Malignant melanoma

DD had a suspect lump on her back about 10 years ago. One of the GPs is a skin specialist and he removed it in the surgery and she's had no trouble since.

It may not be a melanoma. There are all different sorts of skin cancers and some are very treatable. DiL developed a nasty on her face and that was whipped off - no problems since and that was about 5 or 6 years ago.

Just been looking it up on google (I know, I know!) and it seems that recent research has shown that people with PD (which he has) are at higher risk of melanoma. It seems a long time to wait till 19th which is the first available appointment. He is worried - I caught him looking up about his pension and whether I would still get some of it if he died. We have to hope that it is nothing worrying. Fingers crossed.

I thought melanoma developed from a mole?

Three years ago I had two lesions removed under general anethestic. This procedure didn't take long and healed very quickly with hardly any trace.

It sounds like it could be a rodent ulcer which whilst cancerous is so slow growing that it isn't a worry they will remove it

Google Bowen's disease and see if it looks similar.

My Mum has a rodent ulcer which is under her hair. The consultant advised leaving it that was about 2 years ago. Mum is 98 and it doesn't seem to bother her.

Although your DH has been fast tracked this is normal for a suspect melanoma
it could test non malignant

My sister has been fast tracked with 3 suspect melanoma and had them removed under local anaesthetic.
They were tested in lab after op and came back non malignant.

Unfortunately my doctors missed mine.
It took 3 visit s to surgery before I was eventually referred.
Things then moved quickly.
It turned out that it was a Basil carcinoma
I had it removed under local anaesthetic
After op I had to wait whilst it was sent to lab to be tested.
It came back as non malignant.

As the carcinoma had not been caught quickly, it was quite large and required a second op.
All clear now.

I think a basil carcinoma is the same as a rodent ulcer correct me if I m wrong

The 19th is not far off is it,, week after next. I think that counts as quick.
My DH had a small melanoma removed about 10 years ago. I spotted it on his back when he was sitting on the beach one day. He is very moley on his back - Irish skin with sun damage from his youth. It took weeks before he finally went to the GP.
He had it removed, diagnosed in the lab and then another minor op to remove a bigger area of skin. He has been fine ever since - and still has to be reminded about sunscreen and hat!
Apparently the doctors told him they were impressed that I had spotted it.
There are lots of photos on the internet if you want to know what they look like - a mole with more than one colour and uneven edges (dark bit in the middle for instance). It might bleed as it progresses.
www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Mole-slideshow.aspx

Oh had a Basel lump on his head a few years ago and the specialist told us to go back in Sept after the holidays and he would be fine. They are mainly pre cancerous. Funnily enough he had two little spots removed from his face this morning - took all of ten minutes in the dermatologists office. No bleeding at all - not sore and not noticeable.

Thank you all this forum has been a tremendous help to me.
I have an appointment on 17th with a dermatologist for suspected Basal cell on my chest. Until I read all your posts I was terrified but have calmed a little now.
It's been on my chest for 2 years. My previous doctor said it was just a spot but I moved to a different surgery and my new doctor said he's 99% sure it's Basal cell.
It's a small, flat, round, pink/clear looking spot about the size of a pencil end. It doesn't bleed or weep but is itchy.
Thing is, I have never used a sun bed and I hate the sun but apparently the damage is done in early years.

Both my sister and brother in law ( sun lovers) have had skin cancers removed from their face , both non malignant . This was several years ago. They now both use sun block and hats.

Kaycarly I had something similar on my chest for several years. 3 different GPs assured me it was eczema! When I was finally referred, the dermatologist said it was in the wrong place for eczema and was a basal cell carcinoma. I had it removed and all was fine. This was 14 years ago, I hoped diagnosis had improved since then. Good luck!

My DH had a very bad cough several years ago and I managed to persuade him to see the GP. Thank heavens I did, because in the course of the examination the GP found a suspect mole on his back and fast tracked him for a hospital appointment. It was removed under local anaesthetic, sent to the lab, and found to be a malignant melanoma. He was called back for a further check, and they decided to remove more tissue from the surrounding area, just to be absolutely sure that there was no trace remaining. He's had no problems ever since.
So try not to worry Luckygirl - even if it is an MM, it is highly treatable. Good luck

My OH has had two non-malignant skin cancers, a basal cell carcinoma and a squamous cell. Both removed under general anaesthetic because of the position on the face and near the eye. He went is as a day patient, had the op in the morning and (this being France) was allowed to leave when he had recovered enough to eat a three course meal.
He has never sunbathed and his dermatologist says it is down to skin type. He sees her twice a year for check-ups. The first was done by a maxillo-facial surgeon and the second by an ENT surgeon.

My mum had two Basel cells removed one from her nose which left a whiter patch and one from her back when she was about 70 she lived on to 90 and she never had any further trouble Kaycarly please don't worry too much it seems really common and simple to remove

Just done that Anya - the illustration on the NHS website looks almost identical to the lesion that has appeared on my OH's face - very interesting - thanks for that.

DH had a lump on his brow, appeared overnight almost. It looked like a tick bite but he went private to a plastic surgeon who removed it and did a biopsy. The small lump was b cell lymphoma which is most unusual. DH does not have a scar and his scans have been clear for a few years now. Most things caught early will be fine.

Just looked at Bowens, my psoriasis looks just like some of those lesions! Skin is such a big subject.
In Australia you can pop into skin clinics for a quick once over just to give peace of mind. Here if you want a bit of reassurance you have to go and 'waste' doctors time so tend to put it off. Even if you want to go privately you have to have a referral.
Sounds like you acted swiftly LG so even if it's a baddy your OH should be fine.

luckygirl I was fast tracked and had two removed under local anaesthetic just a few weeks ago. A biopsy showed it was Bowens, which is a squamous cell and should not turn into anything worse if treated, though they may reappear somewhere else.

It would be great if we had clinics like that here Pamela .

DH is very fair and has always been careful in the sun, but over the past 5 years he has had a variety of small lumps removed from his face, forehead and back of hands. Fortunately, he now has twice yearly apps. with a dermatologist and has cream to put on.

The important thing is to be vigilant, always put on factor 50 sun cream and get skin changes checked quickly.

Apparently, men are more susceptible to this type of sun damage because the don't put moisturisers and foundation on which usually contain sun block. Also, because they often have short hair the ears and skin around the ear are susceptible.
I hope it all is sorted soon and your worries are unfounded.

My mother died of Malignant Melanoma. It just seemed like an ordinary mole at first, but then grew and changed shape and started to weep. She left it too long before going to the doctor, and sadly cancer eventually spread throughout her body.
I've had 3 skin cancers, none of which have been malignant, thankfully. Because of my mother's experience I am very careful and never sunbathe without at least factor 50.