› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Here are the symptoms….
- This topic has 21 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by
ecc26.
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- May 31, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Hello,
Thank you for reading my post. I am kind of at a loss and feeling very scared. I was recently diagnosed with melanoma on my head/neck, and have since checked every other square inch of my body. Well, I discovered another spot, (getting it looked at this coming week) it has all the characteristics, and is pretty well raised. It is on my left side love handle…. I remember it being there a long time ago (a couple years) and it started as a small freckle..
So here's my question:
Hello,
Thank you for reading my post. I am kind of at a loss and feeling very scared. I was recently diagnosed with melanoma on my head/neck, and have since checked every other square inch of my body. Well, I discovered another spot, (getting it looked at this coming week) it has all the characteristics, and is pretty well raised. It is on my left side love handle…. I remember it being there a long time ago (a couple years) and it started as a small freckle..
So here's my question:
Not too long ago, (maybe 6 months, during the winter) I went through a period where I was really sick. Both sides of my groin nodes were huge, hard, swollen, and too painful to even walk… This has since subsided, but have continually maintained other symptoms of: Abdominal pain and cramping, extreme bloating and gas, big time gain in abdominal gurth (like not fat, but bigger around just in the abdominal area), had a week of pure constipation, now am having semi regular BM's, but loose and thin, (maybe a tiny bit of blood here and there, in the crevices of the stools, not all the time), decreased appetite but increased weight, extreme fatigue, headaches, sharp pains behind my eyes (almost every day), pinched nerves and muscles throughout, but especially in my back and shoulders, and extremely abnormal vaginal bleeding…seems like every day… there are more days of bleeding than not!!
This has all become frustrating, and worrysome. I try not to make a huge deal of it, because maybe I wouldnt notice these things is i DIDNT have melanoma on my mind, but there are a ton of new symptoms just within the last 6 months or so…
I AM getting this new spot checked out within a week, but just curoius in the meantime if anyone else thought this was outrageous, or possibly all in my head….
Help!?
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- May 31, 2013 at 6:31 pm
***Oh and a side note, the diagnosed melanoma is only a thin one, going in for a WLE in the next couple weeks… it's the new one on my love handle that I think may be related…yet to be diagnosed.
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- May 31, 2013 at 6:31 pm
***Oh and a side note, the diagnosed melanoma is only a thin one, going in for a WLE in the next couple weeks… it's the new one on my love handle that I think may be related…yet to be diagnosed.
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- May 31, 2013 at 6:31 pm
***Oh and a side note, the diagnosed melanoma is only a thin one, going in for a WLE in the next couple weeks… it's the new one on my love handle that I think may be related…yet to be diagnosed.
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- May 31, 2013 at 7:16 pm
I agree. I think that none of your symptoms are melanoma related. Doesn't mean they are in your head, but I'd be looking for a more likely cause than melanoma. As for your newer lesion, it doesn't have to be melanoma either. <10% of the melanoma population ever have more than one primary melanoma. So hopefully, this is nothing of interest and you can concentrate on getting your other problems under control.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- May 31, 2013 at 7:16 pm
I agree. I think that none of your symptoms are melanoma related. Doesn't mean they are in your head, but I'd be looking for a more likely cause than melanoma. As for your newer lesion, it doesn't have to be melanoma either. <10% of the melanoma population ever have more than one primary melanoma. So hopefully, this is nothing of interest and you can concentrate on getting your other problems under control.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- May 31, 2013 at 7:16 pm
I agree. I think that none of your symptoms are melanoma related. Doesn't mean they are in your head, but I'd be looking for a more likely cause than melanoma. As for your newer lesion, it doesn't have to be melanoma either. <10% of the melanoma population ever have more than one primary melanoma. So hopefully, this is nothing of interest and you can concentrate on getting your other problems under control.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- May 31, 2013 at 6:43 pm
I don't think that your symptoms are related to melanoma. As for your spot you are going to check next week, I am wondering whther your derm saw it already (normally, you had to have full body skin check after your mm diagnosis). Hope it is benign.
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- May 31, 2013 at 7:11 pm
nope, it wasnt a derm that I saw, I went to my primary for the biopsy, then to the ear nose and throat doc for a full excision, went back for the WLE but he pretty much told me he wasnt comfortable doing it, since thats not an area hes familiar with, and refered me to plastic and hand……. So i havent been to a derm yet, this spot i discovered on my own, and the plastic and hand folks are the ones who will look at it….
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- May 31, 2013 at 7:11 pm
nope, it wasnt a derm that I saw, I went to my primary for the biopsy, then to the ear nose and throat doc for a full excision, went back for the WLE but he pretty much told me he wasnt comfortable doing it, since thats not an area hes familiar with, and refered me to plastic and hand……. So i havent been to a derm yet, this spot i discovered on my own, and the plastic and hand folks are the ones who will look at it….
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- May 31, 2013 at 7:11 pm
nope, it wasnt a derm that I saw, I went to my primary for the biopsy, then to the ear nose and throat doc for a full excision, went back for the WLE but he pretty much told me he wasnt comfortable doing it, since thats not an area hes familiar with, and refered me to plastic and hand……. So i havent been to a derm yet, this spot i discovered on my own, and the plastic and hand folks are the ones who will look at it….
