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DragonLadyRed
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DragonLadyRed

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      • July 2, 2016 at 3:14 pm
      DragonLadyRed
      Participant

        For the moles that you're concerned about and your doctor is not, photograph them. Then do it again in a month or two. If you see change, let your doctor know and have them biopsied. If they're not changing, they're fine. 

        Mention the lymph nodes to the doctor, but they're probably fine, too. It could just be a sign that your body is fighting off an illness, but it's worth having your doctor take a look.

        As for the anxiety you're feeling about this, it wouldn't hurt to see a professional about it. Melanoma is a scary word, but since yours was an in situ, the excision is all you needed. Odds are, you'll never have another brush with it again. Be diligent in your skin checks, but if you find that the anxiety is overwhelming (and it sounds like it is right now), a counselor may be able to help you find some coping mechanisms.

        • July 2, 2016 at 3:14 pm
        DragonLadyRed
        Participant

          For the moles that you're concerned about and your doctor is not, photograph them. Then do it again in a month or two. If you see change, let your doctor know and have them biopsied. If they're not changing, they're fine. 

          Mention the lymph nodes to the doctor, but they're probably fine, too. It could just be a sign that your body is fighting off an illness, but it's worth having your doctor take a look.

          As for the anxiety you're feeling about this, it wouldn't hurt to see a professional about it. Melanoma is a scary word, but since yours was an in situ, the excision is all you needed. Odds are, you'll never have another brush with it again. Be diligent in your skin checks, but if you find that the anxiety is overwhelming (and it sounds like it is right now), a counselor may be able to help you find some coping mechanisms.

          • July 2, 2016 at 3:14 pm
          DragonLadyRed
          Participant

            For the moles that you're concerned about and your doctor is not, photograph them. Then do it again in a month or two. If you see change, let your doctor know and have them biopsied. If they're not changing, they're fine. 

            Mention the lymph nodes to the doctor, but they're probably fine, too. It could just be a sign that your body is fighting off an illness, but it's worth having your doctor take a look.

            As for the anxiety you're feeling about this, it wouldn't hurt to see a professional about it. Melanoma is a scary word, but since yours was an in situ, the excision is all you needed. Odds are, you'll never have another brush with it again. Be diligent in your skin checks, but if you find that the anxiety is overwhelming (and it sounds like it is right now), a counselor may be able to help you find some coping mechanisms.

            • July 2, 2016 at 3:09 pm
            DragonLadyRed
            Participant

              If it hasn't changed, I wouldn't be concerned. I have some funny looking moles, but they're stable, so they stay. However, if it's causing you anxiety, there's no harm (aside from a scar) in removing it to give you peace of mind.

              • July 2, 2016 at 3:09 pm
              DragonLadyRed
              Participant

                If it hasn't changed, I wouldn't be concerned. I have some funny looking moles, but they're stable, so they stay. However, if it's causing you anxiety, there's no harm (aside from a scar) in removing it to give you peace of mind.

                • July 2, 2016 at 3:09 pm
                DragonLadyRed
                Participant

                  If it hasn't changed, I wouldn't be concerned. I have some funny looking moles, but they're stable, so they stay. However, if it's causing you anxiety, there's no harm (aside from a scar) in removing it to give you peace of mind.

                  • April 10, 2016 at 7:51 pm
                  DragonLadyRed
                  Participant

                    Thanks for the reply, Jenn. That's what I'm leaning toward. I have a re-excision this week, so I think I'm just thinking about and worrying about my skin more than I typically do. My re-excision isn't with my normal doctor, so I don't know if he'll be open to looking at it while I'm there. Otherwise, I'd just count on mentioning it then to put my mind at ease.

                    • April 10, 2016 at 7:51 pm
                    DragonLadyRed
                    Participant

                      Thanks for the reply, Jenn. That's what I'm leaning toward. I have a re-excision this week, so I think I'm just thinking about and worrying about my skin more than I typically do. My re-excision isn't with my normal doctor, so I don't know if he'll be open to looking at it while I'm there. Otherwise, I'd just count on mentioning it then to put my mind at ease.

                      • April 10, 2016 at 7:51 pm
                      DragonLadyRed
                      Participant

                        Thanks for the reply, Jenn. That's what I'm leaning toward. I have a re-excision this week, so I think I'm just thinking about and worrying about my skin more than I typically do. My re-excision isn't with my normal doctor, so I don't know if he'll be open to looking at it while I'm there. Otherwise, I'd just count on mentioning it then to put my mind at ease.

                        • April 9, 2016 at 3:55 pm
                        DragonLadyRed
                        Participant

                          Insurance will be unaffected for me. Yes, it was done by an in-house dermatopathologist. 

                          • April 9, 2016 at 3:55 pm
                          DragonLadyRed
                          Participant

                            Insurance will be unaffected for me. Yes, it was done by an in-house dermatopathologist. 

                            • April 9, 2016 at 3:55 pm
                            DragonLadyRed
                            Participant

                              Insurance will be unaffected for me. Yes, it was done by an in-house dermatopathologist. 

                              • April 3, 2016 at 4:11 pm
                              DragonLadyRed
                              Participant

                                Ok, good! Their insistence that I couldn't wait a month for my own doctor was what concerned me. Glad it's nothing to be worried about!

                                • April 3, 2016 at 4:11 pm
                                DragonLadyRed
                                Participant

                                  Ok, good! Their insistence that I couldn't wait a month for my own doctor was what concerned me. Glad it's nothing to be worried about!

                                  • April 3, 2016 at 4:11 pm
                                  DragonLadyRed
                                  Participant

                                    Ok, good! Their insistence that I couldn't wait a month for my own doctor was what concerned me. Glad it's nothing to be worried about!

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