› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Newly Diagnosed and really concerned
- This topic has 30 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 6 months ago by
lou2.
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- December 10, 2013 at 11:52 pm
Hi! I had a biopsy 3 weeks ago, came up melanoma 1.2mm 1 (mitotic rate) that's all I really know. I will be having the surgery to remove margins and lymph nodes in 4 weeks. That's 7 weeks from biopy to margin removal. Is that too much time? Does the biopsy encourage spread through blood? I see most people have their surgeries sooner so I am worried.
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- December 11, 2013 at 1:30 am
I responded to you about this same question last week, I think. Waiting doesn't change outcome. Here is the study I couldn't post then:
http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/time-from-diagnostic-excision-biopsy/12100184.html
YOu said you suffer from GAD. Are you staying off the internet? More research isn't going to do anything for that – only exacerbate it. If you're back asking questions here (perfectly fine – don't mean to stop you from doing that) – but that implies you might be doing more. There isn't any easy way to wait – we have all done it and do it every time there is a biopsy, test, scan. It's part of being a cancer patient. Your wait time certainly isn't out of the ordinary. It just depends on the institution and some have shorter/longer wait times than others.
Hang in there, but do yourself a favor. If you can stay away from the research and internet while you wait – it won't ease the GAD but it won't add to it either. Just my thoughts.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- December 11, 2013 at 1:30 am
I responded to you about this same question last week, I think. Waiting doesn't change outcome. Here is the study I couldn't post then:
http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/time-from-diagnostic-excision-biopsy/12100184.html
YOu said you suffer from GAD. Are you staying off the internet? More research isn't going to do anything for that – only exacerbate it. If you're back asking questions here (perfectly fine – don't mean to stop you from doing that) – but that implies you might be doing more. There isn't any easy way to wait – we have all done it and do it every time there is a biopsy, test, scan. It's part of being a cancer patient. Your wait time certainly isn't out of the ordinary. It just depends on the institution and some have shorter/longer wait times than others.
Hang in there, but do yourself a favor. If you can stay away from the research and internet while you wait – it won't ease the GAD but it won't add to it either. Just my thoughts.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- December 11, 2013 at 1:30 am
I responded to you about this same question last week, I think. Waiting doesn't change outcome. Here is the study I couldn't post then:
http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/time-from-diagnostic-excision-biopsy/12100184.html
YOu said you suffer from GAD. Are you staying off the internet? More research isn't going to do anything for that – only exacerbate it. If you're back asking questions here (perfectly fine – don't mean to stop you from doing that) – but that implies you might be doing more. There isn't any easy way to wait – we have all done it and do it every time there is a biopsy, test, scan. It's part of being a cancer patient. Your wait time certainly isn't out of the ordinary. It just depends on the institution and some have shorter/longer wait times than others.
Hang in there, but do yourself a favor. If you can stay away from the research and internet while you wait – it won't ease the GAD but it won't add to it either. Just my thoughts.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- December 11, 2013 at 2:04 am
Janner is absolutely right… scanning the net for information may actually do more harm than good. I think every cancer patient suffers some type of anxiety during those first few months….I know I sure did (Dr. gave me Ativan to relieve some of the anxiety)
Best thing you can do right now is keep your mind clear and focus on that PMA while you await your SLNB.
Best of luck man,
Samuel
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- December 11, 2013 at 2:04 am
Janner is absolutely right… scanning the net for information may actually do more harm than good. I think every cancer patient suffers some type of anxiety during those first few months….I know I sure did (Dr. gave me Ativan to relieve some of the anxiety)
Best thing you can do right now is keep your mind clear and focus on that PMA while you await your SLNB.
Best of luck man,
Samuel
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- December 11, 2013 at 2:04 am
Janner is absolutely right… scanning the net for information may actually do more harm than good. I think every cancer patient suffers some type of anxiety during those first few months….I know I sure did (Dr. gave me Ativan to relieve some of the anxiety)
Best thing you can do right now is keep your mind clear and focus on that PMA while you await your SLNB.
Best of luck man,
Samuel
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- December 11, 2013 at 3:18 am
Hi Jasper, I am a nurse who was dx. a few months ago. It is really hard to get that diagnosis and I had major anxiety for 3 months. I was on the internet constantly and though I learned a lot about melanoma and treatments, it really did exacerbate my anxiety horribly. I guess it's something all cancer patients go through to some extent. Do some things for yourself like getting some additional exercise and make sure you are eating a very healthy diet. These two things you can do to help you feel a little more in control. It helped me feel like I was doing something beneficial for my body while I was waiting for surgery. Good Luck and hang in there.
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- December 11, 2013 at 3:18 am
Hi Jasper, I am a nurse who was dx. a few months ago. It is really hard to get that diagnosis and I had major anxiety for 3 months. I was on the internet constantly and though I learned a lot about melanoma and treatments, it really did exacerbate my anxiety horribly. I guess it's something all cancer patients go through to some extent. Do some things for yourself like getting some additional exercise and make sure you are eating a very healthy diet. These two things you can do to help you feel a little more in control. It helped me feel like I was doing something beneficial for my body while I was waiting for surgery. Good Luck and hang in there.
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- December 11, 2013 at 3:18 am
Hi Jasper, I am a nurse who was dx. a few months ago. It is really hard to get that diagnosis and I had major anxiety for 3 months. I was on the internet constantly and though I learned a lot about melanoma and treatments, it really did exacerbate my anxiety horribly. I guess it's something all cancer patients go through to some extent. Do some things for yourself like getting some additional exercise and make sure you are eating a very healthy diet. These two things you can do to help you feel a little more in control. It helped me feel like I was doing something beneficial for my body while I was waiting for surgery. Good Luck and hang in there.
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- December 11, 2013 at 3:37 am
Oh, I get it. I was an obsessive researcher in my time. (That's why I'm still here answering questions – putting my research knowledge to good use). The thing is, all the research in the world doesn't tell you ANYTHING about your situation. It can't predict your prognosis or situation. You have to wait for the SNB/WLE and then the results. When you get the results, you go from there. Pre-worry never helped anyone and you will have time to adequately research any results when you get them. Until then, all research will do for you is increase anxiety. Just the perspective of a obsessive researcher who learned this lesson the hard way.
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- December 11, 2013 at 3:37 am
Oh, I get it. I was an obsessive researcher in my time. (That's why I'm still here answering questions – putting my research knowledge to good use). The thing is, all the research in the world doesn't tell you ANYTHING about your situation. It can't predict your prognosis or situation. You have to wait for the SNB/WLE and then the results. When you get the results, you go from there. Pre-worry never helped anyone and you will have time to adequately research any results when you get them. Until then, all research will do for you is increase anxiety. Just the perspective of a obsessive researcher who learned this lesson the hard way.
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- December 11, 2013 at 3:37 am
Oh, I get it. I was an obsessive researcher in my time. (That's why I'm still here answering questions – putting my research knowledge to good use). The thing is, all the research in the world doesn't tell you ANYTHING about your situation. It can't predict your prognosis or situation. You have to wait for the SNB/WLE and then the results. When you get the results, you go from there. Pre-worry never helped anyone and you will have time to adequately research any results when you get them. Until then, all research will do for you is increase anxiety. Just the perspective of a obsessive researcher who learned this lesson the hard way.
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- December 12, 2013 at 9:10 am
Helpful link! Thanks Janner! I was curious about that as well, as I wait for mine to be done on the 31st.
It really is hard not to look up things on the internet when your newly diagnosed. I can't help myself as I know so little about it. Glad I found this site. You guys are great and appreciate all your thoughts and insights that I have been reading.
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- December 12, 2013 at 9:10 am
Helpful link! Thanks Janner! I was curious about that as well, as I wait for mine to be done on the 31st.
It really is hard not to look up things on the internet when your newly diagnosed. I can't help myself as I know so little about it. Glad I found this site. You guys are great and appreciate all your thoughts and insights that I have been reading.
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- December 13, 2013 at 6:27 am
The internet has it's place and there is a time to research and a time to let it go. Jasper is in waiting mode and until he has the results of his next surgery, research is of little use. He has to get his complete staging done… and THEN depending upon your stage – that it when it makes sense to research treatment options. Options vary greatly depending on stage so that is key. Jasper has done plenty of research already and there is a point when all it does if fuel the fire of anxiety. Research is fine but it tells you NOTHING about your own prognosis. It can give you generalities but will not tell you what is your prognosis. So there is a time when researching becomes counter-productive. What is the point of researching treatment options for stage III or stage IV if you are only stage I? Treatment options change all the time so what you learn now is most likely obsolete in a year. Newly diagnosed are always going to research and the key is trying to manage the stress and anxiety as much as possible.
