› Forums › General Melanoma Community › This is my first post
- This topic has 51 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 6 months ago by
tschmith.
- Post
-
- November 1, 2015 at 3:08 pm
I was just recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma on Oct 29, 2015 and I am 34 years old male. I originally went in to have a mole looked at because after taking a shower I dried off and my wife noticed the mole was bleeding. I made a appointment a few weeks later and told the doctor about it. He examined me and said its probaly nothing but we will remove it anyway because your light skinned with blue eyes.
A week later the doctor called and told me to come in the office. Thats when he dropped the bombshell and I felt so many emotions and feelings going through my head I cried. He said that the pathology report was abnormal and melanoma cells were found in the tumor. He said it was ulcerated and had a breslow thickness of 1.7mm. He also said the margins were negative but I would probaly have to do a wider encision and other tests to see if it has spread to my lymph nodes. Once I heard that It really freaked me out.
He classified me as moderate melanoma and referred me to a oncologist but said he spoke to the oncologist and hes confident he can treat it. Ive been doing alot of reading and I would classify myself as a 2a right now depending the results of the snlb. Im just really scared because of the ulcerated part. Has there ever been a patient who was ulcerated and it did not spread? Is 1.7 a very deep thickness? Does negative margins effect anything?
I have not had any side effects and my wife has been doing daily feelings of my armpit, neck, and collarbone. I have not felt any hard lymph nodes that would show my body is fighting something.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. My first appointment is Monday November 2.
Sincerely
Greg
- Replies
-
-
- November 1, 2015 at 3:23 pm
You have a lot of educating to do for you and your wife. Try: www.melanomaforum.org and read up on sentinel node biopsy and pathology. Are you going to a place of melanoma experts? That is important too. If you keep feeling your nodes, they will swell, so not a good idea. Also, there's anew book out you might read on kindle on melanoma. Can't remember the name, but you should look for something that came out in 2015 since a lot has changed. Good luck to you.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 3:23 pm
You have a lot of educating to do for you and your wife. Try: www.melanomaforum.org and read up on sentinel node biopsy and pathology. Are you going to a place of melanoma experts? That is important too. If you keep feeling your nodes, they will swell, so not a good idea. Also, there's anew book out you might read on kindle on melanoma. Can't remember the name, but you should look for something that came out in 2015 since a lot has changed. Good luck to you.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 3:23 pm
You have a lot of educating to do for you and your wife. Try: www.melanomaforum.org and read up on sentinel node biopsy and pathology. Are you going to a place of melanoma experts? That is important too. If you keep feeling your nodes, they will swell, so not a good idea. Also, there's anew book out you might read on kindle on melanoma. Can't remember the name, but you should look for something that came out in 2015 since a lot has changed. Good luck to you.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Greg, I'm so sorry that you have to be here, but this is an excellent source of knowledge and support. The depth of your melanoma does require a WLE (wide local excision — all melanoma requires this) and a SNB (sentinal node biopsy). This is the typical protocol for anything over 1.0mm. There is a very good chance that you have caught this early, there is no spread to the lymph nodes, and nothing more will be required than frequent skin checks.
Getting treatment sooner than later is good for your emotional well-being. One caution, however. Is this oncologist a melanoma specialist? If not, I would seriously consider finding one in your local area (or even traveling if you have to). Treatments for melanoma are changing so rapidly that only specialists are up on the latest and greatest. If you are staged at 2a, then that might not be so important, but in moving to stage 3 I would say it is imperative. Maybe better to find that doctor now — just in case?
The other thing I would suggest is to get a physical copy of your pathology report. The full report — not just doctor's notes. When/if you have scans, get copies (disc copies of CTs and MRIs). Always keep copies of your bloodwork results. Start a binder now, just in case you need it down the road. More than likely, you will not, but it is easier to get this stuff together now than to try and recreate it later.
Melanoma is not a death sentence. You will hear from lots of people on this board who have been right where you are and are living healthy, happy lives. Stay off the internet (with the exception of this site or ones you are directed to by the members here) because most of the melanoma information on the web is outdated. Get this one taken care of, then be vigilant about other moles (looking for change), and listen to your body.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Greg, I'm so sorry that you have to be here, but this is an excellent source of knowledge and support. The depth of your melanoma does require a WLE (wide local excision — all melanoma requires this) and a SNB (sentinal node biopsy). This is the typical protocol for anything over 1.0mm. There is a very good chance that you have caught this early, there is no spread to the lymph nodes, and nothing more will be required than frequent skin checks.
