5 Atypical Mild-Moderate Moles, Very Scared
Hello,
New to the forum. I'm 30 years old and went for my first skin check with a doctor, where she removed one mole. This mole came back atypical but the labs did not grade it and simply said it was: "Atypical Melanocytic Nevus, Associated with In-Situ Cannot Be Excluded." This biopsy didn't sit right with me so I went to a second derm - who agreed that the biopsy results were very confusing and very inconclusive, but called for an excision nonetheless. In that time, I had 4 more moles biopsies that I had requested, now that I knew one was atypical.
All four came back atypical on different scales of mild-moderate, one more needing a deeper punch and another needing an excision. So all in all, my first trip to the derm and I have 5 atyical moles, not a single one came back benign and I'm sick to my stomach. I don't know what this means, but it feels like I'm inevitably destined to have melanoma. And I keep reviewing every other mole on my body, thinking what else is atypical on me right now that just hasn't been caught.
Are 5 atypical moles right off the bat a terrible sign? What does this mean for me? My future feels so dark right now.
Hi there!
Melanoma survivor here. I obviously don't know your fate and can't predict your future, but I think you're doing the right thing by checking your body and going to see a professional. I'd transform your thinking from "what if" to "thank goodness I had it looked at" -- give yourself some credit!
How often are you going to the derm? I was going every 4 months after my initial diagnosis and would go sooner if I found something suspicious. Keep being vigilant, but don't beat yourself up!
Sending you positive thoughts <3
@haileyc ...Excellent advice! I love your positive outlook! Keep being proactive and encouraging others. We are so glad you are part of this community!
I hope you are continuing to get the all-clear at your dermatologist visits!
Keeping you in my thoughts!April, SkinCancer.net. Moderator
Thank you! 😀
...I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I completely understand your fears and apprehension going forward. I am going to give you a frame of reference that will hopefully make you feel a little more at ease. I was diagnosed with melanoma in 2007 and had an excision to remove it. The margins were clear, and I was put on a schedule with my dermatologist for visits every three months. I eventually graduated to every six months and have been on that schedule since then.
In between, I have had multiple spots removed and almost all of them have been abnormal in some way. Only three have been basal cell carcinoma and required Mohs surgery. With each biopsy, and I have had too many to count in all these years, I worry that it will come back positive for one cancer or another. Each time they are atypical, but I haven't had a cancerous spot in over five years.
You are on the right track to taking care of your skin by seeing your dermatologist and staying on top of skin checks. While I can't say what you will experience, I can say you are greatly reducing your chances of having a spot get out of hand by seeing your doctor regularly.
Keep being proactive with sunscreen, skin checks, and appointments with your doctor. When you see a suspicious spot, don't hesitate to snap a picture and send it to your doctor if possible. I know it is easy for someone else to say "don't worry too much," but that advice does hold true. Try to relax, enjoy your free time, and just make a regular time each month to examine your skin carefully making note of any changes.
I am including a couple of articles on skin checks you might find useful.
https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/dermatologist-skin-check/
https://skincancer.net/diagnosis/self-examination/
You've got this! We are here for you any time!
April, SkinCancer.net, Moderator
