› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Newly Diagnosed, just looking for some community
- This topic has 15 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 5 months ago by
jae p.
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- December 28, 2015 at 5:44 am
Hi everybody,
I'm a law student in my mid 20s, and in the midst of finals I was taking a bath and noticed the mole on my leg was bleeding slightly. I'd had it for years and always meant to get it looked at, but it seemed impossible to me that it would actually be cancerous. But I guess with the added stress of my first semester of school, it started looking pretty suspect to me. I scheduled a dermatology appointment for the week after.
This was a few weeks ago – since then, I have been diagnosed with Stage IB and I'm having surgery next week to excise the skin around the mole (it was bioposied at that first appointment) and to have a sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Honestly, I'm still in shock. My parents and boyfriend told me it was good I was getting it checked, but surely it wouldn't be anything- and it was! It was thin, but the mitosis rate is worringly high, thus the lymph node check.
There's only a ~10-20% chance that it's spread to my lymph nodes, but less than a month ago this wasn't a thought in my mind. I can't believe I got a cancer diagnosis. I'm trying to stay positive and figure out how/if to share this news with the people in my life, but it's incredibly surreal.
I know most of the people here probably have much more dire situations and I don't mean to dramatize what I'm going through; it's hard to keep a sense of perspective with things like this. And it's strange knowing that, even if it hasn't spread, I'll be getting skin checks every few months for the next couple years, and always worrying- at least a little.
Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself, and I'll report back with my results post surgery. Hope everyone is finding comfort and support this holiday season.
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- December 28, 2015 at 6:02 am
Hi there
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis – it's a bit of a life changer because like you say the regular skin checks (probably 6 monthly) are now going to be part of your future. It's good news – great news in fact – that your melanoma is thin – that's the most important thing. Doing a SLNB must be very scary, but in my view you must have a very cautious doctor to take this step and that is good! In Australia, a SNLB would only be done for a melanoma deeper than 1mm (or .75mm but with other negative features like high mitotic rate). What was the thickness, can I ask? My main comment would be to not feel bad about being shocked: it is a huge shock, it's probably the worst part of the whole thing. You need to take care of yourself mentally. That's been my biggest challenge (I've had three very thin melanomas, all at once). You are so young to be hit with this, and at such an important stage of your studies. Take care and reach out if you need support, this is a great community of very knowledgeable people. All the best,
Stars
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- December 28, 2015 at 6:02 am
Hi there
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis – it's a bit of a life changer because like you say the regular skin checks (probably 6 monthly) are now going to be part of your future. It's good news – great news in fact – that your melanoma is thin – that's the most important thing. Doing a SLNB must be very scary, but in my view you must have a very cautious doctor to take this step and that is good! In Australia, a SNLB would only be done for a melanoma deeper than 1mm (or .75mm but with other negative features like high mitotic rate). What was the thickness, can I ask? My main comment would be to not feel bad about being shocked: it is a huge shock, it's probably the worst part of the whole thing. You need to take care of yourself mentally. That's been my biggest challenge (I've had three very thin melanomas, all at once). You are so young to be hit with this, and at such an important stage of your studies. Take care and reach out if you need support, this is a great community of very knowledgeable people. All the best,
Stars
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- December 28, 2015 at 6:02 am
Hi there
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis – it's a bit of a life changer because like you say the regular skin checks (probably 6 monthly) are now going to be part of your future. It's good news – great news in fact – that your melanoma is thin – that's the most important thing. Doing a SLNB must be very scary, but in my view you must have a very cautious doctor to take this step and that is good! In Australia, a SNLB would only be done for a melanoma deeper than 1mm (or .75mm but with other negative features like high mitotic rate). What was the thickness, can I ask? My main comment would be to not feel bad about being shocked: it is a huge shock, it's probably the worst part of the whole thing. You need to take care of yourself mentally. That's been my biggest challenge (I've had three very thin melanomas, all at once). You are so young to be hit with this, and at such an important stage of your studies. Take care and reach out if you need support, this is a great community of very knowledgeable people. All the best,
Stars
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- December 28, 2015 at 6:31 am
Thank you for the fast reply 🙂 I'm at .74mm but with a high mitotic rate, so my doctor said he didn't have any doubts about doing it (my dermatologist had given me the impression that it would be difficult to convince a doctor to do it with a thickness less than 1).