Getting treatment sooner than later is good for your emotional well-being. One caution, however. Is this oncologist a melanoma specialist? If not, I would seriously consider finding one in your local area (or even traveling if you have to). Treatments for melanoma are changing so rapidly that only specialists are up on the latest and greatest. If you are staged at 2a, then that might not be so important, but in moving to stage 3 I would say it is imperative. Maybe better to find that doctor now — just in case?
The other thing I would suggest is to get a physical copy of your pathology report. The full report — not just doctor's notes. When/if you have scans, get copies (disc copies of CTs and MRIs). Always keep copies of your bloodwork results. Start a binder now, just in case you need it down the road. More than likely, you will not, but it is easier to get this stuff together now than to try and recreate it later.
Melanoma is not a death sentence. You will hear from lots of people on this board who have been right where you are and are living healthy, happy lives. Stay off the internet (with the exception of this site or ones you are directed to by the members here) because most of the melanoma information on the web is outdated. Get this one taken care of, then be vigilant about other moles (looking for change), and listen to your body.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Greg, I'm so sorry that you have to be here, but this is an excellent source of knowledge and support. The depth of your melanoma does require a WLE (wide local excision — all melanoma requires this) and a SNB (sentinal node biopsy). This is the typical protocol for anything over 1.0mm. There is a very good chance that you have caught this early, there is no spread to the lymph nodes, and nothing more will be required than frequent skin checks.
Getting treatment sooner than later is good for your emotional well-being. One caution, however. Is this oncologist a melanoma specialist? If not, I would seriously consider finding one in your local area (or even traveling if you have to). Treatments for melanoma are changing so rapidly that only specialists are up on the latest and greatest. If you are staged at 2a, then that might not be so important, but in moving to stage 3 I would say it is imperative. Maybe better to find that doctor now — just in case?
The other thing I would suggest is to get a physical copy of your pathology report. The full report — not just doctor's notes. When/if you have scans, get copies (disc copies of CTs and MRIs). Always keep copies of your bloodwork results. Start a binder now, just in case you need it down the road. More than likely, you will not, but it is easier to get this stuff together now than to try and recreate it later.
Melanoma is not a death sentence. You will hear from lots of people on this board who have been right where you are and are living healthy, happy lives. Stay off the internet (with the exception of this site or ones you are directed to by the members here) because most of the melanoma information on the web is outdated. Get this one taken care of, then be vigilant about other moles (looking for change), and listen to your body.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Hi Greg,
My story is similar to yours in some ways. My doctor removed a mole on my back that he originally had said was nothing. By the time it was bothering me to the point I asked him to take it off, it had gotten pretty large: 6mm. I remember him calling the surgical oncologist as I sat in his office, and when he told the surgeon the thickness I could hear the voice on the phone, his response was so loud. "SIX MILLIMETERS?" I was scared to death.
My tumor wasn't ulcerated. I had the SLNB, and only one node had a micrometastasis. They went back in and took out over 25 lymph nodes. All were clean. I hoped I was out of the woods. I saw Dr. Sharfman at Johns Hopkins, who told me "There's a chance you won't have any more trouble with this."
That all took place between January and May 2013. I had a recurrence in summer 2014. I had more surgery, and when the dressing came off, there were several spots on the skin around the excision site. None of my doctors believed that they could be melanoma because they appeared so fast. They weren't visible at all on the PET scan I had prior to the surgery. So I started on Yervoy (ipi) last winter.
The Yervoy froze things in place for a while. The skin spots all stabilized, as well as a 7mm spot on my right lung. But when I noticed several more small skin spots last June, my oncologist decided it was time to start Keytruda.
I noticed a change for the better in the skin spots after just one infusion. My last CT scan, in September, showed no new spots, and all of the others were slightly smaller, save two that had grown minimally, and that my oncolgist believes they had grown due to t-cell infiltration.
I tell you all of that as a way to say that this is a disease that is no longer an automatic death sentence. Since I was first diagnosed, several new treatments have come along, and there are more in the pipeline. I feel great, people tell me I look great (which is a lie…I'm ugly as sin lol), and I intend to dance with my granddaughter at her wedding. She's two years old at the moment.
My best wishes to you for successful outcomes!
