Just out of curiosity, how old are you all and what stage have you been diagnosed with?

Hi, 

I hear you Susan!

i am 35 male who was diagnosed with melanoma in situ in January. I also had a surgery and now they want me to come for the skin check up. Even though it's been more then two months after my surgery, I still have fear and ask so many questions. Soon I am going to see my dermatologist. 

You will be ok Susan!  We just need to beat up the fear and try to move on?

Thanks, 

Hi, 

I hear you Susan!

i am 35 male who was diagnosed with melanoma in situ in January. I also had a surgery and now they want me to come for the skin check up. Even though it's been more then two months after my surgery, I still have fear and ask so many questions. Soon I am going to see my dermatologist. 

You will be ok Susan!  We just need to beat up the fear and try to move on?

Thanks, 

Hi, 

I hear you Susan!

i am 35 male who was diagnosed with melanoma in situ in January. I also had a surgery and now they want me to come for the skin check up. Even though it's been more then two months after my surgery, I still have fear and ask so many questions. Soon I am going to see my dermatologist. 

You will be ok Susan!  We just need to beat up the fear and try to move on?

Thanks, 

I am 35 and I was diagnosed with stage 3b while pregnant with my son.  I went through the shave biopsy at 24 weeks and the WLE and SLNB at 27 weeks pregnant.  The SLNB came back positive.  After that, we had to wait until I had my son to do the PET Scan and second surgery.  I was in a state of unknown for the last 2 months of my pregnancy and really through all 12 weeks of my maternity leave.  

I worry all all the time about whether I made the right decisions as far as my treatment plan is concerned.  I worry about whether this monster will come back and my son will have to see me go through treatment, or worse.  

During the last part of my pregnancy, I bought a pack of note cards.  Those cards were for me to write notes for my son to read when he's older.  I haven't used them yet, thankfully.  But they're there if I need them.

My son will be 2 nest month and I'm currently a little over 2 years NED

I am 35 and I was diagnosed with stage 3b while pregnant with my son.  I went through the shave biopsy at 24 weeks and the WLE and SLNB at 27 weeks pregnant.  The SLNB came back positive.  After that, we had to wait until I had my son to do the PET Scan and second surgery.  I was in a state of unknown for the last 2 months of my pregnancy and really through all 12 weeks of my maternity leave.  

I worry all all the time about whether I made the right decisions as far as my treatment plan is concerned.  I worry about whether this monster will come back and my son will have to see me go through treatment, or worse.  

During the last part of my pregnancy, I bought a pack of note cards.  Those cards were for me to write notes for my son to read when he's older.  I haven't used them yet, thankfully.  But they're there if I need them.

My son will be 2 nest month and I'm currently a little over 2 years NED

I am 35 and I was diagnosed with stage 3b while pregnant with my son.  I went through the shave biopsy at 24 weeks and the WLE and SLNB at 27 weeks pregnant.  The SLNB came back positive.  After that, we had to wait until I had my son to do the PET Scan and second surgery.  I was in a state of unknown for the last 2 months of my pregnancy and really through all 12 weeks of my maternity leave.  

I worry all all the time about whether I made the right decisions as far as my treatment plan is concerned.  I worry about whether this monster will come back and my son will have to see me go through treatment, or worse.  

During the last part of my pregnancy, I bought a pack of note cards.  Those cards were for me to write notes for my son to read when he's older.  I haven't used them yet, thankfully.  But they're there if I need them.

My son will be 2 nest month and I'm currently a little over 2 years NED

You will find a mixed bag of ages and stages here. I am 41 and stage 4 (currently NED). I was initially diagnosed at stage 2C at 37 years of age.

For me, I found that I was more concerned upon the initial diagnosis that I am today. So I expect your fear should subside with time. At stage 1A your outlook is very positive… treat it as a bump in the road and move on with life.

Kevin

You will find a mixed bag of ages and stages here. I am 41 and stage 4 (currently NED). I was initially diagnosed at stage 2C at 37 years of age.

For me, I found that I was more concerned upon the initial diagnosis that I am today. So I expect your fear should subside with time. At stage 1A your outlook is very positive… treat it as a bump in the road and move on with life.

Kevin

You will find a mixed bag of ages and stages here. I am 41 and stage 4 (currently NED). I was initially diagnosed at stage 2C at 37 years of age.

For me, I found that I was more concerned upon the initial diagnosis that I am today. So I expect your fear should subside with time. At stage 1A your outlook is very positive… treat it as a bump in the road and move on with life.

