› Forums › General Melanoma Community › recent stage 1? asking for Janners advise
- This topic has 18 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 7 months ago by
Mhardes.
- Post
-
- May 31, 2015 at 1:04 am
I was reading some old post and I read that you had a support group for stage 1?..just wondering if that was true. I just recently had my we 1cm (last Friday) and it was on my calf so they ended up doing a graph. I am healing and next Thursday I see whether the graph took and get my stitches out. I read that the first year is tough and I guess I have so many mixed emotions. I am so glad they got it at stage 1..and it was part of my normal checkup as I have had a couple basil cell..prior to this. I guess you just get so scared because after you get diagnosed you notice so many different things on your body and you thought you were already doing a good job. I have a small mole like purple that my dermatologist has seen several times it has never checked size or color and when he found the other (during that examination) he told me I could keep it ..like he always does…he told me the last time I could keep the one he diagnosed melanoma this time…as he noticed a change from last time. I had not paid much attention as he had said it was fine ( I have done much more reading since being diagnosed) I guess I write this as I wait for next Thursday….you just hope he didnt miss anything the last time..and I do feel good about being looked after closely now..and also have gotten a mole mapping app on my iPad..so I can take pictures..you go through a lot of emotions and I just wanted to make sure my thoughts were correct. I have read over and over that when you are in the game..it is critical to make the right decisions…and I have saw your posts a few times where you said vigilant..but not paranoid…I think that line right now is blurred a little.
- Replies
-
-
- May 31, 2015 at 1:30 pm
First off, I'm NOT a fan of cell phone pics (or iPad) for something this important. Use a good camera in lighting you can duplicate, add a ruler and use the macro setting. Use this for comparisons. I know my cell phone just doesn't cut it compared to a good camera especially close up. Those apps haven't got great technical reviews.
i ONLY remove changing moles. My derm has baseline photos and if I have any concerns, we compare against these photos. Neither of us rely on "memory", only CHANGE seen after comparing photos. My derm is a huge fan of photos or mole mapping because he says there is no way his "memory" can remember all his patients moles and if they look different at each visit, Honestly, I have found my three primaries with obvious change. I am not an alarmist, I analyze things critically and again, remove only changing moles. The baseline photos are my most important tool for keeping imagination in check.
Again, rare to have more than one melanoma primary so keep things in perspective.
My stage 1 group still exists but is not active. I haven't added anyone in quite a while and they've all pretty much gone on to live their lives no longer worrying about melanoma.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 1:30 pm
First off, I'm NOT a fan of cell phone pics (or iPad) for something this important. Use a good camera in lighting you can duplicate, add a ruler and use the macro setting. Use this for comparisons. I know my cell phone just doesn't cut it compared to a good camera especially close up. Those apps haven't got great technical reviews.
i ONLY remove changing moles. My derm has baseline photos and if I have any concerns, we compare against these photos. Neither of us rely on "memory", only CHANGE seen after comparing photos. My derm is a huge fan of photos or mole mapping because he says there is no way his "memory" can remember all his patients moles and if they look different at each visit, Honestly, I have found my three primaries with obvious change. I am not an alarmist, I analyze things critically and again, remove only changing moles. The baseline photos are my most important tool for keeping imagination in check.
Again, rare to have more than one melanoma primary so keep things in perspective.
My stage 1 group still exists but is not active. I haven't added anyone in quite a while and they've all pretty much gone on to live their lives no longer worrying about melanoma.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 1:30 pm
First off, I'm NOT a fan of cell phone pics (or iPad) for something this important. Use a good camera in lighting you can duplicate, add a ruler and use the macro setting. Use this for comparisons. I know my cell phone just doesn't cut it compared to a good camera especially close up. Those apps haven't got great technical reviews.
i ONLY remove changing moles. My derm has baseline photos and if I have any concerns, we compare against these photos. Neither of us rely on "memory", only CHANGE seen after comparing photos. My derm is a huge fan of photos or mole mapping because he says there is no way his "memory" can remember all his patients moles and if they look different at each visit, Honestly, I have found my three primaries with obvious change. I am not an alarmist, I analyze things critically and again, remove only changing moles. The baseline photos are my most important tool for keeping imagination in check.
Again, rare to have more than one melanoma primary so keep things in perspective.
My stage 1 group still exists but is not active. I haven't added anyone in quite a while and they've all pretty much gone on to live their lives no longer worrying about melanoma.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Thank you, I appreciate the advise. I will map out with my camera and a ruler. That is a great idea. I have learned so much by reading these blogs….so much I never knew. I was speaking to a friend and he told me that he had a melanoma 10 yrs ago stage 1 and that it took him a couple years to just "chill out" a bit. I think that is what i am trying to work on. It's only been a week and both legs have been healing. I guess you hear about lymph nodes and all these other things..then you notice that your side is a little tender up by your breast..and you wonder if it's always been there or its from the surgery(I had so many shots in my legs) you just had..and your arm has been hurting for 3 months because you blew it out working out at the gym…and now you relate it to this…that's the kind of stuff that worries you…trying to stay positive and aprecise the fact that it could have been worse. Definitely a life lesson for someone who has always tried to be in control of the situation.
