Holy MOLEy!

So, I had a mole on my face.  It didn't really bother me all that much, so I never did anything about it.  Over the summer, it had started to hurt a little. When I would wash my face or put makeup on, it would sting a little when I rubbed across it.  I kept telling myself that I was going to make an appointment and have it removed.  Finally, this fall, I called the doctor and made an appointment.  

When I saw the doctor, he immediately said that he was going to refer me to a plastic surgeon because it was on my face.  After looking at it more and more, the doctor started to become a little concerned because it had grown significantly in the last two years.  He said the shape and color looked fine so he wasn't concerned about cancer, he just thought it be best to get it off.  

Here are some close-up pics from the past few years.  You can barely see it right there by my nose in the first couple.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

I made an appointment with the plastic surgeon and had a consultation.  

Before

Like my family doc, he didn't really have any concerns cancer-wise.  He said he would send it off for a biopsy anyway (insurance companies like biopsies, apparently.)  

I had a little snip 'n stitch done last week to have it removed.  

Stitches... OUCH!

Yesterday, I went back to get my stitches out and go over the biopsy results...  It was benign, BUT... huh?  It was NOT a mole.  I forget exactly what he called it, but basically, could have turned into this:

Ok, maybe not that bad... He did say that it would have continued to grow indefinitely had I not had it removed!  Gross.

So, I am bump-free!  

After

I have a tiny pink spot that should heel just fine.  I go back to the doc in 10 weeks for a follow-up.  He did tell me though that this disease/virus/whatever it is (I will ask again when I go back in 10 weeks... was a little freaked out at the time) is in my body and could appear other places.  So far, I haven't noticed any "moles" growing other places, but you better believe I'm checking!!  Maybe I will just let the next one grow...