Mole advice - remove?
Discussion
Not an embedded spy or the little blind critters, but a skin mole!
It appeared on my chest when I was maybe 35 - so 10 years ago and it a raised brown lump, a couple of doctors have seen it over the years and said it’s fine. But at my company medical this year I got a bit of a grilling about whether it had changed at all… honest answer is I don’t think so, but couldn’t be 100% (depending on their definition of change).
So, is it worth getting something like this whipped off - would that remove the chance of it changing into something dodgy, or doesn’t it work like that? I wouldn’t have thought twice about it had this doctor not laboured the point about it ‘changing’.
It appeared on my chest when I was maybe 35 - so 10 years ago and it a raised brown lump, a couple of doctors have seen it over the years and said it’s fine. But at my company medical this year I got a bit of a grilling about whether it had changed at all… honest answer is I don’t think so, but couldn’t be 100% (depending on their definition of change).
So, is it worth getting something like this whipped off - would that remove the chance of it changing into something dodgy, or doesn’t it work like that? I wouldn’t have thought twice about it had this doctor not laboured the point about it ‘changing’.
IANAD
If the doctor had a good look at it and didn't recommend its removal then I'd that you are good, for now.
Take a photo of it, put a reminder on your phone to take another one in 6 months time, then compare them. Repeat until you are old and grey. Any issues, show the doctor the pictures.
That is pretty much what the NHS (and other) mole mapping service does, but with longer periods between photos
Should you get it removed as a precautionary measure? I can't see any downside to this, other than getting somebody to do it - does your private healthcare cover it? If no, that's a conversation you'd need to have with your GP. I had one removed years ago by my GP even though he wasn't overly concerned about it
If the doctor had a good look at it and didn't recommend its removal then I'd that you are good, for now.
Take a photo of it, put a reminder on your phone to take another one in 6 months time, then compare them. Repeat until you are old and grey. Any issues, show the doctor the pictures.
That is pretty much what the NHS (and other) mole mapping service does, but with longer periods between photos
Should you get it removed as a precautionary measure? I can't see any downside to this, other than getting somebody to do it - does your private healthcare cover it? If no, that's a conversation you'd need to have with your GP. I had one removed years ago by my GP even though he wasn't overly concerned about it
Moles are 'incredibly common' and usually 'harmless'.
If one 'changes' eg: colour, size, shape etc, then it's worth having it checked out.
Me? I wouldn't be 'grilled' by any doctor, that's not their job. I'd get a 'second' opinion.
I have been known to even get a 'third' opinion. You'd be surprised at how one opinion can sometimes be way different from another.
If one 'changes' eg: colour, size, shape etc, then it's worth having it checked out.
Me? I wouldn't be 'grilled' by any doctor, that's not their job. I'd get a 'second' opinion.
I have been known to even get a 'third' opinion. You'd be surprised at how one opinion can sometimes be way different from another.
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