› Forums › General Melanoma Community › New to Melanoma – My Story and your experience and advice please
- This topic has 6 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 1 month ago by
mel123.
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- May 13, 2013 at 1:31 pm
Hi there – I went to the doctors recently about an itchy mole that I had on my bottom. She thought it was fine but said it was up to me if I wanted to see a dermatologist. So I decided it would be a good idea to get it checked.
Hi there – I went to the doctors recently about an itchy mole that I had on my bottom. She thought it was fine but said it was up to me if I wanted to see a dermatologist. So I decided it would be a good idea to get it checked.
Upon arrival I was immediatly told it was 'suspcious' and she wanted to remove. She asked if I sunbathed nude because of where it was, to which I confirmed I didn't, never have and that part of my body had always been covered up. She clearly didn't want to believe me as she went on to say that I probably wore something more skimpy when I was younger. I know this is not true and can see from the whiteness of my skin in that area that it doesn't see sun. What I can tell you is I have olive skin that easily tans, I hardly have to see the sun to get colour. I have always put sun cream on and the most of an issue I had was prickly skin on my arms and chest when I was a teenager (which was caused by the suncream blocking my pores -especially waterproof types- so I tried a million different types, until 'allergy' type sun cream was invented and helped). So if I was going to have anything that was sun related I would fully understand if it was on my arms, legs etc that have seen the sun, but not on my botton.
Anyway that evening she took it out, said that she thought it would be fine.
A week later, I had a call to come back and was told that it was melanoma, but the good news it was less than 1mm. I was told I needed to return so she could remove more of the area and then would need to return every 3 months for the next 3 years. I left in total shock, not really knowing what to say.
That evening I researched all over the internet and got progressivly scared at the information. How it could spread, life expectancy etc.
Next day I went back and had more of the area removed with 11 stiches. Whilst I was there I told her again that I have always been covered in that area, but again she said it must have been when I was younger. I asked a few more questions to get clarification – ie so this is a stage 1 and what about my other moles and what else will happen and left not really knowing much more than I'll get a call or letter to confirm the results from the latest area she removed in a few weeks, to book an apointment with the nurses to get the stitches removed and she'll see me somepoint in the future…
So I'm confused, I have melanoma on a part of my body that didn't see the sun, but I'm told its sun related. I am covered in moles and freckles and always have been. I tan easily but always put sun cream on. I'd say most of my moles and freckels are not of an even round shape, they are all mostly of odd shapes, again they've always been like this since I can remember.
So I don't know anymore, I don't know if I should be scared that every 3 months I'm going to have more and more removed, that its spread, that I'm going to see my 2 year old grow up. If we are going to be able to have the other child we were just planning for now. Its all just not clear for me.
Can anyone help advise in anyway please?
Thank you.
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- May 13, 2013 at 4:38 pm
I am so sorry that you've had to join this group, and that your doctor sounds awful! After having my own negative experience with a dermatologist, and continuing to go to that practice for a year, and continuing to have poor communication, I would highly recommend finding a new doctor! First of all, melanoma isn't always caused by the sun, it shows up in places the "sun don't shine", and your doctor should know this. There are people who lie about their sun exposure to avoid getting lectured, but it's really not a doctor's place to judge, it's their job to treat. Between that and her failure to educate you on melanoma, even when you asked, I think it's time to fire her. Hopefully you have more options available to you.
Aside from that, live your life, and don't worry about melanoma! Do all the sun safety stuff which you've no doubt learned about while researching melanoma, and see a dermatologist (even if it has to be this horrible one!) every 3 months, and watch your freckles and moles for changes, making sure to tell your doc if you notice anything. I'm stage III and even though I get scans and treatments and all that, I don't think of it in a scary way. It's part of my life, and I read something melanoma related almost every day, whether on here, blogs, or Facebook, but I don't live in fear of it. I feel like cancer wins when we let it consume us. Most of the bad stories on here are stories of melanoma being caught too late; when it's caught early, like yours, the diagnosis is good! Be thankful, and pass along sun safety to your child and future children!
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- May 13, 2013 at 4:38 pm
I am so sorry that you've had to join this group, and that your doctor sounds awful! After having my own negative experience with a dermatologist, and continuing to go to that practice for a year, and continuing to have poor communication, I would highly recommend finding a new doctor! First of all, melanoma isn't always caused by the sun, it shows up in places the "sun don't shine", and your doctor should know this. There are people who lie about their sun exposure to avoid getting lectured, but it's really not a doctor's place to judge, it's their job to treat. Between that and her failure to educate you on melanoma, even when you asked, I think it's time to fire her. Hopefully you have more options available to you.
Aside from that, live your life, and don't worry about melanoma! Do all the sun safety stuff which you've no doubt learned about while researching melanoma, and see a dermatologist (even if it has to be this horrible one!) every 3 months, and watch your freckles and moles for changes, making sure to tell your doc if you notice anything. I'm stage III and even though I get scans and treatments and all that, I don't think of it in a scary way. It's part of my life, and I read something melanoma related almost every day, whether on here, blogs, or Facebook, but I don't live in fear of it. I feel like cancer wins when we let it consume us. Most of the bad stories on here are stories of melanoma being caught too late; when it's caught early, like yours, the diagnosis is good! Be thankful, and pass along sun safety to your child and future children!
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- May 13, 2013 at 4:38 pm
I am so sorry that you've had to join this group, and that your doctor sounds awful! After having my own negative experience with a dermatologist, and continuing to go to that practice for a year, and continuing to have poor communication, I would highly recommend finding a new doctor! First of all, melanoma isn't always caused by the sun, it shows up in places the "sun don't shine", and your doctor should know this. There are people who lie about their sun exposure to avoid getting lectured, but it's really not a doctor's place to judge, it's their job to treat. Between that and her failure to educate you on melanoma, even when you asked, I think it's time to fire her. Hopefully you have more options available to you.
Aside from that, live your life, and don't worry about melanoma! Do all the sun safety stuff which you've no doubt learned about while researching melanoma, and see a dermatologist (even if it has to be this horrible one!) every 3 months, and watch your freckles and moles for changes, making sure to tell your doc if you notice anything. I'm stage III and even though I get scans and treatments and all that, I don't think of it in a scary way. It's part of my life, and I read something melanoma related almost every day, whether on here, blogs, or Facebook, but I don't live in fear of it. I feel like cancer wins when we let it consume us. Most of the bad stories on here are stories of melanoma being caught too late; when it's caught early, like yours, the diagnosis is good! Be thankful, and pass along sun safety to your child and future children!
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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