When you can’t make it to a doctor’s appointment with someone you love, sometimes the best you can do is make sure they don’t forget what needs to be checked.
Keep reading to learn more.
That’s exactly what Brinlee Miles from Utah did when she became concerned about her husband Ryan’s family history of skin cancer.
She sent him to a dermatologist however, this was not all she did. Before she sent him on his way, she circled the specific moles she wanted the doctor to examine.
What happened next turned a serious health concern into an unexpectedly funny exchange.
“This Is How I Sent My Husband To The Dermatologist”
Brinlee documented the whole thing on TikTok, showing the suspicious-looking moles she had marked on Ryan’s skin before his appointment.
Her caption read, “This is how I sent my husband to the dermatologist.”
But when Ryan came home, the couple discovered that the dermatologist had decided to play along.
The doctor had written notes next to the circled moles on Ryan’s chest and back, essentially indicating which ones looked fine and which ones needed further testing.
Brinlee joked in the caption, “And this is how she sent him back.”
Of the six moles Brinlee had circled, two were apparently selected for biopsy.
The video quickly took off, collecting more than 11.2 million views and thousands of comments.
The Follow-Up Revealed Why Brinlee Was Right To Be Concerned
The couple later shared an update about the biopsy results. One of the moles on Ryan’s back shoulder turned out to be harmless. But the mole on his chest was found to contain cancerous cells.
Fortunately, they said it wasn’t considered urgent, although Ryan will need to have it removed.
What initially looked like a funny story about an overprotective wife therefore became a reminder of why paying attention to unusual changes in your skin can matter.
A Dermatologist Says Patients Can Actually Help Doctors Spot Concerning Moles
Consultant dermatologist Dr. Derrick Phillips, a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, explained that patients with numerous moles often take steps to make a particular one easier to identify during an appointment.
That can include taking photographs with recognizable parts of the body in the frame or, increasingly, marking the mole itself.
Phillips said these efforts are welcomed because they can help make the examination more focused.
He also explained that the number and appearance of moles can be influenced by factors including genetics, skin color, and sun exposure.
Since moles can change over time, knowing what they normally look like can make it easier to notice something unusual.
Here’s What To Look For When Checking Your Moles
Dr. Phillips recommended the familiar ABCDE approach when looking for features that could warrant medical attention:
- A — Asymmetry: One half doesn’t match the other.
- B — Border: The edges are jagged, uneven, or irregular.
- C — Color: The mole contains multiple colors.
- D — Diameter: It is larger than about 6 mm.
- E — Evolution: It changes in size, shape, or color, or begins itching or bleeding.
Any concerning changes should be assessed by a doctor or dermatologist rather than diagnosed at home.
And importantly, not every unusual-looking mole is cancerous. Only a medical professional can determine whether a mole needs further testing.
Sun Protection Can Also Lower Skin-Cancer Risk
According to Phillips, melanoma and other skin cancers can develop following damage to skin cells caused by ultraviolet radiation.
He recommended taking precautions when spending time in the sun, including using SPF 30+ sunscreen with strong UVA protection, wearing protective clothing and hats, and seeking shade during the strongest sunlight hours.
The American Cancer Society estimates that millions of basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, making skin protection and awareness important even when a mole initially seems harmless.
TikTok Users Loved Brinlee’s Approach
Many viewers found the whole situation both hilarious and surprisingly wholesome.
After all, Brinlee wasn’t trying to diagnose her husband herself. She simply wanted to make sure that the dermatologist looked at every mole that had caught her attention.
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