› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Advice on 1a
- This topic has 6 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by
caretothepeople.
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- July 27, 2016 at 9:03 pm
I was just diagnosed last Thursday and then seen my oncologist today. He diagnosed me at stage 1a. I asked multiple times about scans or lymph node biopsy and he told me none of the was needed: they would just do a wle and then he will see me in six months for a skin check. Is this normal procedure? I just don't want something missed and then later on find out it could have been caught early although with melanoma I know it's hard. Also my question for the more experienced. How do you love your lives normally and without worrying every little thing is melanoma spreading in your body? I have severe anxiety and I can't seem to quit thinking the worst. I have seen so many stories of stage 0 and 1 turning to stage three six months later.
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- July 27, 2016 at 9:22 pm
First, recommendations for treatment are standard. No scans, no SNB. Just the WLE getting margins. Totally normal.
You read about people who progress because the people who don't progress don't post. Sites like this are full of the exceptions and newly diagnosed. They are not full of people who never deal with melanoma again. Since 96%+ percent of stage 1a never have a recurrence, why should they stick around and post years out? Your risk of anothe primary melanoma is about 10% – higher than your risk of recurrence. So watch your moles for change and the ugly duckling!
The question you need to ask yourself if you have ANY symptoms is this: "Would I have called my doctor or run to them PRIOR to having melanoma?" Because that is truly the question. If you have a cough, would you have run to your doc? No. Maybe if it didn't go away, you would see your doc after a period of time. Same after melanoma. With stage 1a, anything you encounter is most likely NOT related to melanoma. Tough to get your head around it but that is the reality. Early stages have all the worry of cancer, but not the bad prognosis.
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- July 27, 2016 at 9:22 pm
First, recommendations for treatment are standard. No scans, no SNB. Just the WLE getting margins. Totally normal.
You read about people who progress because the people who don't progress don't post. Sites like this are full of the exceptions and newly diagnosed. They are not full of people who never deal with melanoma again. Since 96%+ percent of stage 1a never have a recurrence, why should they stick around and post years out? Your risk of anothe primary melanoma is about 10% – higher than your risk of recurrence. So watch your moles for change and the ugly duckling!
The question you need to ask yourself if you have ANY symptoms is this: "Would I have called my doctor or run to them PRIOR to having melanoma?" Because that is truly the question. If you have a cough, would you have run to your doc? No. Maybe if it didn't go away, you would see your doc after a period of time. Same after melanoma. With stage 1a, anything you encounter is most likely NOT related to melanoma. Tough to get your head around it but that is the reality. Early stages have all the worry of cancer, but not the bad prognosis.
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- July 27, 2016 at 9:22 pm
First, recommendations for treatment are standard. No scans, no SNB. Just the WLE getting margins. Totally normal.
You read about people who progress because the people who don't progress don't post. Sites like this are full of the exceptions and newly diagnosed. They are not full of people who never deal with melanoma again. Since 96%+ percent of stage 1a never have a recurrence, why should they stick around and post years out? Your risk of anothe primary melanoma is about 10% – higher than your risk of recurrence. So watch your moles for change and the ugly duckling!
The question you need to ask yourself if you have ANY symptoms is this: "Would I have called my doctor or run to them PRIOR to having melanoma?" Because that is truly the question. If you have a cough, would you have run to your doc? No. Maybe if it didn't go away, you would see your doc after a period of time. Same after melanoma. With stage 1a, anything you encounter is most likely NOT related to melanoma. Tough to get your head around it but that is the reality. Early stages have all the worry of cancer, but not the bad prognosis.
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- July 28, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Getting the diagnosis can trigger a roller coaster of different emotions. It sounds like you're being proactive about the situation and doing what you can to think ahead.
It might be helpful to check out The MRF's newly diagnosed guide. It has lots of info about staging, questions to ask about treatment, etc: https://www.melanoma.org/sites/default/files/u13882/JustDiagnosed…NowWhat.pdf
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- July 28, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Getting the diagnosis can trigger a roller coaster of different emotions. It sounds like you're being proactive about the situation and doing what you can to think ahead.
It might be helpful to check out The MRF's newly diagnosed guide. It has lots of info about staging, questions to ask about treatment, etc: https://www.melanoma.org/sites/default/files/u13882/JustDiagnosed…NowWhat.pdf
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- July 28, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Getting the diagnosis can trigger a roller coaster of different emotions. It sounds like you're being proactive about the situation and doing what you can to think ahead.
It might be helpful to check out The MRF's newly diagnosed guide. It has lots of info about staging, questions to ask about treatment, etc: https://www.melanoma.org/sites/default/files/u13882/JustDiagnosed…NowWhat.pdf
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