Newly diagnosed and in panic attack

I am surprised you have friend dermatologist and you did not remove the mole earlier. Yes, your doctor is correct, with melanoma you never know, it is very unpredictable, but every body is different. Seven years ago I was diagnosed with melanoma the same stage as you are. I also had wide excision and sentinel node biopsy. Everything was fine. A year an half later I progressed to stage 3, had a few surgeries and radiation. Right after radiation I progress to stage 4 with small nodules in my lung. I had a treatment with Yervoy, and was responder to that immunotherapy. Most of nodules shrank, anf I have been stable for 2 years, nothing new is growing. I was on 3 months scan, now I am on 4 months scan. I work full time,and live happy and healthy life.
Melanoma didn’t stop me, but it is a journey. Your case may be different.
Good Luck!

Hi

its a lot to absorb and totally understand how you feel.  In my case though, my doctor initially thought my melanoma was nothing.  I insisted that he remove it and lo and behold it was something!  I,had my SLNB and again, the surgeon told me he was 95% sure it was nothing.  Wrong-o!  Two nodes with micromets.  I had my CLND and am glad to say I've been NED since (do 11/11, CLND 2/12).  I think what and how is communicated is mostly a function of the doctor's bedside manner.  I personally would have preferred the more cautionary message of your doctor because when I went back for my post SLNB consult, I was expecting a quick confirmation of a "clean" result and instead got hit in the face with the proverbial cast-iron skillet!! In any case, try to take it a step at a time and throw,yourself into your normal routine.  That helped me compartmentalize this whole thing and has allowed me to LIVE with melanoma.  Keep the gang here posted

Best,

Stan

Hi anonymous.  I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this right now.  But please keep in mind that most of the people that are active on this site have experienced progression and are over-represented versus the many people in your position who do not experience progression and are therefore not active on this site. I hope you are able to find a way to relax and enjoy your life.  Have you tried meditation?  I never got the hang of it myself but I hear it is an excellent way to reduce stress and anxiety.

I hope you get good news.

Cheers,

Maggie

I am sorry you've had to join this crappy club. The best thing you can do right now is take it a day at a time. The beginning of the madness is the most anxiety inducing time, we've all been there. Try to keep yourself busy while you wait for the results, sitting and thinking about the "what ifs" will not help and will make you not feel so great physically. Many many people have had melanoma, even had stage 3 or 4, but are NED and living life without melanoma for many years… we just don't see a lot of those folks on here, so try to keep that in mind. Hoping for negative results from your lymph node biopsy, and even if there's some in there, don't fret, we'll be here to help you through the next steps.

All the best,

My husbands melanoma was 10.5 mm when he was first diagnosed so that made him Stage III.  When he had his sentinel node done it came back negative.  He did have several surgeries after that as the only treatment at the time was Chemo and he said no to it but he later progressed to Stage IV.  

So even if the sentinel node comes back clear there is not guarantee you won't progress so try not to stress out and be thankful that yours is an early stage and hopefully will never progress.

He started a clinical trial in Mar. 2011 after becoming Stage IV.  He became NED in JUly 2012 and has remained that way for 5 years.  So don't give up hope because you could have it never return or could have a treatment that worked for you just like my husband.  If you would like to read more about his journey you can read his profile.

Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED 5 years with the Clinical Trial of IPI 10 mg/kg and GMCSF)

I don't think that this is ever easy and people go through a wide range of emotions.  My PCP prescribed me trazadone to help me sleep at night and it helps when I can't sleep.  Which is more often than I would like.

I don't think that this is ever easy and people go through a wide range of emotions.  My PCP prescribed me trazadone to help me sleep at night and it helps when I can't sleep.  Which is more often than I would like.