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What happened??
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Apr 29, 2002 - 2:20 am
How fast can a melanoma spread? Months?? Years??? I've always had a mole on my right side, and to the right of my breast. Ever since I can remember, its been there. As I got older, the mole grew. It became larger than the end of a pencil eraser. Then about 8 months ago a little red dot appeared inside the mole, at the edge. Over the 8 months the red dot got bigger and bigger till the mole became twice its size and it started to itch. I went to my normal doctor after the first 2 months the spot appeared and he told me not to worry. "It's most likely just another mole growing into the other one," he said. I didn't think that sounded right, but I let it go. Until, two weeks ago when I went to a dermatologist. He wouldn't even let me leave the office until he surgically removed it. So, I got stitches for the first time in my entire life. I was very scared, and I still am. My dermatologist scheduled me to go back in 10 days to get the stitches out and results back. When I went back he told me it was melanoma. He called a plastic surgeon right away to make a larger incision. I also had to get bloodwork and chest x-rays. Everything is just happening so fast. Now, I sit here and wonder. What happens next? What if the cancer has spread? I have so many questions. And to add to my worries, my dad is going through basically the same thing I am. He just had to get a second surgery because they found melanoma. My grandmother (dad's mother) died of melanoma. I am so frightened... |
Joined: Apr 2002
I know how scared you must be right now. The more information you have on this disease, the better you can deal with it. Melanoma can spread very quickly given the right circumstances or not at all. I was pretty much in the same boat three months ago. I was referred to a dermatologist after my family doctor found a "suspicious" mole. Within days, my whole life was turned upside down. After a week or more of total numbness and NO information other than it was a Clarks Level IV...being the deepest and worst......I began to take an interest in the alternatives available to me. The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep the communications open between you and your doctor. A strong support system among family and friends will provide you with strength when you have none. And get involved with your own treatment. Ask questions....read as much as you can about it and say your prayers. There is so much new going on in medicine and new treatments......ask your doctor to refer you to the experts on Melanoma. I am from the southeast(Western North Carolina) and found that Duke University in Durham and Emory University in Atlanta both had melanoma experts on their staff. I obtained my own appointment and have tried to be as involved in all of it as I can possibly be. After surgery to remove more of the area surrounding the melanoma, I began a cutting edge treatment called Specific Active Immunotherapy. This is a vaccine which contains irradiated cancer cells that are injected into your body to trick your immune system into going after any stray cells that may be anywhere in your body. The side effects are mini