Hi,

Just wondered if anyone has ever had their moles scanned. I have just booked an appointment to have one, i'm with the NHS so this is going to cost £129 for scan and consultation.
I've had a mole on my neck all my life and its always been on and off itchy. I've seen dr's over here, in the States and Australia while i was travelling as i got so concerned.
I've been referred to a hospital who checked it and said it was fine, though they said if i wanted it out they couldn't do it under anesthetic due to it being on my neck - well general i thought would be fine. They said no i would have to grin and bear the pain and the mole is deep rooted - decided against having it done.

So just wondered if anyone has had this done. I am quite worried about my mole as most of the winter its been itchy - just hope i get good news otherwise i'm going to demand to have it removed under GA.

I haven't had any scanned so can't help on that one I'm afraid. I have had moles removed over the years and to think that they would even contemplate removing without an anaesthetic is inhuman :-( I had 3 removed at one time, never again. They were uncomfortable afterwards once the feeling returned. The stitches really itched after a few days too :-)

They were all removed under local anaesthetic though, and none were on my neck.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Had & still have some. As a younger lady I had three quite large ones removed under my arm, on my tummy and side as I was vain. I still have a big one on my head but its under my hair and only a problem when I have my hair cut. As a rule if they are above the skin and not growing just have them removed either by buring off with dry ice or cut off. Its simple procedure and it does settle your mind so well worth a day or so's discomfort. The real problem ones are under the skin ones as they can be dangerous if you do not notice them growing. As you are worried (or you would not have mentioned the topic) have it scanned and then removed you will better for having them/it removed. I was. Oh and it is discomfort not painful it itches as its healing.

It is a raised mole, but because its so itchy i worry myself silly. I am going to ask about having it removed and if they can remove the raised part, maybe it won't catch on anything then either.

I do get myself into a right tiss with things like this. All my grandparents passed away with something and cancer is in the family, so hence why i want everything checked and i am being in what some people call OTT about it all. Though you can never be too careful and with all the sun i have lived in and the amount of times i have been burnt as well.

My skin over the past few years has become so sensitive to the sun that many sunscreens won't work and i burn more with them on than if i didn't. Only the really expensive ones now work on me - rubbish.. I'm paying more than double the price of a good bottle of nivea these days. Its a shame my favourite season is summer.

Have it removed you arent worrying to much at all. I noticed my Dad has a small skin cancer yesterday so he's off to the Doc's today. I have my MIL terminal with cancer and her brother died on 16th Dec, I had smear tests regularly and it picked up my cancer early and I had a hystorectomy at 39! I really feel we should all be body aware, I have breast scans Sept annually, Mum died 4 years ago 17th Jan from secondary breast cancer at 69!!  Im going to see my grandchildren and my eldest is only 23, so like you, Im here for the long run and if it bugs you get it sorted then that fear is gone, you are doing the right thing and its no worse than the dentist!!!
Just dont stress yourself into a heart attack!! take control, your mission, should you accept it! is to sort out the mole!!!! pity it will not self destruct in 60 seconds!!!

I would suggest you get your doctor to refer you to another consultant dermatologist who can examine the mole and give you a second opinion andI suppose see if they think it needs removing. They may first do a biopsy. If it were to be removed this would be done on the NHS and seeing the consultant would also save you the cost of the scan.

I'm slightly amazed that they would remove the mole without any painkiller. A friend had a mole on his face biopsied and this was done with some kind of local anaesthetic. Your mole being so deep would, I would think, require the same. You could investigate having it done on the NHS under accupuncture. I know that open heart surgery has been conducted under accupuncture.

Good luck. Best to have it looked at again and, I would think, a biopsy would best show the nature of the mole.

Suejaw,

Why are you even bothering with scanning?  If you've had it examined and it is not suspicious than why not have it removed? 

I have a mole on my stomach examined a couple of months ago, it seemed to be getting lighter around the edges and itchy.  GP referred me to a consultant and she examined it and so she was absolutely sure it was harmless.  But the darn thing is still itching me like crazy and is also irritating, so when I get the time I'm going to look into getting rid of it too.

I have a raised mole on my boob ( !!!!! ) - the surface looks a bit like cauliflower , but my GP said that it is OK .

I suppose that i feel like i need a more detailed examination. This scanner is only used in private practices and is used a lot in Oz where skin cancer is so high. I have been referred to a specialist before, though to be honest that was a few years ago now and this is when they said about the anesthetic, maybe they were trying to put me off having it removed.

With this skin clinic they work alongside Bupa, so i feel i may be getting a deeper look at this mole. They also will give my options about having it removed privately and the different ways this can be done - also the cost as well. If they say i can have it done under ga then i will go to my doctors and see what he can do about sorting it out on the nhs.

Sorry i'm not a fan of the nhs, i had an op a few months back and they opened me up in the wrong place, even though they had an x-ray, so now have double the scars and also the waiting time is aweful on the nhs, must really look into joining a private health care group soon.

Had my scan and all moles are A ok!!!
They have suggested that my raised moles are shaved off to flatten them which is something the nhs won't do for me. They have said that i have a bit of sun damage on my face and included in the price they will be doing laser surgery on the face all for £99.. I thought this was a bargain and they only charged me £99 for the scan and consultation which is £30 cheaper than quoted on the phone...