At least, according to my dermatologist. I had a mole removed this week, and they found some "odd cells" in it, but they were "minimally odd", apparently called "minimal melanocytic atypia". Melanocytes are the cells that make the pigment melanin.
The oddness was fully contained in the lesion removed, so I don't have to go back in unless I see any new moles. But given that my sister had melanoma removed a couple of years ago (I'm ashamed to say it took me this long to get around to seeing a dermatologist), I am now on mole alert stage red.
For anyone else who wants to know how to spot a "suspicious mole", here is a tutorial with pictures (and here's another) and some information on how to do a skin self-exam.
thank you for that. i am going to the site now. i do have some skin discoloration and have been concerned... of course not concerned enough to get to a doctor. so, thank you for motivating me to take some action.
Posted by: rina | January 25, 2006 at 11:50 AM
Now *that* is a good comment to have, thanks for telling me =) Let me know how it turns out.
Posted by: Cynical Mom | January 29, 2006 at 01:43 PM