Results now available but…

I often get my results on my own. Doesn't matter how prepared you are for the news, the moment you hear you have melanoma for the first time or that it is growing again will put you in a state of shock.  A good part of everything the doctor tells you next will be forgotten. I prefer to get my results on my own, process it, and then prepare for the consult. 

Hope you have great news  

Brian 

I often get my results on my own. Doesn't matter how prepared you are for the news, the moment you hear you have melanoma for the first time or that it is growing again will put you in a state of shock.  A good part of everything the doctor tells you next will be forgotten. I prefer to get my results on my own, process it, and then prepare for the consult. 

Hope you have great news  

Brian 

I often get my results on my own. Doesn't matter how prepared you are for the news, the moment you hear you have melanoma for the first time or that it is growing again will put you in a state of shock.  A good part of everything the doctor tells you next will be forgotten. I prefer to get my results on my own, process it, and then prepare for the consult. 

Hope you have great news  

Brian 

I wholeheartedly agree with Brian. You will never be prepared to hear anything that may be bad news, and then you'll either blank out on any questions for the doc, and/or anything they say will sound like jibber jabber. Even if I don't completely understand the results, I would rather have them and be prepared with questions for my oncologist. Get the results, but perhaps don't look at them until you are with a family member or trusted friend. Those are the people you will turn to for any needed comfort or celebration. Then you can be better prepared for the visit with your doc. 

I wholeheartedly agree with Brian. You will never be prepared to hear anything that may be bad news, and then you'll either blank out on any questions for the doc, and/or anything they say will sound like jibber jabber. Even if I don't completely understand the results, I would rather have them and be prepared with questions for my oncologist. Get the results, but perhaps don't look at them until you are with a family member or trusted friend. Those are the people you will turn to for any needed comfort or celebration. Then you can be better prepared for the visit with your doc. 

I wholeheartedly agree with Brian. You will never be prepared to hear anything that may be bad news, and then you'll either blank out on any questions for the doc, and/or anything they say will sound like jibber jabber. Even if I don't completely understand the results, I would rather have them and be prepared with questions for my oncologist. Get the results, but perhaps don't look at them until you are with a family member or trusted friend. Those are the people you will turn to for any needed comfort or celebration. Then you can be better prepared for the visit with your doc. 

Hi Sole, while I agree with the first two comments, something to think about is your own ability to understand the medical jargon in the report. Many new members to the forum get upset after reading their early reports only to later fine out that things weren't that bad!!! If you feel like you can wait until the appointment for the results, it is usually a good idea to bring some one along with you to help process the information. If your Oncologist is ok with it, recording the information so you can play it back later might be helpfull. Best wishes with the results!!!Ed

Hi Sole, while I agree with the first two comments, something to think about is your own ability to understand the medical jargon in the report. Many new members to the forum get upset after reading their early reports only to later fine out that things weren't that bad!!! If you feel like you can wait until the appointment for the results, it is usually a good idea to bring some one along with you to help process the information. If your Oncologist is ok with it, recording the information so you can play it back later might be helpfull. Best wishes with the results!!!Ed

Hi Sole, while I agree with the first two comments, something to think about is your own ability to understand the medical jargon in the report. Many new members to the forum get upset after reading their early reports only to later fine out that things weren't that bad!!! If you feel like you can wait until the appointment for the results, it is usually a good idea to bring some one along with you to help process the information. If your Oncologist is ok with it, recording the information so you can play it back later might be helpfull. Best wishes with the results!!!Ed

Hi Sole,

I know you are anxious waiting for the results from previous posts.

If they come back – clear margins and no lymph node involvement- thats great.

If they come back with positive nodes- then you are into a different game with choices to be made for follow up treatment.

Like Brian said sometimes bad results put us into shock and make it less easy to process the next lot of info or ask questions that really matter because you are trying to hold it together emotionally.

The advice about taking a trusted other along to critical appointments is good.

There really is no right or wrong answer on this and your decision may depend on how good a relationship you have with your doc and how stressed you are feeling now not knowing.

What does your girlfriend think ? Not sure I would be able to wait till I got home with the paper in my hand, but might not want to drive home on my own having got the results.

Hope you get the results any of us would be pleased with

Deb

Hi Sole,

I know you are anxious waiting for the results from previous posts.

