› Forums › General Melanoma Community › My husband just diagnosed
- This topic has 15 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by
Rose2014.
- Post
-
- April 17, 2014 at 10:23 pm
My husband had a melanoma mole removed over ten years ago before we even met, and was fine ever since. Last year he noticed a lump under his arm, had a ultrasound done and was told it looked benign. Now 7 months later, at the insistance of his dermatologist, he had it looked at again and asked for a biopsy. They just told him today it is melanoma. I am in shock. we don't even know what stage yet, but since it was something he could feel and has been around since last year, that makes us feel worse about prognosis. It would help if I heard from others who had been through somthing similar and had a positive outcome? So sad today.
- Replies
-
-
- April 17, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Take a deep breath and take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt. I was in your shoes 18 months ago when my husband found a lump in his armpit. I thought the worst based on what I read online. You will need time to work through the shock of this diagnosis, but then you need to go on and live each day fully!
This forum has been a lifesaver for me. You will get knowledgable replies to your concerns and can search for reliable information on this site. The best words ever said here remind us that each melanoma patient is not a statistic.
Get an appointment with a melanoma specialist, listen to their advise and then make the best decision for your family.
-
- April 18, 2014 at 12:30 pm
I understand. I was in the same place 11 years ago. My husband also found a lump in his armpit.
Take a deep breath, hug your husband and try to stay off of the internet, except for this page, of course. This forum has many people with a wealth of knowledge, compassion and experience.
My first advice to you would be to a melanoma specialist as soon as possible. In the past few years there have been several new treaments and advances in fighting melanoma that have given all of us hope and time.
I know that all of this is exremely overwhelming and will continue to be so. I can tell you that in the midst of hard decisions that sometimes don't make sense, there is laughter, joy, tears, smiles and most of all time. There will be things you do not understand, don't be afraid to ask questions.
I wish the best for your family, and remember there is hope in the days ahead.
Melissa
-
- April 18, 2014 at 12:30 pm
I understand. I was in the same place 11 years ago. My husband also found a lump in his armpit.
Take a deep breath, hug your husband and try to stay off of the internet, except for this page, of course. This forum has many people with a wealth of knowledge, compassion and experience.
My first advice to you would be to a melanoma specialist as soon as possible. In the past few years there have been several new treaments and advances in fighting melanoma that have given all of us hope and time.
I know that all of this is exremely overwhelming and will continue to be so. I can tell you that in the midst of hard decisions that sometimes don't make sense, there is laughter, joy, tears, smiles and most of all time. There will be things you do not understand, don't be afraid to ask questions.
I wish the best for your family, and remember there is hope in the days ahead.
Melissa
-
- April 18, 2014 at 12:30 pm
I understand. I was in the same place 11 years ago. My husband also found a lump in his armpit.
Take a deep breath, hug your husband and try to stay off of the internet, except for this page, of course. This forum has many people with a wealth of knowledge, compassion and experience.
My first advice to you would be to a melanoma specialist as soon as possible. In the past few years there have been several new treaments and advances in fighting melanoma that have given all of us hope and time.
I know that all of this is exremely overwhelming and will continue to be so. I can tell you that in the midst of hard decisions that sometimes don't make sense, there is laughter, joy, tears, smiles and most of all time. There will be things you do not understand, don't be afraid to ask questions.
I wish the best for your family, and remember there is hope in the days ahead.
Melissa
-
- April 17, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Take a deep breath and take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt. I was in your shoes 18 months ago when my husband found a lump in his armpit. I thought the worst based on what I read online. You will need time to work through the shock of this diagnosis, but then you need to go on and live each day fully!
This forum has been a lifesaver for me. You will get knowledgable replies to your concerns and can search for reliable information on this site. The best words ever said here remind us that each melanoma patient is not a statistic.
Get an appointment with a melanoma specialist, listen to their advise and then make the best decision for your family.
-
- April 17, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Take a deep breath and take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt. I was in your shoes 18 months ago when my husband found a lump in his armpit. I thought the worst based on what I read online. You will need time to work through the shock of this diagnosis, but then you need to go on and live each day fully!
This forum has been a lifesaver for me. You will get knowledgable replies to your concerns and can search for reliable information on this site. The best words ever said here remind us that each melanoma patient is not a statistic.
Get an appointment with a melanoma specialist, listen to their advise and then make the best decision for your family.
-
- April 18, 2014 at 3:08 pm
I had melanoma removed from my arm 3 years ago (was not a mole… looked more like a wart). A year and a half later I noticed a lump in my arm which turned out to be melanoma that had spread to a lymph node – stage 3 (3C in my case). I remember being much more disheartened by the recurrence than I was at the initial diagnosis. But they went in and cut it out… recovery was not bad. They will do MRI/CT/PET scans to hopefully confirm that your husband's melanoma was confined to the lymph node. Regardless, do not panic. Consult a melanoma specialist as treatments have vastly improved in recent years.
Although I recently progressed to stage 4, I plan to stick around for a long time. I simply have too much to do :). You will find good support here along with people who are still around for a long time. Remember that your husband is not a statistic. Keep us posted.
