› Forums › General Melanoma Community › So question about appt today… Suprised
- This topic has 6 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 3 months ago by
ashlee12.
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- February 11, 2015 at 12:27 am
So today was my follow up appointment from whe. I was diagnosed with melanoma in situ.. So I had my check and he said everything looked good… Well now I've been moved to appointments every year… Which suprised me .. I know if I see something weird I'll go in but idk is that standard???
I have have an anxiety disorder and I'm nervous about a new melanoma pooping up …. Any advice or anything you know what new melanomas???
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- February 11, 2015 at 4:28 am
That isn't uncommon. Different docs have different followup schedules but your doc probably considers you low risk for other primaries. Remember, only about 10% of melanoma warriors EVER have a second primary.
My suggestion is to take pictures. Check your moles MONTHLY against the pictures. Things that change significantly are what you bring up to your derm. Mole mapping or whole body photography is the best way to keep an "independent" eye on your moles. CHANGE is the most important factor in watching for new primaries. If you've had a mole forever and it hasn't changed, then it isn't hurting you. I get you have anxiety – everyone does after a diagnosis. Some deal with it better than others. But if you monitor your moles MONTHLY (more often and it is hard to see change) – you are doing the very best thing you can do. I've had 3 melanomas and I've caught them all. I don't expect my doc to catch them, I know my body best. I'm the best one to see change – my derm only sees me periodically and even he says he can't remember from visit to visit. My anxiety decreased enormously when I had a concrete way to check my body. This is something you CAN control. Home monitoring and sun safety are in your power, the rest is not. Learn what you can control and let go of what you can't. If you don't, melanoma already has won!
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- February 11, 2015 at 4:28 am
That isn't uncommon. Different docs have different followup schedules but your doc probably considers you low risk for other primaries. Remember, only about 10% of melanoma warriors EVER have a second primary.
My suggestion is to take pictures. Check your moles MONTHLY against the pictures. Things that change significantly are what you bring up to your derm. Mole mapping or whole body photography is the best way to keep an "independent" eye on your moles. CHANGE is the most important factor in watching for new primaries. If you've had a mole forever and it hasn't changed, then it isn't hurting you. I get you have anxiety – everyone does after a diagnosis. Some deal with it better than others. But if you monitor your moles MONTHLY (more often and it is hard to see change) – you are doing the very best thing you can do. I've had 3 melanomas and I've caught them all. I don't expect my doc to catch them, I know my body best. I'm the best one to see change – my derm only sees me periodically and even he says he can't remember from visit to visit. My anxiety decreased enormously when I had a concrete way to check my body. This is something you CAN control. Home monitoring and sun safety are in your power, the rest is not. Learn what you can control and let go of what you can't. If you don't, melanoma already has won!
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- February 11, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Thanks janner.. That is true and I guess I was just suprised that it was a year .. But yes I do have an app that is like a mole tracker but I will take pictures of my whole body that is a great idea…. I know I will catch it in time I am very good about checking my skin and knowing what's weird it's just a scary thought that it could happen again
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- February 11, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Thanks janner.. That is true and I guess I was just suprised that it was a year .. But yes I do have an app that is like a mole tracker but I will take pictures of my whole body that is a great idea…. I know I will catch it in time I am very good about checking my skin and knowing what's weird it's just a scary thought that it could happen again
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- February 11, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Thanks janner.. That is true and I guess I was just suprised that it was a year .. But yes I do have an app that is like a mole tracker but I will take pictures of my whole body that is a great idea…. I know I will catch it in time I am very good about checking my skin and knowing what's weird it's just a scary thought that it could happen again
-
- February 11, 2015 at 4:28 am
That isn't uncommon. Different docs have different followup schedules but your doc probably considers you low risk for other primaries. Remember, only about 10% of melanoma warriors EVER have a second primary.
My suggestion is to take pictures. Check your moles MONTHLY against the pictures. Things that change significantly are what you bring up to your derm. Mole mapping or whole body photography is the best way to keep an "independent" eye on your moles. CHANGE is the most important factor in watching for new primaries. If you've had a mole forever and it hasn't changed, then it isn't hurting you. I get you have anxiety – everyone does after a diagnosis. Some deal with it better than others. But if you monitor your moles MONTHLY (more often and it is hard to see change) – you are doing the very best thing you can do. I've had 3 melanomas and I've caught them all. I don't expect my doc to catch them, I know my body best. I'm the best one to see change – my derm only sees me periodically and even he says he can't remember from visit to visit. My anxiety decreased enormously when I had a concrete way to check my body. This is something you CAN control. Home monitoring and sun safety are in your power, the rest is not. Learn what you can control and let go of what you can't. If you don't, melanoma already has won!
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