Hi, I was in the sun last week for only about an hour(please don't fuss at me,I have enough going wrong in my life right now).Anyway,I got a slight redness on chest from it,not a bad burn at all. I watch my skin very closely because I live in fear of evry little "thing" being skin cancer.For the past 6 months I had been taking antibiotics (doxicycline)and applying a topical lotion to chest area for folliculitis,I stopped about 3 weeks ago.Anyway, a few days after being in the sun,this weird looking "thing" popped up on my chest,hard to describe but will try,it is on rt. breast,close to breast bone,it is flesh colored with a cauliflower looking top on it,in a circle,with a red ring around it,probably no bigger than the top of a pencil eraser.I am scared out of my mind! Melanoma would not "pop up" that quick would it? Could it be basal cell,squamous cell or just a reaction the burn it self? Please help! I am worried out of my mind. My P.A. cannot see me until next Monday. I was just recently in for a yearly physical and mammogram with regular dr and nothing was there then ,just a few weeks ago.

Now I'm not a doctor, but it is my understanding that Melanoma is flat, black (or blackish purple) and irregular in shape. Your problem doesn't sound anything like that. So don't panic.

It "could" be a basal cell (or it might be nothing at all, and it will go away). In which case, the dermatologist simply takes it off during an office visit. It won't spread.

Have you had skin problems before?

I'm going through the same thing. I have a suspect spot on my face, but my dermatologist wants to wait on it before he does a biopsy, because it will scar. I also have a spot on my shoulder, that looks like acne without the white-head -a kind of dry patch. Might be psoriasis, but I'm going to have it checked out on Tuesday.

Needless to say, just like you, I'm worried about every abnormality!

The others here have more experience, and can give you more info.

Hello! I do have a few spots like you described (cauliflower looking), one on my shoulder and one on my chest. The one on my chest has black speckles. The dr has seen both of them and said it was something older ppl got and it was benign. Now I know that does not help you but benign was all I had to hear. I have every type of mole, age spot, AK etc so as long as it was not skin cancer I didn't ask questions. Dr does say I have interesting skin!!! Anyway, just get it checked but if it is like mine you are probably fine, just another sign of aging!!

Thank you both for your reply! I know I sound like I am "over reacting" but I do tend to worry and expect the worse with everything! I think alot of it has to do with the fact that I have worked in the medical field for so long and have seen so much "bad stuff",I just figure it will happen to me too!! I have lived such a clean life,never done anything "wrong" but sunbathe,so I just keep thinking I will eventually get skin cancer.

Calm down. Even if it's skin cancer it's in the very early stages. It's very curable at this point. You are going to worry yourself into all kinds of stress related problem if you keep going like this. Take it from someone who has had dozens of basal cells. They are no big deal when caught early. It doesn't even faze me anymore.

I would add to what Rick was saying...

I know a doctor who told me he is aware of only one incident in which someone died from basal cell skin cancer. It was a farmer who had one on his neck and let it grow for years, never bothering to have it checked out, etc. Ultimately, the thing ate into the artery in his neck! You have to be pretty daft and irresponsible to let something get that bad and not do anything about it.

My policy now is, if I see something unusual, I go to my dermatologist. I'm Irish and Swedish, so my skin is an accident waiting to happen. I was stupid when I was younger, by not putting sun screen on the face, etc.

Calm down. Even if it's skin cancer it's in the very early stages. It's very curable at this point. You are going to worry yourself into all kinds of stress related problem if you keep going like this. Take it from someone who has had dozens of basal cells. They are no big deal when caught early. It doesn't even faze me anymore.

I'll agree with that Rick. I had a malignant melanoma removed nearly 6 years ago & am still here with no further problems from it.
Lidia
:)