Kevin
-
- April 18, 2014 at 3:08 pm
I had melanoma removed from my arm 3 years ago (was not a mole… looked more like a wart). A year and a half later I noticed a lump in my arm which turned out to be melanoma that had spread to a lymph node – stage 3 (3C in my case). I remember being much more disheartened by the recurrence than I was at the initial diagnosis. But they went in and cut it out… recovery was not bad. They will do MRI/CT/PET scans to hopefully confirm that your husband's melanoma was confined to the lymph node. Regardless, do not panic. Consult a melanoma specialist as treatments have vastly improved in recent years.
Although I recently progressed to stage 4, I plan to stick around for a long time. I simply have too much to do :). You will find good support here along with people who are still around for a long time. Remember that your husband is not a statistic. Keep us posted.
Kevin
-
- April 18, 2014 at 3:08 pm
I had melanoma removed from my arm 3 years ago (was not a mole… looked more like a wart). A year and a half later I noticed a lump in my arm which turned out to be melanoma that had spread to a lymph node – stage 3 (3C in my case). I remember being much more disheartened by the recurrence than I was at the initial diagnosis. But they went in and cut it out… recovery was not bad. They will do MRI/CT/PET scans to hopefully confirm that your husband's melanoma was confined to the lymph node. Regardless, do not panic. Consult a melanoma specialist as treatments have vastly improved in recent years.
Although I recently progressed to stage 4, I plan to stick around for a long time. I simply have too much to do :). You will find good support here along with people who are still around for a long time. Remember that your husband is not a statistic. Keep us posted.
Kevin
-
- April 20, 2014 at 1:23 pm
The most important desicison you will make now is to find good medical care. Find a melanoma specialist in your area it will make all the difference in his care. Do not rely on a general oncologist. If you do not know where to go post here and I am sure people can help find one in your area. Do not be afraid to travel a little for the best of care.
Daniel
-
- April 23, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Thanks everyone. You were very helpful. I cannot express my appreciation enough. Your advice kept me sane while we were waiting for tests and dr appointments. My husband had a PET scan yesterday and this morning the results were good. The melanoma is confined to the armpit, which he will have surgery on to remove the lump and lymph nodes. Since it was over 10 years ago since the mole, we never thought something like this would happen and back them he basically was told it wouldn't. But who knows – maybe it was a new melanoma. But when it did recurr, Apparently primary care dr's are often really clueless about melanoma, we have learned and not all of them know that any lump on a person with a history of melanoma is somthing that should come out and come out immediately. We are now seeing drs that specialize in it. Fortunately it was slow growing. I wholeheartedly agree with the advice to stay away from google searching when newly diagnosed. It really just made me panic. I continue to hope all is going well for you. Thankyou for taking time to respond to my concerns. I may not have much experience in this area to be useful to others, but I continue to with the best for all of you.
-
- April 23, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Thanks everyone. You were very helpful. I cannot express my appreciation enough. Your advice kept me sane while we were waiting for tests and dr appointments. My husband had a PET scan yesterday and this morning the results were good. The melanoma is confined to the armpit, which he will have surgery on to remove the lump and lymph nodes. Since it was over 10 years ago since the mole, we never thought something like this would happen and back them he basically was told it wouldn't. But who knows – maybe it was a new melanoma. But when it did recurr, Apparently primary care dr's are often really clueless about melanoma, we have learned and not all of them know that any lump on a person with a history of melanoma is somthing that should come out and come out immediately. We are now seeing drs that specialize in it. Fortunately it was slow growing. I wholeheartedly agree with the advice to stay away from google searching when newly diagnosed. It really just made me panic. I continue to hope all is going well for you. Thankyou for taking time to respond to my concerns. I may not have much experience in this area to be useful to others, but I continue to with the best for all of you.
-
- April 23, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Thanks everyone. You were very helpful. I cannot express my appreciation enough. Your advice kept me sane while we were waiting for tests and dr appointments. My husband had a PET scan yesterday and this morning the results were good. The melanoma is confined to the armpit, which he will have surgery on to remove the lump and lymph nodes. Since it was over 10 years ago since the mole, we never thought something like this would happen and back them he basically was told it wouldn't. But who knows – maybe it was a new melanoma. But when it did recurr, Apparently primary care dr's are often really clueless about melanoma, we have learned and not all of them know that any lump on a person with a history of melanoma is somthing that should come out and come out immediately. We are now seeing drs that specialize in it. Fortunately it was slow growing. I wholeheartedly agree with the advice to stay away from google searching when newly diagnosed. It really just made me panic. I continue to hope all is going well for you. Thankyou for taking time to respond to my concerns. I may not have much experience in this area to be useful to others, but I continue to with the best for all of you.
-
- April 20, 2014 at 1:23 pm
The most important desicison you will make now is to find good medical care. Find a melanoma specialist in your area it will make all the difference in his care. Do not rely on a general oncologist. If you do not know where to go post here and I am sure people can help find one in your area. Do not be afraid to travel a little for the best of care.
Daniel
-
- April 20, 2014 at 1:23 pm
The most important desicison you will make now is to find good medical care. Find a melanoma specialist in your area it will make all the difference in his care. Do not rely on a general oncologist. If you do not know where to go post here and I am sure people can help find one in your area. Do not be afraid to travel a little for the best of care.
Daniel
-
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.