› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Red dot update-disappointed in derm
- This topic has 12 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 10 months ago by
Cindy33.
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- June 7, 2012 at 9:43 pm
My surgical onc's PA at MDA told me he thought the red dots were prob just hemangiomas but certainly recommended a trip to the derm. Saw the first derm that could get me in, which was not my derm. She was not concerned about the red dots. Said they were just burst blood vessels, prob from injuring my arm (although my surg on PA thought not likely from trauma). In any event, neither are concerned, so I am not either. The derm did find a mole on my left side that she felt was likely mild to moderately dysplastic and wanted to watch it for now and biopsy it at some point.
My surgical onc's PA at MDA told me he thought the red dots were prob just hemangiomas but certainly recommended a trip to the derm. Saw the first derm that could get me in, which was not my derm. She was not concerned about the red dots. Said they were just burst blood vessels, prob from injuring my arm (although my surg on PA thought not likely from trauma). In any event, neither are concerned, so I am not either. The derm did find a mole on my left side that she felt was likely mild to moderately dysplastic and wanted to watch it for now and biopsy it at some point. She did not want to biopsy it yet because she did not want to scar me any sooner than necessary. So I said let's go ahead and do that now, I don't like watch and wait if you think ultimately you're wanting a biopsy. She reluctantly agreed, but refused to do a punch. She would only do a shave. I respectfully declined a shave and requested a punch. She went on to tell me she will not do a punch because she is all about preserving the skin and minimizing scarring and punches scar too much. She did agree to set up an appointment for an excision. She then commented on how bad my wle scar looked for being 7 years out, as well as other biopsies and blemishes on my skin, including my stretch marks. She said I did not have good skin and a punch would scar me too much. It was that point that I no-so-respectfully advised her I was 41 years old, weighed 183 pounds, and have had melanoma. A scar on the left side of my torso that no one but I would see was the least of my concerns. They set me up with an appt to excise it, but 5 minutes down the road I called and cancelled and asked to have my regular derm call me. This woman was just too concerned about the scars and not my health. Granted, maybe a mild to moderately severe mole at this time is not urgent for a biopsy, but she just went on and on about how shaves were so much better cosmetically. That was a waste of 2 hours I'll never get back.
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- June 7, 2012 at 11:18 pm
If this lady is a derm, I know then why so many people who see GPs (or derms for that matter) for suspicious spots, end up being misdiagnosed or don't have their lesions properly excised.
That's why my dad is stage 4 now. After 4 visits to the same GP over 5 years for this one spot that was clearly itchy and bothering him, was only removed after it started to bleed and I demanded that he go back and get it cut out.
Well done for standing up and speaking your mind, you have to wonder sometimes what planet some of these people come from.
How disrespectful that a derm would carry on about scars considering what you have been through, truly…what was she thinking?
All the best.
Nahmi
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- June 8, 2012 at 5:04 am
Nahmi,
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Unfortunately, my experience with my first mel was not good either. My GP saw me for it twice and told me it was nothing, even though my grandma and uncle both died from melanoma (and he knew that). I've actually read in my chart where he referred to me as being overly concernd about a completely benign growth. Five months later, after having my appendix removed in the E/R, my surgeon agreed to remove the new growth after I showed it to him at my follow-up appendectomy appt to have my stitches removed. Fortunately, I was stage IIA and hopefully am staying at stage IIA. I am amazed at how some of these doctors are still in practice, especially a derm who should know better. It just reminds me of why I travel 750 miles for a melanoma specialist, even when I am currently just going for chest xray and bloodwork. I did come home to a message on my answering machine with an apology and an offer to come in tomorrow for a punch biopsy. I think I'll pass and just wait a few weeks to see my regular derm whom I've been perfectly pleased with in the past. I'll be saying a prayer for your dad.
