I am 45 and have had 2 Precancerous moles cut out and another found last week. Having this one cut out soon.

1 on the face, 1 in the back, and now one on my chest.

I was always outdoors as a kid in San Angelo and also at our ranch near Robert Lee.

Same now. Outdoors a lot.

To make myself feel sane and not feel like I breed these Damn things, how many have others on this board have had them cut off and how old were you when they started finding them. My first one I was age 37.

I have had stage 2 melanoma twice. Once on the shoulder and once on scalp. I do everything modern medicine says to do, but have had the luck I have had.

How pre-cancerous were they? Are we talking just shaving out some irregular cells and slapping a band aid on? Or ful-on MOHS surgery?
I had one of the former. Go to the dermatologist every year now and get checked out. None since the first one.

I go every 6 months now. The one on the face and back were severe. The one on the chest mild. Having it.taken off though.

Hoyt Ag said:

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I have had stage 2 melanoma twice. Once on the shoulder and once on scalp. I do everything modern medicine says to do, but have had the luck I have had.

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How did they or you find them? Through routine checkup? How big were they?

Both face and back full cut open and take the whole thing out

Shoulder was size of a dime. They cut out a huge part though, at least half dollar.

Scalp was around size of a pencil eraser.

Both found on routine physical (required to have physical every 6 months for work).

I had a basal cell carcinoma that was treated with imiquimod. Evidently if there are some very small ones that are around with you start imiquimod it will knock those out too.

I'm about to be 45.

I've had 2 cut off.

All outdoor folks get them.

Make an appointment with your dermatologist every year on your birthday. If you ever get diagnosed with melanoma, go every 6 months.

Cut out any thing that looks funny or changes.

Even dreaded melanoma is almost curable if u catch it early enough...hence the annual check up.

Even better...have ur wife do a nightly full body check down. She will catch anything new or changing.

I have been going to the dermatologist every 6 months for the last 7 or so years. (started around 23)

Without fail they find 3-5 atypical moles that need to be removed (I'm a moley *******). I've been fortunate to never have had one come back positive but with my family history it's only a matter of time.

It's way too cheap to get checked out regularly vs waiting until you have full blown cancer. I hope your post encourages more people to get checked out.

I use a lady at Evans Dermatology in South Austin. She does a thourogh job. Photos of my torso in 2015 and that's how they found the last 2. 2 fast growing moles.

I heard the women dermatologist are more picky and notice changes more than the men dermatologist. Not biased but she was a recommendation 7 years ago. Hope she doesn't quit there.

Tx-Ag2010 said:

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I have been going to the dermatologist every 6 months for the last 7 or so years. (started around 23)

Without fail they find 3-5 atypical moles that need to be removed (I'm a moley *******). I've been fortunate to never have had one come back positive but with my family history it's only a matter of time.

It's way too cheap to get checked out regularly vs waiting until you have full blown cancer. I hope your post encourages more people to get checked out.

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YES I agree that everyone need a to go every year for a checkup. I make my wife go. Told her skin cancer should not be a reason to be vain.

I cut stuff off of young people all the time. Not uncommon at all, especially with outdoors types. Agree with the idea of the wife checking out your back. You should do the same. Big thing is looking for spots that change in size or color. Also, don't be afraid to bring stuff up with your doc during your annual because "it's probably nothing." You've already paid to get in and bringing up something that is no big deal is way better than not bringing up something important. I'm FM, but there's a derm guy who posts here that may have other general tips.

BCO07 said:

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I cut stuff off of young people all the time. Not uncommon at all, especially with outdoors types. Agree with the idea of the wife checking out your back. You should do the same. Big thing is looking for spots that change in size or color. Also, don't be afraid to bring stuff up with your doc during your annual because "it's probably nothing." You've already paid to get in and bringing up something that is no big deal is way better than not bringing up something important. I'm FM, but there's a derm guy who posts here that may have other general tips.

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Yep DermDoc.

I started a thread 3 years ago when I had another one taken off. These threads should be reminders for those that have never gone or make another appointment

Had one on my back cut off that looked concerning but was nothing major. During the same visit, I had an itchy mole on my calf that the doctor removed at my behest even though he thought it was nothing. Two visits later, I now am less one pencil eraser sized mole and instead have a 3"x1" scar.

Also had a sebaceous nevus removed from my scalp that had become concerning. Left another 2" scar.

I'm 38 and both episodes have occurred within the last 2 years. I'm now a 6-month checkup patient.

Thanks for this thread! I have a pretty dark complexion and rarely wore sunscreen until about 5-6 years ago... I'm really worried about what might pop up in the next couple of years and this is a good reminder to schedule an appointment.

Stage 3 melanoma on the "arm out the pickup window" three years ago. Two surgeries, two infections. 43 lymph nodes removed and 18 trips from Panhandle to MD Anderson in Houston. Nowadays? Long sleeves year round and this cowgirl wears a big ole palm leaf year round as well! Fast way to spend a helluva lot of $$$ in a short amount of time.

