling myself that!

OP posts:
EeyoreIsh · 03/11/2013 13:53

Sorry to hear about your dad terilou, I hope he recovers ok.

moles do change during pregnancy and new ones appear. We had to see a dermatologist about one DH had and he said this to me as I've got loads, and he said pregnancy is the one time it's normal for moles to appear and change.

terilou87 · 03/11/2013 13:53

Thanks, he is fine, or atleast he says he is
I was worried stiff when I found out that he has it and doctor google didn't help one bit, try not to google because it is all worst case scenarios. X x

Original poster
weezie78 · 03/11/2013 14:52

Glad he is ok. I know google is terrible but I just can't help myself and then I start to panic!! Mine has many of the characteristics of melanoma, I have read that "dysplastic moles" have same characteristics, the worrying thing for me is that mine has changed!
If you don't mind me asking did your dads grow quickly and change colour?xx

OP posts:
LightTripper · 03/11/2013 17:52

Sounds like mole changes are very normal. Even if it is melanoma, I had one as did two of my friends and we are all fine (25 years on in my case, 10 and 7 for my friends). There are lots of happy endings! Good to have a GP so on the ball. I have had a couple change since then, had them removed to be safe, and neither was melanoma. So changes don't necessarily mean bad news.

I know it's scary, but hang on in there. Much better to get checked. If it's only just changed you'd be catching it super super early anyway. Mine bled before we noticed it, and all was still fine.

Xxx

Original poster
weezie78 · 03/11/2013 19:40

Hi LightTripper, glad everything was ok with you and your friends. That must have been scary for you. Did you notice any change before it started bleeding? Is slight change an early sign then? I am so confused with everything I read on the internet, I know I shouldn't google things but just can't stop myself! My main fear is that I haven't had it checked for over a year as I hadn't really noticed change, I keep thinking what if its been changing for all that time then maybe it is too late!xx

OP posts:
LightTripper · 03/11/2013 21:11

Honestly I wouldn't worry, it is very likely to be fine. I was only 13 when I had mine (they nearly didn't remove it because they thought I was too young, but luckily my Mum insisted!). It was in my hair so I couldn't see it. Luckily I had long hair and my Mum used to help me with it, and took me to the Doctor when it bled. It had been itchy for a while but I just thought I had an itchy scalp, as I couldn't see it was a mole. Usually bleeding is a bad sign but it was still actually very very thin when they took it out, only just into the dermis, so no chance of spreading. So by the time I knew it was melanoma it was already gone... So weird feeling definitely, but not as scary as it might have been (and luckily for me it was way before Google and the medical dictionary was in my Mum and Dads room scaring them instead!)

I hope I haven't scared you. I agree with everybody else that it's far more likely not to be anything problematic. If you think about it the huge majority of people won't spot them until there are very significant changes or itching or bleeding. Particularly true for people like me with loads of moles, who are most at risk. I have had moles change without being anything dodgy, so it's definitely not the case that changes are Lways bad, just that they are always worth checking out.

If yours hasn't changed in size or colour and hasn't bled or been itchy then it can't be a major change so I would bet it is fine. But I'm also pleased your GP was so on top of it, because it means if something IS happening you will have got it early. Plus of you do have it taken out you have no moles left to even think about! I have hundreds so can't possibly keep tabs on them all, I just keep an eye on the biggest/weirdest shaped 4 or 5.

Original poster
weezie78 · 03/11/2013 21:50

Thank you. No you haven't scared me, im scaring myself! I just want all of this to be over and to be able to enjoy my pregnancy!x

OP posts:
LightTripper · 03/11/2013 22:11

I think it's totally natural. I've done it myself enough times. Usually the answer is wine, but we don't even have that to fall back on! I prescribe a Google ban and a silly movie xx

Suzietwo · 04/11/2013 08:15

Just this morning I reminded myself that moles and scars change during prgnancy. Mine get much larger and look enflammed.

Original poster
weezie78 · 04/11/2013 15:21

I spoke to the doctor today who had told me it had changed and referred me, he said it has become very slightly asymmetrical! I am in a state of panic once again because this is a sure sign of melanoma! He said that the change couldn't be spotted under the naked eye, he used a microscope and noticed it! I have my dermatology apt tomorrow and I feel physically sick! I feel like my worst fears are coming real!

OP posts:
LightTripper · 05/11/2013 09:14

I think you are probably worrying more because you only have one mole! It is very normal for moles to be asymmetric, I have several that are, that have been looked at my dermatologists and don't worry them. They are the experts and will have a much better idea than your GP.

Last year my GP referred me for something she was almost sure was a basal cell carcinoma. Went to dermatologist who disagreed, but took it out anyway to be safe. And unsurprisingly the dermatologist was right! It is really good for GPs to be "Better safe than sorry", but do remember that most of the time it will be nothing to worry about!

Also, if the change is only detectable under a microscope, then it really must be a very early change.

I know it's not very helpful to say try not to worry. But I can send you hugs and say "only one more horrible day to go, and then you will be in front of a real expert who can give you proper advice"

Let us know how you go xx