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Really Stressed Out Waiting For Biopsy Results
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Really Stressed Out Waiting For Biopsy Results

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Really Stressed Out Waiting For Biopsy Results

  • Post
    • October 11, 2011 at 3:26 pm
    barb3246
    Participant

      I have been really worried about a pink lesion on my upper arm that has been there for 3 months since I had my WLE for an in-situ on the same arm, so I finally called to see if there were any cancellations, and surpisingly they took me last week. He completely removed 6 "interesting" looking moles via punch, and took a punch biopsy in the middle of the red patch on my arm, so a total of 7 biopsies.

      I have been really worried about a pink lesion on my upper arm that has been there for 3 months since I had my WLE for an in-situ on the same arm, so I finally called to see if there were any cancellations, and surpisingly they took me last week. He completely removed 6 "interesting" looking moles via punch, and took a punch biopsy in the middle of the red patch on my arm, so a total of 7 biopsies. YIKES!!  He made some comments about "well this one has fuzzy borders", and "this one has an interesting shape", and "that one is very dark". He wouldn't commit to what he thought the pink lesion was, just that "it could be anything". Of course I have already decided that it must be an amelanotic melanoma!

      I'm not sure if any of the moles that he removed have changed or not. I never really even noticed a couple of the ones he removed. Several of them looked like the in-situ, which actually didn't look too scary anyways – it was just a small flat mole that was a bit darker than my other moles. Nothing that really alarmed me, so that's why I am worried. I have LOTS of weird looking moles on me. I have had probably 30 moles removed over the years, and most have come back as mild-to-moderately atypical. One was severely atypical, and the most recent was melanoma in-situ. Maybe he is just being extra cautious, which is fine, but I wish he had said something reassuring to me so that I wouldn't be so worried.

      Now I'm a nervous wreck!! All I keep thinking is, what if some of these turn out to be melanomas too? I wonder how common it really is to develop multiple primary melanomas.  I've read that its around 10%, but it seems like a LOT of people on this site have developed several, so it seems like maybe the 10% is low.What if I'm not so lucky this time and its more advanced than in-situ? How do I learn to live with this constant fear??????? I really need to get a grip.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 11, 2011 at 4:46 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Only about 8% of the melanoma population have more than one primary.  You'll probably see a higher percentage here, though.  Why would people with only one primary (like you) stick around for long periods of time?  After the newly diagnosed anxiety wears off, they generally find life more interesting than sticking around here.  AND…. most people who have multiple primaries have their deepest one first!

          Watch for change and DON'T try to analyze what the derm says or doesn't say.  Look for that ugly duckling and go on living!  I, personally, only biopsy moles that have changed.  My derm and I will discuss anything that bothers either of us, and then we compare against previous pictures.  If something has changed and looks different from my other moles, it is removed.  Otherwise, I just monitor.

          Best wishes,

          Janner

          Stage I for 19 years, 3 MM primaries

          • October 11, 2011 at 4:46 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Only about 8% of the melanoma population have more than one primary.  You'll probably see a higher percentage here, though.  Why would people with only one primary (like you) stick around for long periods of time?  After the newly diagnosed anxiety wears off, they generally find life more interesting than sticking around here.  AND…. most people who have multiple primaries have their deepest one first!

            Watch for change and DON'T try to analyze what the derm says or doesn't say.  Look for that ugly duckling and go on living!  I, personally, only biopsy moles that have changed.  My derm and I will discuss anything that bothers either of us, and then we compare against previous pictures.  If something has changed and looks different from my other moles, it is removed.  Otherwise, I just monitor.

            Best wishes,

            Janner

            Stage I for 19 years, 3 MM primaries

              • October 12, 2011 at 7:18 pm
              barb3246
              Participant

                I just got my biopsy results and I have another in-situ on the inside of my knee. I am absolutely devastated, and cannot stop crying. This is the 2nd one in 3 months!! I don't have a copy of the path report, but the doctor said that the report said severe atypia evolving into melanoma in-situ. It also said that it extended into the margins, so now I'm just terrified that there may be even worse lurking there.  What are the chances that something worse will be found with the WLE?

                There was also some mention of a dermal channel or something that was packed with melanocytes like those found in the epidermis – what would that mean? Doesn't in-situ mean that there wouldn't be anything in the dermis? I am so scared right now.

                • October 12, 2011 at 7:18 pm
                barb3246
                Participant

                  I just got my biopsy results and I have another in-situ on the inside of my knee. I am absolutely devastated, and cannot stop crying. This is the 2nd one in 3 months!! I don't have a copy of the path report, but the doctor said that the report said severe atypia evolving into melanoma in-situ. It also said that it extended into the margins, so now I'm just terrified that there may be even worse lurking there.  What are the chances that something worse will be found with the WLE?

                  There was also some mention of a dermal channel or something that was packed with melanocytes like those found in the epidermis – what would that mean? Doesn't in-situ mean that there wouldn't be anything in the dermis? I am so scared right now.

