Joanie60

Hey Dean, I am going to throw my two cents in as well. My grandfather and my  mother both had melanoma (both survived, no problems).  I have countless moles that are weird. So I knew I was at risk, and acted accordingly. I went to a dermotologist every six months. In 2000, I noticed a mole that was changing, went to my doc, had it biopsied, it was melanoma, then had a wide excision done. Boom, problem over. Fast forward, 2014, I am going through it again. Because I go every six months for a full body check, the melanoma has not spread to my lymph node system.

I asked my doc in 2000 if I should get genetic testing done to see if I was at higher risk. He said: if test comes back that you are at higher risk, I will have you come in every six months. If the test comes back that you are not at higher risk, I will have you come in every six months. DUH!! So, no testing for me haha.

Melanoma is one of the "better" cancers to be at risk for, because early detection is the key. If you KNOW you are at risk, you go get checked and stay on top of it. My dermo in 2000 also told me that if a melanoma started growing the very day after my six month check, it would still be surgically removable at the next six month check. 

So you are not silly!! I am so glad you reached out for help because hopefully you have found comfort. Since your mother in law died from the disease, it is totally understandable. But now your wife is forewarned. And your children, when they come, will have sunscreen on them all the time I bet! My grandad, my mom, and I did not. My own children did. They have never been sunburned!! Wish I could say the same, but it was a different time.

You guys are in my thoughts and I wish you only the best as you go through the wonderful journey of life and marriage and parenthood!!

Hey Dean, I am going to throw my two cents in as well. My grandfather and my  mother both had melanoma (both survived, no problems).  I have countless moles that are weird. So I knew I was at risk, and acted accordingly. I went to a dermotologist every six months. In 2000, I noticed a mole that was changing, went to my doc, had it biopsied, it was melanoma, then had a wide excision done. Boom, problem over. Fast forward, 2014, I am going through it again. Because I go every six months for a full body check, the melanoma has not spread to my lymph node system.

I asked my doc in 2000 if I should get genetic testing done to see if I was at higher risk. He said: if test comes back that you are at higher risk, I will have you come in every six months. If the test comes back that you are not at higher risk, I will have you come in every six months. DUH!! So, no testing for me haha.

Melanoma is one of the "better" cancers to be at risk for, because early detection is the key. If you KNOW you are at risk, you go get checked and stay on top of it. My dermo in 2000 also told me that if a melanoma started growing the very day after my six month check, it would still be surgically removable at the next six month check. 

So you are not silly!! I am so glad you reached out for help because hopefully you have found comfort. Since your mother in law died from the disease, it is totally understandable. But now your wife is forewarned. And your children, when they come, will have sunscreen on them all the time I bet! My grandad, my mom, and I did not. My own children did. They have never been sunburned!! Wish I could say the same, but it was a different time.

You guys are in my thoughts and I wish you only the best as you go through the wonderful journey of life and marriage and parenthood!!

Hey Dean, I am going to throw my two cents in as well. My grandfather and my  mother both had melanoma (both survived, no problems).  I have countless moles that are weird. So I knew I was at risk, and acted accordingly. I went to a dermotologist every six months. In 2000, I noticed a mole that was changing, went to my doc, had it biopsied, it was melanoma, then had a wide excision done. Boom, problem over. Fast forward, 2014, I am going through it again. Because I go every six months for a full body check, the melanoma has not spread to my lymph node system.

I asked my doc in 2000 if I should get genetic testing done to see if I was at higher risk. He said: if test comes back that you are at higher risk, I will have you come in every six months. If the test comes back that you are not at higher risk, I will have you come in every six months. DUH!! So, no testing for me haha.

Melanoma is one of the "better" cancers to be at risk for, because early detection is the key. If you KNOW you are at risk, you go get checked and stay on top of it. My dermo in 2000 also told me that if a melanoma started growing the very day after my six month check, it would still be surgically removable at the next six month check. 

So you are not silly!! I am so glad you reached out for help because hopefully you have found comfort. Since your mother in law died from the disease, it is totally understandable. But now your wife is forewarned. And your children, when they come, will have sunscreen on them all the time I bet! My grandad, my mom, and I did not. My own children did. They have never been sunburned!! Wish I could say the same, but it was a different time.

You guys are in my thoughts and I wish you only the best as you go through the wonderful journey of life and marriage and parenthood!!