Skin Cancer Support Group
If you or a loved one has skin cancer, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, and meet others going through the same. Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin, which can have many causes, including repeated severe sunburns or long-term exposure to the sun. Skin cancer generally develops in the outermost layer of skin so a tumor is usually...
Hi everyone,
It seems that not many of your doctors do Mole mapping on you even though you have had skin cancer. Mapping is extremely important for anyone who has had any type of skin cancer. ESPECIALLY melanoma. So I was thinking that you guys could probably do it yourselves with the help of your spouse or family member. Basically, all you would need to do is draw a blank body and have someone mark the color and sizes of the moles you have on your body. Use that as a map and have them re-check it against your body every 3-6 months. You will be able to see if any of the previous moles have gotten darker or larger from the original map. Just a suggestion. Time is money and it seems that alot of dr.s dont want to take the time and waste their money on saving your lives. Sad but true. I am lucky that my derm does this and just wanted to pass it on to others.
Hope everyone is well
Melissa
It seems that not many of your doctors do Mole mapping on you even though you have had skin cancer. Mapping is extremely important for anyone who has had any type of skin cancer. ESPECIALLY melanoma. So I was thinking that you guys could probably do it yourselves with the help of your spouse or family member. Basically, all you would need to do is draw a blank body and have someone mark the color and sizes of the moles you have on your body. Use that as a map and have them re-check it against your body every 3-6 months. You will be able to see if any of the previous moles have gotten darker or larger from the original map. Just a suggestion. Time is money and it seems that alot of dr.s dont want to take the time and waste their money on saving your lives. Sad but true. I am lucky that my derm does this and just wanted to pass it on to others.
Hope everyone is well
Melissa
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Thanks for the important tip.
jamiana
I go back to the dr today to see if we can figure out what to do about my shoulder that still isn't healing the way it should! I have cut/copied your message and I'm taking it with me to see what she says! My suggestion about doing this was as you said, not taken very well. I hope hearing it from someone else will give her the push she needs to agree to it! Thank you sooooo much for writing this and giving us the chance to let our drs. know how it could help us and them in the long run! Have a great week and know that you are always in my prayers!
Peace&Love,
Linda
It is so disturbing to me that doctors would not want to take 20 minutes of their money making time, to do precautionary measures for such a terrible and deadly problem. Isnt PREVENTION something the doctors strive for??? I just cant comprehend it. I can kind of understand if a normal, healthy skinned person wanted a mole mapping done, but for someone who has had skin cancer before not giving it to is ridiculous! I know there arent many derms that do this (from people in the group). I was under the impression that everyone who has had any type of skin cancer was required to have it done by the SKIN DOCTOR.......I feel so bad that you have to convince your doctor of doing this for you. Shame on them. Please keep me updated on how it goes. If I were closer, Id mole map you myself ") Im pretty much a pro at skin. LOL
Hugs
Melissa
I am new here. I had a wide excision and a node biopsy for my melanoma almost three years ago. I had thirteen staples in my arm from that and thank god, not another positive biopsy since. (knock on wood) My derm insisted I do a mole mapping and he told me to never hesitate to let him know if I feel someting is new or strange. Nobody knows my body better than me. He often refers back to the original pictures and he frequently takes new pics. I thought that this was routine but it sounds like I am very lucky to have him. I think that you guys have excellent advice and I wish I knew about this when I had my surgery, what wonderful support. I strongly encourage you to do the mole mapping even if you have to do it yourself. Good luck to all of you!!
WOW....you really have a wonderful and thurough derm! I cant believe they take pictures of your moles. That is awesome! I have a wonderful derm who mole maps me but hasnt brought out the camera yet :)
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have this done, even if it is just by a family member. My first pre-melanoma (after the MM) was a tiny dark dot that hadnt been there before. She asked what I thought about having it shaved. I said "Get it off!". it was melanoma in-situ. Looked completely normal.Just a dark tiny dot. Doing this, having someone look at your body monthly if you can find a derm to do it (cant believe it!) can save your life.
Hugs to all,
Melissa
He spent his entire preteen years with the sun on his back here in southern California.
If I had only known then what I know now. We have no other history of skin cancer in our family.
Thank you for posting and thanks for the detailed info!
Sounds like you and your son are definitely in need of mole mapping...Its totally shocking to me that so many derms poo poo this and find it uneccessary. Push for it and if they wont do it for you, have someone else in your family do it. And, make sure your son gets his moles checked out. If you had MM he is more prone to it as well.
Hugs
Melissa