Skin cancer?

I'm going to make an appointment with a GP tonight but need to post here as I'm terrified. I've posted on here once or twice about several problems I've had with my skin...but now I can't help but feel they're all linked somehow.

It started off with some moles on my legs starting to crust over slightly...it looked more like dry skin (my legs were dry at the time) but now I think it was crusty. Then I found a lump in my armpit...thought it was an enlarged gland because I was ill...it went after about 3 days so I stopped worrying. When I shaved my armpits last night though I noticed a mole had devloped there. It's more like a freckle than a mole...and there's a few underneath and on my shoulder. They weren't there before. And a couple of moles on my legs still look really dry and a one has changed shape. I'm terrified. I know I have to go to the GP...will he/she tell me straight away if they think it is skin cancer? I am so scared...I can't bring myself to tell my parents- both my dads parents died from cancer and he thought he had cancer recently but he didn't, it was a harmless lump. I'm at uni and just feel so worried about it...I feel sick. It's got to the stage where I think I have melanoma and it's spread across my body. That enlarged gland I had apparently means if I have skin cancer it's spread there and I have 30-50% chance of surviving. I've never been this scared in my life.

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

OP

Also, my skin has been itching and I've had a mole removed before which makes it worse...

Reply 2

Democracy

21

Do you usually use sun cream, a hat, etc when you go out into the sun? Good luck anyway :smile:

Reply 3

Cyclotron

go to the doctor, good luck

Reply 4

Jennybean

13

Firstly, don't panic. If it is skin cancer, it is ultimately very treatable and your prognosis will be good. The lump you are describing under your armpit could be a sign that it has spread to your lymphatic system, which would worsen your prognosis, but equally it could be something completely unrelated and innocent. Plenty of people get lumps in their armpits, it's a very common thing and if it went away quickly then it's even less likely to be a cancerous lymph node. Obviously no one on here can give you definite answers but I think it's a good idea that you calm down a little so you are better prepared to deal with any diagnosis. Your doctor will likely take a sample of any possible cancerous tissue to be sent off for biopsy testing and you may have to wait a few days to get the results of those. Please be assured that cancer is not necessarily a death sentence and we have some great technology in this country for treating the disease. I really hope everything goes well for you at the docs and wish you all the best with your health.

Reply 5

gagol

I agree with Jennybean, calm down and see your doc and you never know you might just have xma (spelling but you know what i mean) and I dont have skin cancer and I sometimes notice new freckles or moles...

Reply 6

Jennybean

13

Gaylee

you never know you might just have xma

Eczema

Yes I mean this is the other thing. There are a multitude of skin complaints you could have, from eczema to irritant dermatitis. You really shouldn't panic til you've seen a doctor; what you've described by no means sounds attributable solely to cancer. Lots of people have very moley skin and develop new moles regularly. If you've had dry skin on your legs then it wouldn't surprise me if the moles were dry too. Plus, how do you mean that having had a mole removed makes it worse? Having a mole removed most definitely doesn't increase your chances of contracting cancer, don't worry about that.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

OP

I've been researching it...and some guy had melanoma and a lump in his armpit and this is 'metastatic melanoma' which barely anyone survives.

The reason I said having a mole removed makes it worse is because the doctor obviously thought it was dangerous enough to be removed and maybe that I'm prone to skin cancer more than average?

I will phone the doctors in the morning, I am so so scared. Do you think I should tell my parents or wait until I've seen the doctor? I can't concentrate on my uni work or anything, I can't stop thinking about it.

Reply 8

Democracy

21

Anonymous

I've been researching it...and some guy had melanoma and a lump in his armpit and this is 'metastatic melanoma' which barely anyone survives.

The reason I said having a mole removed makes it worse is because the doctor obviously thought it was dangerous enough to be removed and maybe that I'm prone to skin cancer more than average?

I will phone the doctors in the morning, I am so so scared. Do you think I should tell my parents or wait until I've seen the doctor? I can't concentrate on my uni work or anything, I can't stop thinking about it.

