Cynthia C

Hi,

I would not disregard melanoma as a cause for this spot. Mine was on the outside of my lower leg just below the knee. It started out looking like a big freckle, flat, not symmetrical and tan in color, slightly darker than your spot. Both my primary doctor and myself disregarded it as just something to watch. Over the course of 6 months it did change and raise up somewhat. I was very negligent and did not have it looked at for another 6 months by which time it looked like a little mountain range and had bled. It also felt foreign to me, like it really did not belong on me. Obviously you will be diligent in observing any changes and getting it looked at in a timely fashion. I think 4 weeks of observing for any changes is not unreasonable but I'll tell you if I see a suspicious spot on myself I'll be at the dermotologist in a heartbeat! I'm sending positive thoughts your way!

Cynthia C

3b, NED 16 1/2 years

Hi,

I would not disregard melanoma as a cause for this spot. Mine was on the outside of my lower leg just below the knee. It started out looking like a big freckle, flat, not symmetrical and tan in color, slightly darker than your spot. Both my primary doctor and myself disregarded it as just something to watch. Over the course of 6 months it did change and raise up somewhat. I was very negligent and did not have it looked at for another 6 months by which time it looked like a little mountain range and had bled. It also felt foreign to me, like it really did not belong on me. Obviously you will be diligent in observing any changes and getting it looked at in a timely fashion. I think 4 weeks of observing for any changes is not unreasonable but I'll tell you if I see a suspicious spot on myself I'll be at the dermotologist in a heartbeat! I'm sending positive thoughts your way!

Cynthia C

3b, NED 16 1/2 years

Hi,

I would not disregard melanoma as a cause for this spot. Mine was on the outside of my lower leg just below the knee. It started out looking like a big freckle, flat, not symmetrical and tan in color, slightly darker than your spot. Both my primary doctor and myself disregarded it as just something to watch. Over the course of 6 months it did change and raise up somewhat. I was very negligent and did not have it looked at for another 6 months by which time it looked like a little mountain range and had bled. It also felt foreign to me, like it really did not belong on me. Obviously you will be diligent in observing any changes and getting it looked at in a timely fashion. I think 4 weeks of observing for any changes is not unreasonable but I'll tell you if I see a suspicious spot on myself I'll be at the dermotologist in a heartbeat! I'm sending positive thoughts your way!

Cynthia C

3b, NED 16 1/2 years

Hi,

I was diagnosed with melanoma at the end of 2000 with staging at 3b at the beginning of 2001. I had a great primary care Doc, we had a good rapport. About a year before my diagnosis I showed him what I thought was a new weird freckle on my calf. It was flat and just looked like a very large freckle. I have lots of freckles but no moles. I have a little high blood pressure and visited my PCP every 6 months. I had never stripped down for a skin exam, did not even think of it. Anyway, he said it did not look like anything, we'll keep an eye on it. At the next (6 month) visit I forgot to show him and he did not ask about it. Well it had changed somewhat but I was so used to it that I forgot to show him. At my next 6 month visit I did show him and I believe he said " Oh shit!". Enough said. I have no one to blame but myself, of course I should have had the common sense to have this looked at when it changed. What if, at that first visit, he had shown concern and said I should have seen a derm? What if, at that second visit, he had had me strip for a skin check? I certainly learned a lesson and I think he did too. Every Doctor is human and has had unique experiences leading them to where they are today. Who knows, maybe your primary care Doc has had a "Cynthia" in his past?

Cynthia

Hi,

I was diagnosed with melanoma at the end of 2000 with staging at 3b at the beginning of 2001. I had a great primary care Doc, we had a good rapport. About a year before my diagnosis I showed him what I thought was a new weird freckle on my calf. It was flat and just looked like a very large freckle. I have lots of freckles but no moles. I have a little high blood pressure and visited my PCP every 6 months. I had never stripped down for a skin exam, did not even think of it. Anyway, he said it did not look like anything, we'll keep an eye on it. At the next (6 month) visit I forgot to show him and he did not ask about it. Well it had changed somewhat but I was so used to it that I forgot to show him. At my next 6 month visit I did show him and I believe he said " Oh shit!". Enough said. I have no one to blame but myself, of course I should have had the common sense to have this looked at when it changed. What if, at that first visit, he had shown concern and said I should have seen a derm? What if, at that second visit, he had had me strip for a skin check? I certainly learned a lesson and I think he did too. Every Doctor is human and has had unique experiences leading them to where they are today. Who knows, maybe your primary care Doc has had a "Cynthia" in his past?

