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Moles - Melanoma or not?

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noirua said:
Some interesting posts and stories and some...yes, I did mean a self test every two months or the back checked by another person, as it seems to be the most vulnerable area.
Comments about having a diagnosis or several referrals makes sense when listening to this video: http://sciencentral.com/video/2009/03/30/melanoma-detector/
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I would guess mate that its not more vulnerable on your back, you just don't have eyes in the back of yer head.

I'd also be worried living in the UK as their knowledge of skin cancer would not be as good as our doctors. And they have socialist medicine so unless you are rich and can avoid the NHS you won't be getting the best advice.

gg


noirua said:
There are 29,917 members of this ASF forum and 14,958 will have some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. There are about 25 million Australians and 12.5 million will have a form of skin cancer.

http://www.mydr.com.au/skin-hair/skin-cancer-risk-factors-in-Australia
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Most of them are not melanomas, its not to say you shouldn't be vigilant though.

Julia said:
Gav, the GP who used liquid nitrogen needs to catch up with modern medical practice. It's now known this should never happen as apparently it can 'drive the cancer inwards' (in very non-medical speak).

Ditto the use of a diathermy.

Anything suspicious should be cut out and sent off for analysis.

I've had a few BCC's. Worst one was in the middle of my bottom lip which was pretty unpleasant with the stitches etc.
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That one on your lip must have been sore Julia. I have a mate who is a doctor and she agrees with you wanting them analysed,

I rang her tonight. Her quote was " If you are worried about it , cut it out and have it undergo analysis.

She says freezing and burning ( is this diathermy?, I think it is) destroys the area and you then never know what it was.

She did say though that , that is all that many of the precancers need. She also said that if it is coloured it should not be frozen or burnt, as those cloured ones could be a melanoma.

And she didn't agree with the 2 month check.

When I asked her how often?, she said it depends.

Bloody doctors.

gg
 
Julia said:
Gav, the GP who used liquid nitrogen needs to catch up with modern medical practice. It's now known this should never happen as apparently it can 'drive the cancer inwards' (in very non-medical speak).

Ditto the use of a diathermy.

Anything suspicious should be cut out and sent off for analysis.

I've had a few BCC's. Worst one was in the middle of my bottom lip which was pretty unpleasant with the stitches etc.
Click to expand...

Hi Julia, thanks for letting me know

The GP originally cut it out and had it tested, it came back as a non-melonoma type cancer. But it came back 12 months later, and that's when he used liquid nitrogen on it. The damn thing has just came back again, so I got in contact with GP again recently to get a referral to a specialist here in Melb, rather than having to drive 3hrs to see the him for referral (family GP).

He said I should see a GP in Melb, tell him the situation, sign a "disclosure" form so that GP can have access to my family GP's records, he'd then send the Melb GP the records, then the Melb GP can refer me to a specialist. :eek: It would probably be quicker to do the 3hr trip to get the referral from the original GP! Anyway, I'm seeing a local GP this week. Hopefully it gets sorted quickly...
 
gav said:
Hi Julia, thanks for letting me know

The GP originally cut it out and had it tested, it came back as a non-melonoma type cancer. But it came back 12 months later, and that's when he used liquid nitrogen on it. The damn thing has just came back again, so I got in contact with GP again recently to get a referral to a specialist here in Melb, rather than having to drive 3hrs to see the him for referral (family GP).

He said I should see a GP in Melb, tell him the situation, sign a "disclosure" form so that GP can have access to my family GP's records, he'd then send the Melb GP the records, then the Melb GP can refer me to a specialist. :eek: It would probably be quicker to do the 3hr trip to get the referral from the original GP! Anyway, I'm seeing a local GP this week. Hopefully it gets sorted quickly...
Click to expand...

Julia is on the button mate. Get it seen to quickly.

gg
 
Hi guys,

Just thought I'd bump this thread to remind people that if you notice any changes in spots/moles then definitely go get them checked out.

Also, an update from my earlier posts in this thread (posts #14 and #22):

I went and saw a GP, told him my history of having a BCC cut out, then removed again 12 months later with liquid nitrogen when it reappearred. He had a look at the spot as it has reappeared again, but told me it was nothing to worry about. I asked for a referral to a specialist but he refused. He told me to come back in 6 months if it got any worse. :banghead:

I then went to see another GP, who pretty much said the same thing. However I was able to convince this GP to give me a referal to a specialist. I finally got to see the specialist 4 weeks ago. He confirmed it was definitely a BCC. And as two previous attempts to remove the BCC had been unsuccessful, he wanted to use cream Aldara cream (imiquimod).

