Diagnosed Today. Terrified.

Janner gave you good advice Gord!!!! When it comes to following other moles, the best advice I have heard on the forum is to take some photo's today so you can compare in the future. I have probably 100 on my body from spending most of my youth outside in the summer's at a cottage back in the 60's and early 70's. Janner also gave you good advice about being sun safe and no tanning beds ever!!!!!. A good skin specialist would be a good idea and they will want to see you every 3 to 6 months at first. Wishing you the best!!!!! ED

Janner gave you good advice Gord!!!! When it comes to following other moles, the best advice I have heard on the forum is to take some photo's today so you can compare in the future. I have probably 100 on my body from spending most of my youth outside in the summer's at a cottage back in the 60's and early 70's. Janner also gave you good advice about being sun safe and no tanning beds ever!!!!!. A good skin specialist would be a good idea and they will want to see you every 3 to 6 months at first. Wishing you the best!!!!! ED

Janner gave you good advice Gord!!!! When it comes to following other moles, the best advice I have heard on the forum is to take some photo's today so you can compare in the future. I have probably 100 on my body from spending most of my youth outside in the summer's at a cottage back in the 60's and early 70's. Janner also gave you good advice about being sun safe and no tanning beds ever!!!!!. A good skin specialist would be a good idea and they will want to see you every 3 to 6 months at first. Wishing you the best!!!!! ED

< 10% of the melanoma population ever have more than one melanoma.

Take pictures using a ruler and good lighting you can duplicate.  Monthly, compare moles to the pics in that same lighting.  Lighting is crucial because it causes you to think there are changes when there aren't any.  Any mole that changes should be shown to your derm.  Changing moles do NOT indicate melanoma, they indicate a higher risk for melanoma.  I've had 3 melanomas (I have a genetic defect for melanoma) and I ONLY remove moles that change.  I have a set of baseline pictures and I use that for comparisons.   Again, you are really looking for the ugly duckling — if you have several moles that look similar, then they aren't ugly ducklings and normal for you. 

< 10% of the melanoma population ever have more than one melanoma.

Take pictures using a ruler and good lighting you can duplicate.  Monthly, compare moles to the pics in that same lighting.  Lighting is crucial because it causes you to think there are changes when there aren't any.  Any mole that changes should be shown to your derm.  Changing moles do NOT indicate melanoma, they indicate a higher risk for melanoma.  I've had 3 melanomas (I have a genetic defect for melanoma) and I ONLY remove moles that change.  I have a set of baseline pictures and I use that for comparisons.   Again, you are really looking for the ugly duckling — if you have several moles that look similar, then they aren't ugly ducklings and normal for you. 

You are just a bit ridiculous, but I say that as semi-reformed hypochondriac who has killed herself off more times than I can count! Relax, don't surf the internet, and don't decide your doctor must have missed something! 🙂 You are, and will continue to be, FINE!

You are just a bit ridiculous, but I say that as semi-reformed hypochondriac who has killed herself off more times than I can count! Relax, don't surf the internet, and don't decide your doctor must have missed something! 🙂 You are, and will continue to be, FINE!

As an almost-reformed hypochondriac, I understand your angst.  BUT … and this is the key … what is worry going to do for you?  Absolutely nothing.  And, in fact, it will stress your immune system and cause you to be vulnerable to other illnesses.  Worry is nothing but planning for bad things to happen, and why would you want to do that?  

As an almost-reformed hypochondriac, I understand your angst.  BUT … and this is the key … what is worry going to do for you?  Absolutely nothing.  And, in fact, it will stress your immune system and cause you to be vulnerable to other illnesses.  Worry is nothing but planning for bad things to happen, and why would you want to do that?  

As an almost-reformed hypochondriac, I understand your angst.  BUT … and this is the key … what is worry going to do for you?  Absolutely nothing.  And, in fact, it will stress your immune system and cause you to be vulnerable to other illnesses.  Worry is nothing but planning for bad things to happen, and why would you want to do that?  

Gordknight – Imagine you were told you have one week left to live.  You might respond in one of two ways:

1)  Freak out – OMGOMGOMGOMG I'm gonna die OMG OMG OMG! – one week later you're dead

2)  Enjoying every precious second that you have – chats with friends, relishing a beautiful sunset, playing with children, running, hiking, exploring, learning, loving – and one week later you're dead.

The end result is the same in either scenario.  But what a difference in quality of life!

Now, Gordknight, I am going to tell you something true and important:  You have X amount of time left to live. How do you want to spend it?

Gordknight – Imagine you were told you have one week left to live.  You might respond in one of two ways:

1)  Freak out – OMGOMGOMGOMG I'm gonna die OMG OMG OMG! – one week later you're dead

2)  Enjoying every precious second that you have – chats with friends, relishing a beautiful sunset, playing with children, running, hiking, exploring, learning, loving – and one week later you're dead.

The end result is the same in either scenario.  But what a difference in quality of life!

Now, Gordknight, I am going to tell you something true and important:  You have X amount of time left to live. How do you want to spend it?

At the peak of my battle with panic attacks and health anxiety, I'd just tell myself: Ok, worst case scenario, I die. Granted, when I "had" syphilis, breast cancer, an impending heart attack or stroke, AIDS, throat cancer, and any number of less fatal ailments, I kinda knew in the back of my mind that I wasn't going to die. Then I almost DID die from what I thought was severe back pain but which turned out to be a gallstone that had lodged itself between two intersecting tubes and led to bile backing up into my liver, mild blood poisoning and jaundice. I was apparently pretty close to checking out by the time I turned yellow and went to the ER. I was in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics for over a week. So go figure! The hypochondriac had no clue when death really did come a knockin'.

