Holy moley!

[falcongrrl]

So yesterday as I was driving to my mom's house (in Lakeland, about an hour and a half away), I had this itching and burning spot on my chest. I kept scratching it even as I was trying not to. I figured it was a bite or two or just some sort of irritation. I planned to put some hydrocortisone cream on it and figured that would help the inflammation.

Except when I got to my mom's and looked at it, it wasn't a bite at all, but a mole - two small ones in fact. And they felt kind of...crusty and weepy. So I opted not to put anything on them.

After picking Dave up from work and managing to miss most of rush hour, we got back about 6:30 pm (we are down to one car now due to a dead fuel pump, but said fuel pump is being replaced, hopefully today). By the time I put my google fu to work it was about 7pm. I was a little worried about skin cancer sorts of things, of course, because everyone thinks it about moles that start doing weird stuff. But I felt like even skin cancer is mostly-treatable and I wasn't too worried.

Except that mole + itching only really comes back with one diagnosis, afaict from websearching. Melanoma. Add in the weepiness and the scabbiness and the fact that they're a little raised and it really doesn't sound good. The borders and color look a little suspicious. But these moles are small...maybe 1-2 mm at their greatest points. So even if it's bad, it's most likely caught-early bad. I'm really thankful for itchy weepy skin too, that says, umm, hey? possible problem here!

I'm still optimistic. Correlation != causation, as Watts reminded me last night. It could be irritated skin that just happens to correspond to where moles also are. It could be some sort of irritated benign moles.

And the reality is that I haven't been as proactive about this as I need to be, most likely will be from here on out. Since I'm very fair-skinned and prone to dysplastic nevi, I really should be seeing a dermatologist once a year for a checkup, and I haven't been. That changes now.

I'm also realizing that I have this tendency to be a bit of a martyr, and I'm trying to figure out how to be more assertive and proactive. I don't want to rely upon being scared to teach me how to live. I want to live, first and foremost.

So...that's what's going on with me. Really trying to think about something else and not doing so well. But I have an appt with a nurse practitioner in the morning (my doctor is on vacation) and probably will be referred to a dermatologist after that. I'm really hoping they will just go ahead and cut this thing off. Afterwards, we'll see.

Good thoughts and prayers appreciated, as always. Thanks to those of you who have been sending them.

*hughughug*

Comments

[glashund.livejournal.com]

I beam good vibe and just-a-harmless-itchy rays at you!

[momentrabbit.livejournal.com]

Hugs, thoughts, and bloopyheadbeams! Zapzap! n.n

[jenny_evergreen]

Oh, alright, universe, I'll go talk to my doctor about my weird itchy mole now. You can stop hinting.

I hope in both our cases it's nothing.

And being proactive is HARD, but TOTALLY worth it, imo.

*HUG*

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

*hug* Oh, wow. I do hope in both our cases it's nothing, but yeah, big hint from the universe there to get checked out.

[jenny_evergreen]

Yeah. I have an appointment this afternoon. *hug*

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

Keep me posted. I'll let you know how mine goes, too.

[beetiger.livejournal.com]

Best of wishes for a simple solution.

[pthalo]

Sending warm thoughts. Do get it checked out.

[balinares.livejournal.com]

Bloody hell, what's it with year 2009 already? }:( Lots of hugs to you, dear. I'm grateful this was noticed early enough that it has no chance to leave more in its wake than a grumpy footnote in the annals of the year, but, still. Dammit.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

Hey, you have a new healthy dragonlet, so you can't complain too much. ;-) Thanks for the good wishes, dear. (And I know how exhausting and overwhelming new parenting can be, too, so feel free to ping me if you want to talk.)

[balinares.livejournal.com]

I know. I'm the lucky b*st*rd with a good 2009 so far, but, all the same, mrah. :/

And, thank you for the offer of parental support. I don't pop up on IM very often at all these days, but when I do, I might well lean toward you for advice and sympathy. Who'd have thought such little creatures could spend so much time shrieking so loud? :}

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

How old is he now? Wow, I can remember those early evening periods; they're so difficult. It gets easier, usually around the 6-8 week mark. Hang in there.

Suspicious Moles

[(Anonymous)]

Please go to see a dermatologist and get it checked out. The sooner the better Visit www.asds.net to find a dermatologist year you.

Re: Suspicious Moles

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

I think that it'll be better for my primary doc to send me to a dermatologist - that I'll get in to see someone faster that way.

[whitecrow0.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I have moles that itch sometimes, too. I asked my derm about it and he was mean about me scratching them. :P

[pyat.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Much luck getting this resolved, ma'am!

[rowyn]

Yipe! Hope you're able to get it checked out fast and that it's nothing serious. *hugs*

[meepkitty.livejournal.com]

Lots of happy positive squidgy thoughts your way, pronto! :)

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

Hang on, I need to shift the orbital wellness beam platform into a lower orbit... OK, good. Beaming commences.

Srsly, I hope very much that this is nothing, and wish you the best. *hug*

[tyrc.livejournal.com]

I am with Un, sending good vibe beams, and harmless-.. well, maybe a not-itchy ray, that sounds better!