First Visit to Dermatologist - 3 Biopsies! - Cancer: Skin Message Board

Warren123 · 08-09-2006, 04:03 PM

I posted this on the Skin board before I knew there was a skin cancer board, so I am re-posting it here:
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I went to a dermatologist for the first time in my life recently. I should have gone earlier because I am relatively fair skinned, have had some skin cancer in my family and used to get sun burned as a kid in the summer before the better sun screens came out (I'm 40 years old). I joke that I have the skin of an 80 year old because my skin tone is somewhat poor probably due to sun damage in the past, although I have generally been careful and kept out of the sun unprotected for the past 5 to 10 years. I have a lot of moles especially on my back but also on my stomach, chest of various sizes. I also have a lot of "skin tags" mostly under my arms.

Anyway, the dermatologist examined me and took a shaving biopsy of three of my moles. I was very alarmed by this although I have no experience with dermatology/dermatologists. I should get results back from the biopsies in about 10 days.

Any comments? I realize worrying does me no good, but has anyone else ever been to the dermatologist and gotten three biopsies at once? Do dermatologists often take a biopsy if there is little chance of cancer? Was he being extra cautious or am I fried?

jcjwillis · 08-10-2006, 08:32 AM

You say you had three moles removed maybe they are checking each one of them. This is common. Are they running three tests on just one mole? This is a little less common but it sounds like they are being very careful and this is a good thing. Try not to worry and let us know what you find out.
Hope this helps a little!

wakkochic17 · 08-10-2006, 10:58 AM

the first time I ever went for a skin check (at 26) I had 2 biopsied. She wanted to do 3 but my insurance wouldn't cover it so she said to keep a strong eye on the one she didn't biopsy (thankfully that mole hasn't changed a bit in the last few years). So it's not abnormal. It's better to have too many checked then too little!

Warren123 · 08-16-2006, 10:43 AM

The biopsies were a bit more of a pain to heal than I thought. They are just about healed now almost a week later. Do they usually scrape deep, or is it just me taking a while to heal?

frogholler · 08-17-2006, 05:25 PM

My husband had 6 or 7 moles biopsied on his first visit. Any suspicious moles are checked out and that is a good thing. He now has to go back in soon and have two more biopsied. So far, everything has been ok. He also has a lot of them on his back and chest. Don't worry. Better to be safe than sorry down the road. Good luck.