-Bill
-
- November 1, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Hi Greg,
My story is similar to yours in some ways. My doctor removed a mole on my back that he originally had said was nothing. By the time it was bothering me to the point I asked him to take it off, it had gotten pretty large: 6mm. I remember him calling the surgical oncologist as I sat in his office, and when he told the surgeon the thickness I could hear the voice on the phone, his response was so loud. "SIX MILLIMETERS?" I was scared to death.
My tumor wasn't ulcerated. I had the SLNB, and only one node had a micrometastasis. They went back in and took out over 25 lymph nodes. All were clean. I hoped I was out of the woods. I saw Dr. Sharfman at Johns Hopkins, who told me "There's a chance you won't have any more trouble with this."
That all took place between January and May 2013. I had a recurrence in summer 2014. I had more surgery, and when the dressing came off, there were several spots on the skin around the excision site. None of my doctors believed that they could be melanoma because they appeared so fast. They weren't visible at all on the PET scan I had prior to the surgery. So I started on Yervoy (ipi) last winter.
The Yervoy froze things in place for a while. The skin spots all stabilized, as well as a 7mm spot on my right lung. But when I noticed several more small skin spots last June, my oncologist decided it was time to start Keytruda.
I noticed a change for the better in the skin spots after just one infusion. My last CT scan, in September, showed no new spots, and all of the others were slightly smaller, save two that had grown minimally, and that my oncolgist believes they had grown due to t-cell infiltration.
I tell you all of that as a way to say that this is a disease that is no longer an automatic death sentence. Since I was first diagnosed, several new treatments have come along, and there are more in the pipeline. I feel great, people tell me I look great (which is a lie…I'm ugly as sin lol), and I intend to dance with my granddaughter at her wedding. She's two years old at the moment.
My best wishes to you for successful outcomes!
-Bill
-
- November 1, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Thanks for the reply Bill. I have a question about the SLNB. My tumor is located on the left side of my back . ( in the middle between my spine and outer body if that makes sense) So the middle of my left side of back and lower then my armpits. I was just wondering in what regions did they find the sentinol lymph node for you. Was it auxillary or neck area. Or was it near the area of the tumor.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Thanks for the reply Bill. I have a question about the SLNB. My tumor is located on the left side of my back . ( in the middle between my spine and outer body if that makes sense) So the middle of my left side of back and lower then my armpits. I was just wondering in what regions did they find the sentinol lymph node for you. Was it auxillary or neck area. Or was it near the area of the tumor.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 5:58 pm
You are getting good advice, Greg. Over and over you will see folks here advise getting with a mel specialitst. Too many stories of time wasting initial care with general practice docs. Please post where you live. You will get advice from others here who live in your area about the best places to go, recommended docs. Best wishes. A.L.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 5:58 pm
You are getting good advice, Greg. Over and over you will see folks here advise getting with a mel specialitst. Too many stories of time wasting initial care with general practice docs. Please post where you live. You will get advice from others here who live in your area about the best places to go, recommended docs. Best wishes. A.L.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 5:58 pm
You are getting good advice, Greg. Over and over you will see folks here advise getting with a mel specialitst. Too many stories of time wasting initial care with general practice docs. Please post where you live. You will get advice from others here who live in your area about the best places to go, recommended docs. Best wishes. A.L.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Wow. Except for my being some 20 years older than you, your tumor being thinner, and my tumor not being ulcerated, your situation and mine sound very similiar. My primary was also on the left side of my back, left of my spine, at about the bottom of my ribcage.
My sentinel node was in my left armpit. I was concerned, because I'm left handed, but I've found that outside of perhaps a small loss in range of motion, and numbness in my armpit and at the back of my left arm, I've had no issues.
I'll tell you something that nobody told me. I'm telling you this not to scare you, but so you'll be prepared. The injection of the radiotracer they do around the primary site in order to locate the sentinel node was one of the most painful things I've ever had done to me. Since your tumor is in the same area where mine was, I thought I'd give you that heads up.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Wow. Except for my being some 20 years older than you, your tumor being thinner, and my tumor not being ulcerated, your situation and mine sound very similiar. My primary was also on the left side of my back, left of my spine, at about the bottom of my ribcage.
My sentinel node was in my left armpit. I was concerned, because I'm left handed, but I've found that outside of perhaps a small loss in range of motion, and numbness in my armpit and at the back of my left arm, I've had no issues.
