MELANOMA---Need good stories!!!

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momand2kids
momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
edited June 2019 in Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity

Dear community=

I am sitting in the dermatologists office because my skin biopsy earlier in the week has come back positive for melanoma-- they are about to do an excisional biopsy-send it out to lab, and do more if necessary-- of course he said it was small (less than .5 mm) and it is good we got it when we did (I noticed it) but I am still freaking out-- anyone have a good story about this????

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited April 2019

    My BIL is at least 14 years out and no sign of recurrence.

    My Derm was dx with it and she is 3 years out

    Neighbor dx 2 years ago and doing fine.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited April 2019

    I had one 20 years ago, and another one DURING CHEMO! At which point I said, you might as well check my scalp!

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    Santa

    that is unbelievable I remember having my derm check out my head during chemo-but I would have lost my mind if they found something. The thing with this is that is was like a pink mosquito bite and no one thought it was anything, but I decided to insist that they look at it--even at the first biopsy, he was sure it was nothing. Today, his colleague did an excisional biopsy so she could see the depth--her response to my questions was "this is going to be fine-I am not worried and neither should you--the first biopsy shows no real mitosis-- and there is a 98% cure rate for this" I am just going to take her at her word--- this is cancer # 3--breast, 5 years later thyroid, and now 5 years later this... I am afraid to go for my next colonoscopy.

    thanks for writing back- that was reassuring


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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    Thanks Wally-- this is helpful to hear-- I think all the indicators are good...


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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    so when I was complaining to my dermatologist about having had bc 10 years ago, thyroid cancer 5 years ago and now this..... his response was "someone is clearly looking out for you"..... which I know is probably true-- but boy I am just sort of undone by this. But then the follow up was " this will be fine-don't worry=98% cure rate" One thing my cancer experience has taught me is that they do not say these things lightly


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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited April 2019

    Mom, my sister had melanoma 40 years ago. All is well with her.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited April 2019

    My husband's college roomie had melanoma--twice--and he's doing great. Excision, sentinel node biopsy, and all was well. No chemo.

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  • Krose53
    Krose53 Member Posts: 148
    edited April 2019

    Hi, I know this must be worrisome. My dad had it 15 years ago and is totally fine. I just talked w a woman last night, who is 6 yrs out and everything is great with her. You'll do amazing.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited April 2019

    I'm 2 1/2 years out from atypical melanoma on my lower leg. Had a wide excision, and lymph nodes in upper leg removed, one positive. Getting follow up ultrasounds of my upper leg lymph nodes, and whole body Pet Scans. So far doing good. Make sure your care providers don't delay since Melanoma can spread quickly as it did with me.

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    Thanks all--it is so heartwarming to know you are all out there- which is why this is so much easier than past cancers.. I know how to get the help I need!!!


    Veeder- so true- and we are moving quickly-- even though the biopsy showed very slow cell mitosis--first little biopsy was on Tuesday, second yesterday and that will tell them if they have to go any deeper- all of which they will do on Wednesday-so less than 10 days. I am heartened by my prognosis and by your stories...

    I should add that I saw this thing on my arm, looking like a bite- called derm-- sent pictures-- the first set were too blurry-- sent another set the next day- he said "come in" but not because he thought it was anything--just because he knows me, my history and the fact that I have a pretty good sense of what is going on in my body- and even as he was doing the biopsy he said I don't think this is anything--because, again, it had no pigment and did not look like a mole. He was totally surprised and I think relieved when the path came back with slow mitosis, etc....

    So being a little neurotic occasionally pays off!

    Thanks again-- I love my go-to community!!!


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  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited April 2019

    My aunt had melanoma on a shoulder back in 1980 - they excised it and she has had no issues since then so 39 years!

    Interestingly enough, when I met with the genetic counselor, I had no identified genetic predisposition for breast cancer. However, the fact that I had an aunt with "early onset" (she was 45) melanoma and an uncle with early onset prostate cancer (48), that indicated a higher risk for breast cancer. I found that very interesting. Wish I had known that sooner I might have pushed for MRI screening.


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  • MaryScout
    MaryScout Member Posts: 38
    edited April 2019

    Hi There!

    I have had 3 melanoma in-situs removed -- all on my feet and ankles. The main indicator for me was that the moles were changing. They didn't really look odd or jagged or anything. Boy, what we know now. I didn't ever use a tanning bed, but growing up, my parents would drop us off at the pool and we would play there all day. I have something called dysplastic nevi syndrome, so that means that my body makes lots of moles and that most all of them are atypical. As a result, I had a full-body series of photos done so that my docs can compare me to them, and that is such a peace of mind! If you have lots of moles, it might be something to consider. Unfortunately, my insurance didn't cover it, so it was about $400.

    At first I was totally freaked out about it, but as so many things, my fear subsided a lot over time. Being proactive about it was really helpful. Now, I'm just super good about sunscreen. But that doesn't mean I hide indoors all the time. In fact, I'm a lover of scuba, so I still go! Actually, that's probably good that I'm diving, because I'm wearing a full wetsuit anyway. :) And ultimately, I figure that because I'm now vigilant about this, if anything else comes up, I will see it and catch it early.

    At the time when I first was diagnosed, I treated myself to a nice sun hat by tilley. It's so cute and I get so many compliments about it!

    If you ever want to talk or if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch!

    Warmly,

    Mary

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    Mary

    thank you so much for your helpful advice about the scan and the tilley hat!!! I will ask the dermatologist next week when I go in for the final excision about the scan--- seems totally worth it--I have been having moles removed for 20 years!!! Even when I was pregnant! So it might be a good idea to get a scan.... I have had at least one on my foot as well--

    I am fair- but was not in the sun too too much as a kid-and have been very vigilant-- I guess more vigilance is necessary.

