› Forums › General Melanoma Community › need some input please
- This topic has 15 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 3 months ago by
MattF.
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- May 26, 2013 at 1:03 am
im a female 38 yrs old. feb i had melanoma removed from upper arm and also a lymph node which came back with microscopic melanoma. i am doing watch and wait but in the last 2 months i have lost 12 pound, i have bad night sweats, and have developed 2 new marks on face. i went to dermatologist for first time last week and i was told the marks r old age spots!!! NO one in my family has these and they popped up one day without warning. it is blackish-brown in color, flacky , and if i rub it to hard it will bleed. what do i do to get someone to test it so my mind is at ease.
im a female 38 yrs old. feb i had melanoma removed from upper arm and also a lymph node which came back with microscopic melanoma. i am doing watch and wait but in the last 2 months i have lost 12 pound, i have bad night sweats, and have developed 2 new marks on face. i went to dermatologist for first time last week and i was told the marks r old age spots!!! NO one in my family has these and they popped up one day without warning. it is blackish-brown in color, flacky , and if i rub it to hard it will bleed. what do i do to get someone to test it so my mind is at ease. i have been to 4 different drs in the last 3 weeks and no one will do anything about it.
i am really questioning rather i picked the wrong drs.??? i live in central Pennsylvania if there is anyone who can suggest a good oncologist and a good dermatologist.
One more question i have….what does it mean to have alot of pigment fragmentation in ur lymph node??? mine that was removed had alot!
Thanks for all ur help!!
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- May 26, 2013 at 1:16 am
Well i can't help you on the Doctor recomendations.
But I can sympathize with you about concern and wanting to get stuff done.
I'm stage II and had SLNB come back negative.
I can't even fathom you having Melanoma in your lymph nodes and Dermatologist not doing something about spots you are concerned with.
The Derm who diagnosed my melanoma (although when he took it off he said "don't worry this is nothing") will now take anything I want off at any time and have it biopsied.
Now getting Onc to deal with lumps, changes, symptoms, pains etc…that is a little bit tougher to do.
Although i am going to take your que and when the time comes I'm going to see doctors until I feel like the issue has been looked into thouroughly, resolved, etc.
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- May 26, 2013 at 1:16 am
Well i can't help you on the Doctor recomendations.
But I can sympathize with you about concern and wanting to get stuff done.
I'm stage II and had SLNB come back negative.
I can't even fathom you having Melanoma in your lymph nodes and Dermatologist not doing something about spots you are concerned with.
The Derm who diagnosed my melanoma (although when he took it off he said "don't worry this is nothing") will now take anything I want off at any time and have it biopsied.
Now getting Onc to deal with lumps, changes, symptoms, pains etc…that is a little bit tougher to do.
Although i am going to take your que and when the time comes I'm going to see doctors until I feel like the issue has been looked into thouroughly, resolved, etc.
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- May 26, 2013 at 1:16 am
Well i can't help you on the Doctor recomendations.
But I can sympathize with you about concern and wanting to get stuff done.
I'm stage II and had SLNB come back negative.
I can't even fathom you having Melanoma in your lymph nodes and Dermatologist not doing something about spots you are concerned with.
The Derm who diagnosed my melanoma (although when he took it off he said "don't worry this is nothing") will now take anything I want off at any time and have it biopsied.
Now getting Onc to deal with lumps, changes, symptoms, pains etc…that is a little bit tougher to do.
Although i am going to take your que and when the time comes I'm going to see doctors until I feel like the issue has been looked into thouroughly, resolved, etc.
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- May 26, 2013 at 2:37 am
Have you told any of the Doctors that you would like to have it biopsied or are you just asking for their opinion? Not to sound too alarming but what you describe definitely sounds worthy of a biopsy just to be safe. I've learned through my experience you are your own best advocate and no one can look after your own interest as well as you can. You probably can't count the number of times on this board where people tell of experiences where they were told "it is nothing to worry about" but later found out it was something to worry about. Best of luck and don't give up until you are satisfied. Even if it isn't anything your mental health will greatly benefit from knowing it is nothing.
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- May 26, 2013 at 2:37 am
Have you told any of the Doctors that you would like to have it biopsied or are you just asking for their opinion? Not to sound too alarming but what you describe definitely sounds worthy of a biopsy just to be safe. I've learned through my experience you are your own best advocate and no one can look after your own interest as well as you can. You probably can't count the number of times on this board where people tell of experiences where they were told "it is nothing to worry about" but later found out it was something to worry about. Best of luck and don't give up until you are satisfied. Even if it isn't anything your mental health will greatly benefit from knowing it is nothing.