Will try to be patient with myself, and to reach out when needed! I wish you good thoughts and good health in 2016!!
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- December 28, 2015 at 6:31 am
Thank you for the fast reply 🙂 I'm at .74mm but with a high mitotic rate, so my doctor said he didn't have any doubts about doing it (my dermatologist had given me the impression that it would be difficult to convince a doctor to do it with a thickness less than 1).
Will try to be patient with myself, and to reach out when needed! I wish you good thoughts and good health in 2016!!
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- December 28, 2015 at 6:31 am
Thank you for the fast reply 🙂 I'm at .74mm but with a high mitotic rate, so my doctor said he didn't have any doubts about doing it (my dermatologist had given me the impression that it would be difficult to convince a doctor to do it with a thickness less than 1).
Will try to be patient with myself, and to reach out when needed! I wish you good thoughts and good health in 2016!!
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- December 31, 2015 at 3:12 am
Me-Also newly diagnosed… It is so scary, but know that so many people go on to have nothing else besides the wide excision. So just an FYI, since my diagnoses(3 months ago) I have personally found out that 15 people I know were also diagnosed with stage 1 and had to have an excision and that is ALL they've had to deal with for 10 + years, people like that often don't repond here so just know you'll likely be fine!!
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- December 31, 2015 at 3:12 am
Me-Also newly diagnosed… It is so scary, but know that so many people go on to have nothing else besides the wide excision. So just an FYI, since my diagnoses(3 months ago) I have personally found out that 15 people I know were also diagnosed with stage 1 and had to have an excision and that is ALL they've had to deal with for 10 + years, people like that often don't repond here so just know you'll likely be fine!!
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- December 31, 2015 at 3:12 am
Me-Also newly diagnosed… It is so scary, but know that so many people go on to have nothing else besides the wide excision. So just an FYI, since my diagnoses(3 months ago) I have personally found out that 15 people I know were also diagnosed with stage 1 and had to have an excision and that is ALL they've had to deal with for 10 + years, people like that often don't repond here so just know you'll likely be fine!!
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- January 1, 2016 at 11:58 pm
Hey there — I'm also in my mid-twenties, diagnosed with 2A last year — and am NED (no evidence of disease)! And also an Adventure Time fan. 🙂
So sorry that you have to deal with this; it doesn't matter how you're diagnosed, or what stage — it's never easy. But you did everything you were supposed to in getting this checked out when you did.
This community is a wealth of great information and support and I know that I was really able to keep myself grounded and realistic even just reading through posts. I'll keep you in my thoughts and look forward to the next time you post!
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- January 1, 2016 at 11:58 pm
Hey there — I'm also in my mid-twenties, diagnosed with 2A last year — and am NED (no evidence of disease)! And also an Adventure Time fan. 🙂
So sorry that you have to deal with this; it doesn't matter how you're diagnosed, or what stage — it's never easy. But you did everything you were supposed to in getting this checked out when you did.
This community is a wealth of great information and support and I know that I was really able to keep myself grounded and realistic even just reading through posts. I'll keep you in my thoughts and look forward to the next time you post!
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- January 1, 2016 at 11:58 pm
Hey there — I'm also in my mid-twenties, diagnosed with 2A last year — and am NED (no evidence of disease)! And also an Adventure Time fan. 🙂
So sorry that you have to deal with this; it doesn't matter how you're diagnosed, or what stage — it's never easy. But you did everything you were supposed to in getting this checked out when you did.
This community is a wealth of great information and support and I know that I was really able to keep myself grounded and realistic even just reading through posts. I'll keep you in my thoughts and look forward to the next time you post!
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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