Mole!

[Rickyy]

I've a large mole on my back. I had it checked by my doctor a few years ago and she said it looked ok but to keep an eye on it etc.

A couple of days ago I managed to tear it in work! I didn't realise until I showered that evening and caught it with the towel. It bled a lot and had during the day judging by my t-shirt!

Do I need to get it looked at? Booking appointments at my Doctors is nigh on impossible and would have to be an emergency appointment, which is why I'm hesitant to do it unless necessary. Everyone I've spoken to has assured me that I'll die.

[Peanut Gallery]

I have a couple of small ones on my back, I have removed the top of one of them a couple of times (in-inadvertently scratch the back of my neck, remove top of mole, red stuff everywhere) - Because I know what caused it I am not concerned, and SWMBO looks at it occasionally, no change to size, colour or shape once the skin has healed over.

I have pulled one out by the root (not recommanded!) - lots of red stuff again.

Keep an eye on it for changing shape etc while it heals, as there is no doubt a reason the towel managed to break your skin.

[Rickyy]

It wasn't the towel that did the initial damage, I must have caught it climbing through a suspended ceiling earlier in the day, the towel just reopened it.

Thanks for that, I'll keep an eye on it.

[motco]

Phone for an appointment and say, when interrogated by the receptionist, that you have a worrying looking mole that has started bleeding. If the receptionist is on the ball you will get an appointment PDQ because moles are potentially very nasty. Only a trained medic will be able to advise properly.

[Flibble]

Get it checked. My girlfriend has melanoma on her back from a mole and seriously, you do not want it, and the sooner it's caught the better. If they catch it early they just chop the mole off, happy days, later and it get complicated fast.

[Brads67]

Don`t worry too much though.

You had it looked and , it`s fine. You hurt it, it bled. End off.

If it changes colour / shape / texture or feeling get it rechecked.

I have dozens of the buggers and had one checked yesterday.

If it is in a place that gets caught a bit and you hurt it regularly, get it removed. Again I`ve had a few done, no great shakes.

[Rickyy]

Bit of an update.

My OH had a mole on her face removed and asked the dermatologist to have a look at mine.

He seemed concerned and urged I get a referral. My GP wasn't concerned, but took pictures and referred me.

Had a phone call from the Hospital a week later saying they were keen to see me. Had my appointment today and they've booked me in on Monday to have it removed as they are concerned about it!

[drfrank]

With any mole it is always worth having it checked out.
A suspicious skin lesion (? Cancer) should be referred through the two week wait pathway to your local NHS hospital (plastics or dermatology). It is generally a very good service.

[Rickyy]

I can't fault the hospital staff at all, very efficient service and fantastic people.

Just hoping the cause for concern is due to the damage from when I tore it and nothing more sinister.

[Donbot]

Those who have had moles removed how painful was it, and how long did it take to heal? Were there any problems while it was healing? Can you still exercise, or will lots of sweat cause problems?

I have a large mole on my back that I've been meaning to get removed since I can remember, as I catch it every so often which causes bleeding and can be very painful.

[Rickyy]

Donbot said:

Those who have had moles removed how painful was it, and how long did it take to heal? Were there any problems while it was healing? Can you still exercise, or will lots of sweat cause problems?

I have a large mole on my back that I've been meaning to get removed since I can remember, as I catch it every so often which causes bleeding and can be very painful.

I'll let you know on Monday!

I've been told I need to rest up for a few days after, so I'd imagine it'll be a bit sore.

[Donbot]

Please do.

Is this going through the NHS or private?

[Rickyy]

NHS.

[Oakey]

Donbot said:

Those who have had moles removed how painful was it, and how long did it take to heal? Were there any problems while it was healing? Can you still exercise, or will lots of sweat cause problems?

I have a large mole on my back that I've been meaning to get removed since I can remember, as I catch it every so often which causes bleeding and can be very painful.

I had a mole removed from my back, it was about the size of a 5p. I had it done at my GP's. I originally went in to have a small mole (like a coco pop) removed from just above my belly button but at the last minute I decided I wanted the one on my back removed instead. It took maybe 10 minutes? They inject you with something to numb the area and then just slice it out, you don't really feel anything. Then they stitch it up and send you on your way. I don't think it was painful at all, however, I did have this weird feeling immediately afterwards like my skin was being pulled tight which made me more uncomfortable than the actual procedure.

[Peanut Gallery]

Donbot said:

Those who have had moles removed how painful was it, and how long did it take to heal? Were there any problems while it was healing? Can you still exercise, or will lots of sweat cause problems?

I have a large mole on my back that I've been meaning to get removed since I can remember, as I catch it every so often which causes bleeding and can be very painful.

The one I had removed from my back a while ago was completely painless. Picture a piece of paper on your back, and someone running a pen over the top of the paper, just the weight of the pen, no more. The first I knew that they were not marking me up was when I turned my head and saw them pulling needles and thread and sewing me up, and felt a dribble of red stuff down my side. I was told not to use the slides at the pool for a while, but apart from that very little, just go to a nurse in 2 weeks or so to remove the stitches.

[Donbot]

That's reassuring. Is there no aftercare, like having to change plasters or anything? I live on my own so could be a problem.

I'll go to the surgery tomorrow to ask about it.

Thanks

[Oakey]

It's stitched so it just heals cleanly, little to no aftercare required. I can't even remember if I had to go back to have the stitches removed or whether they were the dissolvable type

[Rickyy]

I've got to go for a follow up appointment 3 weeks after it's been removed.

[Peanut Gallery]

Donbot said:

That's reassuring. Is there no aftercare, like having to change plasters or anything? I live on my own so could be a problem.

I'll go to the surgery tomorrow to ask about it.

Thanks

It was a while ago... I do not remember any aftercare that was needed, maybe change of plaster once.

If you are having issues my mom needed a plaster changing that she could not do herself, so went into her GP, the nurse did it no problem at all for her, I don't think she had an appointment.

Ricky, they also take the bit the chop out of you away, send it for testing, and send you back a letter saying "No worries, it is all fine, nothing to be worried about" - or they follow up if it is something to be concerned about.

[covmutley]

May be different due to size, but I had a small mole removed from under my nose privately for cosmetic reasons. Looked like a drippy nose,!

It was a while ago, but from memory the doctor numbed it with cream, numbed it further with an injection I barely felt then shaved it off which I didn't feel at all. I think he then burnt it to seal it and then applied cream, which I had to keep applying for a couple of days..

All very easy and only about £250 I think?