mattsterama

Hey Thanks for the reply.  It definitely is a scary diagnosis, period!  I do have a lot of questions, but luckily my wife works in the medical field and I have quite a few friends in the field, one of my best friends was my pathologist so I have had an advantage there in looking with him in the scope at my tissue samples.  The scariest part for me has been peoples reaction in the medical field, as some have spoke about on here, many people think that this is just nothing, just skin cancer.  They don't understand the difference or nature of melanoma.  The people around me did, so that scared the crap out of me.  I like you was ready to fight but got very lucky to find out my staging didn't change, my original shave biopsy showed major activity, mitotic index of 19, invasive tumor and looked like all the rest was leaning towards bad news.  However I came out on the fortunate end thus far.  I just struggle with watch and wait prognosis.  I also agree that the ones with good outcomes rarely come on here, so I would like to change that.  Because when you are first diagnosed you want the stories of good outcomes as well.  The cheated word I originally used came form the trials and battles that many on here are fighting, I know they wouldn't wish their disease and their fight on anyone, but it doesn't seem fair that you and I have this outcome, while they have to go through what they are going through.  I understand that could change, and I realize that, I hope it doesn't and I am sure none of them do as well.  I am realizing now that it is luck and I am lucky for now, cherish it, but I don't want to forget those who are doing battle with this beast.  So coming on here was a way to kind of do that and like you I hope to pass on words of encouragement.  Thanks for the e-mail and I'll be in touch.

Hey Thanks for the reply.  It definitely is a scary diagnosis, period!  I do have a lot of questions, but luckily my wife works in the medical field and I have quite a few friends in the field, one of my best friends was my pathologist so I have had an advantage there in looking with him in the scope at my tissue samples.  The scariest part for me has been peoples reaction in the medical field, as some have spoke about on here, many people think that this is just nothing, just skin cancer.  They don't understand the difference or nature of melanoma.  The people around me did, so that scared the crap out of me.  I like you was ready to fight but got very lucky to find out my staging didn't change, my original shave biopsy showed major activity, mitotic index of 19, invasive tumor and looked like all the rest was leaning towards bad news.  However I came out on the fortunate end thus far.  I just struggle with watch and wait prognosis.  I also agree that the ones with good outcomes rarely come on here, so I would like to change that.  Because when you are first diagnosed you want the stories of good outcomes as well.  The cheated word I originally used came form the trials and battles that many on here are fighting, I know they wouldn't wish their disease and their fight on anyone, but it doesn't seem fair that you and I have this outcome, while they have to go through what they are going through.  I understand that could change, and I realize that, I hope it doesn't and I am sure none of them do as well.  I am realizing now that it is luck and I am lucky for now, cherish it, but I don't want to forget those who are doing battle with this beast.  So coming on here was a way to kind of do that and like you I hope to pass on words of encouragement.  Thanks for the e-mail and I'll be in touch.

Hey Thanks for the reply.  It definitely is a scary diagnosis, period!  I do have a lot of questions, but luckily my wife works in the medical field and I have quite a few friends in the field, one of my best friends was my pathologist so I have had an advantage there in looking with him in the scope at my tissue samples.  The scariest part for me has been peoples reaction in the medical field, as some have spoke about on here, many people think that this is just nothing, just skin cancer.  They don't understand the difference or nature of melanoma.  The people around me did, so that scared the crap out of me.  I like you was ready to fight but got very lucky to find out my staging didn't change, my original shave biopsy showed major activity, mitotic index of 19, invasive tumor and looked like all the rest was leaning towards bad news.  However I came out on the fortunate end thus far.  I just struggle with watch and wait prognosis.  I also agree that the ones with good outcomes rarely come on here, so I would like to change that.  Because when you are first diagnosed you want the stories of good outcomes as well.  The cheated word I originally used came form the trials and battles that many on here are fighting, I know they wouldn't wish their disease and their fight on anyone, but it doesn't seem fair that you and I have this outcome, while they have to go through what they are going through.  I understand that could change, and I realize that, I hope it doesn't and I am sure none of them do as well.  I am realizing now that it is luck and I am lucky for now, cherish it, but I don't want to forget those who are doing battle with this beast.  So coming on here was a way to kind of do that and like you I hope to pass on words of encouragement.  Thanks for the e-mail and I'll be in touch.

Thank you for the reply….I definitely appreciate you taking the time to tell me your story, I am committed to being very vigilant with my check ups.  I appreciate the recommendation to see a Melanoma specialist and I will talk to my Oncologist about that, thanks again and hope all stays well with you and yours, best wishes to you as well.

Thank you for the reply….I definitely appreciate you taking the time to tell me your story, I am committed to being very vigilant with my check ups.  I appreciate the recommendation to see a Melanoma specialist and I will talk to my Oncologist about that, thanks again and hope all stays well with you and yours, best wishes to you as well.

Thank you for the reply….I definitely appreciate you taking the time to tell me your story, I am committed to being very vigilant with my check ups.  I appreciate the recommendation to see a Melanoma specialist and I will talk to my Oncologist about that, thanks again and hope all stays well with you and yours, best wishes to you as well.

Cheated was a poor choice of words….I am just so used to all of the other surgeries I've had that fix things and if not what's next?  This just seems to be so arbitrary, as you are an example of.  I don't mean to belittle what you or others have gone through or are going through.  But I am sure you more than anyone understand how hard it is to wrap your mind around the wait and watch and keep your fingers crossed mindset.  Yes I do feel blessed as you stated, and yes I am hopeful, very hopeful it doesn't come back or show up somewhere else.  I understand the percentages are out there that I could die in a car crash tomorrow but these percentages feel different.  I am just simply trying to cover my bases as I am sure you did as well.  The people on here are the ones who have the experiences and have a far better understanding of what's in my head.  Thank you for your reply and I hope everything is going well for you now….actually I should ask how is or has your outcome been now?

Cheated was a poor choice of words….I am just so used to all of the other surgeries I've had that fix things and if not what's next?  This just seems to be so arbitrary, as you are an example of.  I don't mean to belittle what you or others have gone through or are going through.  But I am sure you more than anyone understand how hard it is to wrap your mind around the wait and watch and keep your fingers crossed mindset.  Yes I do feel blessed as you stated, and yes I am hopeful, very hopeful it doesn't come back or show up somewhere else.  I understand the percentages are out there that I could die in a car crash tomorrow but these percentages feel different.  I am just simply trying to cover my bases as I am sure you did as well.  The people on here are the ones who have the experiences and have a far better understanding of what's in my head.  Thank you for your reply and I hope everything is going well for you now….actually I should ask how is or has your outcome been now?

Cheated was a poor choice of words….I am just so used to all of the other surgeries I've had that fix things and if not what's next?  This just seems to be so arbitrary, as you are an example of.  I don't mean to belittle what you or others have gone through or are going through.  But I am sure you more than anyone understand how hard it is to wrap your mind around the wait and watch and keep your fingers crossed mindset.  Yes I do feel blessed as you stated, and yes I am hopeful, very hopeful it doesn't come back or show up somewhere else.  I understand the percentages are out there that I could die in a car crash tomorrow but these percentages feel different.  I am just simply trying to cover my bases as I am sure you did as well.  The people on here are the ones who have the experiences and have a far better understanding of what's in my head.  Thank you for your reply and I hope everything is going well for you now….actually I should ask how is or has your outcome been now?