New to this and to Melanoma

AllGone

Hello, I made up a name that is 'optimistic' as you can tell but I am believing I am right. About a month ago I went to a dermatologist because of this and that spot not looking normal. I had had this place on the back of my arm for quite awhile and just didn't know what it was but knew it didn't look good. But the sneaky thing was it was pink. No other color except it had a red ring around it and it wasn't asymetrical either. It was about the size of a pencil eraser maybe a little bigger, but anyways, the dermatologists said he thought it needed to be sent off and for me not to panic or anything but to be safe. So after ten days I get 'THE CALL' and it wasn't what I was expecting to hear. I heard 3 words ...melanoma...surgery and the date it was scheduled. At the time they called I was in the midst of a terrible migraine and with this news I literally felt like I was going to have a stroke. My daughter was here with me and she knew by my face that things weren't good even tho I tried to hide it. I couldn't. I have two teenagers and a twenty year old, and I have been married for twenty years to the same man that I married in high school. Ok with all that said and done let me try to get on with the rest of this. I had the excision done Wednesday the 20th of this past week and the depth of my melanoma was 0.80 mm (that was with the first biopsy he took) So he went in and done the major re arranging my skin as I call it. I honestly don't care what kind of scar I end up with as long as it's all gone. I felt so relieved after the excision like I left the cancer there in that bottle and of course I know I will have to go back for check ups and such. I just wanted to kind of share my story with you all and say that I am praying for each of you and I know the fear and the panic you felt. Especially since I have an anxiety/panic disorder anyway (that's under control now) but I never thought I would hear those words...or word...Cancer. Now I am waiting to hear....It's All GOne! If you have a story to share please do...here is my email if you would rather email me....jellybean19693@yahoo.com. It has helped me reading about others who have had this and how they over came it. I honestly believe I am healed of this now but I will always be cautious of every little spot from here on out! As you all know! Thank you and Love and Prayers going your way!

Carvs

I am glad that you feel fairly confident that your melanoma is gone. Sounds like they caught it early. My understanding is almost all melanomas that are found when they are under 1 mm have a positive outcome but I totally understand your fears. I am also a melanoma survivor and am trying to stay positive. Take care.

SurvivorGirl

Thank God you caught it so early!!! I wish I had!!! Mine was the deepest level and the thickest. It was in my arm also. I had a suspicious mole removed ten years ago and it was OK, so when it came back I didn't worry about it. I was battling breast cancer and undergoing 4 back surgeries and was too involved to be dealing with a mole. Finally, when it was obviously growing, I went to a dermatologist. He totally "freaked out" when he saw it. Then he called me on the phone to tell me that I had cancer. Why do doctors do that? A doctor told me on the phone when I was diagnosed with breast cancer also. I never thought I would have one type of cancer, let alone two. The breast cancer was advanced also, but praise God, it's been 4 1/2 years since my diagnosis. I'm praying it will be the same way with the melanoma. I received that diagnosis last Sept. I've completed eight out of 12 mos. of interferon. It's been extremely rough, but the Lord has given me the strenght and grace to go through it. Nevertheless, I am counting the days til it's over. God Bless You. Please keep me in your prayers.
Marla

AllGone

SurvivorGirl said:

Thank God you caught it so early!!! I wish I had!!! Mine was the deepest level and the thickest. It was in my arm also. I had a suspicious mole removed ten years ago and it was OK, so when it came back I didn't worry about it. I was battling breast cancer and undergoing 4 back surgeries and was too involved to be dealing with a mole. Finally, when it was obviously growing, I went to a dermatologist. He totally "freaked out" when he saw it. Then he called me on the phone to tell me that I had cancer. Why do doctors do that? A doctor told me on the phone when I was diagnosed with breast cancer also. I never thought I would have one type of cancer, let alone two. The breast cancer was advanced also, but praise God, it's been 4 1/2 years since my diagnosis. I'm praying it will be the same way with the melanoma. I received that diagnosis last Sept. I've completed eight out of 12 mos. of interferon. It's been extremely rough, but the Lord has given me the strenght and grace to go through it. Nevertheless, I am counting the days til it's over. God Bless You. Please keep me in your prayers.
Marla

