Mole where the sun doesn’t shine

Hi and welcome to the online community

I don't think it matters where the dodgy mole is we all understand the worry that it causes. Hopefully, the dermatologist won't think it needs removing but, if they, do this is usually done within a couple of weeks under a local anaesthetic. If you do have it removed then ask at the time how long the results are currently taking to come back from the pathology labs in your area as it varies depending on the work load.

Do come back and let us know how you get on tomorrow evening.

x

Hi , how did you get on at your appointment? I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on my vulva in January this year, so yes, it can happen but it is fairly rare and there may be other explanations.

I had a fairly major operation to remove the melanoma and I am currently clear, so trying to stay off cancer websites! You may still be at the diagnosis waiting stage, but if you have any questions I can try to answer them

• Hi SarahT57 thank you for your message. Went Monday evening to see Dermatologist.he instantly said Malenona and it needs to come out , I was hysterical. I asked him to take a bigger area as he thought possible which he did . Just a waiting game back on the 11th nov to have stiches out he is hoping to have  the result by then but he said if they come back early he will call me .he didn’t say or  give me any explanations as to why I would get one where I have . Mine is (was) in the pubic hair at the front . Have you had an explanation as to why  there ? As doesn’t see the sun does it .yes I have been on every website going and scared myself to the point I wasn’t eating or sleeping. Not a good move I know. I have felt relief that it is no long there . Just what the biopsy results are going to is terrifying .im due to go to Mexico in 7 weeks for the Xmas period and don’t even know if I should cancel .what stage was yours diagnosed at and did you need any treatment . My dermatologist has said if they have got it all and there are clear margins then that will be it no more treatment , but I thought it went on how deep it went and I thought your lymph nodes had to be checked . My melanoma is (was) about 2 Inchs from my groin right next to lymph nodes .however on speaking to my own doctor I voiced my concern at how close it was to my lymph nodes and he just said it doesn’t work like that . So basically everything up in the air do not know what to think at this time 

First of all, have a big hug. And breathe! X

Most melanoma are on the “outside” skin, but there are also  melanoma that aren’t triggered by sun exposure. I have certainly never had sunburn on my vulva! Some people get melanoma between their toes, under nails, and in their eyes.

The positive thing is that you saw someone as soon as you found it. I delayed seeing anyone because I thought it was nothing and didn’t really want to go to a doctor about my vulva!

If it is confirmed as melanoma, they may want to do scans to see if it has spread anywhere. However, that depends on a lot of things, like how deep it was.  I had scans but mine hadn’t spread, but it was quite deep and had ulcerated so I was staged as 2c.  Depending on how the analysis goes, they might want to do a “wide local excision” to make sure they have a clear margin; they may also want to do a “sentinel node biopsy” just to check that it hasn’t spread to your lymph nodes.

Please, please don’t google. The treatment for melanoma has changed radically in the last 2 years (ish) so most of the internet info is very out of date.

Just tell yourself that in 10 days you will have a plan.  In the meantime, try to distract yourself as much as possible!  Are you in the UK?  There is a wonderful Caitlin Moran video on YouTube where she says “you never have to cope with more than the next 60 seconds”. I suffer from quite bad anxiety generally, so I often tell myself “just the next 60 seconds”

For some reason I’m not getting emails when there are replies to my message, but I will check in later, so let me know if you have any other questions x

Hi SarahT57

Thank you for the message . Yes I am in the UK . I went private and saw a dermatologist. Who did confirm as soon as he looked that is was Melanoma . Within 20 mins of my appointment he took it out ,as he was doing it I said just take a bigger area he said he did with margins . I now  have 15 stitches. How long has it been their , no idea to be honest as was covered. He did say he could not  feel any lump underneath and was very flat which he said was a good sign . I too suffer terrible with anxiety. Have been absolutely beside myself , which of course makes everything worse . Every shooting pain or ache makes you panic more . I only lost my mum last year to cancer (not skin cancer) and have only just started a new job 2 weeks ago. So stress levels at an all time high . Just a waiting game which I have no control over hoping he does have the results when I go for my stitches out but did say it could be another week after that . So are you just on medication what did they decide for your treatment plan ? 

SarahT57

just re read my post and I have basically said the same as my last post . Sorry

Sorry to hear about your mum - you’ve got a lot on at the moment.

I had surgery- all the malignant melanoma was removed but there was some melanoma in situ (pre cancerous) at the margins. I had immunotherapy in April - May, but it gave me liver issues so that was stopped- it was “adjuvant” (preventative) and as I was 2c it’s not clear that the benefits outweighed the risk.

So now I am on “watch and wait” - skin checks every 3 months and scans every 6 months.  My next scans are in a couple of weeks so I understand the agony of waiting! 

Hi Sarah T57 & anyone else that’ has read my posts!

my dermatologist called me this evening to give me my biopsy results .he told me it is not Melanoma but “Bowen’s Disease”. Pre- cancerous condition. He hasn’t elaborated anymore then to say I am fine . He will explain it all to me when I go back next week to have my stitches out . I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening and your support during this time . I wish you all the biggest positive’s on all your journeys . Much love to you all 

That's great news !

I hope you're going to have a little celebration

Thank you Latchbrook Still hasn’t sunk in , however I have eaten for the 1st time in a week and had a little drink