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What Does A Mole On Breast Indicate?
Question: Hi.
I am worried about a mole I have on the side of my breast. It is certainly unusual looking. I know it has always been there for as long as I remember but feel that the darker part inside may have grown. I cannot be sure as can't recollect how it used to look. I don't think it has changed significantly since I noticed that it looked strange over a year ago. It has never bled, blistered or itched except when I accidentally took the top off it a couple of months ago with a sharp fingernail, then it bled and as a a bit painful bit returned to it's previous appearance. It is now stinging when I touch but I have not noticed this before and have been pulling at it lots over the last few days to look at it so that may be why?!
I have made an appointment with the gp but am very anxious now, especially as I noted it looked odd over a year ago. Does it sound as though it could be melanoma and if so, bearing in mind it looked like this over a year ago, would it have almost cerainly spread?
I am worried about a mole I have on the side of my breast. It is certainly unusual looking. I know it has always been there for as long as I remember but feel that the darker part inside may have grown. I cannot be sure as can't recollect how it used to look. I don't think it has changed significantly since I noticed that it looked strange over a year ago. It has never bled, blistered or itched except when I accidentally took the top off it a couple of months ago with a sharp fingernail, then it bled and as a a bit painful bit returned to it's previous appearance. It is now stinging when I touch but I have not noticed this before and have been pulling at it lots over the last few days to look at it so that may be why?!
I have made an appointment with the gp but am very anxious now, especially as I noted it looked odd over a year ago. Does it sound as though it could be melanoma and if so, bearing in mind it looked like this over a year ago, would it have almost cerainly spread?
Brief Answer:
Kindly provide details and send pictures
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the mole and possibility of melanoma in the same.
I have gone through the complete query and analyzed the pictures. I can make out that there is central dark portion surrounded by a lighter area but I am not able to make out the exact dimensions of the affected area.
Can you please let me know the exact dimensions of the mole or roughly is it larger than the pencil eraser (less than 6 mm or larger than that).
It would be better if you can upload few good resolution pictures from close up and distance so that I can analyze it best.
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-Dermatology
Kindly provide details and send pictures
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the mole and possibility of melanoma in the same.
I have gone through the complete query and analyzed the pictures. I can make out that there is central dark portion surrounded by a lighter area but I am not able to make out the exact dimensions of the affected area.
Can you please let me know the exact dimensions of the mole or roughly is it larger than the pencil eraser (less than 6 mm or larger than that).
It would be better if you can upload few good resolution pictures from close up and distance so that I can analyze it best.
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-Dermatology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi
Thanks for the reaponse. I cant get pictures nuch better than these. It is about 6 mm in length and 4 mm accross. That is the lighter part. There is then a darker brown part in the middle which is a out 4 mm long and a couple accross. It is only the 2 shades in colour. I am now noting that it is sensitive to touch but i did knock it off several weeks back and i have been analysiang it lots. I am worried sick especially about it having spread. I did recently have a full blood count which was fine.
Thanks for the reaponse. I cant get pictures nuch better than these. It is about 6 mm in length and 4 mm accross. That is the lighter part. There is then a darker brown part in the middle which is a out 4 mm long and a couple accross. It is only the 2 shades in colour. I am now noting that it is sensitive to touch but i did knock it off several weeks back and i have been analysiang it lots. I am worried sick especially about it having spread. I did recently have a full blood count which was fine.
Brief Answer:
Not melanoma
Detailed Answer:
Hello young lady,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks for posting important informations.
After analysing the complete query let me first of all reassure you that your mole is not matching with the findings of melanoma.
My findings are based on following important points:
- In general we see all moles with suspicion if these are larger than 6 mm in size or are of different colour of multiple hues or if there is some discharge or deep redness with severe tenderness or related issues.
You can yourself notice that in your mole it is just 6 mm and only two shades of black to brown colour with only mild tenderness that too because of the fact of repeated touching the area and fiddling with the area.
so none of the features are exactly matching with the suspicious nature of the mole. Mind it that still I am using the term " suspicious nature" and not melanoma proper.
Secondly moles are considered abnormal in person above the age of 50 years or older than that. Yours is also not the age of melanoma.
Melanoma are generally seen on exposed areas and in your case it is present on covered area.
Not all the moles turn into melanoma and only very few percentage of mole turn into melanoma with prior change of colour size and and all the related features as enumerated above.
Lastly the part of tenderness is just because of repeated touching the area which is usual part of all skin tissues.
So do not be tensed regarding possibility of melanoma.
But as you are quite tensed about the melanoma part so I suggest you to get it exised when you meet your doctor. Additionally get histopathological examination of the skin tissue so that all your doubts gets cleared.
I hope these informations will relax your mind. I will be glad to answer any further queries or if not then can close the discussion and rate the answer.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-Dermatology
Not melanoma
Detailed Answer:
Hello young lady,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks for posting important informations.
After analysing the complete query let me first of all reassure you that your mole is not matching with the findings of melanoma.
My findings are based on following important points:
- In general we see all moles with suspicion if these are larger than 6 mm in size or are of different colour of multiple hues or if there is some discharge or deep redness with severe tenderness or related issues.
You can yourself notice that in your mole it is just 6 mm and only two shades of black to brown colour with only mild tenderness that too because of the fact of repeated touching the area and fiddling with the area.
so none of the features are exactly matching with the suspicious nature of the mole. Mind it that still I am using the term " suspicious nature" and not melanoma proper.
Secondly moles are considered abnormal in person above the age of 50 years or older than that. Yours is also not the age of melanoma.
Melanoma are generally seen on exposed areas and in your case it is present on covered area.
Not all the moles turn into melanoma and only very few percentage of mole turn into melanoma with prior change of colour size and and all the related features as enumerated above.
Lastly the part of tenderness is just because of repeated touching the area which is usual part of all skin tissues.
So do not be tensed regarding possibility of melanoma.
But as you are quite tensed about the melanoma part so I suggest you to get it exised when you meet your doctor. Additionally get histopathological examination of the skin tissue so that all your doubts gets cleared.
I hope these informations will relax your mind. I will be glad to answer any further queries or if not then can close the discussion and rate the answer.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-Dermatology
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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