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- May 26, 2013 at 2:37 am
Have you told any of the Doctors that you would like to have it biopsied or are you just asking for their opinion? Not to sound too alarming but what you describe definitely sounds worthy of a biopsy just to be safe. I've learned through my experience you are your own best advocate and no one can look after your own interest as well as you can. You probably can't count the number of times on this board where people tell of experiences where they were told "it is nothing to worry about" but later found out it was something to worry about. Best of luck and don't give up until you are satisfied. Even if it isn't anything your mental health will greatly benefit from knowing it is nothing.
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- May 26, 2013 at 2:49 am
I could not agree more.
Keep getting checked until you find the person who listens to you and either finds something or does the required tests to ease your mind to continue on.
Brian if i may ask you about your Axillary Lump….what tipped you off…how did you get it checked? Didi you have a SLNB at your first surgery? etc
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- May 26, 2013 at 2:49 am
I could not agree more.
Keep getting checked until you find the person who listens to you and either finds something or does the required tests to ease your mind to continue on.
Brian if i may ask you about your Axillary Lump….what tipped you off…how did you get it checked? Didi you have a SLNB at your first surgery? etc
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- May 26, 2013 at 2:49 am
I could not agree more.
Keep getting checked until you find the person who listens to you and either finds something or does the required tests to ease your mind to continue on.
Brian if i may ask you about your Axillary Lump….what tipped you off…how did you get it checked? Didi you have a SLNB at your first surgery? etc
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- May 26, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Hey Matt,,
My first run-in with mel was in 2006 when I had a melanoma removed from my left upper chest. To be honest looking back now I was completely ignorant as to the severity of my situation at the time. I was active duty military at the time so I went to my military faciltiy, they cut it out, and I went on my way. Looking back now I'm pissed at myself for not educating myself more and I'm pissed at the miltary dermatologist who treated me for not telling me about the SNB option. Fast forward to 2011. One morning I'm shaving in front of the mirrow and I moved in a way that kinda made my pec muscle under my left armpit fill like it had a little muscle strain. I had been having that feeling for a couple days so I raised my left arm above my head and noticed that my armpit seemed a little swollen. When I raised my right arm and compared the two it was clear that they were different and that the left armpit was swollen. That is what introduced my second run-in with mel. To be honest I never really felt a lump myself. When the doctors would feel around in my armpit they would have to kinda dig pretty deep and it seemed to take them a while before they found what they suspected was the tumor. I ended up having 24 lymph nodes removed with 2 being positive for mel and one of those two was about 4 cm.
I've read your situation and I'm not sure what to think either. I think you have the right mind set though in your approach to not accept "hoping it is nothing" and push for "knowing it is nothing".
Brian
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- May 26, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Hey Matt,,
My first run-in with mel was in 2006 when I had a melanoma removed from my left upper chest. To be honest looking back now I was completely ignorant as to the severity of my situation at the time. I was active duty military at the time so I went to my military faciltiy, they cut it out, and I went on my way. Looking back now I'm pissed at myself for not educating myself more and I'm pissed at the miltary dermatologist who treated me for not telling me about the SNB option. Fast forward to 2011. One morning I'm shaving in front of the mirrow and I moved in a way that kinda made my pec muscle under my left armpit fill like it had a little muscle strain. I had been having that feeling for a couple days so I raised my left arm above my head and noticed that my armpit seemed a little swollen. When I raised my right arm and compared the two it was clear that they were different and that the left armpit was swollen. That is what introduced my second run-in with mel. To be honest I never really felt a lump myself. When the doctors would feel around in my armpit they would have to kinda dig pretty deep and it seemed to take them a while before they found what they suspected was the tumor. I ended up having 24 lymph nodes removed with 2 being positive for mel and one of those two was about 4 cm.
I've read your situation and I'm not sure what to think either. I think you have the right mind set though in your approach to not accept "hoping it is nothing" and push for "knowing it is nothing".
Brian
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- May 26, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Hey Matt,,
My first run-in with mel was in 2006 when I had a melanoma removed from my left upper chest. To be honest looking back now I was completely ignorant as to the severity of my situation at the time. I was active duty military at the time so I went to my military faciltiy, they cut it out, and I went on my way. Looking back now I'm pissed at myself for not educating myself more and I'm pissed at the miltary dermatologist who treated me for not telling me about the SNB option. Fast forward to 2011. One morning I'm shaving in front of the mirrow and I moved in a way that kinda made my pec muscle under my left armpit fill like it had a little muscle strain. I had been having that feeling for a couple days so I raised my left arm above my head and noticed that my armpit seemed a little swollen. When I raised my right arm and compared the two it was clear that they were different and that the left armpit was swollen. That is what introduced my second run-in with mel. To be honest I never really felt a lump myself. When the doctors would feel around in my armpit they would have to kinda dig pretty deep and it seemed to take them a while before they found what they suspected was the tumor. I ended up having 24 lymph nodes removed with 2 being positive for mel and one of those two was about 4 cm.
