Waiting and scared.

It's okay to be scared and I hear you.

Breathe deep as the facts come in.

You are not alone.

It's weird, but there is a silent scream inside when confronted with melanoma and that is some of what of makes it such a lonely cancer.

Charlie S

It's okay to be scared and I hear you.

Breathe deep as the facts come in.

You are not alone.

It's weird, but there is a silent scream inside when confronted with melanoma and that is some of what of makes it such a lonely cancer.

Charlie S

It's okay to be scared and I hear you.

Breathe deep as the facts come in.

You are not alone.

It's weird, but there is a silent scream inside when confronted with melanoma and that is some of what of makes it such a lonely cancer.

Charlie S

As a followup, one of the more frustrating things that haunt people and drive them crazy following a melanoma diagnosis is the uncertainity,  the waiting,  the sense of  having no control and being almost paralyzed by the lack of feedback (urgency) from your medical provider .

For the patient, it is a crisis…………the medical provider, well it's a job.

As a countermeasure I would suggest that you consider this:

Problem. Need. Solution.

Get three pieces of paper; this will not work with a computer, you MUST use either a pencil or pen and do three things.

First piece of paper write down why you are mad.  Use abusive language, make accusations, call people names, question the integrity of everyone………..then burn that piece of paper.  That is Problem.

Second piece of paper in hand, go stare into your own eyes in a mirror ……………..I am serious here……and tell yourself outloud what you are afraid of and write it down.  Do not lie to yourself…..this is important.  That is Need.

Third piece of paper?

Headline: Solution.   

What do you want? Be specific.  

Are you confused about your biopsy?  Fine , call the doc that TOOK the biopsy and ask where it was sent for pathological interpretation and ask for all  written reports.

Do NOT let them mess you around…………demand the written report of the biopsy; it is your medical record.

Request (in writing), a second pathology reading from a DermaPathologist.

Do not accept no for an answer.

(It may be necessary at this point to contact your insurance company and ask for a case manager)

The point is the solution might be to  take charge of your own medical care.

By  taking charge of a seeming out of control situation may give you some degree of control.

Just a start.

Just thinking out loud.

Cheers,

Charlie S

As a followup, one of the more frustrating things that haunt people and drive them crazy following a melanoma diagnosis is the uncertainity,  the waiting,  the sense of  having no control and being almost paralyzed by the lack of feedback (urgency) from your medical provider .

For the patient, it is a crisis…………the medical provider, well it's a job.

As a countermeasure I would suggest that you consider this:

Problem. Need. Solution.

Get three pieces of paper; this will not work with a computer, you MUST use either a pencil or pen and do three things.

First piece of paper write down why you are mad.  Use abusive language, make accusations, call people names, question the integrity of everyone………..then burn that piece of paper.  That is Problem.

Second piece of paper in hand, go stare into your own eyes in a mirror ……………..I am serious here……and tell yourself outloud what you are afraid of and write it down.  Do not lie to yourself…..this is important.  That is Need.

Third piece of paper?

Headline: Solution.   

What do you want? Be specific.  

Are you confused about your biopsy?  Fine , call the doc that TOOK the biopsy and ask where it was sent for pathological interpretation and ask for all  written reports.

Do NOT let them mess you around…………demand the written report of the biopsy; it is your medical record.

Request (in writing), a second pathology reading from a DermaPathologist.

Do not accept no for an answer.

(It may be necessary at this point to contact your insurance company and ask for a case manager)

The point is the solution might be to  take charge of your own medical care.

By  taking charge of a seeming out of control situation may give you some degree of control.

Just a start.

Just thinking out loud.

Cheers,

Charlie S

As a followup, one of the more frustrating things that haunt people and drive them crazy following a melanoma diagnosis is the uncertainity,  the waiting,  the sense of  having no control and being almost paralyzed by the lack of feedback (urgency) from your medical provider .

For the patient, it is a crisis…………the medical provider, well it's a job.

As a countermeasure I would suggest that you consider this:

Problem. Need. Solution.

Get three pieces of paper; this will not work with a computer, you MUST use either a pencil or pen and do three things.

First piece of paper write down why you are mad.  Use abusive language, make accusations, call people names, question the integrity of everyone………..then burn that piece of paper.  That is Problem.

Second piece of paper in hand, go stare into your own eyes in a mirror ……………..I am serious here……and tell yourself outloud what you are afraid of and write it down.  Do not lie to yourself…..this is important.  That is Need.

Third piece of paper?

Headline: Solution.   

What do you want? Be specific.  

Are you confused about your biopsy?  Fine , call the doc that TOOK the biopsy and ask where it was sent for pathological interpretation and ask for all  written reports.

Do NOT let them mess you around…………demand the written report of the biopsy; it is your medical record.

Request (in writing), a second pathology reading from a DermaPathologist.

Do not accept no for an answer.

(It may be necessary at this point to contact your insurance company and ask for a case manager)

The point is the solution might be to  take charge of your own medical care.

By  taking charge of a seeming out of control situation may give you some degree of control.

Just a start.

Just thinking out loud.

Cheers,

Charlie S