Bobman

Love the blog. Really love the balls. I gotta tell ya C… what you write always touches me ,and stirs my inner stew around in ways that make me feel more connected,  and hopeful for humanity.  In a year that just piled it up on everyone, day after frickin day, pushing the boundaries on everyone’s breaking point , you are a genuine beacon of light. I’ve kicked, screamed,  and cursed obnoxiously loud over much of what I’ve witnessed this year. Felt hopeless over the suffering of my brothers and sisters,  when in my mind some of the answers to alleviate such suffering seems no more than common sense…which only drives me more nuts.

I guess what I mean  is that I  know words from the heart when I hear them, and there is never any doubt where your words are coming from. You bring me out of the chaos of my head,  and to the heart of the matter…every time. I am focusing more in the moment lately,  where I belong. The coqui frog’s sound like birds tonight.  The flowers surrounding me followed the sun all day.

And of course since it’s still 2020 Madam Pele woke back up because…well just because of course she did!

Bring it on ! We can take it.

Much love to you , and looking forward to more from you after honing those edges.

Bob

Thank you Tex .

Mike made us all “family “, and his passing cut’s that deep.

Head for the light buddy….heck, you’re already there.

Aloha all the way

Bob

Yeah Danielle I’ve had both new and changing lesions/moles come back as nothing more than various degrees of atypical. That said, I am a lesion producing machine, with more than 500 at any given time, and I routinely get anything new, or changing biopsied. Since you have already had 2 primaries,  you are in a higher risk group for getting another one. I’ve had 14 primaries to date, and anytime I see change, or a brand new one pops up on me I make it go away quick. Biopsies are peace of mind for me. Even when it comes back as melanoma,  the faster my response has been seems to be working for me. I have literally had lesions come up one week,  that weren’t there the week before,  and those, in my case were more problematic.

When in doubt , and given your history,  make it go away. At the very least,  get with your dermatologist for a looks. Usually with a multiple primary history,  they’ll biopsy it no question.

Stay vigilant,  and stay in touch!

Good luck,

Bob

Hey AC welcome to the forum,  and sorry about the stressing while awaiting the biopsy results. Everyone here can relate to that. It just sucks. But the positive in this is you have taken action,  got the biopsies,  and will be cared for whatever the results. Most here would suggest you stay off the internet during this waiting period for results, then when armed with whatever pathology comes back, make an informed decision about what’s next. There are folks here with just about every kind of melanoma possible,  but without the pathology,  no use trying to guess what you may, or may not have yet. Hard to do that though…for sure.

I’ve had quite a few primary melanomas.  Every shape, size, and color of the rainbow.  Some I just freaked out about knowing it was going to be bad, then turned out to be nothing.  You just never know until you know the pathology.  I only reiterate this because we all understand the waiting,  the places the mind wanders to…its a wild ride. You’re in good company around here.

Let us know the results of your biopsies,  and rest assure any questions that come up for you can be answered around this joint! Another positive is that you’ll undoubtedly be extra vigilant on anything that may pop in the future.  Once we start getting cut on it sharpens our focus.

Could be nothing at all to worry about. Stay in touch.

Aloha

Bob

 

 

Not liking the new format at all. Was an exercise in frustration to even reply to you Celeste! As with every other format change over the years, I am concerned other long termers will just go away. Yes, I will adapt,  and while fuming trying to teach this old dog more new tricks, raising my blood pressure just to say “hey I’m still alive” I’ll claw my way in here again! I’m still pissed they took out the live chat…and that’s been years! Anyway,  I hope others will fight through it, and stay in here as well,  but some will undoubtedly go away,  as in every other “upgrade?!?”.

Aloha to all, hope to see everyone again…

Bob

 

Hi Chelem- You are doing exactly what you should be doing. Getting regular visits, and getting rid of any suspicious new, or changing lesions is routine maintenance after a melanoma diagnosis. Yeah, waiting on biopsy results sucks, but not knowing, or ignoring changes is worse. I just finished a 5 week run on 9 biopsies, and except for a couple that required some extra margins, all was ok. No new melanoma, which for me was great news. I have north of 500 lesions to keep an eye on, but so far I’ve done relatively well. Holding at 14 primaries now. I went a year without a follow up, and it bit me in the ass with three more melanomas right off the bat. That was back in October, and November, and was enough to light a fire back under me for more due diligence! The rule in nearly every one of mine was “new, or changing “. I’ve had them in all the colors of the rainbow, and been fooled by some that were flying under my radar…and I’m more than slightly paranoid about these things! Routine maintenance is the way to stay on top of it. When in doubt, make it go away!
Wishing you the best results (most likely will be fine), and stay in touch with us and let us know how it goes.
Bob

Movingly beautiful…thank you for that. As I listened, it made me reflect on all who participate in this incredible forum.

Aloha to all
Bob

What a wild ride Mike…I always fasten my seatbelt before reading an update from you…whew! Keep up the good fight buddy!
Aloha,
Bob

Hey Kim that’s great! I’ve thought of you often over the years and wondered how you’ve been. You helped me a lot in my first brush with “the diagnosis “. Hard to believe that was over nine years ago already! Couldn’t be happier with all the good things in your life happening to you. Buy you a beer at the burger joint sometime to celebrate…hoping that place survives the covid thing. Sounds like you’re more up in my neck of the woods now…I’m still in the acres, doing well.
A hui hou!
Aloha!
Bob

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

Hey Celeste, what a great blogpost!
You give a new meaning to “warrior “, and are truly an inspiration to all of us here. You’re knowledge, grace , and strength is nothing short of amazing.
We’re all lucky to have you in our lives. Keep keeping it real.
Aloha,
Bob

Yeah Celeste, I  still read everything here everyday.  I still learn more from you than anyone else ever. The time , energy,  compassion,  research,  and devotion to others you always make time for is beyond amazing. Been a little slow in here this year, but it’s been a weird year for everyone. I still get biopsies regularly,  but still holding at 14 primaries.  Covid struck some family members on the mainland in past couple of months,  but so far they’re holding strong…so there’s that that everyone is dealing with too. Ready for 2021 already so I can just get on with the routine cutting without freaking out about being in a dr.s office!

Selfishly hoping you never stray too far away from us.

Mahalo gal!