› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Scared
- This topic has 15 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 2 months ago by
JerryfromFauq.
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- December 9, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Hello,
My Husband has had three spots of melanoma found and surgically removed in the last 6 months. All of the spots have been caught early, in situ, thankfully. My Father-in-Law passed away in March from stage IV melanoma. He survived about 18 months after he was diagnosed. We have seen first hand the devastation this cancer can do and we are scared. Luckily, all of my husbands spots have been caught early but he just had three more biopsies taken and we are waiting on the results. The doctor also noticed that his lymph nodes are now swollen. I am hoping that it is nothing but it is worrisome. I guess I am hoping to hear from some people who have been living with this cancer. We keep hoping for a clean skin check but so far that has not happened and does appear that it ever will. It seems like we just have to adapt to living with this cancer. We were planning on trying to start a family but we have decided to post pone. The doctor says that my husbands moles do not not have the usual markers for melanoma and he has been surprised each time the biopsies have come back. I am scared that we might miss a spot until after it is too late and it has spread. Does anyone have any advice on living with this cancer hanging over our heads.
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- December 9, 2014 at 5:54 pm
You are doing the very best thing you can do — staying vigilant, having any suspicious lesions biopsied, and having regular skin exams. My husband had two primaries, and has been doing the same thing. For several years, it seemed that every skin check required biopsies, surgeries (not for melanoma, but squamous and basal cell), etc. It was very disheartening. However, his last check was completely clean! The dermatologist said the vigilance in taking care of the precancerous conditions was finally paying off. Don't give up hope, and don't live you life as if your husband is dying of melanoma! Worry is just expecting bad things to happen, and that's no way to live this one life you have!!
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- December 9, 2014 at 5:54 pm
You are doing the very best thing you can do — staying vigilant, having any suspicious lesions biopsied, and having regular skin exams. My husband had two primaries, and has been doing the same thing. For several years, it seemed that every skin check required biopsies, surgeries (not for melanoma, but squamous and basal cell), etc. It was very disheartening. However, his last check was completely clean! The dermatologist said the vigilance in taking care of the precancerous conditions was finally paying off. Don't give up hope, and don't live you life as if your husband is dying of melanoma! Worry is just expecting bad things to happen, and that's no way to live this one life you have!!
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- December 9, 2014 at 5:54 pm
You are doing the very best thing you can do — staying vigilant, having any suspicious lesions biopsied, and having regular skin exams. My husband had two primaries, and has been doing the same thing. For several years, it seemed that every skin check required biopsies, surgeries (not for melanoma, but squamous and basal cell), etc. It was very disheartening. However, his last check was completely clean! The dermatologist said the vigilance in taking care of the precancerous conditions was finally paying off. Don't give up hope, and don't live you life as if your husband is dying of melanoma! Worry is just expecting bad things to happen, and that's no way to live this one life you have!!
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- December 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm
Photos. They provide an independent eye. I have baseline photos of all my moles. Mole mapping or whole body photography was really designed for those with dysplastic nevus syndrome or those with a lot of moles. Anything that changes (worsens) is biopsied. New and like other moles – left alone. New and different – biopsied. The photos really helped my anxiety because it just wasn't my doc's "whim" or my imagination getting away from me. Only 1 of my 3 primaries was "classical", but the other 2 had changed and stood out TO ME – not necessarily to anyone else. My derms would never have thought #2 or #3 were melanoma, I did. They were just different.
Be vigilant, not paranoid. Life is for living NOW!
Janner
Stage 1B since 1992, 3 MM primaries
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- December 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm
Photos. They provide an independent eye. I have baseline photos of all my moles. Mole mapping or whole body photography was really designed for those with dysplastic nevus syndrome or those with a lot of moles. Anything that changes (worsens) is biopsied. New and like other moles – left alone. New and different – biopsied. The photos really helped my anxiety because it just wasn't my doc's "whim" or my imagination getting away from me. Only 1 of my 3 primaries was "classical", but the other 2 had changed and stood out TO ME – not necessarily to anyone else. My derms would never have thought #2 or #3 were melanoma, I did. They were just different.
Be vigilant, not paranoid. Life is for living NOW!
Janner
Stage 1B since 1992, 3 MM primaries
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- December 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm
Photos. They provide an independent eye. I have baseline photos of all my moles. Mole mapping or whole body photography was really designed for those with dysplastic nevus syndrome or those with a lot of moles. Anything that changes (worsens) is biopsied. New and like other moles – left alone. New and different – biopsied. The photos really helped my anxiety because it just wasn't my doc's "whim" or my imagination getting away from me. Only 1 of my 3 primaries was "classical", but the other 2 had changed and stood out TO ME – not necessarily to anyone else. My derms would never have thought #2 or #3 were melanoma, I did. They were just different.
Be vigilant, not paranoid. Life is for living NOW!
Janner
Stage 1B since 1992, 3 MM primaries
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- December 10, 2014 at 11:22 am
Been Stage IV with innumerab;e lung tumors since Feb 2007. Still a going. and Not NED, but NOT DEAD.
Whis has 116 responoses.
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- December 10, 2014 at 11:22 am
Been Stage IV with innumerab;e lung tumors since Feb 2007. Still a going. and Not NED, but NOT DEAD.
Whis has 116 responoses.
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- December 10, 2014 at 11:22 am
Been Stage IV with innumerab;e lung tumors since Feb 2007. Still a going. and Not NED, but NOT DEAD.
Whis has 116 responoses.
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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