› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Trying to Stay Away From the Internet
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stars.
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- August 24, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Hello, all. For the past few weeks, I've delved into internet research trying to gain some insight. Naturally, most of the answers I've found haven't been very comforting.
I've had two severely dysplastic moles excised, and two more that came back as mild. I'm sure I have other that are mild, but I'd say maybe only two more. Well, three, because I have a new small light/dark brown freckle on the side of my foot. That one has me worried, but I'm getting it looked at this Friday. In total, I'd say I have about 60 moles, including a few on my scalp. Most are small and round, with about 5 being larger and a little darker. My grandmother had melanoma on her nose about a decade ago. Well, I think it was melanoma..she had a sore on her nose for years before she finally went and got treated for it.
I say all of that because through my research, it's hard to find out where I fit in the spectrum of risk. My derm said that I didn't qualify for FAMMM, but the criteria online suggests that I do. Of course, I'm more apt to believe a doctor, but it's unsettling. I tan decently (though not anymore, I avoid the sun like a vampire), and have dark brown hair. I don't remember having a severe sunburn, but I've probably spent a collective hour in tanning beds years ago. It seems like getting this cancer is unavoidable. What kind of odds do I face? Certainty? A coin flip? A roll of the dice?
This forum seems full of really kind, brave people, which is what encouraged me to sign up. Thanks for listening.
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- August 24, 2015 at 8:03 pm
Honestly I can't help you with the whole mole thing. My husband's melanoma was found as a lump in his armpit, he is stage IV, NED (no evidence of disease).
What I will say is I actually found the Internet research very comforting. There are new meds and treatments and the prognosis for melanoma patients is much better than it was a few years. And there are more treatment options in the pipeline. Keep getting your moles checked and if the pathology ever comes back as melanoma, then worry about the next step. Also know that you body has some ability to fight off cancers. One theory is that we are all walking around with lots of mutant cells and our body deals with them. They only get labeled cancer when out immune system can't keep up.
If you want to do something, you can do the whole, eat right, exercise get enough sleep thing which will keep your immune system strong and stay on top of those mutant cells.
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- August 24, 2015 at 8:03 pm
Honestly I can't help you with the whole mole thing. My husband's melanoma was found as a lump in his armpit, he is stage IV, NED (no evidence of disease).
What I will say is I actually found the Internet research very comforting. There are new meds and treatments and the prognosis for melanoma patients is much better than it was a few years. And there are more treatment options in the pipeline. Keep getting your moles checked and if the pathology ever comes back as melanoma, then worry about the next step. Also know that you body has some ability to fight off cancers. One theory is that we are all walking around with lots of mutant cells and our body deals with them. They only get labeled cancer when out immune system can't keep up.
If you want to do something, you can do the whole, eat right, exercise get enough sleep thing which will keep your immune system strong and stay on top of those mutant cells.
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- August 24, 2015 at 8:03 pm
Honestly I can't help you with the whole mole thing. My husband's melanoma was found as a lump in his armpit, he is stage IV, NED (no evidence of disease).
What I will say is I actually found the Internet research very comforting. There are new meds and treatments and the prognosis for melanoma patients is much better than it was a few years. And there are more treatment options in the pipeline. Keep getting your moles checked and if the pathology ever comes back as melanoma, then worry about the next step. Also know that you body has some ability to fight off cancers. One theory is that we are all walking around with lots of mutant cells and our body deals with them. They only get labeled cancer when out immune system can't keep up.
If you want to do something, you can do the whole, eat right, exercise get enough sleep thing which will keep your immune system strong and stay on top of those mutant cells.
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- August 25, 2015 at 7:29 am
Hi Casey
If I understand it correctly, you've never had a mel, you might (but are not sure) if a second degree relative (grandma) had a mel, and you want to know your risk. I don't think anyone can tell you what your risk is, and I really don't think it even matters. If you keep up with skin checks at whatever interval your dr recommends, you're doing all you can do.
I had the same coloring and sun exposure as many, many other people my age. The same 'risk factors'. I got melanoma, they didn't. I don't have any family history, there's no explaining why me and not them (not yet anyway – maybe in future they can ascertain why). The time to worry about melanoma is when you actually get it. Until that point, which you will likely never reach, just keep being sun safe and keep up with skin checks.
Also, a severely dysplastic mole may not have ever turned into melanoma – some do go on to become melanoma, some don't. You shouldn't confuse your dysplastic moles with melanoma, they are not melanoma and may never have become melanoma. Yes, they present a risk factor for melanoma, but many, many people have dysplastic moles and they never get melanoma.
I don't think you should waste too much of your life worrying about something that may never (and I hope never) happens to you. Set up skin checks with your dr at appropriate intervals then go and enjoy life.
Stars
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- August 25, 2015 at 7:29 am
Hi Casey
If I understand it correctly, you've never had a mel, you might (but are not sure) if a second degree relative (grandma) had a mel, and you want to know your risk. I don't think anyone can tell you what your risk is, and I really don't think it even matters. If you keep up with skin checks at whatever interval your dr recommends, you're doing all you can do.
I had the same coloring and sun exposure as many, many other people my age. The same 'risk factors'. I got melanoma, they didn't. I don't have any family history, there's no explaining why me and not them (not yet anyway – maybe in future they can ascertain why). The time to worry about melanoma is when you actually get it. Until that point, which you will likely never reach, just keep being sun safe and keep up with skin checks.
Also, a severely dysplastic mole may not have ever turned into melanoma – some do go on to become melanoma, some don't. You shouldn't confuse your dysplastic moles with melanoma, they are not melanoma and may never have become melanoma. Yes, they present a risk factor for melanoma, but many, many people have dysplastic moles and they never get melanoma.
I don't think you should waste too much of your life worrying about something that may never (and I hope never) happens to you. Set up skin checks with your dr at appropriate intervals then go and enjoy life.
Stars
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- August 25, 2015 at 7:29 am
Hi Casey
If I understand it correctly, you've never had a mel, you might (but are not sure) if a second degree relative (grandma) had a mel, and you want to know your risk. I don't think anyone can tell you what your risk is, and I really don't think it even matters. If you keep up with skin checks at whatever interval your dr recommends, you're doing all you can do.
I had the same coloring and sun exposure as many, many other people my age. The same 'risk factors'. I got melanoma, they didn't. I don't have any family history, there's no explaining why me and not them (not yet anyway – maybe in future they can ascertain why). The time to worry about melanoma is when you actually get it. Until that point, which you will likely never reach, just keep being sun safe and keep up with skin checks.
Also, a severely dysplastic mole may not have ever turned into melanoma – some do go on to become melanoma, some don't. You shouldn't confuse your dysplastic moles with melanoma, they are not melanoma and may never have become melanoma. Yes, they present a risk factor for melanoma, but many, many people have dysplastic moles and they never get melanoma.
I don't think you should waste too much of your life worrying about something that may never (and I hope never) happens to you. Set up skin checks with your dr at appropriate intervals then go and enjoy life.
Stars
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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