Does Amelanotic melanoma get bigger over time?

Hi and welcome to the online community

I was diagnosed with an amelanotic melanoma and it did increase in size from when I first saw the consultant to when it was removed. Have you had this diagnosis too or are you worried that you might have one?

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Hey, thanks for your reply, I noticed a mole on my leg 3 months ago but at the time thought it was an insect bite, it still does in a way, I saw a doctor today who had a look at it and said it was nothing to worry about and told me to keep an eye on it incase it gets bigger. I have done my research on melanoma but the amelanotic melanoma is what I am confused with as it looks similar to what's on my leg but online said the only symptoms of amelanotic melanoma is it appearing in the first place but now that you've mentioned they do get bigger over time has educated me much more on it so thanks for that,. I'm guessing it grows fast ? As what is on my leg has stayed the same size for 3 months so must be benign x

Amelanotic melanomas are usually flesh or red coloured (mine was red). If you take a look at my profile you'll see that mine appeared suddenly and, as it hadn't gone after a couple of weeks, I went to see my GP. 

I wouldn't say it was fast growing but my consultant said it had grown slightly in the couple of months between him first seeing me and removing it. What makes you think that you may have amelanotic melanoma?

It's good that you've been to see a doctor and great news that he doesn't think it's anything to worry about. However, I don't want to worry you but that was exactly what my consultant said. I don't know who was more surprised me or him when the biopsy came back as melanoma!

What I'd recommend you do is take a photo of it now with a ruler next to it and then take another photo in a few weeks time. That way you'll be able to see if it's changed. If you notice any changes, or it starts to itch or bleed, or it doesn't go away I'd go back to see your GP and ask to be referred to a dermatologist. Most GPs never see an amelanotic melanoma and, as my experience shows, not even the experts get it right all the time!

Wishing you all the best

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Hi

I had a red mark rather than a mole that I had for a good few years before I got referred to dermatology. Mine didn’t change in size at all and the GP wasn’t worried about it. I’d been back a good few times and tried various steroid creams before I got a referral - which was mostly for another issue to be honest! 
I’d keep an eye on it as Latchbrook suggested, but after my experience, I’d push for a referral if it’s still there in a few weeks.

Best wishes,

I had a strange mark appear that initially looked like a bee sting. It grew slowly and after 6months of being there it was about the size of a Rice Krispie and was flesh coloured. Over those 6 months I visited a GP on three occasions and all said that it was nothing to worry about. I pushed for a specialist appointment and it was removed two weeks later and confirmed as melanoma. This post isn’t to worry you, if your worried about it then get a second opinion. Unfortunately GP’s are regularly misdiagnosing melanoma. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully yours is nothing to worry about 

Hi Benj95

Like Latchbrook I also had a red amelanotic melanoma.  However hers was dealt with very quickly while it took around 4 years for mine to be taken off and even then what it was had not been recognised.  I saw 2 GPs about it and the second one was my GP who I was told was the dermatology specialist in the practice.  She couldn't even put a name to what I had which was a round red 'lump', not very large and it didn't really increase in size. I believe it did gain more 'height'. In the summer an extremely deep ring of dark freckles would appear around it - I am a red head and naturally freckled.  I felt it was trying to tell me something, but I didn't know what and the internet only brought up flea bites etc. 

After 3 years it was itching and round the lesion clear spots which would burst and leak appeared.  My GP  would dismiss me with comments such as you are very pale, take Vit D, until finally she gave me Efudix cream.  This made no impression on it at all and it was only then that she said she would send me to a dermatologist.  However this turned out to be another GP running a minor skin complaints clinic.  He was the first to tell me it was a BCC, these melanomas are often mistaken for BCCs and because of the length of time taken to correctly diagnose them, are more likely to be fatal.  It was finally taken off by a skin cancer nurse who also dismissed it as a BCC.

I then endured six months of rudness from this nurse who would not tell me who my consultant was, don't believe I had one, or even let me see one.  I did find articles about them on the internet. I had to because there was no one to talk to about it.  Finally when I could take no more I managed to get to a fantastically run dermatology unit.  I have learnt that only a very skilled practitioner could pick up one of these melanomas with a dermatoscope.  This was all anyone did for me, look at it through one of these with no questions asked of me.  Also the ABCDE rules do not really apply to these melanomas.  The leaflets I had at home and the articles, kept since my husband died as a young man of melanoma, made no reference to these lesions.  It annoys me because I now know I am not the only one to be ignored because they do not look like a classic melanoma.  The attitude of the first hospital and the nurse was, "if we saw everyone with a red lump we would be swamped".

i will add that my son in his 20s is developing a lot of moles on his back, rather like his father.  A lot of them are red, I caught one developing several months ago.  He is seen for a mole check once a year and we are relying on that because how you can tell a harmless red mole from a nasty one, I have no idea.  Except this did not look like a typical mole in outline or shape.

Good luck with getting the answer you want.  I feel there is a lot of ignorance, even among those who should know better that these things exist.  Doctors and health campaigns only talk about the nasty, dark classic moles that follow the rules.  People do get fobed off with, it is only a BCC or one lady I met had been told it was the result of being scratched gardening.

Hi benj95 I went to a couple of different gps over a strange lesion on my leg and each time I got palmed off. In the end I asked to be referred to dermatology but after several weeks of not hearing anything I rang for them to tell me the waiting list was 8 weeks as it was marked non urgent. In the end I went privately to a plastic surgeon it turned out to be stage 2 ulcerated nodular melanoma. GPs dont get to see many melanomas and the training concentrates on the classic black mole where in actual fact it comes in all shapes and sizes. Mostly it isn't melanoma but a harmless lesion but if you're worried I'd keep on.

Hi

How are you and have you been back to your GP about your mole yet?

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