Kevin

Everyone is different…and we all have different reasons why melanoma has come into our lives.

For me….I fried my white English/Scottish skin on annual beach vacations and summers at the beach…and that was just the beginning.  When I turned 16, I started tanning beds to get ready for the prom.  And from there….I decided being tan year-round was the way to go.  So I hit the tanning beds 3-5 times a week, year-round, from 16-26 years old.  And at 26 years old…that is when I learned that skin cancer was a thing….a thing I had never heard of…but it was about to become a very big thing in my life.

1^st Diagnosed at age 26 with 2mm Stage II upper right arm

2^nd Diagnosed at age 27 with In-situ on thigh

3^rd Diagnosed at age 28 with 0.5mm left arm pit

4^th Diagnosed at age 29 with 0.6mm right arm pit

Oct 2012 Diagnosed at age 38 with Stage IV

I am doing great though.  On the Merck Pembro trial for the last 2.5 years.  Totally healthy and feeling great.  Living a very happy, normal life.

All my best, Laurie

Everyone is different…and we all have different reasons why melanoma has come into our lives.

For me….I fried my white English/Scottish skin on annual beach vacations and summers at the beach…and that was just the beginning.  When I turned 16, I started tanning beds to get ready for the prom.  And from there….I decided being tan year-round was the way to go.  So I hit the tanning beds 3-5 times a week, year-round, from 16-26 years old.  And at 26 years old…that is when I learned that skin cancer was a thing….a thing I had never heard of…but it was about to become a very big thing in my life.

1^st Diagnosed at age 26 with 2mm Stage II upper right arm

2^nd Diagnosed at age 27 with In-situ on thigh

3^rd Diagnosed at age 28 with 0.5mm left arm pit

4^th Diagnosed at age 29 with 0.6mm right arm pit

Oct 2012 Diagnosed at age 38 with Stage IV

I am doing great though.  On the Merck Pembro trial for the last 2.5 years.  Totally healthy and feeling great.  Living a very happy, normal life.

All my best, Laurie

Everyone is different…and we all have different reasons why melanoma has come into our lives.

For me….I fried my white English/Scottish skin on annual beach vacations and summers at the beach…and that was just the beginning.  When I turned 16, I started tanning beds to get ready for the prom.  And from there….I decided being tan year-round was the way to go.  So I hit the tanning beds 3-5 times a week, year-round, from 16-26 years old.  And at 26 years old…that is when I learned that skin cancer was a thing….a thing I had never heard of…but it was about to become a very big thing in my life.

1^st Diagnosed at age 26 with 2mm Stage II upper right arm

2^nd Diagnosed at age 27 with In-situ on thigh

3^rd Diagnosed at age 28 with 0.5mm left arm pit

4^th Diagnosed at age 29 with 0.6mm right arm pit

Oct 2012 Diagnosed at age 38 with Stage IV

I am doing great though.  On the Merck Pembro trial for the last 2.5 years.  Totally healthy and feeling great.  Living a very happy, normal life.

All my best, Laurie

Remember, sites like this are NOT representative samples.  You don't see the vast majority of stage 1As who NEVER post again.  They have no reason to post.  The internet can be very scary for newly diagnosed early stages.  Take pictures of all your moles and then you have an independent eye to watch for CHANGE!  It does get better with time.

I was diagnosed stage 1a at age 29.  That is equivalent to stage 1b in today's staging.  That was 23 years ago.

Remember, sites like this are NOT representative samples.  You don't see the vast majority of stage 1As who NEVER post again.  They have no reason to post.  The internet can be very scary for newly diagnosed early stages.  Take pictures of all your moles and then you have an independent eye to watch for CHANGE!  It does get better with time.

I was diagnosed stage 1a at age 29.  That is equivalent to stage 1b in today's staging.  That was 23 years ago.

Remember, sites like this are NOT representative samples.  You don't see the vast majority of stage 1As who NEVER post again.  They have no reason to post.  The internet can be very scary for newly diagnosed early stages.  Take pictures of all your moles and then you have an independent eye to watch for CHANGE!  It does get better with time.

I was diagnosed stage 1a at age 29.  That is equivalent to stage 1b in today's staging.  That was 23 years ago.

Diagnosed stage 4 at 46. Hopefully next month I'll mske 48

Artie

Diagnosed stage 4 at 46. Hopefully next month I'll mske 48

Artie

Diagnosed stage 4 at 46. Hopefully next month I'll mske 48

Artie

Age 45 at diagnosis, stage I-IIB, mucosal, which is a little different than cutaneous as far as prognosis, but 2 years later still no evidence of disease, knock on wood.

