I have an appointment with my dermatologist in a few days – but I find I am freaking out about this change in a mole and I am wondering what anyone knows about these things.
I had a small mole on the inside of my little toe, next to the 4th toe. One of those spots that has never ever seen the sun! It was tiny – maybe half the size of a pencil eraser. It’s been there for a long time. I looked at it last week, and it’s bigger. Maybe 2x the size of a pencil eraser. Managed to take a photo of it because it is so hard to see … and it’s multi colored, larger, asymmetrical, ragged borders – and this is all in maybe 2 months. So I know it meets the criteria for further review. I don’t think it is raised or lumpy.
I am trying to second guess what happens next. I assume if he agrees that it’s a questionable or worse lesion, he’s going to biopsy it on the spot or within a few days. It’s in such a delicate spot that I’m worried about recovery and being able to keep up with my fitness and competition schedule. (I’ve just lost 25 lbs, feel great, and have dog agility trials every weekend from the end of this month through Halloween).
You need to take a deep breath. Only your dermatologist will be able to tell you what is going on with your toes. No one here can give you a diagnosis. If the derm finds the spot suspicious, he or she will remove it and send it for a biopsy. Considering that plenty of other cancers actually involve major surgery to get a biopsy, a toe skin biopsy should be a piece of cake. A pathologist will review the biopsy. There are two options: either it is benign or malignant. It is benign, then you are good to go. If it is malignant, the spot will probably be removed and a treatment plan will be assessed from there, which may or may not have an impact on your fitness regime. You really shouldn’t waste your time or energy fixating/worrying about this until you see a doctor.
At any rate, I hope that everything turns out to be good! If it isn’t, you will have to cross that bridge when you come to it.
If it’s not raised, then it’s most likely not deep so recovery from removal should be easy. I’ve had several removed from different areas over the past 2 years…one being melanoma but quite small. I would think you could block out that small spot of pain quite easily. That’s just based on my experience.
But, we’re talking possible cancer…and you’re worried about what? It’s not like you’re gonna hold off on whatever the doctor suggests, so why waste your time worrying about it?
You know you are doing the right, prudent and only thing by getting this looked at immediately. Yes the derm will most likely remove it, perhaps even take wider margins and who knows if they will have to go deep at all. I am so sorry you are going through this, but you really dont have a choice. Ya gotta get it looked at and biopsied. Dont mess around with possible ,melanoma. I’ve had squamous cell skin CA and I get checked every 6 mos. Hang in there. BTW have you looked at this? Does it help at all? https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/m—p/melanoma/signs-symptoms
FWIW I had a small mole located between my toes taken off twenty years ago. I didn’t know when it appeared but it hadn’t been there all my life so my dermatologist insisted it had to go. She was adamant.
It was nothing.
Being careful with the wound was a bother for about a week, then I was good to go. I bet you will be able to continue with many exercises you do: walking, lifting weights. I remember I couldn’t run, but could lift.
@jym626 I did find that last week when I saw the photo of my toe. And I think it’s all of ABCDE … that’s why I called my dermatologist right away.
I should probably just call him and talk to him while I am waiting to get in – he is a friend (and former pet shop customer) who dropped everything one day to come to the store and see one of my employees in the shop for an infected tattoo when his office couldn’t fit her in for a same-day appointment. I saved his leopard gecko’s life about 10 years ago and he’s never forgotten!
That does seem like an odd place to get a skin cancer, my melanoma was in an exposed spot. It was “in situ”, but they still took huge margins and I have a big scar. But they did the surgery with local anesthetic and the recovery was easy.
You are doing the right thing by going to your dermatologist. Right now the priority is the mole between your toes. Your fitness schedule doesn’t matter if your health deteriorates because you have cancer. So finding out what the mole is and dealing with it should be your focus.
If you have to have surgery, there are, as others have said, things you can do to exercise until you are “whole” again.
Our D just had a mole on her back removed by a dermatologist. They sent it to the lab, just to check but don’t think it’s suspicious. It was in a spot that would get irritated by bra straps and sometimes accidentally scratched. It was also tough for D to observe and see whether it grew. The dermatologist gave shots of local anesthetic all around the mole until D was numb. She then burned and scraped it to minimize the chance that it will grow back and leave the smallest, least noticeable scar possible.
You have made a prudent decision, OP, to go to the dermatologist and follow his/her advice. Most likely, it’s nothing, but much better to be safe than sorry!
physician here. Worst case scenario is that it is something- better taken care of sooner than later (kudos to you for making the appointment now instead of being in hopeful denial). If it is nothing you can be relieved of worry. I personally had a small mole that turned black but otherwise would not have raised any red flags- glad I noticed it (on arm where one never even easily sees in a mirror). Some 13 years post cut and cure.
It’s still a possible melanoma – but it’s not between my toes anymore, it’s on the way to the lab. My post-op instructions are to elevate it when not active and to keep moving and walking.
I had a patient that had melanoma under his great toe. So glad you went straight to the Derm Dr.
My mom has had melanoma twice and is doing just fine! You are in great hands. Prayers for you!
If it is anything other than benign, ask for a copy of your pathology report. If it is melanoma, they will need to go back and get wider margins, so knowing the pathology will help you research the best options. Good luck!
PS - Melanoma can show up anywhere. Basal cell is usually where the sun hits skin.