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- June 8, 2012 at 5:04 am
Nahmi,
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Unfortunately, my experience with my first mel was not good either. My GP saw me for it twice and told me it was nothing, even though my grandma and uncle both died from melanoma (and he knew that). I've actually read in my chart where he referred to me as being overly concernd about a completely benign growth. Five months later, after having my appendix removed in the E/R, my surgeon agreed to remove the new growth after I showed it to him at my follow-up appendectomy appt to have my stitches removed. Fortunately, I was stage IIA and hopefully am staying at stage IIA. I am amazed at how some of these doctors are still in practice, especially a derm who should know better. It just reminds me of why I travel 750 miles for a melanoma specialist, even when I am currently just going for chest xray and bloodwork. I did come home to a message on my answering machine with an apology and an offer to come in tomorrow for a punch biopsy. I think I'll pass and just wait a few weeks to see my regular derm whom I've been perfectly pleased with in the past. I'll be saying a prayer for your dad.
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- June 8, 2012 at 5:04 am
Nahmi,
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Unfortunately, my experience with my first mel was not good either. My GP saw me for it twice and told me it was nothing, even though my grandma and uncle both died from melanoma (and he knew that). I've actually read in my chart where he referred to me as being overly concernd about a completely benign growth. Five months later, after having my appendix removed in the E/R, my surgeon agreed to remove the new growth after I showed it to him at my follow-up appendectomy appt to have my stitches removed. Fortunately, I was stage IIA and hopefully am staying at stage IIA. I am amazed at how some of these doctors are still in practice, especially a derm who should know better. It just reminds me of why I travel 750 miles for a melanoma specialist, even when I am currently just going for chest xray and bloodwork. I did come home to a message on my answering machine with an apology and an offer to come in tomorrow for a punch biopsy. I think I'll pass and just wait a few weeks to see my regular derm whom I've been perfectly pleased with in the past. I'll be saying a prayer for your dad.
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- June 8, 2012 at 5:04 am
Nahmi,
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Unfortunately, my experience with my first mel was not good either. My GP saw me for it twice and told me it was nothing, even though my grandma and uncle both died from melanoma (and he knew that). I've actually read in my chart where he referred to me as being overly concernd about a completely benign growth. Five months later, after having my appendix removed in the E/R, my surgeon agreed to remove the new growth after I showed it to him at my follow-up appendectomy appt to have my stitches removed. Fortunately, I was stage IIA and hopefully am staying at stage IIA. I am amazed at how some of these doctors are still in practice, especially a derm who should know better. It just reminds me of why I travel 750 miles for a melanoma specialist, even when I am currently just going for chest xray and bloodwork. I did come home to a message on my answering machine with an apology and an offer to come in tomorrow for a punch biopsy. I think I'll pass and just wait a few weeks to see my regular derm whom I've been perfectly pleased with in the past. I'll be saying a prayer for your dad.
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- June 8, 2012 at 11:14 pm
I've had the same conversation re: shave vs punch. Shaves hurt alot and don't heal well on my skin. Also, I could care less about scarring. I've had two WLE exicisions and about 30 biopsies. The two melanomas I've had don't look suspicious so the docs are very willing to biopsy, but the first melanoma was a shave biopsy which was too shallow and cut through the mole. So then it was impossible to get an accurate depth. PA says puches take too long (especially for me) because I will often have 4 or 5 biopsies done when I go in for a screen. I am wondering where you go for treatment. There are no big melanoma treatment centers in my state. I'd like to go to one for a second opinion at least – to see what they think of my treatment so far.
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- June 8, 2012 at 11:14 pm
I've had the same conversation re: shave vs punch. Shaves hurt alot and don't heal well on my skin. Also, I could care less about scarring. I've had two WLE exicisions and about 30 biopsies. The two melanomas I've had don't look suspicious so the docs are very willing to biopsy, but the first melanoma was a shave biopsy which was too shallow and cut through the mole. So then it was impossible to get an accurate depth. PA says puches take too long (especially for me) because I will often have 4 or 5 biopsies done when I go in for a screen. I am wondering where you go for treatment. There are no big melanoma treatment centers in my state. I'd like to go to one for a second opinion at least – to see what they think of my treatment so far.
