Hi All!
I have read many of your posts and find myself to be in a slightly different situation, but I am hoping that some of you may be able to provide me with some insight. I have not been diagnosed with melanoma, but I fear that I may have a malignant mole. Are there any signs of advanced melanoma that I can look for, other than the typical, symmetry, color....etc?
I am a 27 year old female who was just diagnoses with Basal Cell Carcinoma on my back and am now due for a biopsy of a mole on my abdomen. It is dark brown with irregular borders and about the size of a pencil eraser. There is a tiny rim around the mole that is a tan color, but other than that, there is no other variation in color. It does not itch or bleed, but it does have a scaly appearance to it. I know for sure that the mole has been there (basically the same size for 4 years) and that is what concerns me most. The fact that it has not been growing radially, I am terrified that it has been growing deeper all this time. Over the last several months, my underarms seem to have been swollen, but sort of just assumed it was due to weight gain and blew that off until now. Oh and now I read that Melanoma is the #1 cause of cancer deaths among women ages 25-30 =( As I dont really have a bump anywhere in the spot, I have pretty much ruled out nodular, but my mole does look very much like a picture I found of superficial spreading melanoma.
I am hoping they can see me for my biopsy this week, but I am terrified. I was married just a few months ago and we are ready to start a family, but the possibility of melanoma has me deeply worried. I am so scared that it may have been spreading all this time and it will be too late. Any words of advice of knowledge would be so greatly appreciated.
Thanks! Cheryl