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Posted 10/22/2016 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
Just curious how often, if at all do you get skin checks of moles and spots while on biologics and immunosuppressants given what i have heard about there being an increased risk of skin cancer? I have a small spot that has been on my mind for about two months that is not too big but suddenly has become raised and now has a pinkish colored addition to the side of it. its on my inner thigh, not huge but definitely different, also not in a place i readily want to say "hey doc could you check this out" either. I have been trying to get an appointment with a dermatologist but given how many other issues I've been having its been towards the bottom of my list. I saw the GI the other day and he said something about not having to warn me about issues with the sun (because he figures given how fair skinned i am i probably already stay of of the sun, which is true and he had already warned me in the past to keep exposure down) but i totally should have asked about this then and instead just agreed -_-
Thoughts? experiences? thanks!
Posted 10/22/2016 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
I definitely think you need to see a dermatologist. I go once a year to get checked; I have family history on both sides of cancer, especially skin cancer. Two years ago (TMI warning), I discovered a mole/freckle on the INSIDE of my labia, a place that has most definitely never seen the sun! They removed it and biopsied it. It came back as pre-cancerous, and then it grew back within a couple of weeks. I ended up having to have it removed twice more, with the last time being with surgery under anesthesia. Randomly, though, the moles on my ears, back, etc. all come back normal - and I'm fair skinned with red hair and have been sunburned with blisters more times than I could count!

So I really think you need to see a derm, and fairly quickly. Then just keep up with the yearly checkups.
Posted 10/22/2016 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, people on immunosuppressants and biologics should get regular skin checks, probably every year or even every 6 months, depending on your skin and your family history.

If you can't get in to see a dermatologist and you have a place that's worrisome to you, get it checked by your primary care doctor. They (primary care docs) often nowadays have dermatoscopes and are pretty good at checking. If they see something that concerns them, they may be able to get you into a dermatologist quicker.
Posted 10/23/2016 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
That's another thing on my list to do. My old GI brought up me seeing a dermatologist for yearly checks. I get weird skin stuff, so dread it. I'm prone to getting keloids when they remove things or after surgery. I had a weird growth on my ear lobe when I was a teenager that they cut off. In it's place I got a hunk of meat scar. It's frustrating.
Posted 10/24/2016 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all! I am going to make a call tomorrow morning and see if I can get anywhere with scheduling an appointment.
@scifigal yikes!!! That sounds horrendous! I have another one that popped up within the last year the size of a pencil eraser basically within TMI zone and is pretty well hidden that I've got to get checked too. Why on earth do the weird ones have to pop up in such inconvenient places! Has it stayed gone since the surgery? I am very fair skinned but usually don't burn or tan... Until today. After telling my doc how I stay out of the sun, I didn't think and was asked to volunteer at a fundraiser and spent the whole darn day stuck in the sun now my face is red and hot:( I wish I had asked more about sun issues.
@jen77 that sounds so unpleasant!:( is there any way for that to be removed as well or will it just make it worse?
Posted 11/29/2016 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all! Just an update, I finally went for the check today. the doctor found two spots of concern and biopsied them. Waiting for the results by the beginning of next week and hoping its all good news. I was surprised the Doctor was so concerned about the two because though I was a bit unsure about them I had myself convinced I was worrying needlessly. Better safe than sorry! I hope any one reading this who hasn't had a skin check schedules one! The two spots were in places that never get sun and are well hidden. The only downside was that I have problems with lidocaine so they could not give me anything besides some saline to numb the area for the biopsy, a small price to pay to make sure that nothing else is brewing.
Posted 11/29/2016 10:14 AM (GMT 0)
Im not on any immunosuppressents or bios but i had a mole removed on my back about a month ago. Complete removal just cause my doctor (GP) fouind it suspicious, he did refer me to a dermatologist but said he could remove it for me without paying the specialist fee (I'm in Australia) so we had it removed within 2 days of him finding it. Ran biopsies on it and it came back negative only a irregular mole. Point of the story always get checked! Weather on medications or not now I know that and I live in Australia too where the sun will burn ya faster then your eggs will fry.
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