Talk Cancer

Question:

Sandra; I have never heard anything about moles being related to lupus, but I haven’t heard anything about moles not being related to lupus either! One thing I read somewhere (and this is for everyone, not just lupies!) is that moles generally start to appear on the body during childhood and then really begin popping out during puberty, then slow down again after puberty.  (This stuck in my mind because when I was about your daughter’s age three little moles appeared on my cheek all in a row. They were cute!  As I grew the moles spread apart and became less noticeable.  I wouldn’t worry, but I would show any new moles to the dr. at her next visit.  Same goes for any moles that get bigger or change shape, etc. Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -SCroyle909 wrote: > My daughter has a large cluster of what appear to be moles on her abdomen.  Two > rheumatologists seem to be very interested in them for some reason.  My > daughter has had these for a long time, though lately it seems like there are > many more "moles" in the cluster than previously.  They are small, brown, flat > dots, positioned very close together almost resembling freckles (though my > daughter is Korean and doesn’t get freckles).  The pediatric rheumatologist was > also interested in the other moles my daughter has.  She’s been complaining for > some time that new moles are constantly popping up.  Usually they are very > small, very dark, flat dots.  Does anyone know what these could be or if they > are related to lupus somehow? > Sandra > P.S.  My daughter has CNS complications–don’t know if that’s significant.

Response:

I wouldn’t worry about the moles, and hadn’t up to this point in fact, EXCEPT that they seemed to be a particular point of interest with the rheumatologist and I was simply curious as to why.  Last time he was very curious about something, after asking around I learned he was noticing livedo reticularis on my daughter’s hands.  That’s not the first time they’ve noticed things or had suspicions about things, but withheld the information from me (such as when they really believed she had leukemia but didn’t inform  me of that fact).   Hopefully this is nothing, but if there’s a relationship between these "moles" (if that’s what they are) and lupus, it would be nice to know.  Anyway, if I keep asking around, I know I’ll find the answer. Sandra

Response:

Sandra wrote … >I wouldn’t worry about the moles, and hadn’t up to this point in fact, EXCEPT >that they seemed to be a particular point of interest with the rheumatologist >and I was simply curious as to why.  Last time he was very curious about >something, after asking around I learned he was noticing livedo reticularis on >my daughter’s hands.

I have to say from life long personal experience that moles in themselves can be a health concern because of their relationship to Melanoma and other skin cancers.  Although I recognise the role of  livedo reticularis in lupus, we have to remember we can be affected by other diseases. In Australia, melanoma and skin cancers are the subject of major public health campaigns.  Our exposure to the sun – especially as children and teenagers – helps create the problem.  But you don’t have to live in a hot country to be exposed to  UV radiation. I had my first moles removed at age 10 – and over the years have had quite a few others removed – including last year (I’m about to turn 38).  I anticipate there are more to go in the future. So what about their relationship to lupus?  An indirect one, but relevant since so many of us take immune suppressive drugs.  Theoretically, these increase our risks of various cancers (melanoma, cervical cancer, etc). Fortunately, many of us see dermatologists, who are supposed to understand the risks and check them.  But the only thorough check is monitoring changes ourselves.  I do this with the aid of medical photographs; this way you can compare changes over the years. Another important issue related to people living with lupus – or any other disease where we take drugs like corticosteroids – is our increased risks of scarring.  After years of taking prednisolone, the quality of my skin and hair has changed.  My skin cuts easily and takes quite some time to heal. So now, when it comes to mole removals, I have them done in a plastic surgery clinic.  Even then, what should take a week or so to heal for most people can take much longer.  (In the past, I’ve had experiences of stitches being removed, then the wound reopening – if it does this you end up with a much worse scar.) So, please pay attention to moles.  Ask a dermatologist to check them out. I had an uncle die from melanoma, and know of plenty of other people who ended up having dramatic (large) excisions because they left being checked out for too long.  It’s a pity sometimes that we get so focussed on our major disease problems, and forget about standard (and vital) health care checks. Regards, Ellena

Response:

My daughter has a large cluster of what appear to be moles on her abdomen.  Two rheumatologists seem to be very interested in them for some reason.  My daughter has had these for a long time, though lately it seems like there are many more "moles" in the cluster than previously.  They are small, brown, flat dots, positioned very close together almost resembling freckles (though my daughter is Korean and doesn’t get freckles).  The pediatric rheumatologist was also interested in the other moles my daughter has.  She’s been complaining for some time that new moles are constantly popping up.  Usually they are very small, very dark, flat dots.  Does anyone know what these could be or if they are related to lupus somehow?   Sandra P.S.  My daughter has CNS complications–don’t know if that’s significant.

Response: