dont understand

Initial diagnosis accompanied by the fear of the unknown is/was a challenge for many of us. First suggestion – stop reading about statistics on the internet… they are old and based on older treatments and, therefore, do not reflect today's reality. Second suggestion – get yourself to see a melanoma specialist. A regular oncologist will not do for melanoma due to the pace of development for current treatments. From your profile, it looks like you are in Idaho… recommend you post a separate topic asking for suggestions on a melanoma specialist in your area.

My wife is a worrier and I try to tell her to not worry about things you cannot control. For those if us with melanoma, we typically do not feel an overabundance of control so it can be hard. Take one step at a time. You had the pet scan… that will give some information. Once you know the results, post them here and the group can provide suggestions/support.

Kevin

Initial diagnosis accompanied by the fear of the unknown is/was a challenge for many of us. First suggestion – stop reading about statistics on the internet… they are old and based on older treatments and, therefore, do not reflect today's reality. Second suggestion – get yourself to see a melanoma specialist. A regular oncologist will not do for melanoma due to the pace of development for current treatments. From your profile, it looks like you are in Idaho… recommend you post a separate topic asking for suggestions on a melanoma specialist in your area.

My wife is a worrier and I try to tell her to not worry about things you cannot control. For those if us with melanoma, we typically do not feel an overabundance of control so it can be hard. Take one step at a time. You had the pet scan… that will give some information. Once you know the results, post them here and the group can provide suggestions/support.

Kevin

Initial diagnosis accompanied by the fear of the unknown is/was a challenge for many of us. First suggestion – stop reading about statistics on the internet… they are old and based on older treatments and, therefore, do not reflect today's reality. Second suggestion – get yourself to see a melanoma specialist. A regular oncologist will not do for melanoma due to the pace of development for current treatments. From your profile, it looks like you are in Idaho… recommend you post a separate topic asking for suggestions on a melanoma specialist in your area.

My wife is a worrier and I try to tell her to not worry about things you cannot control. For those if us with melanoma, we typically do not feel an overabundance of control so it can be hard. Take one step at a time. You had the pet scan… that will give some information. Once you know the results, post them here and the group can provide suggestions/support.

Kevin

Billie Jo, FIRST, you are not a staatistic.  YOU are an individual.  When I went to Stage IV 8 months after initial diagnosi I was told that statistically I had between 30 and 180 days left on earth.  I must have forgotten how to tell time since that was in Feb 2007!  (The ancient of days to get an Melignant melanoma diagnosis.)  Many of the articles one reads on the internet, especially if the melanoma is in ones "private" areas, are considered very deadly, this is because they are so often found later than would be preferred.

I would have preferred to not have it PERIOD. I was misdiagnosed by my GP  for over 3 1/2 years before ever being referred to a surgeon to check my continuing "hemmorhoid".  Have they ran any DNA mutation tests on your removed tissue.  Regardless what you read on the internet about probability, you are not a statistic.  They just rever to a laarge group of people, not to any one individual.  They will most likely remove many of your groin lymph nodes, they did on me in a 7 hour operation by a great Melanoma Specialist Surgeon at the Univ of Va (Dr Craig Slingluff) 

    They will keep a check on your lungs and liver as these are the most likely locations if the melanoma spreads Further (Metastasizes). 

   When I was diagnosed there was only one treatment outside of surgery that stood aver a acoouple % of helping an advanced stage melanoma patient,  Now , by including the numerous Clinical trials in progress there is at least a dozen treatments to try, and new ones entering the trials monthly!  LEARN, FIGHT, LIVE!

: The Things I Wish I Were Told When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer @

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html

Billie Jo, FIRST, you are not a staatistic.  YOU are an individual.  When I went to Stage IV 8 months after initial diagnosi I was told that statistically I had between 30 and 180 days left on earth.  I must have forgotten how to tell time since that was in Feb 2007!  (The ancient of days to get an Melignant melanoma diagnosis.)  Many of the articles one reads on the internet, especially if the melanoma is in ones "private" areas, are considered very deadly, this is because they are so often found later than would be preferred.

I would have preferred to not have it PERIOD. I was misdiagnosed by my GP  for over 3 1/2 years before ever being referred to a surgeon to check my continuing "hemmorhoid".  Have they ran any DNA mutation tests on your removed tissue.  Regardless what you read on the internet about probability, you are not a statistic.  They just rever to a laarge group of people, not to any one individual.  They will most likely remove many of your groin lymph nodes, they did on me in a 7 hour operation by a great Melanoma Specialist Surgeon at the Univ of Va (Dr Craig Slingluff) 

    They will keep a check on your lungs and liver as these are the most likely locations if the melanoma spreads Further (Metastasizes). 

   When I was diagnosed there was only one treatment outside of surgery that stood aver a acoouple % of helping an advanced stage melanoma patient,  Now , by including the numerous Clinical trials in progress there is at least a dozen treatments to try, and new ones entering the trials monthly!  LEARN, FIGHT, LIVE!

: The Things I Wish I Were Told When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer @

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html

Billie Jo, FIRST, you are not a staatistic.  YOU are an individual.  When I went to Stage IV 8 months after initial diagnosi I was told that statistically I had between 30 and 180 days left on earth.  I must have forgotten how to tell time since that was in Feb 2007!  (The ancient of days to get an Melignant melanoma diagnosis.)  Many of the articles one reads on the internet, especially if the melanoma is in ones "private" areas, are considered very deadly, this is because they are so often found later than would be preferred.

I would have preferred to not have it PERIOD. I was misdiagnosed by my GP  for over 3 1/2 years before ever being referred to a surgeon to check my continuing "hemmorhoid".  Have they ran any DNA mutation tests on your removed tissue.  Regardless what you read on the internet about probability, you are not a statistic.  They just rever to a laarge group of people, not to any one individual.  They will most likely remove many of your groin lymph nodes, they did on me in a 7 hour operation by a great Melanoma Specialist Surgeon at the Univ of Va (Dr Craig Slingluff) 

    They will keep a check on your lungs and liver as these are the most likely locations if the melanoma spreads Further (Metastasizes). 

   When I was diagnosed there was only one treatment outside of surgery that stood aver a acoouple % of helping an advanced stage melanoma patient,  Now , by including the numerous Clinical trials in progress there is at least a dozen treatments to try, and new ones entering the trials monthly!  LEARN, FIGHT, LIVE!

: The Things I Wish I Were Told When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer @

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html