What ultimately "cured" me was Lexapro. I still get mild "omg's" sometimes, but I am no longer anywhere near paralyzed by fear when I notice something new in or on my body. Health anxiety is a form of OCD, so it's not something we can just talk ourselves out of. And when we're cleared of one deadly disease, another is sure to pop up. If you haven't seen a doctor about it, please do. I was in hell for several years because I resisted medications, and I kick myself now for all that wasted time.

In the meantime, rest assured that this is a relatively small bump on the road that doesn't merit such worry!

Good news, glad he helped with your fears a bit.  As for the WLE, it's not that big a deal.  My first one, I went right back to work after it was done.  I have since learned that taking off work after it is done is really acceptable.  I've had maybe 8 or 9 WLEs for various melanomas or abnormal moles.  Local anesthesia, a little inconvenience, and no big deal.  You can make it a big deal, but it certainly doesn't have to be one.  Hang in there!

Good news, glad he helped with your fears a bit.  As for the WLE, it's not that big a deal.  My first one, I went right back to work after it was done.  I have since learned that taking off work after it is done is really acceptable.  I've had maybe 8 or 9 WLEs for various melanomas or abnormal moles.  Local anesthesia, a little inconvenience, and no big deal.  You can make it a big deal, but it certainly doesn't have to be one.  Hang in there!

Good news, glad he helped with your fears a bit.  As for the WLE, it's not that big a deal.  My first one, I went right back to work after it was done.  I have since learned that taking off work after it is done is really acceptable.  I've had maybe 8 or 9 WLEs for various melanomas or abnormal moles.  Local anesthesia, a little inconvenience, and no big deal.  You can make it a big deal, but it certainly doesn't have to be one.  Hang in there!

I'm so glad he eased your mind. Do not even worry about the WLE. My father had two of them at 82 years old with no problem — and his first tumor was an inch deep! 

I'm so glad he eased your mind. Do not even worry about the WLE. My father had two of them at 82 years old with no problem — and his first tumor was an inch deep! 

I'm so glad he eased your mind. Do not even worry about the WLE. My father had two of them at 82 years old with no problem — and his first tumor was an inch deep! 

At the peak of my battle with panic attacks and health anxiety, I'd just tell myself: Ok, worst case scenario, I die. Granted, when I "had" syphilis, breast cancer, an impending heart attack or stroke, AIDS, throat cancer, and any number of less fatal ailments, I kinda knew in the back of my mind that I wasn't going to die. Then I almost DID die from what I thought was severe back pain but which turned out to be a gallstone that had lodged itself between two intersecting tubes and led to bile backing up into my liver, mild blood poisoning and jaundice. I was apparently pretty close to checking out by the time I turned yellow and went to the ER. I was in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics for over a week. So go figure! The hypochondriac had no clue when death really did come a knockin'.

What ultimately "cured" me was Lexapro. I still get mild "omg's" sometimes, but I am no longer anywhere near paralyzed by fear when I notice something new in or on my body. Health anxiety is a form of OCD, so it's not something we can just talk ourselves out of. And when we're cleared of one deadly disease, another is sure to pop up. If you haven't seen a doctor about it, please do. I was in hell for several years because I resisted medications, and I kick myself now for all that wasted time.

In the meantime, rest assured that this is a relatively small bump on the road that doesn't merit such worry!

At the peak of my battle with panic attacks and health anxiety, I'd just tell myself: Ok, worst case scenario, I die. Granted, when I "had" syphilis, breast cancer, an impending heart attack or stroke, AIDS, throat cancer, and any number of less fatal ailments, I kinda knew in the back of my mind that I wasn't going to die. Then I almost DID die from what I thought was severe back pain but which turned out to be a gallstone that had lodged itself between two intersecting tubes and led to bile backing up into my liver, mild blood poisoning and jaundice. I was apparently pretty close to checking out by the time I turned yellow and went to the ER. I was in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics for over a week. So go figure! The hypochondriac had no clue when death really did come a knockin'.

What ultimately "cured" me was Lexapro. I still get mild "omg's" sometimes, but I am no longer anywhere near paralyzed by fear when I notice something new in or on my body. Health anxiety is a form of OCD, so it's not something we can just talk ourselves out of. And when we're cleared of one deadly disease, another is sure to pop up. If you haven't seen a doctor about it, please do. I was in hell for several years because I resisted medications, and I kick myself now for all that wasted time.

In the meantime, rest assured that this is a relatively small bump on the road that doesn't merit such worry!

Gordknight – Imagine you were told you have one week left to live.  You might respond in one of two ways:

1)  Freak out – OMGOMGOMGOMG I'm gonna die OMG OMG OMG! – one week later you're dead

2)  Enjoying every precious second that you have – chats with friends, relishing a beautiful sunset, playing with children, running, hiking, exploring, learning, loving – and one week later you're dead.

The end result is the same in either scenario.  But what a difference in quality of life!

Now, Gordknight, I am going to tell you something true and important:  You have X amount of time left to live. How do you want to spend it?

You are just a bit ridiculous, but I say that as semi-reformed hypochondriac who has killed herself off more times than I can count! Relax, don't surf the internet, and don't decide your doctor must have missed something! 🙂 You are, and will continue to be, FINE!

< 10% of the melanoma population ever have more than one melanoma.

Take pictures using a ruler and good lighting you can duplicate.  Monthly, compare moles to the pics in that same lighting.  Lighting is crucial because it causes you to think there are changes when there aren't any.  Any mole that changes should be shown to your derm.  Changing moles do NOT indicate melanoma, they indicate a higher risk for melanoma.  I've had 3 melanomas (I have a genetic defect for melanoma) and I ONLY remove moles that change.  I have a set of baseline pictures and I use that for comparisons.   Again, you are really looking for the ugly duckling — if you have several moles that look similar, then they aren't ugly ducklings and normal for you.