                  • October 12, 2011 at 7:18 pm
                  barb3246
                  Participant

                    I just got my biopsy results and I have another in-situ on the inside of my knee. I am absolutely devastated, and cannot stop crying. This is the 2nd one in 3 months!! I don't have a copy of the path report, but the doctor said that the report said severe atypia evolving into melanoma in-situ. It also said that it extended into the margins, so now I'm just terrified that there may be even worse lurking there.  What are the chances that something worse will be found with the WLE?

                    There was also some mention of a dermal channel or something that was packed with melanocytes like those found in the epidermis – what would that mean? Doesn't in-situ mean that there wouldn't be anything in the dermis? I am so scared right now.

                    • October 12, 2011 at 7:18 pm
                    barb3246
                    Participant

                      I just got my biopsy results and I have another in-situ on the inside of my knee. I am absolutely devastated, and cannot stop crying. This is the 2nd one in 3 months!! I don't have a copy of the path report, but the doctor said that the report said severe atypia evolving into melanoma in-situ. It also said that it extended into the margins, so now I'm just terrified that there may be even worse lurking there.  What are the chances that something worse will be found with the WLE?

                      There was also some mention of a dermal channel or something that was packed with melanocytes like those found in the epidermis – what would that mean? Doesn't in-situ mean that there wouldn't be anything in the dermis? I am so scared right now.

                      • October 12, 2011 at 7:18 pm
                      barb3246
                      Participant

                        I just got my biopsy results and I have another in-situ on the inside of my knee. I am absolutely devastated, and cannot stop crying. This is the 2nd one in 3 months!! I don't have a copy of the path report, but the doctor said that the report said severe atypia evolving into melanoma in-situ. It also said that it extended into the margins, so now I'm just terrified that there may be even worse lurking there.  What are the chances that something worse will be found with the WLE?

                        There was also some mention of a dermal channel or something that was packed with melanocytes like those found in the epidermis – what would that mean? Doesn't in-situ mean that there wouldn't be anything in the dermis? I am so scared right now.

                        • October 12, 2011 at 7:18 pm
                        barb3246
                        Participant

                          I just got my biopsy results and I have another in-situ on the inside of my knee. I am absolutely devastated, and cannot stop crying. This is the 2nd one in 3 months!! I don't have a copy of the path report, but the doctor said that the report said severe atypia evolving into melanoma in-situ. It also said that it extended into the margins, so now I'm just terrified that there may be even worse lurking there.  What are the chances that something worse will be found with the WLE?

                          There was also some mention of a dermal channel or something that was packed with melanocytes like those found in the epidermis – what would that mean? Doesn't in-situ mean that there wouldn't be anything in the dermis? I am so scared right now.

                        • October 11, 2011 at 4:46 pm
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Only about 8% of the melanoma population have more than one primary.  You'll probably see a higher percentage here, though.  Why would people with only one primary (like you) stick around for long periods of time?  After the newly diagnosed anxiety wears off, they generally find life more interesting than sticking around here.  AND…. most people who have multiple primaries have their deepest one first!

                          Watch for change and DON'T try to analyze what the derm says or doesn't say.  Look for that ugly duckling and go on living!  I, personally, only biopsy moles that have changed.  My derm and I will discuss anything that bothers either of us, and then we compare against previous pictures.  If something has changed and looks different from my other moles, it is removed.  Otherwise, I just monitor.

                          Best wishes,

                          Janner

                          Stage I for 19 years, 3 MM primaries

                          • October 12, 2011 at 12:17 pm
                          Hereiam
                          Participant

                            Hi,

                            I totally agree, it is not worth worrying so much about what your derm says or not. Of course, it is scary, and once you deal with something even close to melanoma, the fear overtakes you all the time. But, we have such a little time given here on earth. Why destroy it by worrying? Be careful, and monitor your moles closely, but do not overreact – it wont do you any good!

                            Wishing you all the best,

                            H

                            • October 12, 2011 at 12:17 pm
                            Hereiam
                            Participant

                              Hi,

                              I totally agree, it is not worth worrying so much about what your derm says or not. Of course, it is scary, and once you deal with something even close to melanoma, the fear overtakes you all the time. But, we have such a little time given here on earth. Why destroy it by worrying? Be careful, and monitor your moles closely, but do not overreact – it wont do you any good!

                              Wishing you all the best,

                              H

                              • October 12, 2011 at 12:17 pm
                              Hereiam
                              Participant

                                Hi,

                                I totally agree, it is not worth worrying so much about what your derm says or not. Of course, it is scary, and once you deal with something even close to melanoma, the fear overtakes you all the time. But, we have such a little time given here on earth. Why destroy it by worrying? Be careful, and monitor your moles closely, but do not overreact – it wont do you any good!

                                Wishing you all the best,

                                H

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