Mole returning on scar

Hi

It's always worrying when you spot something changing on your skin especially if it's in the same area as your melanoma.

Unfortunately melanomas can appear in the same place as the original and, if this happens, it's called recurrent melanoma. Clicking on the link I've created will give you more information.

As it's got darker and bigger since your SCNS last saw you I'd give her a call so that she can arrange for it to be checked. Hopefully, she's right and it's just discoloured scar tissue but it's better to be safe and it would also put your mind at rest.

Let us know how you get on.

x

Thank you. I have an appointment tomorrow to get it checked as my husband insisted.  I’ll let you all know how I get on. Dreading it being a recurrence as I’ve already had a fair bit of my ear removed and not sure I can face losing any more. 

Hi Greenpanda83

I had a reoccurance of a freckle/ mole on the actual scar on my original melanoma site around a year later.  My doctors took pictures, reviewed them in discussion and decided to reopen and remove it.  The second surgery was small and once healed it didn't really change the way my scar looked from the original operation.

I was worried, but the second time was much easier than the first as supopose I knew what to expect.

Let us all know how you get on, 

Take care

J

Hi Sailor2

Thank you, it’s great to hear the second surgery was far easier. Did they test what they took away the second time to see if it was more melanoma? My appt has been moved to next week so I need to wait a few more days to see my cns. 

I will let you know how it goes.

Hi Greenpanda83

Yes the process was the same; removal followed by testing, wait six weeks and get the results. Mine was not a reoccurance.

Fingers crossed for you next week, though I expect you will breeze through this.  The waiting for results is another thing altogether!

J

So my CNS is very confident that the mark is just pigment but they are going to do a punch biopsy just as a precaution. Pleased with this, nice and small, easier to forget about while waiting for the results. Thank you all for your replies. 

Hi

How did the punch biopsy go? I'm assuming that you've had your results back by now.

x

Good news and results came back as a freckle (or the complicated name for freckle). I’ve now had a small, scaly, itchy patch appear on my back, something that would never have bothered me before but now can’t stop obsessing about! I’ll wait for my next check up and if still there bring to my cns attention. I honestly thought that as time went on (been year since original melanoma) I would become more relaxed but am getting more paranoid with time! Maybe it’s lock down turning me into a lunatic. I did however get a wee reminder of my op today though when I pulled a blue stitch out of my neck, over a year after the op!! 

Hi

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply. I seem to have missed your reply back to me.

That's great news that your results were benign! I think that you're right that as time goes by you'll gradually relax but it's only been a year since your melanoma diagnosis so don't be too hard on yourself for worrying when you notice a change to your skin.

x

Hello, I know this was a while ago now but can I ask how long the freckle/mole was there before you noticed it and did it look like a regular mole? I had a mole appear on my scar recently, though it has since faded… I have an appointment booked in because it has faded, which seems unusual, but the mole looked ordinary when it appeared. 

Many thanks