If a mole is malignant, would freezing it slow the spreading? Can I take a biopsy if a frozen mole is malignant? (photo)

Question

I just went to the dermatologist with a mole that fit all ABCDE criteria. The doc froze the mole off. I asked him how he could know if the mole wasn't malignant, and then he told me he couldn't know, but a biopsy would be too expensive. (He thought I didn't have insurance.) He also told me that the mole might just be inflamed because of its location on my back under my bra. Now I'm scared that he did an fast fix based on money. He told me to come back in a month.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

All moles should be excised and set for pathological examination. After freezing the mole, the freezing would destroy and no proper diagnosis is possible.See a plastic surgeon for excision of the area and hopefully there is enough pigment left that can be examined and hope for the best

Angela Bowers, MD · Answer

If you were in my office and the mole looked like your picture, I would have biopsied it.  True moles will not freeze off.  Are you sure you saw a dermatologist?  I often see other non-dermatologists treat moles like this.  Consider going to AAD.org and get a second opinion in a month from a dermatologist.

If a mole is malignant, would freezing it slow the spreading? Can I take a biopsy if a frozen mole is malignant? (photo)

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