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am i overreacting?
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am i overreacting?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › am i overreacting?

  • Post
    • May 11, 2012 at 1:20 pm
    webpatient
    Participant

      Had melanoma surgery on my right shoulder in january 2012; level one; fully wide excised; negative lymph node biopsy; awaiting first observational meeting with dermatology/surgery team after operation; now scheduled for mid june

      Yesterday felt a 'bump' above my left ear, that felt / looked (from best look i could get in mirror) like a pimple infected with hair follicle and irritated by cpap mask strap.

      Had melanoma surgery on my right shoulder in january 2012; level one; fully wide excised; negative lymph node biopsy; awaiting first observational meeting with dermatology/surgery team after operation; now scheduled for mid june

      Yesterday felt a 'bump' above my left ear, that felt / looked (from best look i could get in mirror) like a pimple infected with hair follicle and irritated by cpap mask strap.

      A scab formed over it, which I accidentally broke while touching it, and it is oozing a bit right now (no blood). It just seems like an inflamed pimple; cant see it well in mirror partially covered by hair.

      Am i overreacting in asking to see dermatologist before mid june scheduled appt — can another melanoma develop so quickly as it starts oozing?

      It wasnt oozing yesterday, just felt like a 'bump'

      Currently thinking of putting some antibiotic cream on it to see it heals. But, given the melanoma

      Appreciate any thoughts

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 11, 2012 at 1:25 pm
        natasha
        Participant

          Hi!

          I completely understand how you feel.

          I have the same stage 1 up to 1mm melanoma in January.

          And I am afraid of ruccurance as well ,looking for any signs of it.I had a spot on my scar and was panicking.

          But my Doc said it should not reccure on this stage and  I even don't think it can so quickly.

          You said you had SLB on your stage1 ??

          I though they don't do it if melanoma is up to 1mm ??

          • May 11, 2012 at 1:25 pm
          natasha
          Participant

            Hi!

            I completely understand how you feel.

            I have the same stage 1 up to 1mm melanoma in January.

            And I am afraid of ruccurance as well ,looking for any signs of it.I had a spot on my scar and was panicking.

            But my Doc said it should not reccure on this stage and  I even don't think it can so quickly.

            You said you had SLB on your stage1 ??

            I though they don't do it if melanoma is up to 1mm ??

              • May 13, 2012 at 2:03 am
              teri0915
              Participant
                Hi! I didnt think that melanoma could grow as fast as mine did either. I had a biopsy the beginning sept of 2010, diagnosed stage 2a, and when they did the wide excision in late october the brown of the melanoma had already grown back through the biopsy scar. Im not trying to scare you but if your unsure make it known to your doc that you are uncomfortable and just want to be reassured that it isnt a recurance. I just had my dermatologist remove a brown stripe from my excision scar this past Wednesday, waiting on path results. Never be too careful.
                Best of luck!
                Teri
                • May 13, 2012 at 2:03 am
                teri0915
                Participant
                  Hi! I didnt think that melanoma could grow as fast as mine did either. I had a biopsy the beginning sept of 2010, diagnosed stage 2a, and when they did the wide excision in late october the brown of the melanoma had already grown back through the biopsy scar. Im not trying to scare you but if your unsure make it known to your doc that you are uncomfortable and just want to be reassured that it isnt a recurance. I just had my dermatologist remove a brown stripe from my excision scar this past Wednesday, waiting on path results. Never be too careful.
                  Best of luck!
                  Teri
                  • May 13, 2012 at 2:03 am
                  teri0915
                  Participant
                    Hi! I didnt think that melanoma could grow as fast as mine did either. I had a biopsy the beginning sept of 2010, diagnosed stage 2a, and when they did the wide excision in late october the brown of the melanoma had already grown back through the biopsy scar. Im not trying to scare you but if your unsure make it known to your doc that you are uncomfortable and just want to be reassured that it isnt a recurance. I just had my dermatologist remove a brown stripe from my excision scar this past Wednesday, waiting on path results. Never be too careful.
                    Best of luck!
                    Teri
                  • May 11, 2012 at 1:25 pm
                  natasha
                  Participant

                    Hi!

                    I completely understand how you feel.

                    I have the same stage 1 up to 1mm melanoma in January.

                    And I am afraid of ruccurance as well ,looking for any signs of it.I had a spot on my scar and was panicking.

                    But my Doc said it should not reccure on this stage and  I even don't think it can so quickly.

                    You said you had SLB on your stage1 ??

                    I though they don't do it if melanoma is up to 1mm ??

