sedona

This doctor is only an osteopath not an M.D., not an oncologist that specializes in melanoma. I don't think osteopaths know much about cancer to begin with and they take an alternative or holistic approach to medicine

This doctor is only an osteopath not an M.D., not an oncologist that specializes in melanoma. I don't think osteopaths know much about cancer to begin with and they take an alternative or holistic approach to medicine

This doctor is only an osteopath not an M.D., not an oncologist that specializes in melanoma. I don't think osteopaths know much about cancer to begin with and they take an alternative or holistic approach to medicine

Hi speckles,

When I first had my surgery the surgical oncologist told me I should come back to see him every six months for the first 3 years. He also said that he would be ordering  chest xray and blood work for LDL at those follow ups. Well, I did go once that first year but he didn't order any of those tests like he said he would so my Internal doc did. I have been seeing my internal medicine doc for almost 20 years and he worries more about me than I do myself . He has wanted me to get a pet scan for over a year now, but normally they never do a pet scan for our stage.

I read somewhere on the internet that in the past few years they even stopped doing the chest xray and blood test and do no follow up at all unless their are clinical signs of recurrance.

Try to just go on with your life and act like it never happened. Worrying about it never helps and can evn make things worse (stress is very bad for you), think positive thoughts and enjoy yourself. 

sedona- also stage IIa just over 3 years now

Hi speckles,

When I first had my surgery the surgical oncologist told me I should come back to see him every six months for the first 3 years. He also said that he would be ordering  chest xray and blood work for LDL at those follow ups. Well, I did go once that first year but he didn't order any of those tests like he said he would so my Internal doc did. I have been seeing my internal medicine doc for almost 20 years and he worries more about me than I do myself . He has wanted me to get a pet scan for over a year now, but normally they never do a pet scan for our stage.

I read somewhere on the internet that in the past few years they even stopped doing the chest xray and blood test and do no follow up at all unless their are clinical signs of recurrance.

Try to just go on with your life and act like it never happened. Worrying about it never helps and can evn make things worse (stress is very bad for you), think positive thoughts and enjoy yourself. 

sedona- also stage IIa just over 3 years now

Hi speckles,

When I first had my surgery the surgical oncologist told me I should come back to see him every six months for the first 3 years. He also said that he would be ordering  chest xray and blood work for LDL at those follow ups. Well, I did go once that first year but he didn't order any of those tests like he said he would so my Internal doc did. I have been seeing my internal medicine doc for almost 20 years and he worries more about me than I do myself . He has wanted me to get a pet scan for over a year now, but normally they never do a pet scan for our stage.

I read somewhere on the internet that in the past few years they even stopped doing the chest xray and blood test and do no follow up at all unless their are clinical signs of recurrance.

Try to just go on with your life and act like it never happened. Worrying about it never helps and can evn make things worse (stress is very bad for you), think positive thoughts and enjoy yourself. 

sedona- also stage IIa just over 3 years now

I would like to also add that while I had 37 moles removed I must have at least another 60 and none even look suspicious. Also the melanoma oncology specialist / sugeon told me what the dermatologists were doing was not necessary, only moderate to severly atypical moles need to be removed, not the mildly atypical moles the derms were having a field day removing. They also say that on the intenet in many sites.

So I am sorry if I somehow offended you and I am deeply sorry for your advanced stage as well as all of the other people on this site with a stage 3 and 4, but I think we all have different circumstances, are at different levels of risk and are prescribed different treatments.

I would like to also add that while I had 37 moles removed I must have at least another 60 and none even look suspicious. Also the melanoma oncology specialist / sugeon told me what the dermatologists were doing was not necessary, only moderate to severly atypical moles need to be removed, not the mildly atypical moles the derms were having a field day removing. They also say that on the intenet in many sites.

So I am sorry if I somehow offended you and I am deeply sorry for your advanced stage as well as all of the other people on this site with a stage 3 and 4, but I think we all have different circumstances, are at different levels of risk and are prescribed different treatments.

I would like to also add that while I had 37 moles removed I must have at least another 60 and none even look suspicious. Also the melanoma oncology specialist / sugeon told me what the dermatologists were doing was not necessary, only moderate to severly atypical moles need to be removed, not the mildly atypical moles the derms were having a field day removing. They also say that on the intenet in many sites.

So I am sorry if I somehow offended you and I am deeply sorry for your advanced stage as well as all of the other people on this site with a stage 3 and 4, but I think we all have different circumstances, are at different levels of risk and are prescribed different treatments.

"so while it might be an inconvienient thing to cut off your moles…it's better than ending up at stage 4. Most people with stage 4 were told they have 6-9 months to live…looking back I would have gone every week if they had asked me rather than go thru what I have. The radiation and chemo, the major surgeries…melanoma usually comes back and it also is the most deadilest form of skin cancer."

?? But from what I have read here on the board and on the internet it doesn't usually come back. The oncologist said I am cured.  Now I don't know what to believe.

I asked in my first post "do I have cancer" and no one answered yes or no.

What am I to believe now?

Why does no one seem to talk to new people here?

"so while it might be an inconvienient thing to cut off your moles…it's better than ending up at stage 4. Most people with stage 4 were told they have 6-9 months to live…looking back I would have gone every week if they had asked me rather than go thru what I have. The radiation and chemo, the major surgeries…melanoma usually comes back and it also is the most deadilest form of skin cancer."

?? But from what I have read here on the board and on the internet it doesn't usually come back. The oncologist said I am cured.  Now I don't know what to believe.

I asked in my first post "do I have cancer" and no one answered yes or no.

What am I to believe now?

Why does no one seem to talk to new people here?

"so while it might be an inconvienient thing to cut off your moles…it's better than ending up at stage 4. Most people with stage 4 were told they have 6-9 months to live…looking back I would have gone every week if they had asked me rather than go thru what I have. The radiation and chemo, the major surgeries…melanoma usually comes back and it also is the most deadilest form of skin cancer."

?? But from what I have read here on the board and on the internet it doesn't usually come back. The oncologist said I am cured.  Now I don't know what to believe.

I asked in my first post "do I have cancer" and no one answered yes or no.

What am I to believe now?

Why does no one seem to talk to new people here?