I have a lump thingy (about 7mm in diameter across the largest diameter) on my shoulder.

It hasn't changed in over a year and doesn't hurt or anything.

The dermatologist I have seen thinks it may be a keloid scar from a scratch or something minor but due to my history she would like me to have a punch biposy (a 4mm hole punch thing to take a sample) just to make sure it isn't anything else.

However, I have been reading and if it is a keloid scar then there is a high chance of it becoming a bigger keloid scar due to the biopsy. It could even be double the size or bigger at it will still be a reddish lump and could itch etc...

Before I read up about it I was all for having the biopsy but now I'm not so sure.

Any ideas? Input? Past experience of keloid scars? Help?

It is also fairly flat at the moment and it may become more pronounced.

I had one. I wish I'd had it left alone.

Essentially a little lump just under my right breast, which was removed by the local surgery. However, the resulting scar is much larger and messier, and the bugger still itches.

Just as well I don't make a living from showing my boobs off to everyone, I suppose.

It's pot luck whether the scar caused by biopsy or removal is worse or not. If you aren't inconvenienced by the keloid, then I would suggest leaving it alone. If the doctors want a biopsy in case it is something else, that's the risk you'll have to take.

In medicine, with most things, there's an inherent risk whether you do something or not. By leaving well alone, it may well be a keloid scar that does nothing over the remaining years of your life. On the other hand, do nothing and it may well have been something nasty for which is too late to do anything. On the other hand, the management (investigation or treatment) may do nothing, may make it better or may make it worse. In the long term, the risk of everything is death.

By all means read up (on reputable websites) about this but realistically you should have been informed of the risks and the likelihood of those risks. In the end, you need to ask yourself whether you'd be comfortable with the outcome or not.

I was informed about the risk of it becoming a larger scar but I didn't realise the extent to which it could grow.

Looking at some of the scars makes mine look miniscule.

Although I'm not sure I'd be happy with it being any bigger. Especially if it gets darker, more pronounced (i.e. not flat) and potentially itchy also.

If it is a keloid it's likely to get bigger slowly if it's in a position it gets irritated or traumatised. some poeple/groups are more prone than others.

Some tribal scars are quite impressive in their way, caused by repeated mutilation effectively.
If you have a past history of skin lesions/nasties better to get it biopsied I would think.

Didnt you say you needed a job? There you go then!

Er, no. Just no. There are some things with which the world is better off without.

Well, I'm off tomorrow for the biopsy.

Shouldn't be too bad I don't think.

what became of your ear deafness problem? I Was gone in this forum for a while so I dunno the outcome, is there any chance you could enlighten me? im all ears

LOL, well I was told I would probably never get my hearing back and then about a week later it slowly started to come back.

I went for a follow up appointment the other week and the guy said my hearing was back to normal apart from the high freq range.

Because it has puzzled him he's booking me in for a high resolution CT scan of my inner ear.

Basically I don't think he has seen hearing recover like this so he wants a closer look to see if he can see what happened.

That sounds kinda awesome

Sorry if I seem insensitive, I know what it's like to have bits of you failing, but still - "It's not just a CT scan. It's a Hi Res CT scan of really tiny little bones" </M&S advert>

PoIDH

I have keloid scars. Hips, face, heel from operations. The one on my heel is irritating, as it gets rubbed by my shoes.

Lol, don't worry. That's what I thought. Hi res ct scan Woot! Lol!</geek>