k so im 14 and i have a spot in a weird place. its not it the saggy area its in the other bit underneath. it started off as a spot and now its grown and is startiung to hurt a bit. iv told my parents and theyve told me not to worry but i am and basically i just want your point of view, your past experiences and comfort cus im very worried. im that worried its making me ill. i was out last night at a gig and when i got home i found that it had grown and then to make it worse i had to get up early next morning for school and its been a massive shock and iv not felt right ok and i just wanna break down and cry.
thanks for your help
sam

I had what I called a "cancer spot" on my back for a few years after I went to the beach. I was worried cause it always itched. So one day I just said fuck it and went to the doctor. As it turns out, it was nothing serious. But at least I found out from a doctor. After that, all worries about what it was were gone.

Regardless of what your parents tell you, if ANYTHING worries you, you might as well just go to the doctor and get it checked. That way you'll know what's going on and you won't have that feeling of uncertainty of what's wrong with you physically.

Okay, okay, I know you said "guys only" but I am pre-med so I thought I'd share my two cents. First of all, I have no idea what part of your body you're describing, but that's okay. Second of all, this "spot" - it is just a discoloration or it is actually a raised spot like a mole? Regardless of what your parents say, I'd still suggest that you see an actual doctor. Spots, raised or not, should not grow at a rate where you'd notice the growth in one day. It is definitely better to be safe than sorry.

Just from my personal experience: On one hand, I had a mole on my arm that grew really big and looked like a butterfly. It was nothing. On the other hand, my stepmother had a dark spot on her back that turned out to be melanoma. It's treatable, of course, but best caught early. It's probably nothing, but it would still be good for you to talk to a doctor about it so you can monitor the situation.

And don't be scared to go to the doctor. It might be embarassing, but it's nothing the doctor hasn't seen before and it's something you really need to take care of. Plus, I get the distinct feeling that not knowing is affecting your mental well-being, which definitely isn't good.

<3 Mary

well i do have the choice of seeing a woman doctor tomorrow but... well you see my problem there.

edit: thanks sangreal

Boy, do I ever see your problem there! I have to have yearly "well-woman exams," which is basically a polite term for letting a random doctor poke around you-know-where. Sure, I know it has a purpose, but it's still a little embarassing and uncomfortable, and I would never - NEVER - let a man do it. So I'm definitely on the same page there. Plus, I think a male doctor might be far more likely to know what's actually going on down there than a female, just from experience.

Here's my 2 cents on the matter:

I am a cancer survivor, and I had a very advanced form of testicular cancer that had moved up into my stomach and lungs. If I had of gone to the doctor when I first felt pain, I could have had one surgery and be done with the whole thing. Instead, I waited too long and I ended up having to have 3 surgeries, and 6 months of chemotherapy.

So, the moral of the story is...If there's something messed up on your body, and you are worried about it, GO TO THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY! You could save yourself a lot of trouble. Remember: Doctors, even female doctors, have seen stranger things than your issue. That's simply a fact (most of the time).

If you have something on your body that's growing you should get it checked out soon...

ToB, actually your situation was the first one that came to mind, but I didn't feel right telling your story, so I'm glad you did. Seriously, it's probably nothing, but safety first. Note: it's not like ToB's old or anything. If I recall, he was in his early to middle 20s when all that happened. Cancer is not just something that happens to old people. So definitely get it checked out so you can (at the very least) know what's going on and stop worrying about the possibilities.

Seriously, it's probably nothing, but safety first.

Well, I'm no pre-med student, but it seems to me that a painful growth is something. I'm glad you amended your advice to include "go to the doctor anyway," but I wouldn't want to give him the false hope that it isn't anything when it very well could be.

I think the bottom line is that it's hard to give an online diagnosis; but if you think your body's telling you there's something wrong, there probably is. And growths = scary.

He didn't say whether it was a growth or just a discolored spot. Either way, I already told him to go to the doctor anyway. I was just reassuring him because he's anxious. Yes, it very well could be something but it's more likely that it is nothing. I just know he's really scared about this and it's bugging him. I am of the mindset that you should chill out until you know something, but try to know something as soon as possible.

My husband had surgery on a spot when he was 18. He had actual developed a third testicle. I know I am not spelling this right but it is called a hydrocell.
It has come back since the surgery.We first noticed it again about 6 years ago. He gets it checked yearly and it is fine, just bothersome as having a third testicle is shall we say messy. I am trying to be as PC as I can about this without explaining all the side effects so please bear with me. :o
You should not be embarassed to get this checked out. It is very important not only for piece of mind, but as ToB's story proves you are never to young to have life threatening problems.

well i do have the choice of seeing a woman doctor tomorrow but... well you see my problem there.
Look at it this way, who would you rather have checking you out down there another guy or a woman?

A doctor is a professional, she's seen it all before. If you're worried about having a, ummm, positive reaction to the examination just close your eyes and pretend its your grandma.

