Recently diagnosed with Stage One and scared

Just wanted to say hang in there. I was diagnosed with stage 1 in August 2018. Same thing, they told me not to worry and nearly two years later I still worry daily. Try to take a deep breath and be grateful it is Stage 1. I think if they were worried about Clark’s it would have been staged higher than 1A. Educate yourself and stay vigilant, but do not panic. I am bad at staying calm, but do your best and visit here when you need support. All the best to you.

Hi there, I am very sorry to hear what you are going through but wanted to chime in as my experience sounds similar to yours. I was diagnosed with a Stage 1a melanoma in March 2019 (.5mm, no ulceration, zero mitoses and Clark’s level 4). I also was very concerned about the Clark’s level (and to be honest, it sometimes does still make me wonder). My dermatologist told me that Clark’s level is not used anymore in staging because the Breslow’s thickness is a much more accurate staging metric. She said the Clark’s level can be very subjective (i.e. one pathologist may say Clark’s level 3 while another says Clark’s level 4). My best advice is to be vigilant with your dermatologist appointments and be aware of your body and for anything new or changing.. Good luck with your wide excision and hang in there!

Hello! Just wanted to chime in to give you a little more reassurance. I was diagnosed with stage 1a in 07/2016, breslow depth 0.44mm. I’m perfectly healthy and have had a son since I was diagnosed. He is 16 months old. The beginning is the hardest part but sooner or later life succeeds in distracting you. It will resurface every now and then when you’re sick or someone else is but, for the most part, I predict you will likely go back to your normal life. Just with more sunscreen, hats and general sun awareness 🙂 take care.

One thing everyone here can relate to is the shock of a cancer diagnosis . And the other thing is that yes, in time the intensity of the diagnosis eases. Sorry you’re struggling at the moment, but we all understand, and you’re in the right house (here) for the best information, and best people to help you navigate the mess of melanoma. So having a .7 with no ulceration, and zero mitosis in the world of melanoma is not bad. You’ll get the wide excision, and chances are good you’ll never deal with it again. Of course, regular checkups with your dermatologist a few times a year is standard for you now. If anything new pops up in between visits, get in earlier, and same applies if anything changes on existing moles. I did my fair share of freaking out over the diagnosis to, but all I got out of that was wasted time from not fully participating in my life.
Best of luck to you…you got this. And you got the good people here too.
Let us know how it goes!
Aloha,
Bob