I knew a young girl who had melanoma in the salivary gland. Bob Marley had melanoma on his big toe. It’s not just in areas exposed to the sun.
I had two neighbors die from Melanoma cancer within the same year. I don’t think they discovered the starting point for either one. I have moles all over and need to make an appointment with a dermatologist. Last time I went he took off several and a couple have grown back. 
14 days is a loooooooong time.
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Out of curiosity, how do you get melanoma from where the sun doesn't shine, I thought it's something to do with the sun.<<<
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NO NO NO! Melanoma can be ANYWHERE! (As I said up thread :). )
Yes sun exposure can cause melanoma but it can show up anywhere. Basal cell carcinoma shows up usually on sun exposed areas like the face, chest, etcetera.
My D’s biopsy results came back within 24-48 hours; I guess perhaps it depends on the lab. The dermatologist called us right away and confirmed that as she had suspected it was benign.
At age 16 or so, my very outdoorsy fair-haired son had a scary black spot on the sole of his foot. While he headed out to his summer job (on the beach) I hit the internet and developed a severe case of cyberchondria. Booked a derm appointment and worried the rest of the day. When he got home I asked to see it again. He said, “Oh that? I guess it was a piece of tar. Came off in the water.”
Benign. My doctor called me this morning. Said he went through the sample very carefully and looked at all portions of it. Whew. I feel better.
Fantastic news!
Thanks for sharing your story with us – including the happy ending.
I think a lot of people learned a great deal from this thread.
Great news. I hope everyone else awaiting a biopsy gets similar news.
Wonderful indeed!
Fantastic! Double QQs to you and the pup!
Wonderful!!
Great news.
Melanomas originate from different cells than other types of skin cancer- melanocytes. These cells produce melanin and can occur in other organs. A change in the cells causes them to proliferate out of control, becoming cancer. Just Googled melanoma briefly (its been a long time since I had medical school basic sciences including embryology)- the Mayo Clinic site came up near the top and has some good info. Radiation contributes to melanoma, but like smoking and lung cancer it is not the only cause, nor do all people with the known risk factors get it despite sun exposure. We don’t always know why cells go haywire. It would be simple if we could always predict things- if you do X, Y happens. But it doesn’t work that way. Risk factors have been identified but statistics do not mean you will or won’t get a cancer- they just mean you are more/less likely to. We also now know that the same cancers can be very different on a cellular level- cracking the genetic code is slowly having practical uses.
For the future- do not hesitate if a questionable lesion occurs again. Better to have benign lesions removed than figure since that first one was benign you can’t get skin cancer.
Great news for you, OP!
I mentioned above and in another thread about finally making an appointment to have the dermatologist check this place on my ankle that looks like a ringworm, but doesn’t itch or hurt and is not raised. She said it was telangiectasia, which is a long word that means permanently dilated capillaries, and is harmless. I find it odd that it has formed a perfect circle, but will go with what she said. I also have an ugly growth on my back that I can’t see well. It is seborrheic keratosis and is common and harmless, she said. I am relieved to have finally had these looked at and encourage everyone to make that appointment!
Great news, OP, and thank you for posting your story.
I saw a dermatologist this week, having waited far too long for a visit. No problems thankfully, but they already scheduled me for a re-check in 12 months. Everyone should be checked regularly.
Great news!
Best wishes for many QQs over the next few weeks.
My DH has a big alarming looking lump on his back. He made an appointment to have it checked out, and it is a completely harmless lipoma. So don’t fear the worst, just get it checked!!
My younger son was told his weird lumps were lipoma too.
I had an ugly dark spot on my leg that used to terrify me, even though my doctor swore it was benign. I finally decided that for a birthday present to myself I would have it removed so I didn’t have to worry about it any more. It was, of course, benign.
Three weeks later it grew back. Sigh… learning to live with it.