› Forums › General Melanoma Community › One year anniversary
- This topic has 18 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by DZnDef.
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- June 10, 2016 at 8:47 am
I think it's roughly my one year anniversary… probably a little more, I think I had my first (stage 0) melanoma removed March last year. The rest of last year was a bit of a nightmare, with two more moles removed at my insistence, both stage 1 melanoma. So three melanomas in the space of about 4 months, then fortunately a few dysplastic nevus and nothing more.
Apart from the physical discomfort of three WLEs and a few more biopsies, it was the mental discomfort that really got me. I was so anxious for so long… primary because the stage 1 mels removed did not look like anything much to the doctor and were only removed at my insistence. This got me thinking about how possibly I have other very innocent looking freckles that are in fact melanomas. That said, they were weird enough/subtly changed enough to ring my alarm bells, so as Janner often says, we are our own best advocates for what's normal for us and what makes us uncomfortable.
I think I have had four full-body skin checks since March last year – two by the doctor who did the WLEs, one second opinion by a dermatologist, and one by my everyday GP/doctor. From now on I'll only go to my normal doctor every six months or so as in Australia GPs really are as competent as anyone when it comes to spotting skin cancer. The GP who originally did my skin checks is a 'skin cancer specialist' but actually just a GP with a bit of extra training.
In my darker moments I feel really unlucky – three melanomas! On the other hand, in Australia, it's not uncommon to find much younger people than me wiht much later stage diagnoses, so I'm not complaining.
I guess I'm posting partly as a reflection on a pretty nasty year, partly to give a big shout out to MRF MPIP people for their support and info, and partly to reassure newbies that you do eventually come to terms with the horrible mental shock of melanoma. If anything, I am a whole lot more appreciative of life, a whole lot less likely to put up with things that are not right for me and (dare I say it) this diagnosis has really been a wake-up call that I maybe needed. It's made me really focus on the things I want to do and be in life – some I know I can achieve, others require a bit of good luck as well.
All the best
Stars
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- June 11, 2016 at 4:27 pm
I also just celebrated my one year anniversary. We're still here!!!! Was told by my derm last year after removing a mole on my leg that it looked bad and had likely spread. Lived in shear panic for 24 hours before seeing a specialist at Mass General who told me it was probably stage 2A, which it turned out to be. What a year – lots of visits, full body scans, living life in 3 month intervals. I'm so grateful for all of the research and advancements that are happening. They give me hope. I'm also grateful for everyone who has posted on this forum, you too give me hope and strength to fight, so thank you all. My next appointment is not for another six months – yahoo! My best to you all.
~ Mary
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- June 11, 2016 at 4:27 pm
I also just celebrated my one year anniversary. We're still here!!!! Was told by my derm last year after removing a mole on my leg that it looked bad and had likely spread. Lived in shear panic for 24 hours before seeing a specialist at Mass General who told me it was probably stage 2A, which it turned out to be. What a year – lots of visits, full body scans, living life in 3 month intervals. I'm so grateful for all of the research and advancements that are happening. They give me hope. I'm also grateful for everyone who has posted on this forum, you too give me hope and strength to fight, so thank you all. My next appointment is not for another six months – yahoo! My best to you all.
~ Mary
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- June 11, 2016 at 4:27 pm
I also just celebrated my one year anniversary. We're still here!!!! Was told by my derm last year after removing a mole on my leg that it looked bad and had likely spread. Lived in shear panic for 24 hours before seeing a specialist at Mass General who told me it was probably stage 2A, which it turned out to be. What a year – lots of visits, full body scans, living life in 3 month intervals. I'm so grateful for all of the research and advancements that are happening. They give me hope. I'm also grateful for everyone who has posted on this forum, you too give me hope and strength to fight, so thank you all. My next appointment is not for another six months – yahoo! My best to you all.
~ Mary
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- June 12, 2016 at 2:42 am
I hear you, MDoh! Glad we can 'celebrate' our melanoma anniversary together… one of the best things about MRF MPIP is that loud and clear message, 'you are not alone'. Living life at three month intervals… yes, I hear you… so nice that it's now six month intervals. This is indeed a place of hope and strength, and more importantly… none of us is alone!
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- June 12, 2016 at 2:42 am
I hear you, MDoh! Glad we can 'celebrate' our melanoma anniversary together… one of the best things about MRF MPIP is that loud and clear message, 'you are not alone'. Living life at three month intervals… yes, I hear you… so nice that it's now six month intervals. This is indeed a place of hope and strength, and more importantly… none of us is alone!
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- June 12, 2016 at 2:42 am
I hear you, MDoh! Glad we can 'celebrate' our melanoma anniversary together… one of the best things about MRF MPIP is that loud and clear message, 'you are not alone'. Living life at three month intervals… yes, I hear you… so nice that it's now six month intervals. This is indeed a place of hope and strength, and more importantly… none of us is alone!
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- June 13, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Great to hear from you Stars! And congratulations on making it through a tough year! As much as I hate melanoma and what it's done to my family, I do appreciate the perspective it has given me on the things that really matter in life. I don't remember who originally said it, but I like the quote: Don't sweat the small stuff (PS… it's all small stuff).
Cheers!
Maggie
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- June 13, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Great to hear from you Stars! And congratulations on making it through a tough year! As much as I hate melanoma and what it's done to my family, I do appreciate the perspective it has given me on the things that really matter in life. I don't remember who originally said it, but I like the quote: Don't sweat the small stuff (PS… it's all small stuff).
Cheers!
Maggie
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- June 13, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Great to hear from you Stars! And congratulations on making it through a tough year! As much as I hate melanoma and what it's done to my family, I do appreciate the perspective it has given me on the things that really matter in life. I don't remember who originally said it, but I like the quote: Don't sweat the small stuff (PS… it's all small stuff).
Cheers!
Maggie
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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