I'll tell you something that nobody told me. I'm telling you this not to scare you, but so you'll be prepared. The injection of the radiotracer they do around the primary site in order to locate the sentinel node was one of the most painful things I've ever had done to me. Since your tumor is in the same area where mine was, I thought I'd give you that heads up.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Wow. Except for my being some 20 years older than you, your tumor being thinner, and my tumor not being ulcerated, your situation and mine sound very similiar. My primary was also on the left side of my back, left of my spine, at about the bottom of my ribcage.
My sentinel node was in my left armpit. I was concerned, because I'm left handed, but I've found that outside of perhaps a small loss in range of motion, and numbness in my armpit and at the back of my left arm, I've had no issues.
I'll tell you something that nobody told me. I'm telling you this not to scare you, but so you'll be prepared. The injection of the radiotracer they do around the primary site in order to locate the sentinel node was one of the most painful things I've ever had done to me. Since your tumor is in the same area where mine was, I thought I'd give you that heads up.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 7:27 pm
They may shoot the dye into both armpits to see if it traveled there. The book mentioned above that has a lot of good info is: http://www.amazon.com/Melanoma-Not-Just-Skin-Cancer/dp/1502446553
You may want to go to Northwestern or Univ. of Chicago for specialists.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 7:27 pm
They may shoot the dye into both armpits to see if it traveled there. The book mentioned above that has a lot of good info is: http://www.amazon.com/Melanoma-Not-Just-Skin-Cancer/dp/1502446553
You may want to go to Northwestern or Univ. of Chicago for specialists.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 7:27 pm
They may shoot the dye into both armpits to see if it traveled there. The book mentioned above that has a lot of good info is: http://www.amazon.com/Melanoma-Not-Just-Skin-Cancer/dp/1502446553
You may want to go to Northwestern or Univ. of Chicago for specialists.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Thanks for the reply Bill. I have a question about the SLNB. My tumor is located on the left side of my back . ( in the middle between my spine and outer body if that makes sense) So the middle of my left side of back and lower then my armpits. I was just wondering in what regions did they find the sentinol lymph node for you. Was it auxillary or neck area. Or was it near the area of the tumor.
-
- November 1, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Hi Greg,
My story is similar to yours in some ways. My doctor removed a mole on my back that he originally had said was nothing. By the time it was bothering me to the point I asked him to take it off, it had gotten pretty large: 6mm. I remember him calling the surgical oncologist as I sat in his office, and when he told the surgeon the thickness I could hear the voice on the phone, his response was so loud. "SIX MILLIMETERS?" I was scared to death.
My tumor wasn't ulcerated. I had the SLNB, and only one node had a micrometastasis. They went back in and took out over 25 lymph nodes. All were clean. I hoped I was out of the woods. I saw Dr. Sharfman at Johns Hopkins, who told me "There's a chance you won't have any more trouble with this."
That all took place between January and May 2013. I had a recurrence in summer 2014. I had more surgery, and when the dressing came off, there were several spots on the skin around the excision site. None of my doctors believed that they could be melanoma because they appeared so fast. They weren't visible at all on the PET scan I had prior to the surgery. So I started on Yervoy (ipi) last winter.
The Yervoy froze things in place for a while. The skin spots all stabilized, as well as a 7mm spot on my right lung. But when I noticed several more small skin spots last June, my oncologist decided it was time to start Keytruda.
I noticed a change for the better in the skin spots after just one infusion. My last CT scan, in September, showed no new spots, and all of the others were slightly smaller, save two that had grown minimally, and that my oncolgist believes they had grown due to t-cell infiltration.
I tell you all of that as a way to say that this is a disease that is no longer an automatic death sentence. Since I was first diagnosed, several new treatments have come along, and there are more in the pipeline. I feel great, people tell me I look great (which is a lie…I'm ugly as sin lol), and I intend to dance with my granddaughter at her wedding. She's two years old at the moment.
My best wishes to you for successful outcomes!
