NicoleinVA

Thank you David!

I don't want to lose my sanity, which will happen if I can't run again.  Again, I appreiate all these responses…it's easy to get caught up in this and forget that, yes life will go on.

Thank you David!

I don't want to lose my sanity, which will happen if I can't run again.  Again, I appreiate all these responses…it's easy to get caught up in this and forget that, yes life will go on.

Thank you so much for all the posts!  You've give me alot of comfort with your replies.

I don't think I'm fully prepared for how scary looking my leg is going to be, but as least I know it will heal.  I'm looking at a 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 divot…lovely.  The jury is still out whether I have melanoma or very atypcial nevi (3 conflicitng path reports), but this needs to come out and if the node biopsey comes back negative, than I'm happy to walk away from this with a scary leg.  I'm scared it will come back, but that's another topic…

I'm a runner and running is 'my therapy' so to speak…so this one of my bigger mental obstacles to overcome.  Will be able to run again?

I had my PET scan today and meet w/surgical oncologist on Monday to review as well as final questions for him before my 8/11 surgery.  I meet with plastic surgeon on Tuesday.  I was so overwhelmed at my last appointment that I didn't ask enough questions.

Again, thanks for all your support and replies…this forum has truly been a god-send to me and my husband.

Thank you so much for all the posts!  You've give me alot of comfort with your replies.

I don't think I'm fully prepared for how scary looking my leg is going to be, but as least I know it will heal.  I'm looking at a 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 divot…lovely.  The jury is still out whether I have melanoma or very atypcial nevi (3 conflicitng path reports), but this needs to come out and if the node biopsey comes back negative, than I'm happy to walk away from this with a scary leg.  I'm scared it will come back, but that's another topic…

I'm a runner and running is 'my therapy' so to speak…so this one of my bigger mental obstacles to overcome.  Will be able to run again?

I had my PET scan today and meet w/surgical oncologist on Monday to review as well as final questions for him before my 8/11 surgery.  I meet with plastic surgeon on Tuesday.  I was so overwhelmed at my last appointment that I didn't ask enough questions.

Again, thanks for all your support and replies…this forum has truly been a god-send to me and my husband.

Thanks for the great advice.  I've been keeping it very tightly wrapped; I'll stop that now.

Also, what is a wound vac?

Thanks again for these responses; I was starting to feel like I was the only one that had a problem like this.

Thanks for the great advice.  I've been keeping it very tightly wrapped; I'll stop that now.

Also, what is a wound vac?

Thanks again for these responses; I was starting to feel like I was the only one that had a problem like this.

Sorry I wasn't clear…here's the whole story…

In 2005 I had a mole removed from my left calf, it was early stage melanoma (in situ) and my derm said it was gone, not to worry.  She did not recommend skin checks and unfortunately I didn't think about it again.

This December (2010) I noticed a mole coming back in same area, it itched and bled.  I didn't get in to derm till April 2011 and they did punch biopsy – first path said malignant melanoma & they sent to UVA for another opinion, which was atypical nevi.  I had a conservative excision done by plastic surgeon (May 2010)  and he sent out for path report (different pathologist) and molecular testing.  Path came back malignant melanoma and molecular testing cam back abnormal.  This was all sent back to UVA (Dr. Patterson) who stayed strong with his diagnosis of atypical nevi.  At this point, my derm sent me to surgical oncologist (July 2011).  Once I got to him and he realized it was a reoccurrence, he recommended PET scan, SLNB and WLE to get to the bottom of this.  I have to say, I've felt much better under the care of the surgical onc as he is taken this much more seriously and has been more proactive than any other dr I've seen.

Sorry I wasn't clear…here's the whole story…

In 2005 I had a mole removed from my left calf, it was early stage melanoma (in situ) and my derm said it was gone, not to worry.  She did not recommend skin checks and unfortunately I didn't think about it again.

This December (2010) I noticed a mole coming back in same area, it itched and bled.  I didn't get in to derm till April 2011 and they did punch biopsy – first path said malignant melanoma & they sent to UVA for another opinion, which was atypical nevi.  I had a conservative excision done by plastic surgeon (May 2010)  and he sent out for path report (different pathologist) and molecular testing.  Path came back malignant melanoma and molecular testing cam back abnormal.  This was all sent back to UVA (Dr. Patterson) who stayed strong with his diagnosis of atypical nevi.  At this point, my derm sent me to surgical oncologist (July 2011).  Once I got to him and he realized it was a reoccurrence, he recommended PET scan, SLNB and WLE to get to the bottom of this.  I have to say, I've felt much better under the care of the surgical onc as he is taken this much more seriously and has been more proactive than any other dr I've seen.

Thanks for all the feedback…you all are wonderful.  Leigh, I really hope the re-graft takes for you; you've been through alot.  Please keep me posted…lots of warm thoughts/prayers that 8/11 is a great day for both of us.

Again thanks…all these replies have brought me alot of comfort.

Thanks for all the feedback…you all are wonderful.  Leigh, I really hope the re-graft takes for you; you've been through alot.  Please keep me posted…lots of warm thoughts/prayers that 8/11 is a great day for both of us.

Again thanks…all these replies have brought me alot of comfort.