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Upcoming biopsy anxiety
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Upcoming biopsy anxiety

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Upcoming biopsy anxiety

  • Post
    • July 10, 2018 at 6:56 am
    seholmes
    Participant

      I was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma on December 29th 2014 at the age of 40.  My tumor was on my left shoulder.  My treatment included surgery and I elected to complete the high dose interferon for the year.  All has been good until I went for my annual mammogram.  They found a suspicious mass on the right side. I will have a biopsy done this Friday. I know that I shouldn’t be consumed with anything until I get the pathology report back but I can’t help it.  I’m worried about breast cancer but mostly worried about it being melanoma that has metastasized. I am just so anxious.  I’m mostly scared that it will be something and my kids will struggle.  They have lost so much and it will be so hard on them.  Since my diagnosis my husband was diagnosed with cancer,  they lost both my parents from cancer and their other grandfather from Alzheimer’s.  Prior to my diagnosis they lost their other grandma from ALS and my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer but thank goodness she is doing wonderfully now.  I just don’t know what to do and the wait is so hard

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        • July 10, 2018 at 1:45 pm
        Cooper
        Participant

          The waiting is so hard!  Did the radiologist give you any clues to the type of mass? Sounds more like a breast issue than melanoma.  You can find more about others with this at: http://www.melanomaforum.org.  It is a very supportive place.

            • July 10, 2018 at 1:57 pm
            seholmes
            Participant

              Thanks for your response.  The mass is an 8mm irregular hypoechiic mass with an adjacent 4mm hypoechoic mass at 4:00 with a bi-rads rating of 4.  

            • July 12, 2018 at 2:08 am
            Bubbles
            Participant

              So sorry for all that you and your family have been through, Seholmes!!  That is far more than your fair share, to say the least.  Yes…we melanoma patients…(well, patients of any sort, really!!!)…have to deal with incredibly miserable waits!!!  Hopefully, your results will be benign, neither breast cancer nor melanoma!  However, like your sister has proven, breast cancer treatment has great outcomes in many circumstances.  Additionally, melanoma treatment has made incredible strides since 2011 – even since your last ordeal in 2014.  Hang in there.  I wish you my best.  There are many here who can help should melanoma be part of your results.  I will keep fingers crossed that it is not.  celeste

                • July 13, 2018 at 5:29 am
                seholmes
                Participant

                  Thank you for your response.  My biopsy is tomorrow and hopefully I will get my pathology report on the earlier side. I have been trying to keep busy to keep my mind from going to places it shouldn’t. I hope you have a great weekend!

                  • July 21, 2018 at 5:24 pm
                  seholmes
                  Participant

                    I got my pathology result and it is good and bad news.  The good news is that it is not melanoma the bad news is that it is breast cancer.  I’m not exactly sure what my treatment plan will be besides surgery at this point since my HER2 was inconclusive and waiting the results on the additional testing and what is determined during surgery.  I am waiting for my surgery consult. One thing that is helpful is that I already have a relationship with my oncologist and surgeon.  I did meet with my oncologist and he spent a good amount of time with me and I felt a little better leaving his office. My sister had a bilateral mastectomy and she will be able to help me with the process

                    • July 21, 2018 at 5:24 pm
                    seholmes
                    Participant

                      I got my pathology result and it is good and bad news.  The good news is that it is not melanoma the bad news is that it is breast cancer.  I’m not exactly sure what my treatment plan will be besides surgery at this point since my HER2 was inconclusive and waiting the results on the additional testing and what is determined during surgery.  I am waiting for my surgery consult. One thing that is helpful is that I already have a relationship with my oncologist and surgeon.  I did meet with my oncologist and he spent a good amount of time with me and I felt a little better leaving his office. My sister had a bilateral mastectomy and she will be able to help me with the process

                      • July 23, 2018 at 2:08 am
                      Bubbles
                      Participant

                        Sorry you have to deal with that, but glad you are not dealing with melanoma.  Hang in there!  c

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