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- December 13, 2013 at 6:27 am
The internet has it's place and there is a time to research and a time to let it go. Jasper is in waiting mode and until he has the results of his next surgery, research is of little use. He has to get his complete staging done… and THEN depending upon your stage – that it when it makes sense to research treatment options. Options vary greatly depending on stage so that is key. Jasper has done plenty of research already and there is a point when all it does if fuel the fire of anxiety. Research is fine but it tells you NOTHING about your own prognosis. It can give you generalities but will not tell you what is your prognosis. So there is a time when researching becomes counter-productive. What is the point of researching treatment options for stage III or stage IV if you are only stage I? Treatment options change all the time so what you learn now is most likely obsolete in a year. Newly diagnosed are always going to research and the key is trying to manage the stress and anxiety as much as possible.
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- December 13, 2013 at 6:27 am
The internet has it's place and there is a time to research and a time to let it go. Jasper is in waiting mode and until he has the results of his next surgery, research is of little use. He has to get his complete staging done… and THEN depending upon your stage – that it when it makes sense to research treatment options. Options vary greatly depending on stage so that is key. Jasper has done plenty of research already and there is a point when all it does if fuel the fire of anxiety. Research is fine but it tells you NOTHING about your own prognosis. It can give you generalities but will not tell you what is your prognosis. So there is a time when researching becomes counter-productive. What is the point of researching treatment options for stage III or stage IV if you are only stage I? Treatment options change all the time so what you learn now is most likely obsolete in a year. Newly diagnosed are always going to research and the key is trying to manage the stress and anxiety as much as possible.
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- December 12, 2013 at 9:10 am
Helpful link! Thanks Janner! I was curious about that as well, as I wait for mine to be done on the 31st.
It really is hard not to look up things on the internet when your newly diagnosed. I can't help myself as I know so little about it. Glad I found this site. You guys are great and appreciate all your thoughts and insights that I have been reading.
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- December 12, 2013 at 9:15 am
Jasper,
Waiting isn't fun, that's for sure. I am with you there.
Best of luck with yours.
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- December 17, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Well, when that first melanoma diagnosis hits you, you are in major shock. It makes you feel totally helpless. Some of us, in that position, cope by researching the situation, especially if we knew nothing at all before. This is my approach to nearly everything new. It is a way of coping and feeling like you are at least a tiny bit prepared, rather than defenceless.
So, for those of us who have this type of personality and coping mechanism, it will not help to be told not to do this. Perhaps there is a point at which it becomes too much information, or takes too much time, but the person involved is the one to determine that.
When I come to this forum now, after that initial attack to get up to speed, it is to add information that other people might find useful, research results and so on. So, hopefully my presence now is paying back for the information I got earlier. And I might need the help again myself at some point.
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- December 17, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Well, when that first melanoma diagnosis hits you, you are in major shock. It makes you feel totally helpless. Some of us, in that position, cope by researching the situation, especially if we knew nothing at all before. This is my approach to nearly everything new. It is a way of coping and feeling like you are at least a tiny bit prepared, rather than defenceless.
So, for those of us who have this type of personality and coping mechanism, it will not help to be told not to do this. Perhaps there is a point at which it becomes too much information, or takes too much time, but the person involved is the one to determine that.
When I come to this forum now, after that initial attack to get up to speed, it is to add information that other people might find useful, research results and so on. So, hopefully my presence now is paying back for the information I got earlier. And I might need the help again myself at some point.
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- December 17, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Well, when that first melanoma diagnosis hits you, you are in major shock. It makes you feel totally helpless. Some of us, in that position, cope by researching the situation, especially if we knew nothing at all before. This is my approach to nearly everything new. It is a way of coping and feeling like you are at least a tiny bit prepared, rather than defenceless.
So, for those of us who have this type of personality and coping mechanism, it will not help to be told not to do this. Perhaps there is a point at which it becomes too much information, or takes too much time, but the person involved is the one to determine that.
When I come to this forum now, after that initial attack to get up to speed, it is to add information that other people might find useful, research results and so on. So, hopefully my presence now is paying back for the information I got earlier. And I might need the help again myself at some point.
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