-Bill
-
- November 2, 2015 at 1:23 am
Greg-
We all know the feeling of hearing those words…it's horrible. My case is an odd one because I had no primary and my oncologist felt it was dermal melanoma. We're all different in our cases but the thing that is constant is that melanoma patients need to be diligent and should be seen by a specialist that is well versed. What you've heard here already from these fine people is absolute…get a specialist and avoid internet. I know easier said than done….I'm guilty of it but I find my way back here because there is support, sound advice…people who are going through or have gone through what you're dealing with. I'm from Chicago and have been to Rush, Northwestern and U of Chicago and currently at Advocate Lutheran General. What I've found that most of these specialists are in communication with each other and in my opinion just have different things to offer…for example Dr. Luke with his trials and research. I'll list below…never hurts to get 2nd opinion. I've neard of Dr. Rose but doesn't mean he doesn't specialize in melanoma. Feel free to shoot me a message as well…
U of Chicago- Gajewski or Luke
Northwestern- Kuzel(medical onc) Bilimoria or Wayne (Surgical)
Advocate Lutheran General(Oncology Specialists)- Dr. Richards or Dr Hallmeyer
Northshore- Dr Brockstein
Rush- Dr. Howard Kaufman used to be there…he was great but left to go back to East Coast so don't have anyone to recommend.
All the best!
Josh
-
- November 2, 2015 at 1:23 am
Greg-
We all know the feeling of hearing those words…it's horrible. My case is an odd one because I had no primary and my oncologist felt it was dermal melanoma. We're all different in our cases but the thing that is constant is that melanoma patients need to be diligent and should be seen by a specialist that is well versed. What you've heard here already from these fine people is absolute…get a specialist and avoid internet. I know easier said than done….I'm guilty of it but I find my way back here because there is support, sound advice…people who are going through or have gone through what you're dealing with. I'm from Chicago and have been to Rush, Northwestern and U of Chicago and currently at Advocate Lutheran General. What I've found that most of these specialists are in communication with each other and in my opinion just have different things to offer…for example Dr. Luke with his trials and research. I'll list below…never hurts to get 2nd opinion. I've neard of Dr. Rose but doesn't mean he doesn't specialize in melanoma. Feel free to shoot me a message as well…
U of Chicago- Gajewski or Luke
Northwestern- Kuzel(medical onc) Bilimoria or Wayne (Surgical)
Advocate Lutheran General(Oncology Specialists)- Dr. Richards or Dr Hallmeyer
Northshore- Dr Brockstein
Rush- Dr. Howard Kaufman used to be there…he was great but left to go back to East Coast so don't have anyone to recommend.
All the best!
Josh
-
- November 2, 2015 at 1:23 am
Greg-
We all know the feeling of hearing those words…it's horrible. My case is an odd one because I had no primary and my oncologist felt it was dermal melanoma. We're all different in our cases but the thing that is constant is that melanoma patients need to be diligent and should be seen by a specialist that is well versed. What you've heard here already from these fine people is absolute…get a specialist and avoid internet. I know easier said than done….I'm guilty of it but I find my way back here because there is support, sound advice…people who are going through or have gone through what you're dealing with. I'm from Chicago and have been to Rush, Northwestern and U of Chicago and currently at Advocate Lutheran General. What I've found that most of these specialists are in communication with each other and in my opinion just have different things to offer…for example Dr. Luke with his trials and research. I'll list below…never hurts to get 2nd opinion. I've neard of Dr. Rose but doesn't mean he doesn't specialize in melanoma. Feel free to shoot me a message as well…
U of Chicago- Gajewski or Luke
Northwestern- Kuzel(medical onc) Bilimoria or Wayne (Surgical)
Advocate Lutheran General(Oncology Specialists)- Dr. Richards or Dr Hallmeyer
Northshore- Dr Brockstein
Rush- Dr. Howard Kaufman used to be there…he was great but left to go back to East Coast so don't have anyone to recommend.
All the best!
Josh
-
- November 2, 2015 at 3:25 am
Dr. Rose is also a affiliate of Lutheran General hospital. He has 36 yeas of experience. I meet with him tomorrow and Im sure the first thing he will have me do is go in for a sentinol biospy to see if it has spread. I think that is pretty routine surgery so Ill have to evaluate after that. I only have blue cross blue shield HMO so Advocate lutheran and those other hospital are not in my plan. Thanks for the reply and I wish you luck also.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 3:25 am
Dr. Rose is also a affiliate of Lutheran General hospital. He has 36 yeas of experience. I meet with him tomorrow and Im sure the first thing he will have me do is go in for a sentinol biospy to see if it has spread. I think that is pretty routine surgery so Ill have to evaluate after that. I only have blue cross blue shield HMO so Advocate lutheran and those other hospital are not in my plan. Thanks for the reply and I wish you luck also.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 3:25 am
Dr. Rose is also a affiliate of Lutheran General hospital. He has 36 yeas of experience. I meet with him tomorrow and Im sure the first thing he will have me do is go in for a sentinol biospy to see if it has spread. I think that is pretty routine surgery so Ill have to evaluate after that. I only have blue cross blue shield HMO so Advocate lutheran and those other hospital are not in my plan. Thanks for the reply and I wish you luck also.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 4:00 am
Hi Greg,
Welcome. I think and hope that the stats and odds remain in favor of this being caught in time.