Thanks for posting this. My brother (45) just had a precancerous mole removed last week that took 17 stitches to close. Made my appointment on Monday.

Everyone should get regular checkups from a dermatologist. It's not so much what you do now, it's what you didn't do when you were 16. I'm 71, fair skinned and lived in Texas or the Southeast all my life. I've had two melanomas and more than a few basal and squamous cancers. I go quarterly. The first melanoma really makes you pay attention.

This scares the hell out of me. Mom had a couple removed when she was about 50 and I haven't met my biological father no no clue about that side. I spent tons of time on a mountain bike in my mid-20s so I'll probably pay the price later.

My first was on my back in a spot I couldn't really see (w/o doing the mirror trick) much less reach. It was itching so my husband took a look at it and said I'd better get it looked at.

I think they staged it at 2c, and I didn't have as many nodes removed as rangelady but it was deep and broad so I now have a nice skin graft. Since then over 20 spots have been removed, and I am finally at the 6 month appt mark instead of 3. There is a lot of 'me' sitting in formaldehyde in a lab somewhere.


While having a fair complexion like mine ups the occurrence rate, it is a good idea to get checked regardless because folks with darker skin apparently tend to have theirs diagnosed at a later stage because it doesn't get noticed and many think that only the fair skinned get this type of cancer.

I had a basal cell carcinoma taken off just above my upper lip at age 29. So ended my dreams of mustache glory...

I had two removed this year...basal cell on my head and squamous on my back. Both were the size of a pencil eraser. The derm guy also froze about 25 spots on my head. I have efudex chemo cream to use on my head starting after Christmas since the surgeon says it will leave my nugget raw for two weeks.
Both of my older brothers have had basal spots removed within the last month. I think we got screwed in the genetics dept.

WP69 said:

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Everyone should get regular checkups from a dermatologist. It's not so much what you do now, it's what you didn't do when you were 16. I'm 71, fair skinned and lived in Texas or the Southeast all my life. I've had two melanomas and more than a few basal and squamous cancers. I go quarterly. The first melanoma really makes you pay attention.

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Yep. Even if you're smart now and wear SPF clothing, hats, sunscreen etc if you had any big burns as a kid, you're at risk.

Good thread OP.

I'm 62. Outdoor life. Scandinavian ancestory.

Dermatologist every 6 months taking off stuff with nitrogen. I've have stuff cut off and burned off as well.

So far I'm fine but I take all the precautions I can and keep my doctor appointments.

Got the results for the one in my chest and it is a Pre Cancerous mole but only in the mild level so no surgery on this one . Monitor it but now I am.on the 6 month cycle again. I am going to stick with the 6 month cycle. No more yearly visits.

Basal cell cut off my nose a year ago at 49. It was a about the size of 3 pinheads. The incision was about half an inch with stitches. Used to love going fishing and hitting the beach shirtless. Not anymore.

GasPasser97 said:

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I'm about to be 45.

I've had 2 cut off.

All outdoor folks get them.

Make an appointment with your dermatologist every year on your birthday. If you ever get diagnosed with melanoma, go every 6 months.

Cut out any thing that looks funny or changes.

Even dreaded melanoma is almost curable if u catch it early enough...hence the annual check up.

Even better...have ur wife do a nightly full body check down. She will catch anything new or changing.

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One more reason you married guys live about 10 years longer than single guys.

Seriously, this is even a bigger issue for single men as they don't have a wife that will notice a change on their back. So it is more imperative to get in to see the doctor.

Had a basal cell carcinoma cut off last year at 47. Both parents have had skin cancer, so I try to be aware of any odd looking moles or spots. Noticed this one and scheduled an appointment. Doc cut it out, and I go every 6 months now for a checkup. Last visit was last week, and all good for now. Grew up a sun worshiper, and was always bad about using sunscreen. Getting old sucks sometimes.

Genetically, I know I am screwed eventually. Mom and 3/4 grandparents. I've never been a sun worshiper, but 12 summers of working scout camps/Philmont and assorted wildlife biologist duties, I am out a lot. Even as a teen I was pretty anal retentive about avoiding burning, but once I darkened up for the summer I got lax. I've always used a swim shirt of some type. To date, I have been good, but I know my time is coming.

My son (and wife) get very annoyed with my sunscreen application. It admittedly takes awhile.

Tell your family you want to be around for them.

I'm in my 30s and my cousins about my age have had skin cancer sites. I'm good with being pale and slather on the sunscreen. Everyone used to make fun of me when I was younger for being pastey.

44. Go to the dermatologist once a year since I turned 40.
This past visit found a basal cell carcinoma on the side of my nose, nearly in the "V" between the ridge of my nose and my right eye. Had Mohs procedure to remove it. Now I have to go to derm every six months.

Wear your sunscreen boys and girls. I've worn long sleeves and hats most of my life in the field. Was never big on sunscreen unless I was at the beach. That changed this year.