-
- June 8, 2012 at 11:14 pm
I've had the same conversation re: shave vs punch. Shaves hurt alot and don't heal well on my skin. Also, I could care less about scarring. I've had two WLE exicisions and about 30 biopsies. The two melanomas I've had don't look suspicious so the docs are very willing to biopsy, but the first melanoma was a shave biopsy which was too shallow and cut through the mole. So then it was impossible to get an accurate depth. PA says puches take too long (especially for me) because I will often have 4 or 5 biopsies done when I go in for a screen. I am wondering where you go for treatment. There are no big melanoma treatment centers in my state. I'd like to go to one for a second opinion at least – to see what they think of my treatment so far.
-
- June 8, 2012 at 5:04 am
Nahmi,
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Unfortunately, my experience with my first mel was not good either. My GP saw me for it twice and told me it was nothing, even though my grandma and uncle both died from melanoma (and he knew that). I've actually read in my chart where he referred to me as being overly concernd about a completely benign growth. Five months later, after having my appendix removed in the E/R, my surgeon agreed to remove the new growth after I showed it to him at my follow-up appendectomy appt to have my stitches removed. Fortunately, I was stage IIA and hopefully am staying at stage IIA. I am amazed at how some of these doctors are still in practice, especially a derm who should know better. It just reminds me of why I travel 750 miles for a melanoma specialist, even when I am currently just going for chest xray and bloodwork. I did come home to a message on my answering machine with an apology and an offer to come in tomorrow for a punch biopsy. I think I'll pass and just wait a few weeks to see my regular derm whom I've been perfectly pleased with in the past. I'll be saying a prayer for your dad.
-
- June 8, 2012 at 5:04 am
Nahmi,
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Unfortunately, my experience with my first mel was not good either. My GP saw me for it twice and told me it was nothing, even though my grandma and uncle both died from melanoma (and he knew that). I've actually read in my chart where he referred to me as being overly concernd about a completely benign growth. Five months later, after having my appendix removed in the E/R, my surgeon agreed to remove the new growth after I showed it to him at my follow-up appendectomy appt to have my stitches removed. Fortunately, I was stage IIA and hopefully am staying at stage IIA. I am amazed at how some of these doctors are still in practice, especially a derm who should know better. It just reminds me of why I travel 750 miles for a melanoma specialist, even when I am currently just going for chest xray and bloodwork. I did come home to a message on my answering machine with an apology and an offer to come in tomorrow for a punch biopsy. I think I'll pass and just wait a few weeks to see my regular derm whom I've been perfectly pleased with in the past. I'll be saying a prayer for your dad.
-
- June 7, 2012 at 11:18 pm
If this lady is a derm, I know then why so many people who see GPs (or derms for that matter) for suspicious spots, end up being misdiagnosed or don't have their lesions properly excised.
That's why my dad is stage 4 now. After 4 visits to the same GP over 5 years for this one spot that was clearly itchy and bothering him, was only removed after it started to bleed and I demanded that he go back and get it cut out.
Well done for standing up and speaking your mind, you have to wonder sometimes what planet some of these people come from.
How disrespectful that a derm would carry on about scars considering what you have been through, truly…what was she thinking?
All the best.
Nahmi
-
- June 7, 2012 at 11:18 pm
If this lady is a derm, I know then why so many people who see GPs (or derms for that matter) for suspicious spots, end up being misdiagnosed or don't have their lesions properly excised.
That's why my dad is stage 4 now. After 4 visits to the same GP over 5 years for this one spot that was clearly itchy and bothering him, was only removed after it started to bleed and I demanded that he go back and get it cut out.
Well done for standing up and speaking your mind, you have to wonder sometimes what planet some of these people come from.
How disrespectful that a derm would carry on about scars considering what you have been through, truly…what was she thinking?
All the best.
Nahmi
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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