Bleeding mole...how long to see a doctor?

[abond0017]

I have a mole that has gotten a little bit bigger and harder than it used to be (don't even remember having it before a few years ago), and I have been meaning to get it checked out.

Today I scratched it...not hard...a very gentle scratch ( i bite my nails so really not much to scratch with either)....and it started bleeding. I googled it and found that it "could" be a sign that it is cancerous.

Also, apparently the type of cancer it would be (basal cell carcinoma) is very common, rarely spreads, and the slowest growing.

I tried to make a dermatology appointment to get it checked out and was told they had no appointments for July, and the schedule to make August appointments wasn't even available yet. Both reasons why I very much dislike military hospitals....happens all the time.

So, my question is...does anyone have any idea if I should be worried enough to push being seen sooner?

I could ask to speak with the outside referral department to try and see about being granted a referral to a private derm so I can be seen sooner. Or do you guys think it will be ok to wait? If I wait I will probably not get an appointment till 4 weeks from now....and I know then there will also be time added to actually have it tested to see if it is cancerous.

Everything I have looked up says to be seen by a doctor and have it biopsied, but doesn't say how soon you should be seen.

Any thoughts?

[JulieDB]

Aha! Military. I should have known. This is why I got Tricare Standard. So I can go where I want to go. But now since I am disabled I am on Tricare For Life but they treat it like standard because husband is active duty.

I am going through similar stuff with daughter but at Children's Hospital. Turns out she has been dancing with a back that has a near stress fracture. The pain occured back in like...Feb. I think. Finally found out in June what it was. But then right after that (in Feb.) her foot went numb. Still waiting for tests for that. Soooo frustrating!

I found when I was using military places that if my husband called they generally got me right in. You might try that tactic if you haven't already. I should think you'd want to be seen right away but if you can't then I guess you can't.

[Smee]

I'm not generally much of an alarmist, but moles are where I get paranoid. For context, though, I lost a brother to skin cancer from a mole that was initially dismissed, and I get that my fear of weird moles may be irrational because of that, so take this for what it's worth which may not be much.

Any sign of abnormality in a mole would have me being pretty aggressive about being seen. I had a mole that had started itching a lot and growing quickly. I called to set up a derm appointment and was told that appointments were months out. When I mentioned the rapid growth and irregular shape, they got me in within the next week and removed and biopsied them, so apparently it's not just my paranoia, but this doctor's office taking seriously the description of irregular, rapid growing, itchy moles. Mine turned out to be nothing of concern (couple of benign moles and the itchy, rapid growing one turned out to be some cyst), but I'm glad I didn't have to wait. I'll bet the chances are that yours is just some weird thing, too, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to find that out sooner than later.

I don't think there's anything to be lost from being more aggressive if at all possible and trying to get seen as soon as possible.

[ioncewasamjskeptic]

I would see a dr. I do know that it can be a sign of cancer as well, not worth putting off! GL, Let us know! Lorrie

[CW&M Mom]

Even basal cancers...although they don't tend to kill ya...if they are not treated quickly you lose large chunks of your skin/body area/surface ect.

I vote..get it checked. I can't see why though, even a regular family physician can't have it biopsied . My mother and sister had multiple ones removed and they were all done by our regular doc and just sent to the lab to be checked. If they come back cancerous...they will get you in faster.

[abond0017]

Thanks for the responses guys.

CW&M - I didn't even think about seeing my regular doc to have it biopsied. I just assumed that was something a derm would need to do. I think I will try that. I ususally can see GP within the week I call for an appointment. It's the specialty departments that always take weeks.

[434Teresa]

I would see aleast a regular Dr and keep the other apt that you have...this is not something to put off.

[AndreaCA]

Yes, see your regular Dr soon! My MIL has her pre-cancerous spots removed regularly by her GP.

[abond0017]

Ok its official. Military hospitals are wacky. Just called to make an appointment with my GP to get it biopsied...no problem...got one for Thurs. Then I asked to make a second appointment with Dermatology to follow up the biopsy and guess what. They had plenty of appointments....like 3 different time slots on Fri alone. WTH?!?!?! What happened to nothing till August? I don't understand sometimes. And this was all after their appointments line telling me it couldn't connect my call for over an hour. Arrgggg!

[Gnorga]

I have a mole under my arm...yeah..my armpit :/
I have had it for as long as I can remember and I've never thought anything of it other than being careful not to lift my arms up when I'm in a shirt that could let it be seen.
I've thought about having it removed just because I find it embarrassing.
Never occurred to me that it could be unhealthy
Smee, How bad did it hurt?