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Mind Games
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Mind Games

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  • Post
    • June 2, 2012 at 12:29 am
    mike_nj
    Participant

      Well,  about 3 weeks ago or so, the right side of my face started to swell near my right ear and 2 days later a blackish lesion suddenly popped up on my right upper arm opposite my WLE.  First thoughts were possible connections with melanoma, as I am stage 3B out about 8 years. Primary was right upper arm in 1999 and in 2004 a big node was removed from my right axilla. This was followed by radiation and peptide vaccine clinical trial.

      Well,  about 3 weeks ago or so, the right side of my face started to swell near my right ear and 2 days later a blackish lesion suddenly popped up on my right upper arm opposite my WLE.  First thoughts were possible connections with melanoma, as I am stage 3B out about 8 years. Primary was right upper arm in 1999 and in 2004 a big node was removed from my right axilla. This was followed by radiation and peptide vaccine clinical trial.

      These strange events were in the same local vicinity. But I did remember that Dr Casey used to post and remind us not to look for zebras when it was more likely something else may be occurring

      My doctor friend looked at me and suspected parotitis and presribed an antibiotic and my nurse daughter dismissed the black lesion as a blood blister, which can happen in my swollen, lymphedema ridden arm.  Just never had such bad timing.with 2 simultaneous signs like these

      Luckily, both the doctor and the nurse seemed right as both issues went away in a week or so.

      Routine chest X-ray the following week showed no interval change so my 8 year status still looks OK.

      Over the years as one holds onto hope and in the corner of consciousness, mindful of a possible transition back to active melanoma, weird coincidences like this happen from time to time for many of us.  Luckily, I have been fortunate so far and thank God for that.

      All the best to all those with melanoma and their caregivers.  God bless all of you.

      I am sure to face more mind games in the future and I hope to recall Dr Casey's advice with my first thoughts.

      Mike from NJ

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    • Replies
        • June 2, 2012 at 1:33 am
        JC
        Participant

          It's so scary.  I'm 1A just like you were initially diagnosed, and you always hear <0.75mm depth very unlikely to recur.  I also was <0.75mm depth, about 11 months ago.  I just think every day it's going to recur.

          • June 2, 2012 at 1:33 am
          JC
          Participant

            It's so scary.  I'm 1A just like you were initially diagnosed, and you always hear <0.75mm depth very unlikely to recur.  I also was <0.75mm depth, about 11 months ago.  I just think every day it's going to recur.

            • June 2, 2012 at 1:33 am
            JC
            Participant

              It's so scary.  I'm 1A just like you were initially diagnosed, and you always hear <0.75mm depth very unlikely to recur.  I also was <0.75mm depth, about 11 months ago.  I just think every day it's going to recur.

              • June 2, 2012 at 9:37 am
              natasha
              Participant

                Hi Mike !

                I can understamd how you feel.For me ,  After diagnosys everything seems to be reccurance , espessialy swellings etc.

                Did you have some prognostic factors in your original pathology as mitotic rate or ulceration?

                I wish you all the best and long and healthy life!!!

                • June 2, 2012 at 9:37 am
                natasha
                Participant

                  Hi Mike !

                  I can understamd how you feel.For me ,  After diagnosys everything seems to be reccurance , espessialy swellings etc.

                  Did you have some prognostic factors in your original pathology as mitotic rate or ulceration?

                  I wish you all the best and long and healthy life!!!

                  • June 2, 2012 at 9:37 am
                  natasha
                  Participant

                    Hi Mike !

                    I can understamd how you feel.For me ,  After diagnosys everything seems to be reccurance , espessialy swellings etc.

                    Did you have some prognostic factors in your original pathology as mitotic rate or ulceration?

                    I wish you all the best and long and healthy life!!!

                    • June 8, 2012 at 11:50 pm
                    Cindy33
                    Participant

                      Thank you for sharing this. I am sorry for your recent scare, but it is so hopeful for me to hear stories of people 8 years out! I was almost 2 years NED, but had a new primary insitu mel just last week. Had WLE yesterday. Docs seem to panic! That's never good. It scares me. Then I read stories hear of people living with/fighting this disease for many years. I hope to do the same. I want to live a long time.

                      • June 8, 2012 at 11:50 pm
                      Cindy33
                      Participant

                        Thank you for sharing this. I am sorry for your recent scare, but it is so hopeful for me to hear stories of people 8 years out! I was almost 2 years NED, but had a new primary insitu mel just last week. Had WLE yesterday. Docs seem to panic! That's never good. It scares me. Then I read stories hear of people living with/fighting this disease for many years. I hope to do the same. I want to live a long time.

                        • June 8, 2012 at 11:50 pm
                        Cindy33
                        Participant

                          Thank you for sharing this. I am sorry for your recent scare, but it is so hopeful for me to hear stories of people 8 years out! I was almost 2 years NED, but had a new primary insitu mel just last week. Had WLE yesterday. Docs seem to panic! That's never good. It scares me. Then I read stories hear of people living with/fighting this disease for many years. I hope to do the same. I want to live a long time.

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