    Thanks again- your message was very reassuring


    Rah-thanks for your response- I do think there are connections to all of these things, they just don't know yet how....

    hugs to you all


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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    Mary

    thank you so much for your helpful advice about the scan and the tilley hat!!! I will ask the dermatologist next week when I go in for the final excision about the scan--- seems totally worth it--I have been having moles removed for 20 years!!! Even when I was pregnant! So it might be a good idea to get a scan.... I have had at least one on my foot as well--

    I am fair- but was not in the sun too too much as a kid-and have been very vigilant-- I guess more vigilance is necessary.

    Thanks again- your message was very reassuring


    Rah-thanks for your response- I do think there are connections to all of these things, they just don't know yet how....

    hugs to you all


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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited April 2019

    momand2kids,

    Glad your doctors are on top of it. Mine was atypical and looked like a wart with no pigment. My doctor was surprised it was melanoma. I’m BRAC2 and that mutation makes me high risk for it, even more than being exposed to the sun. I’m piling on the sunscreen these days or wearing long pants and sleeves during the cooler weather. I’m sure you’ll be fine

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  • bella2013
    bella2013 Member Posts: 489
    edited April 2019

    Six months after my BMX with DIEP Flap Reconstruction I was diagnosed with Melanoma and Basel cell carcinoma. I had the MOHS Procedure to remove the Melanoma and an excision to remove the Basel Cell. Margins came back clear for both. All is well.

    I went in for a sonogram on my clavicular node. That came back fine but they discovered multiple nodes on my thyroid gland. Gotta have that examined next.

    One day at a time...one cancer event at a time..

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    Veeder,

    same here-- my derm was not concerned at all when he first saw it. but I do feel like everyone is on top of it-- and I feel very much relieved by the doc review of the report and her instructions "you don't need to worry"...but of course I will, a little bit. We will know more tomorrow about what she needs to do on Wednesday. At least one lesson of breast cancer was "hurry up and wait"...


    Bella, I am sorry about the nodules on your thyroid, but know that over 90% of them are benign. I like your mantra" one cancer event at a time".... that really resonated with me.


    Thanks again all-I will keep you posted-but I am feeling pretty good about all this right now--fingers crossed.


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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2019

    Quick update-- going back in today for re-excision-- hopefully they can get good margins and I can be done!!! Keep thinking of dr. last words last week--"you have nothing to worry about-this will be fine"......


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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2019

    re-excision happened-- wide margins--pathology was good-- 98% cure rate--- I will take it!!!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited May 2019

    Great news, momand2kids! Now heal up your incision and let this be in your rear-view mirror!

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  • MaryScout
    MaryScout Member Posts: 38
    edited May 2019

    Fantastic news!! So glad you got it early and took care of it. Way to go!

    Yours,

    Mary

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  • gailmary
    gailmary Member Posts: 332
    edited May 2019

    yep my dad had melanoma yrs ago. And breast cancer and esophageal cancer too. Died of something else!

    Hood you csught it early. Good luck

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  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited May 2019

    Woo - hoo ! Great news Momandtwo

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2019

    Thanks all- I seem to be healing well.. taking it easy-- overdid it at work on the first day.... but have pulled back a little.

    Stitches come out on 5/23-- I had an initial biopsy, then a second one when she went in to see how far to go, then one more at the final excision. She told me there was no difference between the first and second biopsy-- all prognosticators were good-- adn the third one would just be about margins. The third pathology report just popped up on my portal-but I have decided that I don't need to read it. I can ask her about it when we meet on the 23rd. Her last words to me after the excision were "99% curable"... I am going with that!


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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2019

    Hi all,

    got the call from doc- no further treatment necessary based on the 3rd pathology--just have to get the stitches out--- so grateful for that!! Off to buy UV-protective clothing!!!

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  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited May 2019

    That is fabulous news !!!!

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2019

    Thanks Rah-- feeling relieved-- and grateful that I have managed to survive these low level cancers 3 times.... hoping there are no more!!


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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2019

    Hi all

    going to get stitches out tomorrow-- I am curious if this melanoma puts me at greater risk for future melanoma (or basal, et). Also, they say the margins are clear and no further treatment is necessary-- with bc the oncotype kind of makes that choice. Anyone know if they have such a thing with melanoma? I appreciate the good prognosis, etc. but am a little nervous about no treatement.....


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  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited May 2019

    Hi, late to this post. I was actually diagnosed with melanoma in August 2017 so well before this breast cancer dx. Mine was also in situ and had clear margins. So I'm on the 6 month exam plan for five years. My derm has removed a couple of questionable areas in the three follow up visits since the wide local area incision. One was nothing, one was abnormal but it's gone now anyway so that's all good. I'll be honest, the melanoma scares me more than this breast cancer. I feel like we get such good support w/ breast cancer but so many people are completely clueless about melanoma.

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2019

    Hi

    I was already on every 6 months for the past 20 years!!! had alot of things taken off over the years-- one basal, but nothing more-which is why this was such a shock to me and the derm. I do think the melanoma can be worse if not caught early. I am not sure if mine is in situ-all i know is I have clear margins-which I have to assume is the same as in breast cancer (a good thing!!) . I really don't have the mental energy to do alot of research ( I feel like I became a bc expert and really don't want to become an expert in another cancer).... I will see how it goes tomorrow. thanks


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