I've read your situation and I'm not sure what to think either. I think you have the right mind set though in your approach to not accept "hoping it is nothing" and push for "knowing it is nothing".
Brian
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- May 26, 2013 at 8:26 pm
Hey Brian
I'm active duty army…was a post Dermatologist who told me it was absolutely nothing but he would take it off anyway…of course i hade let it sit fopr over 3 years.
3 weeks later he called back. They wanted some surgeon local to do my WLE etc…but it was a shave biopsy so kind of screwed up Path report. I knew at the diagnosis this would probably be the end of my career as i had had migraines for the last year. I went straight to MD Anderson…got good WLE and SLNB.
My issue is the neck can really be tough to determine nodes from what i've read. and now a nice sized noticible lump in right armpit about 8 inches from where the original tumor/mole was is concerning.
It is like every one starts and says…"so you have had a cold recently….no. oh well you were bitten by something maybe a bug right…no. oh well have you been around stray animals…no. hmm well I'm sure it is nothing to worry about" and thats when I am like "why do we try to decide if it is 10 things that have never happened to me rather than addressing the one fact we know…that i was diagnosed with melanoma 9 months ago.
I noticed a slight change in armpit when showering a couple weeks ago….but now with arm down it is not that slight and it is noticible. if i dig up there i can def feel a " mass" on one side that is not on the other.
I have only been to 2 doctors this past week. one said nothing and the other said you should see someone about that…lol
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to the original thread…sorry I kind of hijacked your thread but i think it speaks directly to your question. Keep asking for answers. it amazes me the kind of thing we/they try to explain away rather than testing and finding things out.
Matt
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- May 26, 2013 at 8:26 pm
Hey Brian
I'm active duty army…was a post Dermatologist who told me it was absolutely nothing but he would take it off anyway…of course i hade let it sit fopr over 3 years.
3 weeks later he called back. They wanted some surgeon local to do my WLE etc…but it was a shave biopsy so kind of screwed up Path report. I knew at the diagnosis this would probably be the end of my career as i had had migraines for the last year. I went straight to MD Anderson…got good WLE and SLNB.
My issue is the neck can really be tough to determine nodes from what i've read. and now a nice sized noticible lump in right armpit about 8 inches from where the original tumor/mole was is concerning.
It is like every one starts and says…"so you have had a cold recently….no. oh well you were bitten by something maybe a bug right…no. oh well have you been around stray animals…no. hmm well I'm sure it is nothing to worry about" and thats when I am like "why do we try to decide if it is 10 things that have never happened to me rather than addressing the one fact we know…that i was diagnosed with melanoma 9 months ago.
I noticed a slight change in armpit when showering a couple weeks ago….but now with arm down it is not that slight and it is noticible. if i dig up there i can def feel a " mass" on one side that is not on the other.
I have only been to 2 doctors this past week. one said nothing and the other said you should see someone about that…lol
******************************************
to the original thread…sorry I kind of hijacked your thread but i think it speaks directly to your question. Keep asking for answers. it amazes me the kind of thing we/they try to explain away rather than testing and finding things out.
Matt
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- May 26, 2013 at 8:26 pm
Hey Brian
I'm active duty army…was a post Dermatologist who told me it was absolutely nothing but he would take it off anyway…of course i hade let it sit fopr over 3 years.
3 weeks later he called back. They wanted some surgeon local to do my WLE etc…but it was a shave biopsy so kind of screwed up Path report. I knew at the diagnosis this would probably be the end of my career as i had had migraines for the last year. I went straight to MD Anderson…got good WLE and SLNB.
My issue is the neck can really be tough to determine nodes from what i've read. and now a nice sized noticible lump in right armpit about 8 inches from where the original tumor/mole was is concerning.
It is like every one starts and says…"so you have had a cold recently….no. oh well you were bitten by something maybe a bug right…no. oh well have you been around stray animals…no. hmm well I'm sure it is nothing to worry about" and thats when I am like "why do we try to decide if it is 10 things that have never happened to me rather than addressing the one fact we know…that i was diagnosed with melanoma 9 months ago.
I noticed a slight change in armpit when showering a couple weeks ago….but now with arm down it is not that slight and it is noticible. if i dig up there i can def feel a " mass" on one side that is not on the other.
I have only been to 2 doctors this past week. one said nothing and the other said you should see someone about that…lol
******************************************
to the original thread…sorry I kind of hijacked your thread but i think it speaks directly to your question. Keep asking for answers. it amazes me the kind of thing we/they try to explain away rather than testing and finding things out.
Matt
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