I have my appointment Thursday and hopefully can close the worry door a little bit. I really never got all of the specifics..only that it was a superficial spreading malignant melanoma..and we needed to remove 1cm..and it was caught early.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Thank you, I appreciate the advise. I will map out with my camera and a ruler. That is a great idea. I have learned so much by reading these blogs….so much I never knew. I was speaking to a friend and he told me that he had a melanoma 10 yrs ago stage 1 and that it took him a couple years to just "chill out" a bit. I think that is what i am trying to work on. It's only been a week and both legs have been healing. I guess you hear about lymph nodes and all these other things..then you notice that your side is a little tender up by your breast..and you wonder if it's always been there or its from the surgery(I had so many shots in my legs) you just had..and your arm has been hurting for 3 months because you blew it out working out at the gym…and now you relate it to this…that's the kind of stuff that worries you…trying to stay positive and aprecise the fact that it could have been worse. Definitely a life lesson for someone who has always tried to be in control of the situation.
I have my appointment Thursday and hopefully can close the worry door a little bit. I really never got all of the specifics..only that it was a superficial spreading malignant melanoma..and we needed to remove 1cm..and it was caught early.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Thank you, I appreciate the advise. I will map out with my camera and a ruler. That is a great idea. I have learned so much by reading these blogs….so much I never knew. I was speaking to a friend and he told me that he had a melanoma 10 yrs ago stage 1 and that it took him a couple years to just "chill out" a bit. I think that is what i am trying to work on. It's only been a week and both legs have been healing. I guess you hear about lymph nodes and all these other things..then you notice that your side is a little tender up by your breast..and you wonder if it's always been there or its from the surgery(I had so many shots in my legs) you just had..and your arm has been hurting for 3 months because you blew it out working out at the gym…and now you relate it to this…that's the kind of stuff that worries you…trying to stay positive and aprecise the fact that it could have been worse. Definitely a life lesson for someone who has always tried to be in control of the situation.
I have my appointment Thursday and hopefully can close the worry door a little bit. I really never got all of the specifics..only that it was a superficial spreading malignant melanoma..and we needed to remove 1cm..and it was caught early.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Thank you, I appreciate the advise. I will map out with my camera and a ruler. That is a great idea. I have learned so much by reading these blogs….so much I never knew. I was speaking to a friend and he told me that he had a melanoma 10 yrs ago stage 1 and that it took him a couple years to just "chill out" a bit. I think that is what i am trying to work on. It's only been a week and both legs have been healing. I guess you hear about lymph nodes and all these other things..then you notice that your side is a little tender up by your breast..and you wonder if it's always been there or its from the surgery(I had so many shots in my legs) you just had..and your arm has been hurting for 3 months because you blew it out working out at the gym…and now you relate it to this…that's the kind of stuff that worries you…trying to stay positive and aprecise the fact that it could have been worse. Definitely a life lesson for someone who has always tried to be in control of the situation.
I have my appointment Thursday and hopefully can close the worry door a little bit. I really never got all of the specifics..only that it was a superficial spreading malignant melanoma..and we needed to remove 1cm..and it was caught early.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Thank you, I appreciate the advise. I will map out with my camera and a ruler. That is a great idea. I have learned so much by reading these blogs….so much I never knew. I was speaking to a friend and he told me that he had a melanoma 10 yrs ago stage 1 and that it took him a couple years to just "chill out" a bit. I think that is what i am trying to work on. It's only been a week and both legs have been healing. I guess you hear about lymph nodes and all these other things..then you notice that your side is a little tender up by your breast..and you wonder if it's always been there or its from the surgery(I had so many shots in my legs) you just had..and your arm has been hurting for 3 months because you blew it out working out at the gym…and now you relate it to this…that's the kind of stuff that worries you…trying to stay positive and aprecise the fact that it could have been worse. Definitely a life lesson for someone who has always tried to be in control of the situation.
I have my appointment Thursday and hopefully can close the worry door a little bit. I really never got all of the specifics..only that it was a superficial spreading malignant melanoma..and we needed to remove 1cm..and it was caught early.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Thank you, I appreciate the advise. I will map out with my camera and a ruler. That is a great idea. I have learned so much by reading these blogs….so much I never knew. I was speaking to a friend and he told me that he had a melanoma 10 yrs ago stage 1 and that it took him a couple years to just "chill out" a bit. I think that is what i am trying to work on. It's only been a week and both legs have been healing. I guess you hear about lymph nodes and all these other things..then you notice that your side is a little tender up by your breast..and you wonder if it's always been there or its from the surgery(I had so many shots in my legs) you just had..and your arm has been hurting for 3 months because you blew it out working out at the gym…and now you relate it to this…that's the kind of stuff that worries you…trying to stay positive and aprecise the fact that it could have been worse. Definitely a life lesson for someone who has always tried to be in control of the situation.
I have my appointment Thursday and hopefully can close the worry door a little bit. I really never got all of the specifics..only that it was a superficial spreading malignant melanoma..and we needed to remove 1cm..and it was caught early.
-
- May 31, 2015 at 4:18 pm
The best advice I can offer is: look for the most likely explanation first. Then look for zebras. In the case of stage 1, melanoma is typically the zebra. Don't let your imagination get the best of you. Anything related to lymph nodes for you would be in the groin area, not breast or armpit or neck….
-
- May 31, 2015 at 4:18 pm
The best advice I can offer is: look for the most likely explanation first. Then look for zebras. In the case of stage 1, melanoma is typically the zebra. Don't let your imagination get the best of you. Anything related to lymph nodes for you would be in the groin area, not breast or armpit or neck….
-
- May 31, 2015 at 4:18 pm
The best advice I can offer is: look for the most likely explanation first. Then look for zebras. In the case of stage 1, melanoma is typically the zebra. Don't let your imagination get the best of you. Anything related to lymph nodes for you would be in the groin area, not breast or armpit or neck….
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.