Mole biopsy result

I had to call the dermatologist over two weeks after my mole had been biopsied (half a week after they had told me to expect a phone call from them). There are two parts to the results:

1. It's not melanoma.

2. It is an atypical cluster of cells.

The good news is that it was small enough to be entirely removed for the biopsy and the margins were clean, so I wasn't required to return to the dermatologist (who won't be covered by my insurance anyway). Although it wasn't melanoma, this was the second mole in under a year that I've had removed from my body to come back as atypical. The first mole was labeled as "moderately atypical," which is between mild and severe, meaning that it wasn't a scary threat, but it was a threat nonetheless. This one didn't have a label other than "atypical," so I'm guessing that means it wasn't severe. The different qualifications of atypicality have to do with the number of atypical cells floating around in the biopsy, as well as their frequency and proximity with each other. My paternal aunt does have melanoma, and apparently there is a (newly revealed) family history of aggressive melanoma on my father's side. This is newly revealed because my grandmother does not ever want to discuss unpleasantries, no matter whose medical records it hurts.

What this means for me is that I will have yearly mole checks from a dermatologist to remove any new or malformed moles. I have to keep a very close watch on my skin from now on, which can be a little difficult, considering that my body is covered in freckles. Fortunately, I, like most freckled people, know the pattern of my freckles, and will be able to keep track of most changes...although, it is true that there are some cases when freckles migrate or grow, so I'll certainly be watching out for new developments.

I'm relieved it wasn't melanoma, but I'm annoyed that it was atypical at all. Part of me just wishes that the biopsy had come back clean. But maybe then I'd be annoyed for having a very large wound on my hip for nothing. The biopsy site still hasn't completely healed, although it has mostly stopped hurting--every once in a while I have a twinge where it's healing.