Ever had a cancerous skin lesion removed?

[amitten]

I have a lil' mole that looks suspicious. It has been stinging lately, and the other day when I scratched it it started to bleed.

I think I should go to the doc, obviously. But I'm scared that the cost to remove it will be thousands and thousands (I have lousy insurance).

[Shell Beau]

1. It is better than the alternative if it turns out to be something nasty.

MAybe they could work out some payment plan. But GO TO THE DOCTOR!! I hope it's nothing! :hug:

[Orrex]

14. I agree with Shell Beau

Actually, the removal might not cost all that much, but the testing could run into money.

If you have a public clinic near you, they could possibly do the excision for a charge based on your ability to pay. The lab work would still likely be full price, but you might be able to arrange a payment plan.

Go to the doctor!

[LisaL]

2. Yes go to the doctor.

The cost shouldn't be in the thousands. Most likely in the hundreds. They will remove it and sent it for a biopsy.

[amitten]

3. I don't know--treatment for anything these days is so

outrageously expensive. Of course, it's worth it. But I just dread going into debt over it.

[LisaL]

4. I had a number of moles removed. It didn't cost thousands.

Actually back then I had insurance which covered all of the procedure, but it didn't cost thousands.

[amitten]

6. Yeah, but did they biopsy all of them?

I'm wondering if I can have it removed without doing a biopsy to screen for cancer. If it is cancerous, it is basal cell and not melanoma and unlikely to have spread anywhere. I'd like to just go in and have it removed, and save all the biopsy costs which are certain to be gigantic.

[LisaL]

7. Back then I had insurance which covered the biopsy.

If you have insurance, it should cover the biopsy.

[amitten]

9. I only have major medical, which doesn't cover diagnostic.

It sucks. I just can't afford the normal insurance right now.

[LisaL]

11. Just go have it removed. If it doesn't look suspicious the doctor

will probably agree not to biopsy it. Anyhow a biopsy doesn't cost thousands. Most likely a couple hundreds. By the way best to go to a dermatologist.

[DeepBlueC]

5. Initially it will be an office procedure

Just some lidocaine, snip (my dermatologist used scissors to remove a mole) then it will go off to a lab. If they want to remove a bigger margin around it they will let you know. And if they do, do it. It's essential.

[amitten]

8. I wish I could just have it removed.

I don't feel there's a need to test it. If it's anything, it's a basal cell, not melanoma (looks nothing like any melanoma examples I've seen, but just like a basal cell).

It's very small and I'd like to save on the biopsy/screening costs. I am paying off so many old medical bills already due to my craptastic insurance plan.

[LisaL]

10. They might need to biopsy it because

if it is cancerous, they might have to remove a bigger area. Just go and have it done. Talk to your doctor. If the doctor doesn't think it looks suspicious, he might agree not to send it for biopsy.

[SoxFan]

12. Get it removed

I had a pre-cancerous nasty removed from my back last summer. It isn't a complicated procedure, and can be performed in your primary care doc's office. Don't wait until this has a chance to turn into a life-threatening problem.

[belladonna]

13. I work for a dermatologist who specializes in Mohs surgery

Definitely get it checked out. There are many different types of skin cancer and many different treatments. The fact that it's stinging and burning are red flags, for sure, so do NOT ignore it and don't delay treatment. If you get it checked out right away and catch it early, chances are you can have a simple excision and be done with it. It could also just be a dsyplastic nevus and you'll need to have it watched for changes or have it excised right away. Btw, does it itch at all?

[amitten]

15. It was itching and stinging a few days ago.

That's the day when I scratched it a little, and it bled a little.

It's very tiny, maybe 2mm across.