CMH

Sam, I know what you mean.  I have an enlarged node on my neck on the right side, beneath my ear (I had amelanomtic melanoma on the left side of my neck discovered in 2011, depth unknown due to shave but at least .9 mm – after WLE, SNB and PET were clear -skin checks by derm every 3 mos.)  My primary sent me for a CT scan after he felt my node.  The node is only 11 mm but all the other nodes are 5 or 6mm.  The radlologist put a note on the report that he would advise a PET scan due to my history.  I was sent to an ENT who told me that melanoma "doesn't jump from the left side to the right."  She said the enlarged node is not where it should be if it were melanoma (?) … I think she meant my original mel would drain to a lymph node near my collarbone not below my ear.  I told her I have had strange ringing and sensations around my right ear for 8 months and sometimes pain, and she said "lots of people have tinnitus."  I wanted to tell her that melanoma goes wherever it pleases, but she seemed almost hostile towards me, so I said nothing. She seemed angry that I was worried and lectured "You are going to have to stop worrying about melanoma." She said a PET scan would be "overkill" (nice word, Doc!) and she ordered an ultrasound-guided FNA  biopsy of the node, which is reasonable.  I'm scheduled next week for that.  I understand that doctors have to think about cost and "unnecessary tests" but a little sensitivity would be nice.  I understand that a PET scan would be pointless before the biopsy.  I understand that I have to live my life and not worry that every symptom is a metasasis, but I am really the only person who can advocate for myself.  If melanoma is still in my body, I would like to know sooner rather than later.  I read about a doctor who had melanoma herself and she sounded wonderful, like she understood what her patients were going through mentally as well as physically.  I know people will reply to this post that the doctor is doing exactly the right thing and I don't disagree, I just would have appreciated a little kindness and compassion (and medical knowledge!).  I left the office feeling like an annoying, pathetic hypochondriac instead of a human being worried about leaving my kids and hubby and family too soon, like so many melanoma patients.

Sam, I know what you mean.  I have an enlarged node on my neck on the right side, beneath my ear (I had amelanomtic melanoma on the left side of my neck discovered in 2011, depth unknown due to shave but at least .9 mm – after WLE, SNB and PET were clear -skin checks by derm every 3 mos.)  My primary sent me for a CT scan after he felt my node.  The node is only 11 mm but all the other nodes are 5 or 6mm.  The radlologist put a note on the report that he would advise a PET scan due to my history.  I was sent to an ENT who told me that melanoma "doesn't jump from the left side to the right."  She said the enlarged node is not where it should be if it were melanoma (?) … I think she meant my original mel would drain to a lymph node near my collarbone not below my ear.  I told her I have had strange ringing and sensations around my right ear for 8 months and sometimes pain, and she said "lots of people have tinnitus."  I wanted to tell her that melanoma goes wherever it pleases, but she seemed almost hostile towards me, so I said nothing. She seemed angry that I was worried and lectured "You are going to have to stop worrying about melanoma." She said a PET scan would be "overkill" (nice word, Doc!) and she ordered an ultrasound-guided FNA  biopsy of the node, which is reasonable.  I'm scheduled next week for that.  I understand that doctors have to think about cost and "unnecessary tests" but a little sensitivity would be nice.  I understand that a PET scan would be pointless before the biopsy.  I understand that I have to live my life and not worry that every symptom is a metasasis, but I am really the only person who can advocate for myself.  If melanoma is still in my body, I would like to know sooner rather than later.  I read about a doctor who had melanoma herself and she sounded wonderful, like she understood what her patients were going through mentally as well as physically.  I know people will reply to this post that the doctor is doing exactly the right thing and I don't disagree, I just would have appreciated a little kindness and compassion (and medical knowledge!).  I left the office feeling like an annoying, pathetic hypochondriac instead of a human being worried about leaving my kids and hubby and family too soon, like so many melanoma patients.

Sam, I know what you mean.  I have an enlarged node on my neck on the right side, beneath my ear (I had amelanomtic melanoma on the left side of my neck discovered in 2011, depth unknown due to shave but at least .9 mm – after WLE, SNB and PET were clear -skin checks by derm every 3 mos.)  My primary sent me for a CT scan after he felt my node.  The node is only 11 mm but all the other nodes are 5 or 6mm.  The radlologist put a note on the report that he would advise a PET scan due to my history.  I was sent to an ENT who told me that melanoma "doesn't jump from the left side to the right."  She said the enlarged node is not where it should be if it were melanoma (?) … I think she meant my original mel would drain to a lymph node near my collarbone not below my ear.  I told her I have had strange ringing and sensations around my right ear for 8 months and sometimes pain, and she said "lots of people have tinnitus."  I wanted to tell her that melanoma goes wherever it pleases, but she seemed almost hostile towards me, so I said nothing. She seemed angry that I was worried and lectured "You are going to have to stop worrying about melanoma." She said a PET scan would be "overkill" (nice word, Doc!) and she ordered an ultrasound-guided FNA  biopsy of the node, which is reasonable.  I'm scheduled next week for that.  I understand that doctors have to think about cost and "unnecessary tests" but a little sensitivity would be nice.  I understand that a PET scan would be pointless before the biopsy.  I understand that I have to live my life and not worry that every symptom is a metasasis, but I am really the only person who can advocate for myself.  If melanoma is still in my body, I would like to know sooner rather than later.  I read about a doctor who had melanoma herself and she sounded wonderful, like she understood what her patients were going through mentally as well as physically.  I know people will reply to this post that the doctor is doing exactly the right thing and I don't disagree, I just would have appreciated a little kindness and compassion (and medical knowledge!).  I left the office feeling like an annoying, pathetic hypochondriac instead of a human being worried about leaving my kids and hubby and family too soon, like so many melanoma patients.