Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you have your moles checked?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you have your moles checked? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 01:02:37 +0000 beachbee on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked/page/2#post-1615275 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:37:11 +0000 beachbee 1615275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went to see the dermatologist a few months after LO#1 was born since I had postpartum PUPPS and was in agony so I needed to find out what I could take. While I was in the office, we decided to do a skin check since I was already there. She found a spot that was a bit darker/larger than anything else so they went ahead and did a biopsy. It came back as Melanoma so I ended up having surgery to remove it. This was last Spring, and since then I've gone in for regular skin checks every 3 months. I'm due with LO# 2 any week now so I've been keeping a close eye on any spots since I think hormones contributed to the last one! Mrs. Bee on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked/page/2#post-1615151 Tue, 06 May 2014 06:17:44 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1615151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Cherrybee: i go to a dermatologist and i strip down and they visually inspect all my moles. no special uv light! Cherrybee on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked/page/2#post-1615081 Tue, 06 May 2014 02:59:28 +0000 Cherrybee 1615081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @lamariniere: Thanks, that's really interesting. You need a GP referral to see a dermatologist over here. :sad: Pumuckl on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked/page/2#post-1615075 Tue, 06 May 2014 02:52:40 +0000 Pumuckl 1615075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I try to go every two years or so. But I also look at my DH's moles and he at mine and if we notice something changing we go to the Dr.'s to get it checked out. This way we luckily caught my DH's melanoma early and it was easy to treat/remove. lamariniere on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1615074 Tue, 06 May 2014 02:52:26 +0000 lamariniere 1615074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Cherrybee: when I have gone to the dermatologist, they scan my whole body with a special light, kind of like a flashlight, I think it is a black light (??). I have one mole that we keep an eye on and then I am very freckley, so they make sure the freckles look normal. Last time she noticed one on my arm that was much darker than all of my other ones and asked me if I had noticed if it was new or had changed. She also asked if I noticed any other new freckles, but since I have so many, it is hard to say. My husband has lots of moles, especially on his torso and back, and has had several removed, so they always do the same light check and check for any abnormalities. If it makes any difference, we always go to the dermatologist when we are visiting my husband's family in France. We go to an in-hospital dermatologist. Cherrybee on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1615070 Tue, 06 May 2014 02:41:32 +0000 Cherrybee 1615070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @HLK208: @Elderberrygin: @lamariniere: @MrsMcD: @knittylady: @Mrs. Bee: @grizz: Ladies, when you say you "go once a year" for "an annual screening" - what does the doctor do?? We don't have "annual screening" or any other sort of "just in case" screening here. The instruction is to watch yor moles and visit your GP (general practitioner = family doctor) if your mole changes shape/size/colour. The GP then monitors the mole for 8 weeks, measuring with a ruler, and will refer you to a dermatologist when they are satisfied it's a problem.... I want to know more about this screening thing! fairy on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1614932 Mon, 05 May 2014 22:12:49 +0000 fairy 1614932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I started going once a year in 2012 because I have lots of moles, some in strange places like between toes and on the bottom of my foot. I was so worried going to my first appointment, but everything checked out. I used to get bad sunburn every year when I was little that would turn to impetigo on my face so I am worried about all that skin damage especially. Boheme on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1614190 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:51:38 +0000 Boheme 1614190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @HLK208: Same here :( Scares me with my history. HLK208 on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1614175 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:44:50 +0000 HLK208 1614175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Once a year but new moles are constantly popping up all over my body. Even with long sleeves and a high SPF. mrs. 64 on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1614170 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:40:45 +0000 mrs. 64 1614170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I try to go every year, though sometimes it is more like every 2. I'm always concerned about all of them and the dr barely gives everything a second glance. deactivated_account on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613721 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:59:43 +0000 deactivated_account 1613721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SeptMomma12: Thanks for the info! The PA at my friend's obgyn practice told her she had NEVER seen a pregnant girl with melanoma. (umm... someone fire her, STAT.) The doctor's have already mentioned a biopsy of the placenta. I'm really glad to her things worked out so well for you. I'm going to pass your story along to her. SeptMomma12 on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613707 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:54:00 +0000 SeptMomma12 1613707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MrsMcD: Both my dermatologist and the oncologist told me that they see a surprisingly high number of pregnant women with melanoma. They said science has been unable to find a link, but they're not convinced that pregnancy doesn't somehow play a role - who knows, maybe it just gets people to think about their health and go to the doctor! I had surgery at 16 weeks pregnant and LO (now 19 months) and I are both healthy. My doctors did choose to biopsy the placenta, just to be extra cautious - you may want to mention that to your friend. Elderberrygin on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613626 