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In desperate need of incourage
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In desperate need of incourage

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › In desperate need of incourage

  • Post
    • March 15, 2018 at 10:03 pm
    AndyZ
    Participant

      I was found a month ago with a 1.2 mm (the second biopsy although showed 0,54 mm, no mitotic rate, Clark level II, no micronetastasis, clear margins) I had wide escidion and Sentinel Node biopsy which the told me today-after 10 days- it came positive (although it was not swallen and seemed fine). I fainted and panicked. Can not breath since. But they told me that this just a first estimate and I have to wait for the final biopsy which will be ready next week. 

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    • Replies
        • March 15, 2018 at 10:05 pm
        AndyZ
        Participant

          Sorry, first time here! Obviously I pressed sonething I shouldn’. You all re really helpful here! I do not know what all of the above mean and I am in desperate need of some incouragment! Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my story 

            • March 15, 2018 at 11:20 pm
            Rob578
            Guest

              I would strongly suggest you relax as you seem to be getting way ahead of yourself . Although this can be real scary stuff there is no point in crossing bridges you have not come too.

              I had this weird lump in my left mid-neck last early June and my GP told me it was just a sebacous cyst. It was not until 5 months later it was diagnosed  . Yup melanoma and now it was around 5 cm. I thought ok that's my life over, probably all through me. Well about 6 month later I had a selective neck disection.

              There was 61 lympth nodes removed and it was only the 1 that had melanoma. Also, it was totally encapsulated inside and just a trace amount. MIRI and CAT scan clean. So a ton of worry was all in vain.

              So hang tough and get your immune system strong.

              • March 15, 2018 at 11:42 pm
              AndyZ
              Participant

                Thank you , your reply gives me courage

              • March 15, 2018 at 11:07 pm
              tedtell1
              Participant

                Andy;

                Oh I am so sorry you have this diagnosis. It sicks, there is no way around it. Please realize that as bad as it is, there is always a lot of hope. There is a lot of hope here and encouragement and people who can help you through this process. I am newly diagnosed and relatively new to this board but I have found it to be extremely helpful. Please relax and wait for the rest of your results and be encouraged and hopeful by the great information you see here.

                Ted

                  • March 15, 2018 at 11:43 pm
                  AndyZ
                  Participant

                    Ted, thank you for your kind words. Indeed, this forum is really helpful!

                  • March 16, 2018 at 12:15 am
                  doragsda
                  Participant

                    You're having a perfectly normal reaction to receiving very shocking news.   The good news is that melanoma, especailly at the stage you are, is very treatable these days and the success rates are increasing.

                    My wife was diagnosed stage IV with two brain metastases in July of last year.   If you do home and look at most info on the internet you would have to believe that we would be having her funeral by Christmas.    Guess what?   Here we are, 8 months after that diagnosis, she has had brain surgery, gamma knife, and is on immunotherapy and they cannot find any active tumor cells in her body any longer.   8 months from finding out she has two brain tumors and now she's in remission and has very, very few side effects from the immunotherapy agents.    She goes to work every day and, if you met her, you would never guess that she was sick.  

                    You can beat this.   Find yourself a melanoma specialist (not just a general medical oncologist) who can guide the appropriate treatment for you.    Good luck.

                      • March 16, 2018 at 1:23 pm
                      AndyZ
                      Participant

                        I am so glad your wife has responded so well to her treatment! Thank you for your thoughts! I am sure if I met your wife she would be an inspiration for me! 

                      • March 16, 2018 at 4:04 am
                      Toby0987
                      Participant

                        Control what you can control. That is; find a melanoma specialist you trust and take one day at a time. You will get through this. Never give up-remember you have melanoma not the other way around. I got Mel in 2013 with a macromet to one lymph node. Was I devastated-yes! But each day it gets better-lean on the people on this forum-there are a lot of people that have been through it. Also keep in mind this forum has a higher than normal bad news rate. I’m cancer free after 5 years and have no more oncology appts! Sometimes a little good news is all you need to perk you up

                          • March 16, 2018 at 5:02 am
                          AndyZ
                          Participant

                            Exactly! Hearing these stories make me hopeful! I am so glad you are over it! Thank you for taking the time to write your story…

                          • March 16, 2018 at 2:20 pm
                          laulamb
                          Participant

                            Andy,  I was completely in your shoes exactly 2 years ago.  Trust me when I say it will be ok.  I was there, I know the panic that is going through your mind.  I cried for days in my husbands arms.  My initial melanoma was 1.3 mm and in one lymph node.  Please look at my profile for more details of my melanoma journey.  Two years later, there are some days I don't even think about melanoma!  You will get through this!  

                              • March 16, 2018 at 2:34 pm
                              AndyZ
                              Participant

                                Thank you for your support! Such a relief to read that you are now NED

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