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New here with questions.

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › New here with questions.

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    • December 28, 2017 at 4:23 pm
    maryliz56
    Participant

      Hi! I am 61 years old and I see a dermatologist regularly bc I have fair skin and various skin issues. I'm am used to her freezing and biopsying. Everything has been fine until this visit. I have Basel cell on my nose and melanoma on my upper arm. I have a surgeon appointment next week about the melanoma.  My doc says it's thin, .22 and she says that's good.  Why kind of questions should I ask the surgeon? And other advice? Is .22 "good?"  

      I'm an outdoor lover but I always wear hat and sunscreen.  I usually wear a 3/4 length sleeve shirt, so my upper arm rarely sees the sun.  My husband and I are planning another hiking vacation trip this summer.  But mostly I'm worried about the cancer spreading.  

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        • December 28, 2017 at 5:11 pm
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          That is very thin and early stage 1. It's hard actually hearing the word melanoma after a biopsy, no matter what the stage. You'll have a wide local excision and continue with regular visits to the derm for check ups. Other than that, continue to be sun safe and continue to enjoy life. You caught this sucker very early and the odds are in your favor that you'll never deal with melanoma after this. 

            • January 5, 2018 at 12:44 am
            maryliz56
            Participant

              Thanks for the encouraging words, Jenn. I saw my surgeon today. I will have my excision surgery in 3 weeks. Wish I didn't have to wait so long, but he assured me it would be okay bc it's so early. I hope so.  Best wishes to you.

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