I can imagine how difficult it must be, but if I were you, I wouldn't tell your parents yet. I mean, you don't want them to become overly stressed, especially if it doesn't turn out to be serious. Just hang in there, wait till the morning and get yourself an emergency appointment :smile:

Reply 9

Jennybean

13

Democracy

I have exzema. She displays none of the symptoms an exzema sufferer would have.

Did you neg rep me for my advice? You can't even spell eczema! It's a very wide ranging skin condition and I think you will find that dry, flakey skin most definitely does come under the symptoms. Just because it doesn't sound like YOUR eczema, doesn't mean it's NOT eczema.

OP did your doctor tell you why the mole was removed? It may not have been because it was potentially dangerous.

Edit: And I would recommend telling your parents as they may be able to offer you some reassuring information, as well as comfort and support.

Second Edit: Sorry Democracy, I know it wasn't you who negged me. Apologies for being snappy. Cyclotron could really do with learning the difference between "you're" and "your" as well for in future when he calls people irritating for giving advice that is actually true.

Reply 10

isabella

9

It's obviously ur decision if u tell your parents. Personally i think you should - so they can support you. Sharing your concerns with them,may make it a bit easier for you.

Try not to worry about things on the internet. Your doctor will be able to tell,if anything needs further investigation. If so will proably refer you to a dermatologist. But it may all be harmless, so try to not get yourself to worked up - until you've seen a doctor. (i know much easier said than done ).

Good luck. I'm sure everything will be fine :hugs:

Reply 11

Cyclotron

having moles removed can increase risk of skin cancer, hence why many leave them where they are

Reply 12

Jennybean

13

Cyclotron

having moles removed can increase risk of skin cancer, hence why many leave them where they are

Where did you just pull that from? That is complete rubbish. Trolling on threads is one thing but popping up to panic people over their health with nonsense based in absolutely no scientific or medical fact is really not on.

Reply 13

isabella

9

Cyclotron

having moles removed can increase risk of skin cancer, hence why many leave them where they are

Is that true ? Mum is having a mole removed (on her leg) :frown:

Are u sure that's right ? I'm worried now :frown:

Reply 14

Angelharpist

13

Well I keep developing extra freckles and moles everywhere, and when I went to my local skin clinic to get it all checked out they said that it's perfectly normal :smile:

Definitely see the doctor, but remember that it probably won't be as dire as you think - it's natural to think 'worst case scenario'...

Reply 15

Jennybean

13

isabella

Is that true ? Mum is having a mole removed (on her leg) :frown:

Are u sure that's right ? I'm worried now :frown:

No it's not true. I think I'm going to report that post. If anything, having the mole removed would at least reduce the risk of developing cancer in that area.

Reply 16

isabella

9

Jennybean

No it's not true. I think I'm going to report that post. If anything, having the mole removed would at least reduce the risk of developing cancer in that area.

That's what i thought. But that post just scared me :frown:

Thanks for your reassurance.

Reply 17

beach surf babe

14

If you are ever worried about a mole/its treatment, then see your doctor. Please don't state things as fact unless you can back it up.

Reply 18

Anonymous #1

OP

Thanks everyone...I've calmed down a bit now. I rang my mum because I was just getting in a bit of a state and she told me to go to the doctors and reassured me quite a bit. She told me to get the doctor to check out any moles I'm worried about so I will do that.

My mole was removed because it was very dark and quite big, and the doctor thought I might have trouble with it in the future. I have more moles than average I would say, but I am quite careful in the sun and prefer to stick in the shade. Saying that, I have been sunburned before and I guess it only takes a few times.

To the person who said removing moles increases risk of cancer- unless you have any evidence for that I think it's horrible that you said that when it was obvious I'm terrified about it.

I guess all I can do is wait for tomorrow...in some ways I hope they just remove any suspicious ones as I get so paranoid about them.

Thanks again everyone.

Reply 19

Cyclotron

having moles removed can increase risk of skin cancer, hence why many leave them where they are

i was actually wrong about this, was a story someone told me a while back, obviously was complete bull**** should have checked first, apologies for any distress caused!

Skin cancer?

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