Lauren6

Thank you for your feedback, Janner.  I looked up the doctor who wrote the pathology report and he is a dermatopathologist.  I get what you're saying in your last paragraph.  Do you recommend that I call my dermatologist to find out the details on mitosis for this mole?  Or leave it be, knowing that:  I'm likely Stage 1A or 1B, the lesion is thin and low risk (per the dermatologist & your advice here), surgery will remove it completely, commit myself to more diligent skin sun-care and self checks, and continue on with my life knowing that I'm high risk and will see a dermatologist on a regular basis?  I know that's a loaded question.  I do have another full-body scan already scheduled with this same dermatologist in October.  I'm not sure if I will stick with her or request another doctor who is a better communicator.  I'm reassured by your response about the WLE also.  Thanks so much. 

Hi Margaret, thank you so much for your kind response.  I actually read it while out of the country last week, while checking email during a brief moment of wifi access, and your reassuring words gave me such peace.  I wasn't aware that I was worrying about my surgery at the time, but I must have been because a rush of emotions came over me as I read your post and I felt so calmed and reassured.  I am so glad to hear that your surgery went well and your margins were clean and nodes were fine.  My surgery was this morning and my surgeon was wonderful.  In addition to my lesion being very thin, the melanoma mole was also very small in diameter but my dermatologist took a wide berth when scraping it for biopsy back in July.  Today the surgeon took the entire scarred area resulting from the biopsy plus a 1 cm margin around the entire area.  She expressed complete confidence that she was getting every bit of the melanoma and I am confident also.  Less than 5 minutes after beginning the procedure, she proclaimed "okay the cancer is out!"  It was a wonderful feeling.  I feel so blessed.  Got a sore arm and can't do much for the next 2 weeks but like you said, it's a small price to pay.  Hope you are off those crutches now or very soon.  Your month in Europe must have been fantastic!  Thank you again for being in touch and expressing support.  I pray that you (and I) will never have melanoma again!    

Hi Margaret, thank you so much for your kind response.  I actually read it while out of the country last week, while checking email during a brief moment of wifi access, and your reassuring words gave me such peace.  I wasn't aware that I was worrying about my surgery at the time, but I must have been because a rush of emotions came over me as I read your post and I felt so calmed and reassured.  I am so glad to hear that your surgery went well and your margins were clean and nodes were fine.  My surgery was this morning and my surgeon was wonderful.  In addition to my lesion being very thin, the melanoma mole was also very small in diameter but my dermatologist took a wide berth when scraping it for biopsy back in July.  Today the surgeon took the entire scarred area resulting from the biopsy plus a 1 cm margin around the entire area.  She expressed complete confidence that she was getting every bit of the melanoma and I am confident also.  Less than 5 minutes after beginning the procedure, she proclaimed "okay the cancer is out!"  It was a wonderful feeling.  I feel so blessed.  Got a sore arm and can't do much for the next 2 weeks but like you said, it's a small price to pay.  Hope you are off those crutches now or very soon.  Your month in Europe must have been fantastic!  Thank you again for being in touch and expressing support.  I pray that you (and I) will never have melanoma again!    

Hi Margaret, thank you so much for your kind response.  I actually read it while out of the country last week, while checking email during a brief moment of wifi access, and your reassuring words gave me such peace.  I wasn't aware that I was worrying about my surgery at the time, but I must have been because a rush of emotions came over me as I read your post and I felt so calmed and reassured.  I am so glad to hear that your surgery went well and your margins were clean and nodes were fine.  My surgery was this morning and my surgeon was wonderful.  In addition to my lesion being very thin, the melanoma mole was also very small in diameter but my dermatologist took a wide berth when scraping it for biopsy back in July.  Today the surgeon took the entire scarred area resulting from the biopsy plus a 1 cm margin around the entire area.  She expressed complete confidence that she was getting every bit of the melanoma and I am confident also.  Less than 5 minutes after beginning the procedure, she proclaimed "okay the cancer is out!"  It was a wonderful feeling.  I feel so blessed.  Got a sore arm and can't do much for the next 2 weeks but like you said, it's a small price to pay.  Hope you are off those crutches now or very soon.  Your month in Europe must have been fantastic!  Thank you again for being in touch and expressing support.  I pray that you (and I) will never have melanoma again!    

Hi JC, thanks for the response.  I do feel very blessed that my melanoma was caught early.  I had put off resuming regular visits to a dermatologist for too long, and so I'm very thankful that this lesion is so thin and such a low risk.  You are right, this is a big deal – it's cancer – but I am choosing not to worry about a 2 or 3% chance of a worst case scenario happening.  I think there is probably a 2 or 3% chance of anything happening to us in life.  I've been diligent about sun protection on my face, chest, back, and torso for many, many years… not quite as good on my legs and arms, especially when I know I will only be outside less than an hour.  Surprise, surprise:  my melanoma is on my arm.  So, I'm choosing to see this diagnosis as a huge opportunity to take better care of myself in all ways.  I know that God is watching over me and I am paying attention and doing my part also.  I'm choosing to trust what I've been told and have read that the odds are overwhelmingly in my favor that surgery will remove my cancer completely and I don't intend to seek a second opinion.  Thanks again for your feedback!         

Hi JC, thanks for the response.  I do feel very blessed that my melanoma was caught early.  I had put off resuming regular visits to a dermatologist for too long, and so I'm very thankful that this lesion is so thin and such a low risk.  You are right, this is a big deal – it's cancer – but I am choosing not to worry about a 2 or 3% chance of a worst case scenario happening.  I think there is probably a 2 or 3% chance of anything happening to us in life.  I've been diligent about sun protection on my face, chest, back, and torso for many, many years… not quite as good on my legs and arms, especially when I know I will only be outside less than an hour.  Surprise, surprise:  my melanoma is on my arm.  So, I'm choosing to see this diagnosis as a huge opportunity to take better care of myself in all ways.  I know that God is watching over me and I am paying attention and doing my part also.  I'm choosing to trust what I've been told and have read that the odds are overwhelmingly in my favor that surgery will remove my cancer completely and I don't intend to seek a second opinion.  Thanks again for your feedback!         

