uvagirl06

Since this thread is active again, I'll give an update.

I'm doing well and time does make dealing with this easier.

I was dealing with a lot when I was first diagnosed….not knowing anything about melanoma (except it was cancer and could be deadly), I had recently lost my grandmother, and I was undergoing tests for another medical issue.

I had an in situ melanoma which is obviously the best place to be if you have to have melanoma.

My WLEs came back with clear margins…both the melanoma and the severly dysplastic one (the second path on the dysplastic showed only mild dysplasia).  Another mole was removed, but came back fine as well.

I see a derm every 4 months now who speacilizes in melanoma (her husband actually is a melanoma survivor as well). I had another mole biopsied after my last derm check just to be careful and it came back completely fine.

I had an abdominal CT with IV and oral contrast among many other tests for my non melanoma health concern (extra things like contrast were done just to be on the safe side since I had a recent melanoma diagnosis…..all of which came back completely normal.

Since it was in situ, no other follow ups are needed.  I do regular skin checks and have become very familar with my skin. I know the dangers of sun now and make sure I take precautions when I'm outside….always, no exceptions.

That's all I can do.  I'm really trying to learn lessons from it…not just about my health and the sun, but also about how I live my life and not taking things for granted, enjoying the small things, etc.  

Since this thread is active again, I'll give an update.

I'm doing well and time does make dealing with this easier.

I was dealing with a lot when I was first diagnosed….not knowing anything about melanoma (except it was cancer and could be deadly), I had recently lost my grandmother, and I was undergoing tests for another medical issue.

I had an in situ melanoma which is obviously the best place to be if you have to have melanoma.

My WLEs came back with clear margins…both the melanoma and the severly dysplastic one (the second path on the dysplastic showed only mild dysplasia).  Another mole was removed, but came back fine as well.

I see a derm every 4 months now who speacilizes in melanoma (her husband actually is a melanoma survivor as well). I had another mole biopsied after my last derm check just to be careful and it came back completely fine.

I had an abdominal CT with IV and oral contrast among many other tests for my non melanoma health concern (extra things like contrast were done just to be on the safe side since I had a recent melanoma diagnosis…..all of which came back completely normal.

Since it was in situ, no other follow ups are needed.  I do regular skin checks and have become very familar with my skin. I know the dangers of sun now and make sure I take precautions when I'm outside….always, no exceptions.

That's all I can do.  I'm really trying to learn lessons from it…not just about my health and the sun, but also about how I live my life and not taking things for granted, enjoying the small things, etc.  

Thanks all. I'm still an emotional mess, but I'm trying to find a way to cope with what is ahead of me and deal with reality while still being hopefull about the future.

I will talk to my doctor tomorrow about the pahthology report (and hopefully get my ultrasound results back so please pray and keep your fingers crossed on that). My doctor is a GP so I know she will be referring me elsewhere for further treatment.

I'm about an hour outside of Charlottesville. I got my master's degree at UVA and do go back to cville quite a bit (family and friends there).

Sorry for the double post

Ok, I talked to my doctor today after I did research and knew more of what to ask.  The report didn't list a depth, but states that it is in situ and has not spead to the dermis layer which from reading, is very, very good news. This was a mole I had removed just below my neck. The outer edges showed no cancer. So I'm very fortunate, we caught this early!

The second mole, one on my lower back, was only biopsied and was ruled to be precancerous, but with melanoma signs (again in situ if they had ruled it melanoma).

However, this means I have two spots, in different areas. Yikes! I am obviously at high risk and will have to be very, very careful in the sun and be on top of frequent check ups from here on out. My GP did a general scan of most of my body when she found the one mole, but I know I need a dermatologist to check me from head to two to rule out any other spots.

I have a consultation with a plastic surgeon next week and I'm still working on getting into a good dermatologist.

Thanks again to you all for the feedback and advice. Best of luck to everyone here. My husband, his mom, and co-workers have all volunteered to go with me to any and all appointments if I wanted someone with me. I do have a very strong network of people who care which I now value more than I have ever realized.

Take care,

UVAgirl