If you're worried about having a, ummm, positive reaction to the examination just close your eyes and pretend its your grandma.
Or.........your doctor. ;)

I know it'd be uncomfortable going and seeing a female doctor. Maybe you should go and see if you can request a male doctor there? Otherwise, its not as big of a deal as you'd think. I've had female doctors have to go "down there," and even though there's the initial uncomfortable feel, its not that bad, they've seen it all before, they're doctors. Getting it checked out as soon as possible is definitely a good idea.

anything on your body that you find to be troublesome is worthy of being checked out by a medical professional. even if it happens to simply be a mole or sking pigmentation, as SangReal and others have said, it's better to find out sooner rather than later. even moreso, since some moles can become cancerous over time (i'm speaking from previous personal experiences). and if it's causing any discomfort or pain, that alone should be reason enough for you to have it checked out.

hope everything works out well for you.

I've had my gangly bittles poked at by a female doctor before, though it was a help that she was in the vicinity of fifty. The lured smile she gave me was worrying (j/k).

If you honestly do not wish to have a female doctor it is perfectly in your rights to ensure the receptionist books you with a male doctor. But when it comes down to it, like ToB said, they are there as a professional role.

To them, your dangly bits are the same as a Coke machine vender to a can of Coke.
speaking of which, I need a $2 coin..

I agree, go see a doctor. It's best to get your mind put at ease. If there is something, then it may be treated early enough. If there isn't anything to worry about, then it will help your anxiety about the situation. Either way, go see a doc. Request to see a male doctor. Most clinics have both sexes of doctors just for that reason. Females generally want females and males generally want males. And being that you are 14, it'll be less embarassing if you have a male dr. Altho, doctors have seen way more than you could even imagine. It's their job to help you. But go get checked out. Some problems don't discriminate age or sex. Anyone can have problems.

Karen

You wanna talk about embarrassing? Imagine having your asshole (anus) poked at by a female doc. *dies now that he's told this to you people*. Dude. I was sooo embarrassed to take my pants off but after I ACTUALLY did it, it felt "normal"...for lack of a better way. Just go in and do what you have to do without any second guessing and all will be ok. It's kinda like asking a girl out or jumping in the ocean. You're VERY VERY VERY hesitant at first but once you actually do it, you become acustomed to the situation.

But yeah. Besides the whole anus thing, I've had my jimmy checked on before. Again, it's very odd at first but it's not that bad. Go for it.

Go see a doctor. Tell her. Simple as that.

If it is nothing--then it is nothing. If it is serious then the doctor can get you in touch with the right people to have it taken care of before it becomes even more serious.

Genital examinations are done in a professional manner, if you're worried about becoming aroused. If that does occur (it's a physical reaction, not too much you can do about it), then the doctor, male or female, will be professional about it. It may be embarassing, but it's better to be embarassed than to be suffering from a serious condition in silence.

I applied for the air force two years and I had a fairly comprehensive medical checkup, including a genital examination. It's done in a manner that's not very stimulating I can tell you :p

Sorry for coming on here guys...its hard to understand what bit your describing but I found a lump on the top inside of my thigh...fairly near that 'special place' yet still on my leg and I noticed it as I felt it irritating when i walked and it was very hard and I was scared shitless. It was sore and hurt when I touched it but slowly the pain went slightly and i went and got it checked out and .... just a fat lump! its pretty much gone now....so just to let you know theres not only one thing it could be. but please go see a doctor.

Sorry for coming on here guys...its hard to understand what bit your describing but I found a lump on the top inside of my thigh...fairly near that 'special place' yet still on my leg and I noticed it as I felt it irritating when i walked and it was very hard and I was scared shitless. It was sore and hurt when I touched it but slowly the pain went slightly and i went and got it checked out and .... just a fat lump! its pretty much gone now....so just to let you know theres not only one thing it could be. but please go see a doctor.

Those are pretty common. So are ingrown hairs that become cyst like and painful. From what my doctor told me anywhere you shave or remove hair from is subject to these. They can get really infected and cause all sorts of pain. If infected they will require some sort of antibiotic so you don't get sick.
Men can get them on their genitals.Women often get them on the inner folds of the labia, too. Although bothersome they will usually go away on their own.
I would also like to mention if you get one of these it is important to get it checked out by a professional just to make sure it is not something else like an STD. The lesions can appear similar.

thanks you guys. well it turns out its just a spot. yer i had a very long bath and it popped and then i got up this morning and it was going. thanks for all your replys. i really think theres nothing to worry about now. you give me a lot of advice and i respect that.
thanks
sam :)

Cancer is not just something that happens to old people.

I was two and had a grapefruit-sized tumor on my left kidney. No one noticed until I tripped and fell and it ruptured. :p Luckily you can live with a kidney and it was all done in about 1-2 years, but yeah.

Just go to the doctor... it can't be that bad.

[edit] yeah it took a bit for this to show up. Glad for the good news... very wonderful that it popped... lol.