Hearing words like "oncologist" for the first time, spoken in a conversation involving me, was a big shock, I remember. I was diagnosed with two independent primaries 7 years apart. Each time it took several months for that information to work its way through my system and reach equilibrium.
I did wait years to switch from an HMO to a PPO. I endorse making that kind of switch now, for sure. BC/BS PPO has been good to me.
Assuming they order a SLNB for you, I hope it goes well.
– Kyle
-
- November 2, 2015 at 4:00 am
Hi Greg,
Welcome. I think and hope that the stats and odds remain in favor of this being caught in time.
Hearing words like "oncologist" for the first time, spoken in a conversation involving me, was a big shock, I remember. I was diagnosed with two independent primaries 7 years apart. Each time it took several months for that information to work its way through my system and reach equilibrium.
I did wait years to switch from an HMO to a PPO. I endorse making that kind of switch now, for sure. BC/BS PPO has been good to me.
Assuming they order a SLNB for you, I hope it goes well.
– Kyle
-
- November 2, 2015 at 4:00 am
Hi Greg,
Welcome. I think and hope that the stats and odds remain in favor of this being caught in time.
Hearing words like "oncologist" for the first time, spoken in a conversation involving me, was a big shock, I remember. I was diagnosed with two independent primaries 7 years apart. Each time it took several months for that information to work its way through my system and reach equilibrium.
I did wait years to switch from an HMO to a PPO. I endorse making that kind of switch now, for sure. BC/BS PPO has been good to me.
Assuming they order a SLNB for you, I hope it goes well.
– Kyle
-
- November 2, 2015 at 10:28 am
Just curious why is PPO better then HMO. Currently Im paying 20 dollars each appointment and I had surgeries in the past that have cost very little. What would be the benefits of a PPO. I really appreciate all the replys. Im having bad anxiety just waiting to talk with the cancer doctor tomorrow. Im already bringing a army of family because I figure 3 sets of ears are better then one.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 10:28 am
Just curious why is PPO better then HMO. Currently Im paying 20 dollars each appointment and I had surgeries in the past that have cost very little. What would be the benefits of a PPO. I really appreciate all the replys. Im having bad anxiety just waiting to talk with the cancer doctor tomorrow. Im already bringing a army of family because I figure 3 sets of ears are better then one.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 10:28 am
Just curious why is PPO better then HMO. Currently Im paying 20 dollars each appointment and I had surgeries in the past that have cost very little. What would be the benefits of a PPO. I really appreciate all the replys. Im having bad anxiety just waiting to talk with the cancer doctor tomorrow. Im already bringing a army of family because I figure 3 sets of ears are better then one.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 3:01 pm
The PPO will allow you access to many more of the specialists and the Centers for Excellence. If the sentinel node biopsy comes back clear, you might not need it. However, those who are at Stage 3 want access to the trials that the specialists offer at the different hospitals, and the HMO will make that much more difficult. You probably want to look at this very carefully, since we are now in open season for most insurance plans.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 3:01 pm
The PPO will allow you access to many more of the specialists and the Centers for Excellence. If the sentinel node biopsy comes back clear, you might not need it. However, those who are at Stage 3 want access to the trials that the specialists offer at the different hospitals, and the HMO will make that much more difficult. You probably want to look at this very carefully, since we are now in open season for most insurance plans.
-
- November 2, 2015 at 3:01 pm
The PPO will allow you access to many more of the specialists and the Centers for Excellence. If the sentinel node biopsy comes back clear, you might not need it. However, those who are at Stage 3 want access to the trials that the specialists offer at the different hospitals, and the HMO will make that much more difficult. You probably want to look at this very carefully, since we are now in open season for most insurance plans.
-
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.