However this cream is quite expensive and to get it through PBS he had to cut off the top of the BCC and have it tested to "prove" it was BCC. The test came back positive, and I have been using the cream for 2 weeks now. Apparently the cream has an 80% success rate. If it doesn't work, we probably wont know until later this year. It will then need to be cut out again, but this time taking a very large chunk out of the area.

Unfortunately the cream has some side effects, of which I have had: imflammation, rash and sores forming in the area of treatment (just below right eye), flu like symptoms, aching bones/muscles, headaches. I did some research online and found a very large number of people having much more severe reactions, however none of these are listed in the consumer information leaflet I was given with the prescription. There are also a number of websites set up with information. Most of it appears to be conspiracy stuff, but there are a few Australian doctors warning Aldara should never be used.

It's all very confusing, and unfortunately I can't talk to my specialist about it because I cant get in any earlier than my next appointment which isn't until May (about a month after I stop using the cream). I certainly won't waste my time seeing another GP. Out of the four GP's I've seen seen only one believed it warranted taking action to have it removed, and two of the GP's told me it was "nothing to worry about" and "come back if it changes in 6 months" even though they knew of previous BCC's in the same area :banghead:
 
I think you should take it further.

AMA is bit of a whiewash for doctors, but there must be independend body to be able to question some of the doctor's actions.

I know bit much to ask you, but what are the cosequences if you stop venting your frustration on this Forum?

Doctors involved might send home scores of other people who in 6 months time, when they come back for re-check might have inoperable cancer and only other 6 to 24 months to live.

Of course they might be lucky, but they might be not.

Just the other day watched how bad our interns are after they finish medical studies, but suppose this is how it is going to be.
Nobody cares about nothing but themselves.
 
Gav, sorry to hear of your ongoing problem. What sort of specialist are you seeing? Dermatologist? Plastic Surgeon?

If you're worried, you simply shouldn't accept waiting until May to see whoever it is. I'd be very surprised if you were not fitted in if you're unhappy with your present situation.

The side effects from the topical medication sound very unpleasant.

I'd much rather just have the major excision and get it over with.
I had one such on my ear lobe and actually had it done with a short acting general anaesthetic. Way to go, imo.
Healed quickly and no recurrence.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for your reply Julia. The specialist I am seeing is a Dermatologist who has specialised in skin cancer for over a decade. I do trust his judgement, I just wish I knew a bit more about the cream before it was prescribed so I had the chance to ask him a few questions. I've tried booking in earlier to no avail, I'll try calling them again tomorrow. Surely they could put my name down if there is a cancellation in the mean time...

The reason he went for the cream is because it is less invasive, and I have already had it cut out the first time it appeared two years ago - but unfortunately it came back. Apparently if I need to have it cut out again it will leave quite a large scar on my face, because he'd have to take the surrounding area out too where the cells may have spread. Obviously if the cream doesnt work, he'll have to cut it out.
 
I hope it all works out Gav, i really do.

I've got a mole on my chin. Has recently doubled in size and has been itchy and agitated lately. Suffice to say, i have an appointment with a dermatologist on Feb 16th, can't wait. Just want some answers..
 
Hi Gav

Hope your treatment works!

I have a friend who was a lifesaver and like me abused his skin by the sun over many years. He has been getting treatment for moles etc over the last 5 years or so. He also used Aldara cream over a large part of his face - he had no side affects and the cream worked!

I personally abused my skin over many years and touch wood I have not had anything - but its a lottery so don't take any chances.

Your case shows:
1. Don't ever be afraid to question or doubt your doctor (they are not infallible).
2. Get a specialist if you have any doubts or worries.
3. Protect yourself and your family (especially kids) from the sun.
4. Get your skin checked regularly.
5. See a skin specialist who at a minimum has a camera (connected to a computer) to take shots of any moles etc that can be compared at a later date for changes in its colour, form or size, for your regular checks.

Thanks for sharing Gav.
 
20240717_115659.jpg
another pesky cockroach.... this has appeared in the last 6 days; having it excised this Thursday
 
Dona Ferentes said:
View attachment 181348

.. this has appeared in the last 6 days; having it excised this Thursday
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one ⬆️ was a mole, the other was biopsied by the GP
20240730_094953.jpg
came back as malignant, so referred to a surgeon . ....
Eight subcutaneous and eight surface stitches later, the pathology report was that margins were clear. 20240818_152412(0).jpg
took out about the size of a kebab cube.
 

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