Going for a mole check at dermatologist - what to expect

Paco

Hoping one of you ladies can advise me what to wear?? It is my first appointment at a dermatologist, which I made before any of this other BC business came up (it took forever to get the appointment!)

Do I wear a bra during the skin check? I'm shy about showing my lumpectomy scar so i'd like to leave my bra on. Do people normally have to undress entirely for it or ...?

Thanks for any advice!

NotVeryBrave

If it's just to check a specific area then make sure it's easily accessible. If you need to disrobe then they'll give you some type of gown or cover. You would only need to get completely undressed if it's for a full body check.

I would tell the nurse or assistant about your concerns when they first take you back to the exam room. Most people in doctor's offices have heard and seen just about everything. If you let them know then they can help you to be more comfortable and still get whatever is needed accomplished.

SpecialK

In addition to breast cancer, I have had close to 40 skin cancers, starting 20 years before my BC diagnosis. I have had a number of dermatologists because we were a military family and moved often, but I have seen the same one now for about 8 years. I have a full skin check every six months. In this office, which is university based, I leave my bra and underwear on under the gown. The derm does gently pull my undergarments aside to a certain extent but does avoid my private areas, particularly on the front. I do wear bikini type panties and a stretchy bra to make this process easier. I think this approach may vary somewhat from doctor to doctor, but my MO and derm went to med school together and the derm is aware of my breast cancer, so he also knows my reconstructed breasts are looked at by the MO, BS and PS, who also does skin cancer remediation if a PS is required due to location or complexity. My biopsies are done by shave method after local anesthetic. Hope this is helpful, good luck!

Paco

Thanks for your input, ladies!

Just got back. It took about 5 minutes in all, I wore a paper "gown" over my bra and panties. No need to even move anything. The suspicious mole is on my collarbone, on the healthy side, and it was fine. There was another funky kind of reddish blotch on my arm and once the dermatologist heard about my diagnosis, he wondered if it could be a reaction to all that's going on in my body (nothing but surgery as of yet, but the body is a mysterious thing). The derm's office is literally across the street from the cancer institute, so they scheduled a shave-off type biopsy for a day when I'll have radiation scheduled. It's going to be next week at 7:30 am and my rads session is at 8:10 so I can just walk from one to the other. Not bad.

Georgia1

Great news. Man, breast cancer makes everything harder, doesn't it? glad all went well for you.