If they come back – clear margins and no lymph node involvement- thats great.

If they come back with positive nodes- then you are into a different game with choices to be made for follow up treatment.

Like Brian said sometimes bad results put us into shock and make it less easy to process the next lot of info or ask questions that really matter because you are trying to hold it together emotionally.

The advice about taking a trusted other along to critical appointments is good.

There really is no right or wrong answer on this and your decision may depend on how good a relationship you have with your doc and how stressed you are feeling now not knowing.

What does your girlfriend think ? Not sure I would be able to wait till I got home with the paper in my hand, but might not want to drive home on my own having got the results.

Hope you get the results any of us would be pleased with

Deb

Hi Sole,

I know you are anxious waiting for the results from previous posts.

If they come back – clear margins and no lymph node involvement- thats great.

If they come back with positive nodes- then you are into a different game with choices to be made for follow up treatment.

Like Brian said sometimes bad results put us into shock and make it less easy to process the next lot of info or ask questions that really matter because you are trying to hold it together emotionally.

The advice about taking a trusted other along to critical appointments is good.

There really is no right or wrong answer on this and your decision may depend on how good a relationship you have with your doc and how stressed you are feeling now not knowing.

What does your girlfriend think ? Not sure I would be able to wait till I got home with the paper in my hand, but might not want to drive home on my own having got the results.

Hope you get the results any of us would be pleased with

Deb

I got a phone call from my surgeon the day the results came back. No appointment. I was glad to know ASAP so I could start planning and preparing. Totally depends on how you process things, if you're prepared for the possibility of being stage 3 and what that entails. We're here for you if you do decide to get the results early and have any questions about what it says.

All the best,

I got a phone call from my surgeon the day the results came back. No appointment. I was glad to know ASAP so I could start planning and preparing. Totally depends on how you process things, if you're prepared for the possibility of being stage 3 and what that entails. We're here for you if you do decide to get the results early and have any questions about what it says.

All the best,

I got a phone call from my surgeon the day the results came back. No appointment. I was glad to know ASAP so I could start planning and preparing. Totally depends on how you process things, if you're prepared for the possibility of being stage 3 and what that entails. We're here for you if you do decide to get the results early and have any questions about what it says.

All the best,

I would agree with others that say get the results on your own so you can process and prepare for the onc appointment.  The state of shock that comes with bad news causes my brain to no longer understand English.  I always bring my wife to the scan result appointments with a notebook and a pen so she can fill me in once my shock wears off.  Going into that appointment prepared and with your questions at the ready sounds like a great idea to me.  You might be able to avoid the ride home questions that always come up.

There is one thing I want to caution you against.  Come to a place like this with your results instead of Google MD.  Way back in 2007 when my battle started, I made the dreaded Google mistake.  I was new to all this and didn't know any better.  I ended up have a terrible week thinking the worst until I meet with my doctor.  

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Brad 

I would agree with others that say get the results on your own so you can process and prepare for the onc appointment.  The state of shock that comes with bad news causes my brain to no longer understand English.  I always bring my wife to the scan result appointments with a notebook and a pen so she can fill me in once my shock wears off.  Going into that appointment prepared and with your questions at the ready sounds like a great idea to me.  You might be able to avoid the ride home questions that always come up.

There is one thing I want to caution you against.  Come to a place like this with your results instead of Google MD.  Way back in 2007 when my battle started, I made the dreaded Google mistake.  I was new to all this and didn't know any better.  I ended up have a terrible week thinking the worst until I meet with my doctor.  

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Brad 

I would agree with others that say get the results on your own so you can process and prepare for the onc appointment.  The state of shock that comes with bad news causes my brain to no longer understand English.  I always bring my wife to the scan result appointments with a notebook and a pen so she can fill me in once my shock wears off.  Going into that appointment prepared and with your questions at the ready sounds like a great idea to me.  You might be able to avoid the ride home questions that always come up.

There is one thing I want to caution you against.  Come to a place like this with your results instead of Google MD.  Way back in 2007 when my battle started, I made the dreaded Google mistake.  I was new to all this and didn't know any better.  I ended up have a terrible week thinking the worst until I meet with my doctor.  

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Brad