Melanomas in situ… still scared
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Melanomas in situ… still scared

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanomas in situ… still scared

  • Post
    • September 27, 2016 at 4:08 pm
    greyhound
    Participant

      Hi everyone,

      I'm brand new to posting but have been lurking for a couple of months. I have a LOT of moles so have been monitoring them fairly closely for a number of years and have been on a 6-month skin check schedule with my derm for the last 3 or 4 years. I have had several moles removed in the last 10 years that were in various stages of dysplasia. I had a mole removed from my upper back in May of this year that came back melanoma in situ. In a lot of ways I was not shocked because my father died of cancer (not melanoma) and my mom died from a retinal melanoma that metastesized to her liver and other organs so I certainly had the family history. The mel was removed and then I noticed a dark mole on my left cheek that was not very big but that I had not noticed in previous months and it looked really strange (in a bad way) so just had it biopsied earlier this month and it also came back as MIS and will get it excised in a couple of weeks. I had just kind of come to terms with the first MIS and was really taken aback with this second one because I didn't expect to have another mel in such a short time period. I have felt anxious, depressed, sad, but grateful and know I am very, very lucky to have caught both of these in the early stages. But it has really rocked my world and left me depressed and not knowing what the future holds for me. I look at all the moles I have and think they ALL look questionable at this point as I am super-scrutinizing everything. I know that is unreasonable and I think it is just a stage that I need to get through. I have an appointment with my derm next week just to sit down and discuss my situation to answer my questions and see if there is anything else I could be doing (other than the obvious and important things of staying out of the sun, wearing sunscreen and long sleeves, etc.)

      I guess I just wanted to "unload" all my feelings on the boards and most of all wanted to say thanks to everyone for posting all the great information and stories about what they are going through. I am trying foremost to educate myself about mel and be super vigilant on my monthly skin checks. I had my husband take a lot of photos of my body so I can compare against them every month. I have a lot of moles on my back, which are a lot more difficult for me to monitor and I get very anxious about those especially having this 2nd mel. Thanks for letting me tell my story and to vent my feelings and emotions and thanks for all the communal support each and every one of you provide! I have found it so helpful.

      Gail

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • September 27, 2016 at 4:35 pm
        debwray
        Participant

          Hi Gail 

          Being scared with a melanoma diagnosis is normal, but it gets better the more time passes from your diagnosis provided there is nothing else to worry about.

          Sounds like you are already doing all the right things, but normal vit d levels may fall if you keep your sun protection measures up, but taking a supplement may be helpful to keep in normal ranges which is protective for melanoma.

          More than one primary is not unheard of.. But you sound switched on and know what to look out for so just keep up your awareness campaign and the regular check ups.

          Asking questions is good and with this family history you might consider enrolling the  help of other moley members of the family in a mutual observation and recording exercise.

          Hope the derm helps you put some of your fears to bed next week..

          Best wishes

          Deb

          • September 27, 2016 at 4:35 pm
          debwray
          Participant

            Hi Gail 

            Being scared with a melanoma diagnosis is normal, but it gets better the more time passes from your diagnosis provided there is nothing else to worry about.

            Sounds like you are already doing all the right things, but normal vit d levels may fall if you keep your sun protection measures up, but taking a supplement may be helpful to keep in normal ranges which is protective for melanoma.

            More than one primary is not unheard of.. But you sound switched on and know what to look out for so just keep up your awareness campaign and the regular check ups.

            Asking questions is good and with this family history you might consider enrolling the  help of other moley members of the family in a mutual observation and recording exercise.

            Hope the derm helps you put some of your fears to bed next week..

            Best wishes

            Deb

              • September 27, 2016 at 5:29 pm
              greyhound
              Participant

                Hi Deb,

                Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have been taking a vitamin D supplement for about a year as I found last year that my levels were on the low side. I only have one sibling and told him about my melanoma. He has very few moles, which is great for him, so has far fewer to keep track of. I'm counting on me and my husband as the team for monthly checking!

                Best, Gail

                • September 27, 2016 at 5:29 pm
                greyhound
                Participant

                  Hi Deb,

                  Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have been taking a vitamin D supplement for about a year as I found last year that my levels were on the low side. I only have one sibling and told him about my melanoma. He has very few moles, which is great for him, so has far fewer to keep track of. I'm counting on me and my husband as the team for monthly checking!

                  Best, Gail

                  • October 5, 2016 at 7:01 pm
                  Treadlightly
                  Participant

                    Hi Gail,

                    I think your reaction is certainly understandable. But it sounds like you are doing all that you should be doing to try to catch another issue if it should arise. 

                    Many years before I was diagnosed with Melanoma, I had a couple of large moles removed. I just didn't like them and my doctor had no problem with removing them and having them biopsied. Perhaps you could pick a few of the most scary ones each year and request to have them removed. At least that puts you more in the driver's seat of your care. 

                    That said…try to put all of this out of your mind…at least most of the time…and focus on living a great live. What a gift this life can be…don't you agree?

                    Best wishes,
                    Mark (2A)

                    • October 5, 2016 at 7:01 pm
                    Treadlightly
                    Participant

                      Hi Gail,

                      I think your reaction is certainly understandable. But it sounds like you are doing all that you should be doing to try to catch another issue if it should arise. 

                      Many years before I was diagnosed with Melanoma, I had a couple of large moles removed. I just didn't like them and my doctor had no problem with removing them and having them biopsied. Perhaps you could pick a few of the most scary ones each year and request to have them removed. At least that puts you more in the driver's seat of your care. 

                      That said…try to put all of this out of your mind…at least most of the time…and focus on living a great live. What a gift this life can be…don't you agree?

                      Best wishes,
                      Mark (2A)

                      • October 5, 2016 at 7:01 pm
                      Treadlightly
                      Participant

                        Hi Gail,

                        I think your reaction is certainly understandable. But it sounds like you are doing all that you should be doing to try to catch another issue if it should arise. 

                        Many years before I was diagnosed with Melanoma, I had a couple of large moles removed. I just didn't like them and my doctor had no problem with removing them and having them biopsied. Perhaps you could pick a few of the most scary ones each year and request to have them removed. At least that puts you more in the driver's seat of your care. 

                        That said…try to put all of this out of your mind…at least most of the time…and focus on living a great live. What a gift this life can be…don't you agree?

                        Best wishes,
                        Mark (2A)

                        • September 27, 2016 at 5:29 pm
                        greyhound
                        Participant

                          Hi Deb,

                          Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have been taking a vitamin D supplement for about a year as I found last year that my levels were on the low side. I only have one sibling and told him about my melanoma. He has very few moles, which is great for him, so has far fewer to keep track of. I'm counting on me and my husband as the team for monthly checking!

                          Best, Gail

                        • September 27, 2016 at 4:35 pm
                        debwray
                        Participant

                          Hi Gail 

                          Being scared with a melanoma diagnosis is normal, but it gets better the more time passes from your diagnosis provided there is nothing else to worry about.

                          Sounds like you are already doing all the right things, but normal vit d levels may fall if you keep your sun protection measures up, but taking a supplement may be helpful to keep in normal ranges which is protective for melanoma.

                          More than one primary is not unheard of.. But you sound switched on and know what to look out for so just keep up your awareness campaign and the regular check ups.

                          Asking questions is good and with this family history you might consider enrolling the  help of other moley members of the family in a mutual observation and recording exercise.

                          Hope the derm helps you put some of your fears to bed next week..

                          Best wishes

                          Deb

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