Cynthia

Hi,

I was diagnosed with melanoma at the end of 2000 with staging at 3b at the beginning of 2001. I had a great primary care Doc, we had a good rapport. About a year before my diagnosis I showed him what I thought was a new weird freckle on my calf. It was flat and just looked like a very large freckle. I have lots of freckles but no moles. I have a little high blood pressure and visited my PCP every 6 months. I had never stripped down for a skin exam, did not even think of it. Anyway, he said it did not look like anything, we'll keep an eye on it. At the next (6 month) visit I forgot to show him and he did not ask about it. Well it had changed somewhat but I was so used to it that I forgot to show him. At my next 6 month visit I did show him and I believe he said " Oh shit!". Enough said. I have no one to blame but myself, of course I should have had the common sense to have this looked at when it changed. What if, at that first visit, he had shown concern and said I should have seen a derm? What if, at that second visit, he had had me strip for a skin check? I certainly learned a lesson and I think he did too. Every Doctor is human and has had unique experiences leading them to where they are today. Who knows, maybe your primary care Doc has had a "Cynthia" in his past?

Cynthia

I have tried a lot of things for my knee issues. What really does work for me is a supplement I buy at Vitamin Cottage. The "NOW" brand Boswellia Extract 250mg WITH Turmeric Root Extract. Here is a link to this product. The brand has many Boswellia products but I only have used the Boswellia with Turmeric.

http://www.nowfoods.com/Boswellia-Extract-250-mg-60-Veg-Capsules.htm

Article about Boswellia:

https://www.verywell.com/the-health-benefits-of-boswellia-89549

Cynthia

I have tried a lot of things for my knee issues. What really does work for me is a supplement I buy at Vitamin Cottage. The "NOW" brand Boswellia Extract 250mg WITH Turmeric Root Extract. Here is a link to this product. The brand has many Boswellia products but I only have used the Boswellia with Turmeric.

http://www.nowfoods.com/Boswellia-Extract-250-mg-60-Veg-Capsules.htm

Article about Boswellia:

https://www.verywell.com/the-health-benefits-of-boswellia-89549

Cynthia

I have tried a lot of things for my knee issues. What really does work for me is a supplement I buy at Vitamin Cottage. The "NOW" brand Boswellia Extract 250mg WITH Turmeric Root Extract. Here is a link to this product. The brand has many Boswellia products but I only have used the Boswellia with Turmeric.

http://www.nowfoods.com/Boswellia-Extract-250-mg-60-Veg-Capsules.htm

Article about Boswellia:

https://www.verywell.com/the-health-benefits-of-boswellia-89549

Cynthia

Hi Ajwells,

You are among friends here. It sounds like you have been through a lot lately but things are moving along in a timely fashion. Get through the wide excision, SLNB, and brain MRI. You will know so much more after these tests. Please keep us informed. You will find folks here who have been through what you are going through. My melanoma was on my lower leg, diagnosed at stage 3b in 2001, and I am still here with no recurrences!

Cynthia 

Hi Ajwells,

You are among friends here. It sounds like you have been through a lot lately but things are moving along in a timely fashion. Get through the wide excision, SLNB, and brain MRI. You will know so much more after these tests. Please keep us informed. You will find folks here who have been through what you are going through. My melanoma was on my lower leg, diagnosed at stage 3b in 2001, and I am still here with no recurrences!

Cynthia 

Hi Ajwells,

You are among friends here. It sounds like you have been through a lot lately but things are moving along in a timely fashion. Get through the wide excision, SLNB, and brain MRI. You will know so much more after these tests. Please keep us informed. You will find folks here who have been through what you are going through. My melanoma was on my lower leg, diagnosed at stage 3b in 2001, and I am still here with no recurrences!

Cynthia 

I would get the biopsy. I know you had a previous biopsy of the node but I think the mediastinal nodes are not easy to biopsy and could have missed a tumor area in the node. Please keep us informed. I'll be praying for you!

Cynthia

I would get the biopsy. I know you had a previous biopsy of the node but I think the mediastinal nodes are not easy to biopsy and could have missed a tumor area in the node. Please keep us informed. I'll be praying for you!

Cynthia

I would get the biopsy. I know you had a previous biopsy of the node but I think the mediastinal nodes are not easy to biopsy and could have missed a tumor area in the node. Please keep us informed. I'll be praying for you!

Cynthia