momand2girls

Thanks
She did did the re-excision of the non-melanoma. She then looked at 3 sites i mentioned and biopsied two– she did not think they would turn out to be anything, but just to be safe…. we reviewed the pathology from the actual melanoma and she was very reassuring, as she had been in my first visit. I have some prior cancer experience and one thing I know is that they don’t speak lightly- if they think it is a big problem, they tell you. If they think it is just a “bump in the road” they also tell you that. Of course, there are no guarantees, as there are none in life, but I have found that when people deal day in day out with a certain cancer, they have a pretty good idea of what they are looking at and how to talk to patients about it. I don’t know what will happen in the pathology of these other two moles, but it was helpful to hear her say that they were unusual but she would not necessarily say they were melanoma…..

I was not a big sun person, which is why this is so surprising– so now I will be even more careful–buying spf clothes, a tent for the beach (I go rarely, but if I go, I will be covered) , staying indoors from 10-4…. crazy stuff!!! I was always slathered in sunscreen, now even more so. Sorry to hear about the anxiety– when I had breast cancer, I was hyper anxious-I ended up seeing a counselor and it was so very helpful. Hope you can find some peace. thanks for responding to my note

Thanks- not so awesome– pretty mucha as we go along in life– things happen. Lots of things. I cannot recommend counseling enough… I had met this therapist when my dad died and I needed some help- thne when I was diagnosed I found out that she specialized in breast cancer….what a gift that was— and . I have been back to see her after each diagnosis and anything else in my life that created real challenges. Really helped me keep my perspective. You will be ok…

It sort of looked, at first glance, like a bug bite– I thought it was more red/pink–and it did not cause my derm any concern in my January appointment… But as I look at the photo now, I can see that it was brown underneath….They actually said some melanoma do present lighter– and if you had been looking at my arm, standing next to me, you would have thought it was a mosquito bite… but a closer look showed how it was somewhat darker undereath. I have another one that I am chasing down that looks irregular to me but I cannot tell if I am just being paranoid now. They did take another mole off that was unusual- not malignant but they took it and will do a wider excision anyway.

So gratful that you are all out there— when I got breast cancer, I became a real breast cancer expert– but I don’t really want to become an expert on other types of cancer- but I know I have to be vigilant— your information has been very helpful.

Rocco,
thanks so much- I will talk to my oncologist in July about this- and with the nurse navigator– just don’t want to take any chances!