Moles

[Guest]

I have had dysplastic moles removed in the past. The only family history of melanoma I am aware of was my grandfather's intestinal melanoma found on autopsy after his death from other causes at age 85. What now concerns me is a mole I must wait 2 months to get diagnosed. I am concerned that it may be dysplastic. I have had it since childhood, it is raised and still round but recently has changed color to a sort of translucent rose color with black beginning under the surface. A few days ago it bled, presumably from trauma, since it is at the belt line and my tight belt may have damaged it. It also may have itched briefly. It has not bled or itched for 48 hours since I first noticed the changes. It is about 7 mm, fairly symmetrical, and does not appear to be biting into the skin. Any educated guess as to the probability of dysplagia or malignancy would help relieve my anxiety

[Guest]

Based on your info, which is very thorough, it sounds like the mole is ok. The fact that it has been there a long time, is not much bigger and has not changed a lot is reassuring. Moles can get caught on clothing or scratched and can thus bleed and scab up. They may even change in color over time. They can grow larger too. What you have does not sound malignant, but I cannot tell if it is dysplastic. A dysplastic mole does not mean it would ever go into a melanoma. Finally, are you sure your grandfather had intestinal melanoma, or was is intestinal cancer/carcinoma. Melanoma is seen almost exculsively in the skin, unless of course it has spread to other organs (metastasized).
[quote]I have had dysplastic moles removed in the past. The only family history of melanoma I am aware of was my grandfather's intestinal melanoma found on autopsy after his death from other causes at age 85. What now concerns me is a mole I must wait 2 months to get diagnosed. I am concerned that it may be dysplastic. I have had it since childhood, it is raised and still round but recently has changed color to a sort of translucent rose color with black beginning under the surface. A few days ago it bled, presumably from trauma, since it is at the belt line and my tight belt may have damaged it. It also may have itched briefly. It has not bled or itched for 48 hours since I first noticed the changes. It is about 7 mm, fairly symmetrical, and does not appear to be biting into the skin. Any educated guess as to the probability of dysplagia or malignancy would help relieve my anxiety.[/quote]

[Guest]

Thanks for your response to my request for an opinion regarding my mole. There are still a few loose ends concerning information I brought up in the original query. First, to respond to your question about my grandfather's lesion, so far as I know, it was a melanoma that had originated in his anus or rectum, according to the autopsy. (I've read only one article on this condition and I guess it's really rare - the source I read, but can't recall, was accessed on the internet and says Sloan-Kettering sees only about one to ten such cases a year, if I remember correctly.)

Regarding my own lesion, there were a few facts I left out: the mole has changed somewhat in size - 6 months ago it was about 4.5 to 5mm, now it's about 7mm; also, there is more of a color change than I reported - the mole was a medium, uniform tan, now it's very deep rose with black starting around the edges and appearing to spread somewhat beneath the surface over that same 6 months. If this further info changes your guess as to the likelihood of malignancy, please respond if possible. Thanks again for your time, Doctor.
[quote] Based on your info, which is very thorough, it sounds like the mole is ok. The fact that it has been there a long time, is not much bigger and has not changed a lot is reassuring... [/quote]

[Guest]

Interesting about the melanoma. It is hard for me to say regarding your mole. I recommend that you call back the dermatologist and see if they can see you any sooner. Explain that you have a family history of melanoma and a mole that is growing and getting darker. It is not acceptable to wait two months if there is concern for melanoma. Have them put you on a cancellation list. Believe me, people do cancel and you should be able to get in sooner. Persist with them and you will get seen. Let me know what the results are.
[quote] Thanks for your response to my request for an opinion regarding my mole. There are still a few loose ends concerning information I brought up in the original query... [/quote]