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Update: met with surgeon

Forums General Melanoma Community Update: met with surgeon

  • Post
    DMU
    Participant

      Met with my surgeon and he's very straight forward. He told me if I had waited any longer to see him and the melanoma was deeper, he would be telling me to gather my Family and get my things in order for I may not be here. 

      Well, I'm glad to report that's not the case at this time. He set my surgery up for 2 days from now. Sent me to get liver blood work, chest  X-ray,, and a mammogram. Marked on my back where the surgery will be. Said he doesn't foresee any problems.

      thanks for your help.  I'll keep you posted with updates.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        Janner
        Participant

          Is your surgeon well versed in melanoma?  Is your lesion truly "Clark's Level II"?  If so, I think that was a pretty scary thing to say to someone who has an excellent prognosis.  Some melanomas can take YEARS to grow.  And no diagnosis is a death sentence with melanoma.  Stage IV is scary, but ther are new treatments and options available and many long term survivors.  Sorry, but I just think that statement major overkill for someone in your shoes if you represented your stage correctly.  BTW, Clark's Level II and Stage II are not the same thing.  Clark's Level II is most likely stage IA/IB, not stage II.

            DMU
            Participant

              I believe he wanted me to realize that I was lucky it was not deeper. He feels I will do well after surgery as long as all tests and the biopsy comes back good.

              Told me that I must be checked every 6 months.

              surgery is on Oct.15th.

              told me I'll be unable to do housework or much else for 2 weeks. Keeping a positive outlook. 

              ๐Ÿ™‚

              Girl52
              Participant

                Hope all goes smoothly tomorrow, DMU. Thinking of you. I love the quote with your signature.

                Girl52
                Participant

                  Hope all goes smoothly tomorrow, DMU. Thinking of you. I love the quote with your signature.

                  Girl52
                  Participant

                    Hope all goes smoothly tomorrow, DMU. Thinking of you. I love the quote with your signature.

                    DMU
                    Participant

                      I believe he wanted me to realize that I was lucky it was not deeper. He feels I will do well after surgery as long as all tests and the biopsy comes back good.

                      Told me that I must be checked every 6 months.

                      surgery is on Oct.15th.

                      told me I'll be unable to do housework or much else for 2 weeks. Keeping a positive outlook. 

                      ๐Ÿ™‚

                      DMU
                      Participant

                        I believe he wanted me to realize that I was lucky it was not deeper. He feels I will do well after surgery as long as all tests and the biopsy comes back good.

                        Told me that I must be checked every 6 months.

                        surgery is on Oct.15th.

                        told me I'll be unable to do housework or much else for 2 weeks. Keeping a positive outlook. 

                        ๐Ÿ™‚

                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Is your surgeon well versed in melanoma?  Is your lesion truly "Clark's Level II"?  If so, I think that was a pretty scary thing to say to someone who has an excellent prognosis.  Some melanomas can take YEARS to grow.  And no diagnosis is a death sentence with melanoma.  Stage IV is scary, but ther are new treatments and options available and many long term survivors.  Sorry, but I just think that statement major overkill for someone in your shoes if you represented your stage correctly.  BTW, Clark's Level II and Stage II are not the same thing.  Clark's Level II is most likely stage IA/IB, not stage II.

                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Is your surgeon well versed in melanoma?  Is your lesion truly "Clark's Level II"?  If so, I think that was a pretty scary thing to say to someone who has an excellent prognosis.  Some melanomas can take YEARS to grow.  And no diagnosis is a death sentence with melanoma.  Stage IV is scary, but ther are new treatments and options available and many long term survivors.  Sorry, but I just think that statement major overkill for someone in your shoes if you represented your stage correctly.  BTW, Clark's Level II and Stage II are not the same thing.  Clark's Level II is most likely stage IA/IB, not stage II.

                          washoegal
                          Participant

                            I can't help but agree with Janner.  I had one Melanoma Surgeon that the first thing out of his mouth was "If you survive Melanoma".  He was a replacement for my original doc who had moved on to a different position and though well known and highly respected, that was the first and last time I saw him.  I suppose we all have our own tolerances but to me that was beyond my limit especially since after and a quoting some pretty scary statistics (Stage 3) he finally said my first scans were clear. 

                            Mary

                              Squash
                              Participant

                                Gotta agree any medical professional who invokes any sort of fear in people should be dumped immediately as they are a threat to your well being.

                                I dumped three doctors already who tried to scare and bully me into their procedures.

                                Stick with those that are supportive and compassionate.

                                 

                                Squash
                                Participant

                                  Gotta agree any medical professional who invokes any sort of fear in people should be dumped immediately as they are a threat to your well being.

                                  I dumped three doctors already who tried to scare and bully me into their procedures.

                                  Stick with those that are supportive and compassionate.

                                   

                                  Squash
                                  Participant

                                    Gotta agree any medical professional who invokes any sort of fear in people should be dumped immediately as they are a threat to your well being.

                                    I dumped three doctors already who tried to scare and bully me into their procedures.

                                    Stick with those that are supportive and compassionate.

                                     

                                  washoegal
                                  Participant

                                    I can't help but agree with Janner.  I had one Melanoma Surgeon that the first thing out of his mouth was "If you survive Melanoma".  He was a replacement for my original doc who had moved on to a different position and though well known and highly respected, that was the first and last time I saw him.  I suppose we all have our own tolerances but to me that was beyond my limit especially since after and a quoting some pretty scary statistics (Stage 3) he finally said my first scans were clear. 

                                    Mary

                                    washoegal
                                    Participant

                                      I can't help but agree with Janner.  I had one Melanoma Surgeon that the first thing out of his mouth was "If you survive Melanoma".  He was a replacement for my original doc who had moved on to a different position and though well known and highly respected, that was the first and last time I saw him.  I suppose we all have our own tolerances but to me that was beyond my limit especially since after and a quoting some pretty scary statistics (Stage 3) he finally said my first scans were clear. 

                                      Mary

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