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Advice needed in NC.

Forums Cutaneous Melanoma Community Advice needed in NC.

  • Post
    cricket
    Participant

      Hello,

      I've had over 50 biopsies since November of 2012.  4 were melanoma and two basal and squamous cell. Of the 50, 5 biopsies come back benign. All others were atypical, severely atypical, pre cancerous, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma. I recently had 10 biopsies, I go back on the 31st of August for 2 exisions and 6 cryo treatments. I feel like going around in circles. Skin check, schedule biopsies (wait 4 to 6 weeks for the appointment), have biopsies (wait 2 weeks for results), get results, schedule excisions (in 4 to 6 weeks , first available appt) and by now we're past time for my 3 month skin check and we do it all over again. It's been this way for almost 3 years! There has to be a better way. 

      I really do need to see a Doctor that can at least do Mohs surgeries. 

      My dermatologist says that it would be impossible to take every suspicious mole off of my body at once. .

      Any recommendations? I'm in Charlotte, NC 

      Mary 

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    • Replies
        stars
        Participant

          I hear you, Mary. I've been on the same merry-go-round for three months too … I'm either having, waiting for, or being told I need biopsy/pathology/excisions etc.

          The ideal situation is to find someone who will roll skin checks and biopsies into one visit (both my skin cancer clinic and my derm did this… if they see something suspicious they biopsy it immediately). Results take about 2 days and I usually need to wait about a week for a wide excision. I guess that's as good as it gets. I'm in Australia and there are skin cancer clinics popping up  here there and everywhere so very competitive. These are run by normal doctors, not specialists. Derms are another story – there are only two available with a bit more of a wait time.

          One thing I've noticed is that because our national health system (Medicare) has a sliding scale of reimbursement where the first biopsy is 100% reimbursed, the second 50% and the third 25%, they would all much rather do fewer biopsies or preferably one at a time. I didn't accept that from them, I kind of insisted on all at once because I have to travel 1.5 hr to clinic. You may find that the way your derm is working is also partly due to the insurance or reimbursement structures in your country.

          Now that your mels are gone (how deep were they? I'm assuming in situ or stage 1) and you are looking at bcc and scc only, could you ring around for a 'same day biopsy' clinic and space your visits out to three or six months. Maybe even six? That way you can have your life back in between.

            stars
            Participant

              Edited to add: Mohs is quite specialist I think… 'Short turnaround time' and 'Mohs qualified' might be mutually exclusive things… hard to find both.

              cricket
              Participant

                Thank you so much!!! 

                cricket
                Participant

                  Thank you so much!!! 

                  cricket
                  Participant

                    Thank you so much!!! 

                    stars
                    Participant

                      Edited to add: Mohs is quite specialist I think… 'Short turnaround time' and 'Mohs qualified' might be mutually exclusive things… hard to find both.

                      stars
                      Participant

                        Edited to add: Mohs is quite specialist I think… 'Short turnaround time' and 'Mohs qualified' might be mutually exclusive things… hard to find both.

                      stars
                      Participant

                        I hear you, Mary. I've been on the same merry-go-round for three months too … I'm either having, waiting for, or being told I need biopsy/pathology/excisions etc.

                        The ideal situation is to find someone who will roll skin checks and biopsies into one visit (both my skin cancer clinic and my derm did this… if they see something suspicious they biopsy it immediately). Results take about 2 days and I usually need to wait about a week for a wide excision. I guess that's as good as it gets. I'm in Australia and there are skin cancer clinics popping up  here there and everywhere so very competitive. These are run by normal doctors, not specialists. Derms are another story – there are only two available with a bit more of a wait time.

                        One thing I've noticed is that because our national health system (Medicare) has a sliding scale of reimbursement where the first biopsy is 100% reimbursed, the second 50% and the third 25%, they would all much rather do fewer biopsies or preferably one at a time. I didn't accept that from them, I kind of insisted on all at once because I have to travel 1.5 hr to clinic. You may find that the way your derm is working is also partly due to the insurance or reimbursement structures in your country.

                        Now that your mels are gone (how deep were they? I'm assuming in situ or stage 1) and you are looking at bcc and scc only, could you ring around for a 'same day biopsy' clinic and space your visits out to three or six months. Maybe even six? That way you can have your life back in between.

                        stars
                        Participant

                          I hear you, Mary. I've been on the same merry-go-round for three months too … I'm either having, waiting for, or being told I need biopsy/pathology/excisions etc.

                          The ideal situation is to find someone who will roll skin checks and biopsies into one visit (both my skin cancer clinic and my derm did this… if they see something suspicious they biopsy it immediately). Results take about 2 days and I usually need to wait about a week for a wide excision. I guess that's as good as it gets. I'm in Australia and there are skin cancer clinics popping up  here there and everywhere so very competitive. These are run by normal doctors, not specialists. Derms are another story – there are only two available with a bit more of a wait time.

                          One thing I've noticed is that because our national health system (Medicare) has a sliding scale of reimbursement where the first biopsy is 100% reimbursed, the second 50% and the third 25%, they would all much rather do fewer biopsies or preferably one at a time. I didn't accept that from them, I kind of insisted on all at once because I have to travel 1.5 hr to clinic. You may find that the way your derm is working is also partly due to the insurance or reimbursement structures in your country.

                          Now that your mels are gone (how deep were they? I'm assuming in situ or stage 1) and you are looking at bcc and scc only, could you ring around for a 'same day biopsy' clinic and space your visits out to three or six months. Maybe even six? That way you can have your life back in between.

                          Mom2Addy
                          Participant

                            Mary, who are you seeing? We are in Charlotte as well and my husband is stage iv. 

                            Mom2Addy
                            Participant

                              Mary, who are you seeing? We are in Charlotte as well and my husband is stage iv. 

                              Mom2Addy
                              Participant

                                Mary, who are you seeing? We are in Charlotte as well and my husband is stage iv. 

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