Hi JC, thanks for the response.  I do feel very blessed that my melanoma was caught early.  I had put off resuming regular visits to a dermatologist for too long, and so I'm very thankful that this lesion is so thin and such a low risk.  You are right, this is a big deal – it's cancer – but I am choosing not to worry about a 2 or 3% chance of a worst case scenario happening.  I think there is probably a 2 or 3% chance of anything happening to us in life.  I've been diligent about sun protection on my face, chest, back, and torso for many, many years… not quite as good on my legs and arms, especially when I know I will only be outside less than an hour.  Surprise, surprise:  my melanoma is on my arm.  So, I'm choosing to see this diagnosis as a huge opportunity to take better care of myself in all ways.  I know that God is watching over me and I am paying attention and doing my part also.  I'm choosing to trust what I've been told and have read that the odds are overwhelmingly in my favor that surgery will remove my cancer completely and I don't intend to seek a second opinion.  Thanks again for your feedback!         

Thanks so much, Janner.  I've chosen to be content with knowing I am "low risk" with this particular malignant mole.  I'm typically a person who needs to have every detail, but I'm choosing this time to trust what I've been told and have read which says the odds of success are very, very good for me!  I've read a lot about melanoma online in the last few days (which is both a good thing and a troubling thing, but that's the internet!).  One of the other moles that was biopsied came back as "junctional nevus inflamed" and I know now that it will be one to really watch.  I'm due back for another full body scan in October and I will be ready with informed questions then, especially if my doctor takes another sample for biopsy.  I am extremely pleased with my dermatology practice overall and plan to give this doctor another go in October.  I'll move on after that experience if I'm not comfortable.  I have an appointment for the WLE on August 7 and I've read the skin surgery center's website and the dermatology surgeon's profile in detail.  I'm confident I will be in very good hands there.  Thank you, again, very much for your time, feedback, and concern!  All the best to you!     

Thanks so much, Janner.  I've chosen to be content with knowing I am "low risk" with this particular malignant mole.  I'm typically a person who needs to have every detail, but I'm choosing this time to trust what I've been told and have read which says the odds of success are very, very good for me!  I've read a lot about melanoma online in the last few days (which is both a good thing and a troubling thing, but that's the internet!).  One of the other moles that was biopsied came back as "junctional nevus inflamed" and I know now that it will be one to really watch.  I'm due back for another full body scan in October and I will be ready with informed questions then, especially if my doctor takes another sample for biopsy.  I am extremely pleased with my dermatology practice overall and plan to give this doctor another go in October.  I'll move on after that experience if I'm not comfortable.  I have an appointment for the WLE on August 7 and I've read the skin surgery center's website and the dermatology surgeon's profile in detail.  I'm confident I will be in very good hands there.  Thank you, again, very much for your time, feedback, and concern!  All the best to you!     

Thanks so much, Janner.  I've chosen to be content with knowing I am "low risk" with this particular malignant mole.  I'm typically a person who needs to have every detail, but I'm choosing this time to trust what I've been told and have read which says the odds of success are very, very good for me!  I've read a lot about melanoma online in the last few days (which is both a good thing and a troubling thing, but that's the internet!).  One of the other moles that was biopsied came back as "junctional nevus inflamed" and I know now that it will be one to really watch.  I'm due back for another full body scan in October and I will be ready with informed questions then, especially if my doctor takes another sample for biopsy.  I am extremely pleased with my dermatology practice overall and plan to give this doctor another go in October.  I'll move on after that experience if I'm not comfortable.  I have an appointment for the WLE on August 7 and I've read the skin surgery center's website and the dermatology surgeon's profile in detail.  I'm confident I will be in very good hands there.  Thank you, again, very much for your time, feedback, and concern!  All the best to you!     

Thank you for your feedback, Janner.  I looked up the doctor who wrote the pathology report and he is a dermatopathologist.  I get what you're saying in your last paragraph.  Do you recommend that I call my dermatologist to find out the details on mitosis for this mole?  Or leave it be, knowing that:  I'm likely Stage 1A or 1B, the lesion is thin and low risk (per the dermatologist & your advice here), surgery will remove it completely, commit myself to more diligent skin sun-care and self checks, and continue on with my life knowing that I'm high risk and will see a dermatologist on a regular basis?  I know that's a loaded question.  I do have another full-body scan already scheduled with this same dermatologist in October.  I'm not sure if I will stick with her or request another doctor who is a better communicator.  I'm reassured by your response about the WLE also.  Thanks so much. 

Thank you for your feedback, Janner.  I looked up the doctor who wrote the pathology report and he is a dermatopathologist.  I get what you're saying in your last paragraph.  Do you recommend that I call my dermatologist to find out the details on mitosis for this mole?  Or leave it be, knowing that:  I'm likely Stage 1A or 1B, the lesion is thin and low risk (per the dermatologist & your advice here), surgery will remove it completely, commit myself to more diligent skin sun-care and self checks, and continue on with my life knowing that I'm high risk and will see a dermatologist on a regular basis?  I know that's a loaded question.  I do have another full-body scan already scheduled with this same dermatologist in October.  I'm not sure if I will stick with her or request another doctor who is a better communicator.  I'm reassured by your response about the WLE also.  Thanks so much.