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Natural course
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Natural course

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Natural course

  • Post
    • May 19, 2019 at 11:36 pm
    Robert B
    Participant
      I’ve recently been diagnosed with stage 0 melanoma on my chest. With great respect to those fighting for their lives with this condition, I’m wondering if anyone would know the prognosis and life expectancy for someone like myself who might prefer to let things take their natural course. I’m scheduled for surgery on June 11 th, but I am not sure I want to do that.
      Robert
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        • May 20, 2019 at 1:01 am
        Bubbles
        Participant
          Your life, your choice. And if you leave melanoma of any stage in place…that is exactly what is at stake. Removal of melanoma at an early stage saves lives and often renders those peeps free of disease forever. Those who do not have lesions removed early and have no additional treatment are facing disease spread…not an if….just when. And while we’ve made great strides in the treatment of advanced melanoma since 2011, there is still no cure. Immunotherapy is effective in about 40-50% of patients. Do you want to be that patient? Or the one who found it early, took care of it early, and got to move on with their life with a greater than 90% chance of being disease free…forever? Up to you. I wish you my best. Celeste
          • May 20, 2019 at 5:26 pm
          EricaInMS
          Participant
            Can you expand on your concerns? Letting things take their natural course means that you would die of melanoma. Guessing 99%. But I don’t know how long that would take. 1 year? 2 years? 5 years?

            What is it about the surgery that you are adverse to? For most people, the pros/cons of your procedure is hugely weighted in favor of having the surgery. Now, if it was my father, with multiple health concerns, we might choose to forego the surgery. Or do the mole removal but not the SNB.

            • May 21, 2019 at 1:54 am
            Lucygoose
            Participant
              Stage 0 means it was caught early. If you leave it, it will most likely grow and progress to 1, then 2 and so forth to stage 4 and death.

              This is no different than other cancers. Finding stage 0 breast cancer and doing a lumpectomy prevents progression and death. Same with melanoma.

              • May 21, 2019 at 6:25 pm
              RichInLife2
              Participant
                How was it diagnosed stage 0? Was it excised and biopsied? If it was excised with clear margins, then I would advise regular skin checks by a competent dermatologist. If down the road you have progression, then you can decide then whether you want to treat it or let nature take its course. As far as how long that natural course might take, I wouldn’t hazard a guess.

                What kind of surgery are you scheduled for?

                • May 25, 2019 at 1:49 am
                Gene_S
                Participant
                  I would buy and apply this on the melanoma for a short while, if it goes away all is good. If it get larger than consider surgery. Time is on your side to see if it going to work.

                  Dr. Christopher's Black Drawing Ointment

                  Also switch to the Doug Haufmann diet plan.

                  Good luck

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