I was very ignorant to melanoma when I first found out about it. I was thinking the worst instead of the best. I was looking at the glass being half empty instead of half full. My family helped me with prayers and my church family also. What such wonderful support during those times. It means so much to hear just words of faith in those that you know who are 'Saints'! So many people kept telling me .."YOur going to beat this!" Ans in all honesty I began building on that. After this excision I had done Wednesday I believe I felt a ton of bricks lift off of me. I realize I will always have to keep it checked among other things but just knowing that it was in the early stages gave me hope. I know also other people like you Survivor Girl who were in the late stages and they have beat it too! GOd is the Healer! He IS! I will keep you in my prayers! Carvs, I am glad your staying positive! That is the first step in healing and prevention I believe! God Bless You Both!

cammompop

Hi, I am new to this chat room and was looking for someone with the same type of "experience" as me. You and I have been going through the same thing at about the same time. I had a check up at a dermatologist in July and had a mole removed. I found out 2 days before vacation that it was melanoma and scheduled the surgery in the middle of my vacation. It was 0.3mm deep and I had a 4" incision to check the surrounding tissue and margins. The surrounding tissue and margins looked good - per the surgeon. I have to see the Dermatologist every 3 months for the next 3 years. I was totally freaked out to hear the word Cancer and honestly worry a great deal about discovering more. I guess time will tell and I try to keep telling myself to live for today and don't waste today worrying about tomorrow. Having this chat room and knowing that I am not alone somehow eases my fears. I will definitely be checking back to hear other peoples stories and advice. Take care of yourself and let us know how you are doing.

cyclinggirl

Hello AllGone and others. I'm new to this discussion forum also. I was diagnosed with melanoma on 7/25/05. My melanoma was 1.25mm and it was on my left buttocks. Weird it ended up where the sun doesn't shine, but they said that's a common thing. I have red hair and blue eyes, and my oncologist said I am a poster child for this thing. Anyway, I had surgery on 8/1 (Wide Area Excision) and had 3 lymph nodes removed - had the syntinal node biopsy. Everything came back good and I'm so grateful. Plan on eating heathly and continue my exercise as before - I'm a cyclist. All Gone, I hope that you have received good results also and that everything is going well. Please let me know how you are doing. Katie

jackie31

hello allgone and others.i am new to all this messages stuff so please bare with me.i got dignosed with skin cancer(melanoma)sept.2004,mine is what they said is stage4.it was 4.0mm large (wow)the largest my docs seen in a long time.i under gone sur.in oct.2004 it was on my calf of my left leg.i had a large section of my cafl removed along w/skin graft(same leg)and two chanes of limpnods.while all that was done on my way home that day my foot was in alot of pain.my husband and i called the doc that did the sur.about 100 times in a week.something was wrong with my foot.well come to find out they damiged the nerves in my foot with the cast they put on for the skin graft(hmmm aint that some s_it)!!!so now im trying to deal woth the cancer and now nerve damage as well.mind you that i am a 31female with three sons.talk about pulling your hair...there is days that i hurt so bad inside and out(foot)that i think bad thoughts about it all.if any one would care to chat sometime email me @ honey49232@yahoo.com.and again hopes and prayes to all

spankyw34

jackie31 said:

hello allgone and others.i am new to all this messages stuff so please bare with me.i got dignosed with skin cancer(melanoma)sept.2004,mine is what they said is stage4.it was 4.0mm large (wow)the largest my docs seen in a long time.i under gone sur.in oct.2004 it was on my calf of my left leg.i had a large section of my cafl removed along w/skin graft(same leg)and two chanes of limpnods.while all that was done on my way home that day my foot was in alot of pain.my husband and i called the doc that did the sur.about 100 times in a week.something was wrong with my foot.well come to find out they damiged the nerves in my foot with the cast they put on for the skin graft(hmmm aint that some s_it)!!!so now im trying to deal woth the cancer and now nerve damage as well.mind you that i am a 31female with three sons.talk about pulling your hair...there is days that i hurt so bad inside and out(foot)that i think bad thoughts about it all.if any one would care to chat sometime email me @ honey49232@yahoo.com.and again hopes and prayes to all

Hi Jackie31 and others. I am a 37 y/o female had malignant melanoma of the back and had it removed in 2002. I have been going to see the dermtologist every 6 months and have had several other moles removed but all a-typical. when i had my surgery on my back i also had radioactive dye injected around the mole spot and 2 lymph nodes were affected and removed. To this date I have been told i am a survivor of early detection and very lucky at that. I just am never sure if I am supposed to be doing anything else, I feel like there is other things i should be doing to make sure it does not come back. any ideas?? or experience in this plse reply. Thanks for all the stories my prayers and thoughts are with you all. Spankyw34@aol.com