upsidedown16
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upsidedown16

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      • July 9, 2018 at 1:29 pm
      upsidedown16
      Participant

        Have you previously been diagnosed with melanoma or are you simply worried you are having symptoms of advanced disease? If you’ve never been diagnosed with melanoma, then you should wait to find out the results of the biopsy before scheduling appointments with a melanoma specialist. It sounds like you are incredibly anxious about the results, please try to relax and find things to keep you occupied. There’s a chance the biopsy may be completely benign. 

        • November 11, 2017 at 5:27 am
        upsidedown16
        Participant

          Seriously, I agree with the above….. move on. 

          • July 9, 2018 at 4:18 pm
          upsidedown16
          Participant

            Hi Tex! 

            When I was first diagnosed, they did enroll me into the EFMP program. However, I am due for a re-evaluation within the next couple of months. I was seeing a melanoma specialist and he recently let me go. I don’t know how else to explain that lol but he said because of my stage and my Castle tests results, additional routine imaging is not needed unless symptoms/concerns arise. For now he said I simply keep up with my monthly self check, continue seeing my dermatologist, and my primary care doctor. I planned on getting his advice as well to see what his thoughts are on the subject but wanted to think and talk things through beforehand since he’s “discharged” me for lack of better words. 

            • October 23, 2016 at 11:12 pm
            upsidedown16
            Participant

              Janner this is completely unrelated but I noticed you see a melanoma specialist, are you referring to a dermatologist that is a melanoma specialist? I'm gathering as much info as possible as I can. Recently diagnosed. A surgical oncologist with some melanoma experience performed the surgery but  I will be going for my follow up this week. I've read that melanoma specialist is a must if further treatment is needed after the wide excision but can melanoma specialist be seen if a monitoring process is the next step? Thank you! 

              • October 23, 2016 at 11:12 pm
              upsidedown16
              Participant

                Janner this is completely unrelated but I noticed you see a melanoma specialist, are you referring to a dermatologist that is a melanoma specialist? I'm gathering as much info as possible as I can. Recently diagnosed. A surgical oncologist with some melanoma experience performed the surgery but  I will be going for my follow up this week. I've read that melanoma specialist is a must if further treatment is needed after the wide excision but can melanoma specialist be seen if a monitoring process is the next step? Thank you! 

                • October 23, 2016 at 11:12 pm
                upsidedown16
                Participant

                  Janner this is completely unrelated but I noticed you see a melanoma specialist, are you referring to a dermatologist that is a melanoma specialist? I'm gathering as much info as possible as I can. Recently diagnosed. A surgical oncologist with some melanoma experience performed the surgery but  I will be going for my follow up this week. I've read that melanoma specialist is a must if further treatment is needed after the wide excision but can melanoma specialist be seen if a monitoring process is the next step? Thank you! 

                  • September 30, 2016 at 3:44 am
                  upsidedown16
                  Participant

                    I will say it was definitely weird but not too bad. I could feel the needle going in and out, which was buzzare lol! I wish they could give us results immediately, the waiting game is the worst. 

                    • September 30, 2016 at 3:44 am
                    upsidedown16
                    Participant

                      I will say it was definitely weird but not too bad. I could feel the needle going in and out, which was buzzare lol! I wish they could give us results immediately, the waiting game is the worst. 

                      • September 30, 2016 at 3:44 am
                      upsidedown16
                      Participant

                        I will say it was definitely weird but not too bad. I could feel the needle going in and out, which was buzzare lol! I wish they could give us results immediately, the waiting game is the worst. 

                        • September 30, 2016 at 3:39 am
                        upsidedown16
                        Participant

                          Deb,

                          Thank you for all the information! I have looked into melanoma research centers in the area who I could seek second opinions from but have not made contact with them. Would it be best to seek a second opinion before the wide excision depending on the results of the node aspiration or after the wide excision?

                          My primary is on my lower back, just above my bum so I guess that would be the trunk region? The surgical oncologist did say the area where my primary is located can be tricky to predict because it could drain into the armpit region or the groin. 

                          All of the uncertainties can be so difficult to deal with. I just wish I could make this all go away somehow 🙁

                           

                          • September 30, 2016 at 3:39 am
                          upsidedown16
                          Participant

                            Deb,

                            Thank you for all the information! I have looked into melanoma research centers in the area who I could seek second opinions from but have not made contact with them. Would it be best to seek a second opinion before the wide excision depending on the results of the node aspiration or after the wide excision?

                            My primary is on my lower back, just above my bum so I guess that would be the trunk region? The surgical oncologist did say the area where my primary is located can be tricky to predict because it could drain into the armpit region or the groin. 

                            All of the uncertainties can be so difficult to deal with. I just wish I could make this all go away somehow 🙁

                             

                            • September 30, 2016 at 3:39 am
                            upsidedown16
                            Participant

                              Deb,

                              Thank you for all the information! I have looked into melanoma research centers in the area who I could seek second opinions from but have not made contact with them. Would it be best to seek a second opinion before the wide excision depending on the results of the node aspiration or after the wide excision?

                              My primary is on my lower back, just above my bum so I guess that would be the trunk region? The surgical oncologist did say the area where my primary is located can be tricky to predict because it could drain into the armpit region or the groin. 

                              All of the uncertainties can be so difficult to deal with. I just wish I could make this all go away somehow 🙁

                               

                              • September 4, 2016 at 9:56 am
                              upsidedown16
                              Participant

                                Thank you for the information, I already made the mistake of looking at statistics and all that. I am going to stay away from those because you're right, I am not a statistic. I am going to give it my all, fight, and defeat this. 

                                • September 4, 2016 at 9:56 am
                                upsidedown16
                                Participant

                                  Thank you for the information, I already made the mistake of looking at statistics and all that. I am going to stay away from those because you're right, I am not a statistic. I am going to give it my all, fight, and defeat this. 

                                  • September 4, 2016 at 9:56 am
                                  upsidedown16
                                  Participant

                                    Thank you for the information, I already made the mistake of looking at statistics and all that. I am going to stay away from those because you're right, I am not a statistic. I am going to give it my all, fight, and defeat this. 

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