minor dermatological note

[redbird]

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a new mole on my upper back. I decided to get it looked at, just in case. I saw the nurse practitioner on Tuesday (10/27), and I asked her to also look at a larger mole that I have been sort of monitoring for at least 30 years ("sort of" because it's a spot on my shoulder I can't see).

She said they were both harmless, but that she could freeze them off if I wanted. I said yes, for both. I am now waiting for the growths to actually fall off, and will then get cattitude to help me keep an eye on the spots in case of redness (apply antibiotic ointment) or other signs of infection (go back to the nurse practitioner or doctor).

There's some chance that one or both will just grow back, but at that point I'd be no worse off than I was before.

Comments

[beaq.livejournal.com]

I would love to know what dermatologist will freeze them off without insisting on sending them to labs for analysis even though they have already judged them non-cancerous and would have left them in place with no qualms. I would seriously consider patronizing that dermatologist.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

(Also: happy to know you have received the treatment you wanted.)

[redbird]

She's not a dermatologist, she's in general practice. I don't know whether that makes the difference.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

Welllllll. I'm not really at a good place to pay out of pocket, which is probably what would happen right now, but it's possible in the future I might look into finding a GP who does the various things. I will check in with you. :)

Or perhaps I'll get an account with Airgas. V. useful for parties and dermatologie.

[redbird]

The clinic is part of the Overlake system, if that's relevant. I picked them entirely on the basis of geography (it's four blocks from my apartment), but have been happy with both the doctor I mostly see and this nurse practitioner.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

I love it when a doctor is 4 blocks away!

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

When I asked my GP to look at a mole I was slightly concerned about, he said it wasn't cancerous and offered to remove it then and there. That was more than ten years ago. I thought it was standard practice. (My GP is in Massachusetts, and thus not likely to be in your insurance network.) If I remember correctly, my pediatrician back in Michigan did the same thing with another mole he though was obviously non-cancerous. (Though he didn't ask me if I wanted it removed, he asked my mother.)

[beaq.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think it's down to the practitioner. I just keep hitting docs who are like, NOPE, anything we take off has to go to the lab!