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- June 1, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Sorry you are having so much discomfort and anxiety. The anxiety about what's causing all of this is usually worse than the discovery of the actual cause in my case. I would probably go to my primary doc for a thorough diagnosis. It sounds like you have a good handle on the symptoms and when the occurred which will be a big help to him/her. It almost sounds like you might have a couple of things going on simulatenously…ie GI problems (IBS, gall bladder, ulcer ???) and something different causing headaches etc. I wouldn't see either as melanoma related. So truck ahead with the excision. That's just smart as you know what that's about. Have the other spot on your side examined to put your mind at rest about that. See your primary about everything else. That's my best thinking. I'll be praying for you through this.
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- June 1, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Sorry you are having so much discomfort and anxiety. The anxiety about what's causing all of this is usually worse than the discovery of the actual cause in my case. I would probably go to my primary doc for a thorough diagnosis. It sounds like you have a good handle on the symptoms and when the occurred which will be a big help to him/her. It almost sounds like you might have a couple of things going on simulatenously…ie GI problems (IBS, gall bladder, ulcer ???) and something different causing headaches etc. I wouldn't see either as melanoma related. So truck ahead with the excision. That's just smart as you know what that's about. Have the other spot on your side examined to put your mind at rest about that. See your primary about everything else. That's my best thinking. I'll be praying for you through this.
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- June 1, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Sorry you are having so much discomfort and anxiety. The anxiety about what's causing all of this is usually worse than the discovery of the actual cause in my case. I would probably go to my primary doc for a thorough diagnosis. It sounds like you have a good handle on the symptoms and when the occurred which will be a big help to him/her. It almost sounds like you might have a couple of things going on simulatenously…ie GI problems (IBS, gall bladder, ulcer ???) and something different causing headaches etc. I wouldn't see either as melanoma related. So truck ahead with the excision. That's just smart as you know what that's about. Have the other spot on your side examined to put your mind at rest about that. See your primary about everything else. That's my best thinking. I'll be praying for you through this.
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- June 1, 2013 at 9:10 pm
I also don't think that your other symptoms are likely related to the melanoma. Enlarged/painful lymph nodes can happen with any cancer, but yours seem pretty distant from the melanoma and with any cancer they wouldn't return to a normal size, they would just keep growing. I do think you should see at least your primary doctor if not a board certified internal medicine specialist about all of your symptoms. I think the combination and duration are very concerning. I suspect that at least some bloodwork and probably a CT scan wiht contrast are in order to take a look at your abdomen/pelvis areas for signs of problems. Maybe a colonoscopy as well given the GI issues? With the headaches/back pain/pinched nerves it's hard to say, MRI is best for looking at head and spine (I've had a few in the past year as a stage IV melanoma patient looking for mets) so you may be in for a battery of testing, but I think it's worth it for you to get some answers, or at least a starting point. I woud definitely push for a board certified internial medicine appointment though. If you're seeing an oncologist they may be able to help advise you some as well and/or order some of the tests, but I suspect they will refer you to an internist for most of these symptoms. And yes, I would have the other spot you found biopsied. I've had a few removed that came back normal, but it still is one less think for me to worry about. Good Luck!
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- June 1, 2013 at 9:10 pm
I also don't think that your other symptoms are likely related to the melanoma. Enlarged/painful lymph nodes can happen with any cancer, but yours seem pretty distant from the melanoma and with any cancer they wouldn't return to a normal size, they would just keep growing. I do think you should see at least your primary doctor if not a board certified internal medicine specialist about all of your symptoms. I think the combination and duration are very concerning. I suspect that at least some bloodwork and probably a CT scan wiht contrast are in order to take a look at your abdomen/pelvis areas for signs of problems. Maybe a colonoscopy as well given the GI issues? With the headaches/back pain/pinched nerves it's hard to say, MRI is best for looking at head and spine (I've had a few in the past year as a stage IV melanoma patient looking for mets) so you may be in for a battery of testing, but I think it's worth it for you to get some answers, or at least a starting point. I woud definitely push for a board certified internial medicine appointment though. If you're seeing an oncologist they may be able to help advise you some as well and/or order some of the tests, but I suspect they will refer you to an internist for most of these symptoms. And yes, I would have the other spot you found biopsied. I've had a few removed that came back normal, but it still is one less think for me to worry about. Good Luck!
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- June 1, 2013 at 9:10 pm
I also don't think that your other symptoms are likely related to the melanoma. Enlarged/painful lymph nodes can happen with any cancer, but yours seem pretty distant from the melanoma and with any cancer they wouldn't return to a normal size, they would just keep growing. I do think you should see at least your primary doctor if not a board certified internal medicine specialist about all of your symptoms. I think the combination and duration are very concerning. I suspect that at least some bloodwork and probably a CT scan wiht contrast are in order to take a look at your abdomen/pelvis areas for signs of problems. Maybe a colonoscopy as well given the GI issues? With the headaches/back pain/pinched nerves it's hard to say, MRI is best for looking at head and spine (I've had a few in the past year as a stage IV melanoma patient looking for mets) so you may be in for a battery of testing, but I think it's worth it for you to get some answers, or at least a starting point. I woud definitely push for a board certified internial medicine appointment though. If you're seeing an oncologist they may be able to help advise you some as well and/or order some of the tests, but I suspect they will refer you to an internist for most of these symptoms. And yes, I would have the other spot you found biopsied. I've had a few removed that came back normal, but it still is one less think for me to worry about. Good Luck!
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