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:26:23 +0000 Elderberrygin 1613626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Annually. Grew up in Australia which has insanely high skin cancer rates, so I'm pretty conscious about getting it done regularly. DH has already had multiple pre-cancerous moles removed. PurplePeony on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613607 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:18:52 +0000 PurplePeony 1613607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I go every other year, which is my dermatologist's recommendation. If he found something worrisome, he'd have me come more often but he says this is sufficient for now. DH keeps promising me he'll go but hasn't done it yet -- I really need to get on his case about it because he has a lot more sun damage/moles than I do. Bao on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613587 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:14:23 +0000 Bao 1613587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I need to do this more often. It's been a few years! Trailmix on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613577 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:11:19 +0000 Trailmix 1613577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Every 6 months! I have had many (5-6) removed and have tons more so I'm super-paranoid! lamariniere on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613551 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:06:52 +0000 lamariniere 1613551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've gone every year for the past three years, but I need to find a new dermatologist. We make it a threesome because both my DH and I are freckley/mole-y and DS has a spot on his head that we keep an eye on. Boheme on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613331 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:55:55 +0000 Boheme 1613331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @knittylady: :heart: Turd Ferguson on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613280 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:41:06 +0000 Turd Ferguson 1613280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have to do every 6 months after having 5 removed and 2 wide local excisions. Boooo, tanning! Grace on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613187 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:09:51 +0000 Grace 1613187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Ugh, I have one that I want my doctor to look at, but I keep forgetting. deactivated_account on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613186 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:09:47 +0000 deactivated_account 1613186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SeptMomma12: yikes! I just posted about my friend going through the same thing. I'm glad you caught yours early and that you and baby are healthy. deactivated_account on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613182 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:08:15 +0000 deactivated_account 1613182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @knittylady: sorry to hear about your dad. deactivated_account on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613179 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:07:29 +0000 deactivated_account 1613179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Everyone on here seems so good about getting their moles checked! I think at least once a year is key. One of my BFFs was JUST diagnosed with melanoma last week. :crying: She's 8 months pregnant and seeing oncologists and having to make decisions about how to proceed. She's fair skinned and goes once a year or more to the dermatologist. So she's lucky to have caught early what's being described as a cancer showing rapid cell division!! :crying: knittylady on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613178 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:06:09 +0000 knittylady 1613178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My dad passed away from melanoma so DH and I go for a yearly screening! SeptMomma12 on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613125 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:52:37 +0000 SeptMomma12 1613125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had melanoma while I was pregnant, so I'm on an every 3 months schedule for 5 years. I encourage everyone I know to at least get a baseline skin exam. My melanoma wasn't even a mole - just a normal-looking freckle that had an irregular border when the doctor looked at it with his magnifying tool. Luckily I went to the dermatologist regularly and he caught it at "stage 0" before it spread anywhere. swurlygurl on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613048 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:33:43 +0000 swurlygurl 1613048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never, but I just noticed one that I thought looked kinda new and... weird. So I've been thinking I should probably do that! MrsADS on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613039 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:31:41 +0000 MrsADS 1613039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Aggh I need to. I have one on my leg and one in my armpit that are pretty dark and about the size of pencil erasers. I know they probably need to be cut off. Mae on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613033 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:31:03 +0000 Mae 1613033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Every 2 years, which is what my dermatologist recommended for me. I also keep a close eye on myself though and have made a special appointment specifically to check on a spot that worried me (turned out to be nothing!). I'm very fair skinned and I've had quite a few bad burns in my life so I definitely take skin cancer seriously! IRunForFun on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613029 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:28:40 +0000 IRunForFun 1613029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Once a year - tons of skin cancer in my family. I will say, though, that the moles I've been concerned about have turned out fine. I hope that continues! Pepper on "How often do you have your moles checked?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-have-your-moles-checked#post-1613015 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:25:51 +0000 Pepper 1613015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Once a year because I have a lot of moles.