New here and newly diagnosed

fliberdy
fliberdy Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Skin Cancer #1
New here and newly diagnosed
Submitted by fliberdy on October 23, 2010 - 6:44am
Hello anyone, I have never blogged (is that even a word?) before but I was recently diagnosed with melanoma and am looking to talk with someone who is going thru something like myself. Had a derm do a skin check at the beginning of September, the derm thought it was basil cell. I knew when I saw her name on the caller id 2 days later that it was melanoma. They removed a large tumor from my back and told me the margins were clear but now they say there are some rogue cells and need to take out some more flesh. I already have a 6 inch incision on my upper back and if the margins are clear why take more? Also, they want to do a sentinel node biopsy.
The lab said my case is interesting and difficult, this rogue cell thing is scarring me.
Anyone been thru this?
Thanks for any input.

Comments

  • Shines
    Shines Member Posts: 15
    #2
    Sorry about no one responding to your post as of yet but if like me there was some kind of problem with seeing it yesterday.
    Anyways I have not personally been diagnosed with melanoma but my husband has. He has gone thru the first excision and then the re-excision (WLE) like they mentioned they want to do with you. From my side of the fence you need to do anything possible to keep this awful beast away. My husband had the WLE done to get better and hopefully clear margins. I'm glad he did it. He also had the SLNB (sentinel lymph node biopsy)which came back clear. Now we go every 6 months to make sure it hasn't gone anywhere else. His only complaints are that he feels a little tightness around the excision and a little numbness around the excision from the SLNB. Are we both glad he had it done? YES!!
    You don't mention how deep your melanoma was or Clarks level etc. My husbands was 2.45mm Clark level IV. Whatever you decide I wish you the best.
    Take Care,
  • washoegal
    washoegal Member Posts: 45
    #3
    Hi- and sorry you are here.
    Not sure what the "rouge" cells are, get a copy of your lab report, if you don't mind post what you think is important. What you are looking for is depth and other measurements. Also, your derm should be referring you to a melanoma specialist, he should not be doing this. A surgeon is NOT good enough, YOU WANT A MEL SPECIALIST, even if it means waiting a little longer. A SNB is probably necessary depending on the depth of the tumor. It's not a difficult operation (or at least I didn't find it so.

    Good luck!
    Mary
    Stage 3
  • Anita218
    Anita218 Member Posts: 1
    #4
    New here too
    Hi flibery,
    I know what you are going through. I went to a dermatologist for 4 months for what they thought was a sebaceous cyst on the side of my nose. They finally decided I needed a Moh's procedure. So I go in thinking OK, I'll get this 3rd eye removed off my face and all will be well. Not so fast, 2 weeks later I was sitting in surgical oncology being told I had one of the rarest forms of melanoma that was very aggressive and normal treatment options may not work. Talk about having the breathe knocked out of you, and I did the stupid thing and said but it's supposed to be a cyst. I know you are scared, but I can tell you after 6 surgeries, I'm still scared but realize they can take all they need to as long as they keep it clear. I have had all the lymph nodes in my neck and in front of my ear removed because that is how melanoma likes to spread. All I can tell you is to listen to your doctors. We may not like what they tell us, and it may scare us beyond belief. But they are fighting for us, and are going to do everything in their power to help us. Sorry this is a little long, but I know what it is like to not know what to do and to maybe not have anyone who can really understand what you are feeling and thinking even though they are trying their best to help. Things do get better, and each day is easier than the first.
    Anita218

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