It is scary but at stage IA you have lots of good reasons to be hopeful!

And Janner's words of advice are good ones. : )

Cheri

Age 45 at diagnosis, stage I-IIB, mucosal, which is a little different than cutaneous as far as prognosis, but 2 years later still no evidence of disease, knock on wood.

It is scary but at stage IA you have lots of good reasons to be hopeful!

And Janner's words of advice are good ones. : )

Cheri

Age 45 at diagnosis, stage I-IIB, mucosal, which is a little different than cutaneous as far as prognosis, but 2 years later still no evidence of disease, knock on wood.

It is scary but at stage IA you have lots of good reasons to be hopeful!

And Janner's words of advice are good ones. : )

Cheri

Stage IIA at age 34, stage IV at age 42.  Now NED past 5 years.

Stage IIA at age 34, stage IV at age 42.  Now NED past 5 years.

Stage IIA at age 34, stage IV at age 42.  Now NED past 5 years.

I was Stage IV in July 2012 at age 46 (tumor in lung) but wasn't properly diagnosed until a recurrence in March 2014.  I've been taking a nutritional approach since then.  I am not by any means NED, but I'm still around and the mets are still confined to my lungs.  I'm keeping the drugs in my back pocket if my disease gets worse.

I was Stage IV in July 2012 at age 46 (tumor in lung) but wasn't properly diagnosed until a recurrence in March 2014.  I've been taking a nutritional approach since then.  I am not by any means NED, but I'm still around and the mets are still confined to my lungs.  I'm keeping the drugs in my back pocket if my disease gets worse.

I was Stage IV in July 2012 at age 46 (tumor in lung) but wasn't properly diagnosed until a recurrence in March 2014.  I've been taking a nutritional approach since then.  I am not by any means NED, but I'm still around and the mets are still confined to my lungs.  I'm keeping the drugs in my back pocket if my disease gets worse.

53 when diagnosed in 2011.  3a

53 when diagnosed in 2011.  3a

53 when diagnosed in 2011.  3a

Stage 3a at 52.
Stage 3c at 53.
Stage 4 at 55.

Stage 3a at 52.
Stage 3c at 53.
Stage 4 at 55.

Stage 3a at 52.
Stage 3c at 53.
Stage 4 at 55.

I was 29 when I was diagnosed with 1b (lower left calf) in August 2013. SNB & PET came back clear. Then, in July 2014, at 20 weeks pregnant, I found a golf ball-sized lump in my groin. I had a complete lymphadenectomy at 23 weeks pregnant. Four total nodes came back matastic. I opted to wait until baby was born for future treatment. We delivered my son at 37 weeks and I had scans 5 days later. It showed metastatic melanoma in my liver, and spots on my shoulder, spine, & hip. I went to Mayo and they put me on chemotherapy. My cancer grew. I moved my family to TX to go to MD Anderson. I'm currently in a ipi + PD1 trial. I have scans the end of this month. My husband and I are both 31. We have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and a 5 month old son. 

I was 29 when I was diagnosed with 1b (lower left calf) in August 2013. SNB & PET came back clear. Then, in July 2014, at 20 weeks pregnant, I found a golf ball-sized lump in my groin. I had a complete lymphadenectomy at 23 weeks pregnant. Four total nodes came back matastic. I opted to wait until baby was born for future treatment. We delivered my son at 37 weeks and I had scans 5 days later. It showed metastatic melanoma in my liver, and spots on my shoulder, spine, & hip. I went to Mayo and they put me on chemotherapy. My cancer grew. I moved my family to TX to go to MD Anderson. I'm currently in a ipi + PD1 trial. I have scans the end of this month. My husband and I are both 31. We have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and a 5 month old son. 

I was 29 when I was diagnosed with 1b (lower left calf) in August 2013. SNB & PET came back clear. Then, in July 2014, at 20 weeks pregnant, I found a golf ball-sized lump in my groin. I had a complete lymphadenectomy at 23 weeks pregnant. Four total nodes came back matastic. I opted to wait until baby was born for future treatment. We delivered my son at 37 weeks and I had scans 5 days later. It showed metastatic melanoma in my liver, and spots on my shoulder, spine, & hip. I went to Mayo and they put me on chemotherapy. My cancer grew. I moved my family to TX to go to MD Anderson. I'm currently in a ipi + PD1 trial. I have scans the end of this month. My husband and I are both 31. We have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and a 5 month old son.