                    • May 11, 2012 at 1:33 pm
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      If it looks like a pimple and acts like a pimple – chances are it is a pimple.  Here's my take on things like this.  How long does it take for a normal pimple/ingrown hair/whatever to heal?  Say one to two weeks.  If, in two weeks time, this is still there and shows NO IMPROVEMENT – that is the time to talk to the doctor.  Give things a chance to heal on their own (this means no picking).  And, after a reasonable time, if things look worse or don't show any improvement, THAT is the time to call your doctor.  Most things are NOT melanoma and given your lesion, most things likely won't be melanoma either.  Tell me this, if you didn't have a melanoma history, would you have given this "pimple" a second thought?  Keep that in mind when thinking about things that show up!

                      Best wishes,

                      Janner

                      • May 11, 2012 at 1:33 pm
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        If it looks like a pimple and acts like a pimple – chances are it is a pimple.  Here's my take on things like this.  How long does it take for a normal pimple/ingrown hair/whatever to heal?  Say one to two weeks.  If, in two weeks time, this is still there and shows NO IMPROVEMENT – that is the time to talk to the doctor.  Give things a chance to heal on their own (this means no picking).  And, after a reasonable time, if things look worse or don't show any improvement, THAT is the time to call your doctor.  Most things are NOT melanoma and given your lesion, most things likely won't be melanoma either.  Tell me this, if you didn't have a melanoma history, would you have given this "pimple" a second thought?  Keep that in mind when thinking about things that show up!

                        Best wishes,

                        Janner

                          • May 11, 2012 at 1:50 pm
                          natasha
                          Participant

                            Janner , Before melanoma history I even did not gave second thought to my actual melanoma 😉

                            • May 11, 2012 at 1:50 pm
                            natasha
                            Participant

                              Janner , Before melanoma history I even did not gave second thought to my actual melanoma 😉

                              • May 11, 2012 at 1:50 pm
                              natasha
                              Participant

                                Janner , Before melanoma history I even did not gave second thought to my actual melanoma 😉

                                • May 11, 2012 at 2:04 pm
                                Richard_K
                                Participant

                                   

                                   Janner

                                  Your posts are always insightful but this one struck a nerve with me.  “Tell me this, if you didn't have a melanoma history, would you have given this "pimple" a second thought?”  From time to time my mind runs wild, not about pimples but things in general, and in the week prior to scans, it is usually especially active.  I think if I can remember AND practice this advice, I will have a better time of it.  Thanks.

                                  Dick

                                  • May 11, 2012 at 2:04 pm
                                  Richard_K
                                  Participant

                                     

                                     Janner

                                    Your posts are always insightful but this one struck a nerve with me.  “Tell me this, if you didn't have a melanoma history, would you have given this "pimple" a second thought?”  From time to time my mind runs wild, not about pimples but things in general, and in the week prior to scans, it is usually especially active.  I think if I can remember AND practice this advice, I will have a better time of it.  Thanks.

                                    Dick

                                    • May 11, 2012 at 8:47 pm
                                    Janner
                                    Participant

                                      Glad to help even a little!  😉

                                      • May 11, 2012 at 8:47 pm
                                      Janner
                                      Participant

                                        Glad to help even a little!  😉

                                        • May 11, 2012 at 8:47 pm
                                        Janner
                                        Participant

                                          Glad to help even a little!  😉

                                          • May 11, 2012 at 2:04 pm
                                          Richard_K
                                          Participant

                                             

                                             Janner

                                            Your posts are always insightful but this one struck a nerve with me.  “Tell me this, if you didn't have a melanoma history, would you have given this "pimple" a second thought?”  From time to time my mind runs wild, not about pimples but things in general, and in the week prior to scans, it is usually especially active.  I think if I can remember AND practice this advice, I will have a better time of it.  Thanks.

                                            Dick

                                          • May 11, 2012 at 1:33 pm
                                          Janner
                                          Participant

                                            If it looks like a pimple and acts like a pimple – chances are it is a pimple.  Here's my take on things like this.  How long does it take for a normal pimple/ingrown hair/whatever to heal?  Say one to two weeks.  If, in two weeks time, this is still there and shows NO IMPROVEMENT – that is the time to talk to the doctor.  Give things a chance to heal on their own (this means no picking).  And, after a reasonable time, if things look worse or don't show any improvement, THAT is the time to call your doctor.  Most things are NOT melanoma and given your lesion, most things likely won't be melanoma either.  Tell me this, if you didn't have a melanoma history, would you have given this "pimple" a second thought?  Keep that in mind when thinking about things that show up!

                                            Best wishes,

                                            Janner

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