Hi, I have had a mole on my upper arm for
a couple of years now. It is a fairly
black mole which has always been very
flat, in that it could not be felt. I am
only 24 and not someone who regularly goes
out into the sun nor is that area of my
arm really exposed to the sun.
However last week I noticed that my mole
has changed. It had rised slightly and
developed a very black scab thing over the
top of the middle of the scab. I thought
it was just a scab so I picked it off.
My mole was still underneath the scab, so
I didn't think that much of it, however 3
days later another scab had formed on the
exact same area ontop of my mole. The
scab covers about half of my mole, which
is about 5mm in diameter.
However yesterday it was itchy and I
scratched off my new scab. My mole now
looks like a normal mole, but it is still
slightly raised. My mole is fairly
circluar with very slight imperfections
around the edges.
Could this be melanoma?
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Crystal1111
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 102 Location: Florida
Go Get It Checked Posted: 07-17-05 09:28am
It may or may not be melanoma. I had a
melanoma in-situ removed from my hip when
I was 28. It sounds identical to your
mole. If there is any change in a mole,
you should have it checked as soon as
possible. Catching it early is the key.
Ease your mind and go to the dermatologist
and get it checked. Luckily mine was
in-situ (stage 0 cancer). My mole was
about the same size as yours, scabbed
occasionally, itched, and was in an area
that never got sun. That doesn't matter.
You can get melanoma on the bottom of
your foot. Having been through this, I
urge you to have it checked out.
Remember the a, b, c, d, and e. If you
notice any one (it doesn't have to be all)
of these changes, it's time to have it
checked:
Hi, I went to get my mole checked out at a
skin cancer clinic. The doctor had a
look at it and wasn't quite sure what it
was but ruled out cancer, however said
that yes my mole was not normal. So
under the recommendation that it was to be
removed I had minor surgery later that day
to get it removed and sent off to a lab to
get tested.
My results have come back and apparently
it wasn't cancer or anything and there
were no problems. It turned out to be a
sun damaged mole. So everything is good
now!!
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Crystal1111
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 102 Location: Florida
Zephyr Posted: 08-03-05 07:39am
I'm so glad to hear that. You did the
right thing by having that checked out.
Very smart decision. You just never know
what our body can manifest so it's better
to play it safe and ask a professional.
So, are you wearing sunblock more often
now ?? (smile)
