suspicious mole in 4yo - again

[Skim]

My 4.5 yo dd is having another very suspicious, fast-growing mole looked at and probably biopsied this week. She had one on her scalp last year, and it was removed (proved to be benign/normal), but it took several months to heal. Like this current mole, I noticed it after a growth spurt.

Even though I know the odds are super slim it's bad, I can't help feeling worried. Again. Plus it's awful watching her be so brave while a good chunk of her head is being removed.

Anyone else have experience with young childhood scalp moles? Help me feel less worried?

[sbgrace]

I was told it was normal for children's moles to grow as they grew. My son's wasn't removed and it's quite large and irregular.

[Skim]

Thanks. I've read that, too. My dd's doctors (PCP and Dermatologist) were concerned about her previous mole because it hurt all the time; it was bleeding; it was big and fast-growing; it was irregular and two-toned, and it was on her scalp. The mole she has now shares all traits except constant pain.

I appreciate the reassurance!

[Skim]

Anyone else deal with suspicious moles in their young children? Reassuring stories or btdt welcome....

[ASusan]

We have a mole story, but it's not impressive. DS has a very dark mole on his finger, which he was not born with. Family doctor's initial rxn was, "That's not a mole; that is ink." Then, upon discovery that it was, indeed, a mole, told us it needed to be removed. I said, somewhat laughingly, "What is the rate of melanoma in a 2-yr-old?" The answer: not zero. He said he could do remove it himself or refer us. We said he could remove it, and an appt was made for the week following. Before the appt, family doc called us to say that he was referring us to pediatric dermatologist. Moles on fingers require a certain type of anesthetic, which in small fingers is really close to a nerve. Ped Derm (and 4 observing students) checked mole with a microscope/light. Decided it was regular in color and not large in size, so we could watch and wait, rather than remove. Ped Derm said that moles that were typically associated with melanoma in children were ones that covered a significant percentage of body area and were generally there at birth. Ones that meet removal criteria sound like yours - growing, different shades, irregular shape.

I'm sorry you're dealing with what sounds like a mole that does, indeed, merit removing. I had one like this on my back, just under my bra strap. It was always getting scratched open and bleeding. But I was 30ish. Much scarier in a child.

[Skim]

update

ASusuan - thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you don't have to worry about the big scary C word with your dc right now. It's a tragedy that we have to worry at all about melanoma and young children.

Good news - our appointment today went well. The dermatologist assured me that this mole, and another one just like it but smaller and close by, is a non-worrisome kind of scalp mole... Right Now. We just have to monitor them closely, take regular pictures, and see him again in a year unless the mole changes at all. He described it as a "fried egg" mole, which I wouldn't have thought of but can see how it might fit. I am relieved! The redness is not actually bleeding, so hooray!

The one she had removed last year took forever to heal, and he said that although I didn't have him look at it while it was not healing and not healing and not healing (I foolishly thought that her scalp surgery would take a loooong time to heal), he feels dd probably has a tendency to something like "proud flesh", which is just an overactive immune system response to the first stage in skin tissue repair after trauma. So if she has to have another mole removed, we can expect to deal with that too.

Off to snuggle with dd!

[ASusan]

Well, phew! I'm glad this is how it turned out. And, you reminded me that we had the same response - several pictures and come back in a year.

Here's to stable moles .

[Skim]

Originally Posted by ASusan

Well, phew! I'm glad this is how it turned out. And, you reminded me that we had the same response - several pictures and come back in a year.

Here's to stable moles .

Stable Moles