@jnaakins
Forum Replies Created
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- May 14, 2012 at 12:42 am
I like you, was diagnosed with melanoma in-situ. Unlike you (I hope), I lost my younger brother in 2010 to metastatic melanoma, and I currently have a young aunt who is fighting stage IV metastatic melanoma. As you can imagine, it has been scary for me because I constantly worry whether of not I will end up at the same place with the disease. I recommend if you're worried, get your path report read by a second lab just to verify the findings. It might set your mind at ease. Did you have the secondary excision? The dermatologist that took mine off didnt do the follow-up excision because he felt he had got it all, and cauterized the margins well enough. I ended up getting a second opinion and this doctor immediately sheduled me for a MOHS procedure. It was instrumental in easing my fears. Now I know I have done everything I could. The rest is up to fate. Try to focus on the things you can control: Making sure you go to all your skin checks. Get mole-mapping if you can. Watch like a hawk for any new changes, and protect your skin!!! Dont worry about the things you cant change. Enjoy every day of your life. I hope you and I never have to deal with melanoma again!
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- May 14, 2012 at 12:42 am
I like you, was diagnosed with melanoma in-situ. Unlike you (I hope), I lost my younger brother in 2010 to metastatic melanoma, and I currently have a young aunt who is fighting stage IV metastatic melanoma. As you can imagine, it has been scary for me because I constantly worry whether of not I will end up at the same place with the disease. I recommend if you're worried, get your path report read by a second lab just to verify the findings. It might set your mind at ease. Did you have the secondary excision? The dermatologist that took mine off didnt do the follow-up excision because he felt he had got it all, and cauterized the margins well enough. I ended up getting a second opinion and this doctor immediately sheduled me for a MOHS procedure. It was instrumental in easing my fears. Now I know I have done everything I could. The rest is up to fate. Try to focus on the things you can control: Making sure you go to all your skin checks. Get mole-mapping if you can. Watch like a hawk for any new changes, and protect your skin!!! Dont worry about the things you cant change. Enjoy every day of your life. I hope you and I never have to deal with melanoma again!
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- May 14, 2012 at 12:42 am
I like you, was diagnosed with melanoma in-situ. Unlike you (I hope), I lost my younger brother in 2010 to metastatic melanoma, and I currently have a young aunt who is fighting stage IV metastatic melanoma. As you can imagine, it has been scary for me because I constantly worry whether of not I will end up at the same place with the disease. I recommend if you're worried, get your path report read by a second lab just to verify the findings. It might set your mind at ease. Did you have the secondary excision? The dermatologist that took mine off didnt do the follow-up excision because he felt he had got it all, and cauterized the margins well enough. I ended up getting a second opinion and this doctor immediately sheduled me for a MOHS procedure. It was instrumental in easing my fears. Now I know I have done everything I could. The rest is up to fate. Try to focus on the things you can control: Making sure you go to all your skin checks. Get mole-mapping if you can. Watch like a hawk for any new changes, and protect your skin!!! Dont worry about the things you cant change. Enjoy every day of your life. I hope you and I never have to deal with melanoma again!
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- May 14, 2012 at 1:03 am
Just wanted to say that I know how you feel. I dont really have a ton of great advice, except to control what you can, and dont stress yourself out about what you cant. That means keep vigilant with your skin checks, follow-ups with your doctors. Get your path report read by another lab, etc. My brother died in 2010 from MM and I currently have an aunt who is stage IV so we know there is a family history. I have also had a melanoma in-situ. I was at the MRF/SCCA melanoma patient and caregiver symposium this past Saturday and I did ask if there was a benefit from the genetic testing for hereditary predisposition. Anyway, thats a subject for another time. lol. Just hang in there and enjoy that sweet new baby! You are doing a great job being proactive about the situation, and chances are good that you wont have your melanomas spread/return.
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- May 14, 2012 at 1:03 am
Just wanted to say that I know how you feel. I dont really have a ton of great advice, except to control what you can, and dont stress yourself out about what you cant. That means keep vigilant with your skin checks, follow-ups with your doctors. Get your path report read by another lab, etc. My brother died in 2010 from MM and I currently have an aunt who is stage IV so we know there is a family history. I have also had a melanoma in-situ. I was at the MRF/SCCA melanoma patient and caregiver symposium this past Saturday and I did ask if there was a benefit from the genetic testing for hereditary predisposition. Anyway, thats a subject for another time. lol. Just hang in there and enjoy that sweet new baby! You are doing a great job being proactive about the situation, and chances are good that you wont have your melanomas spread/return.
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- May 14, 2012 at 1:03 am
Just wanted to say that I know how you feel. I dont really have a ton of great advice, except to control what you can, and dont stress yourself out about what you cant. That means keep vigilant with your skin checks, follow-ups with your doctors. Get your path report read by another lab, etc. My brother died in 2010 from MM and I currently have an aunt who is stage IV so we know there is a family history. I have also had a melanoma in-situ. I was at the MRF/SCCA melanoma patient and caregiver symposium this past Saturday and I did ask if there was a benefit from the genetic testing for hereditary predisposition. Anyway, thats a subject for another time. lol. Just hang in there and enjoy that sweet new baby! You are doing a great job being proactive about the situation, and chances are good that you wont have your melanomas spread/return.
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- November 17, 2010 at 1:12 am
Thank you for responding. I guess Im just going to have to be vigilant about skin checks and hope that the dr got it all- he did feel confident that he did, and he said he cauterized the margins really well so that was (he felt) extra insurance.
I guess Im just wondering if there are very many people who do have recurrences, or other tumors show up after having one that was caught this early? I mean, is this something that's common? It doesnt sound like it, so that brings me some comfort. I can't imagine having my family lose another member to this horrible disease. I try not to be paranoid, or spend unnessecary time worrying. But having seen my brother lose his battle- it's always in the back of my mind. He didnt catch his early though, by the time he went in to have his mole checked, it was already stage 3b.
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- November 17, 2010 at 1:12 am
Thank you for responding. I guess Im just going to have to be vigilant about skin checks and hope that the dr got it all- he did feel confident that he did, and he said he cauterized the margins really well so that was (he felt) extra insurance.
I guess Im just wondering if there are very many people who do have recurrences, or other tumors show up after having one that was caught this early? I mean, is this something that's common? It doesnt sound like it, so that brings me some comfort. I can't imagine having my family lose another member to this horrible disease. I try not to be paranoid, or spend unnessecary time worrying. But having seen my brother lose his battle- it's always in the back of my mind. He didnt catch his early though, by the time he went in to have his mole checked, it was already stage 3b.
