Melanoma - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

PayUp · 04-14-2006, 02:01 PM

There is a dermatoligist on my softball team, and he noticed a couple of spots on my back he didn't like. He told me to come in to his office for a better look. Being in Arizona for 20+ years I was a little concerned.

I went in yesterday and he removed the spots and sent them off for testing. Now I'm actually pretty nervous about getting the results back. Melanoma can be a deadly skin cancer.

Are there any Melanoma survivors here or anybody under going treatment for it?

If you have any spots on your skin that you are unsure of get checked!!
I didn't realize how serious Melanoma is until I started doing a little research.

USE SUNSCREEN THIS SUMMER...LOTS OF IT!!!

maleficent · 04-14-2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biljan

I didn't realize how serious Melanoma is until I started doing a little research.

a word of advice -- the web is a great medical dictionary - however it can drive you crazy and lead you to beleive the worst in a very short time-- You've gotten to a doctor... don't worry until you're given something to worry about...

Going to the doctor is the smart thing to do -- after a mispent youth of trying to tan and ending up with nothing but burns and sun poisoning... I go to the doctor when anything odd shows up... to date, it's always been nothing - but I've got a famly history of cancer - so better safe than sorry..

Good luck to you and hope you get an all clear...

PayUp · 04-14-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

a word of advice -- the web is a great medical dictionary - however it can drive you crazy and lead you to beleive the worst in a very short time-- You've gotten to a doctor... don't worry until you're given something to worry about...

The literature I received at the office is by far the best...I don't use the web in matters like these pretty much for the reasons you said.

The doctor seemed very concerned. It wasn't a "it woudn't hurt to check" type situation. And he did it for free so he's not in it for the $$$.

I'm probably more anxious than anything... I hate ordering anything by mail or web because I hate waiting in anticipation.

raeanna74 · 04-14-2006, 02:57 PM

I've had several skin lesions removed from my back. In the past I've burned very easily despite sunscreen and clothing. I do not attempt to get a tan or lay in the sun for long periods. I was foolhardy as a teen and did not bother with more than one application of sunscreen while at a water park one summer day. I burned my back, esp my shoulders, so severely that my back blistered and peeled both 3 times in a row from the same burn. It was painful for a couple weeks and underneath was a bright red raw surface that hurt to be touched with even a slight breeze.

Now I have many moles. I check them myself and my Dr checks on them yearly. I recently found a new one and if it gets much larger or begins to look uneven I will have that biopsied as well.

A biopsy will turn up as a minor skin lesion unless the Dr cuts deeply enough to remove the whole 'mole' instead of just shaving off the surface. It is considered malignant if it has grown roots and especially if it is connected beneath the skin to any more 'moles' in the same area. Mine had not birthed any lesions of it's own but had begun to grow roots. I do not have skin cancer, I had to undergo no other treatment with medication or anything. BUT I have a walnut sized scar on my back where the lesion was removed completely. I need to keep a watch on things but for now I'm fine.

Things to look for:
irregular edges
mottled coloring or more than one color in the patch
a size that is larger than a pencil eraser
flat or slightly raised (moles can be quite raised and really be considered skin tags sometimes - they are usually harmless)
any significant changes in size, shape or color
Irritation (unless it's right where your collar might bother it they should not itch or be sore unless they're a risk
any bleeding or oozing

I don't think you have a lot to worry about. If you had not noticed a lot of large dark patches in the same area then it's possible it could be just the beginnings as I had. In which case it is fairly easily treated and watched for. Good Luck - don't worry.

PayUp · 04-19-2006, 03:42 PM

Results came back. 2 Ok. The 3rd sample has been sent to another lab for further testing. Now I'm a little worried. Why the hell would one lab send it to another for further testing???Second opinion??

Does anyone know if this is standard practice to send a sample off to a different lab?

Nimetic · 04-21-2006, 10:53 PM

Well, the thing is - the more sensitive a test is, the more easily the alarm is set off right, and so the more chance there is of a false positive.

At least, if it is positive - it can't have been a biggie right?

PayUp · 04-28-2006, 02:24 PM

UPDATE:

The sample that was sent to the second lab came back "atypical" sp? Really don't know what that means but I have been scheduled for surgery to remove the rest of the spot and surrounding tissue. It wasn't Melanoma, but they don't like the looks of it either.They will remove a section about the size of those old school change thingies that you squeeze and they pop open, then stitched back together. They also want to do a full all over body exam to be safe.

wallaby72 · 04-28-2006, 03:06 PM

My dad had a melanoma so I'm pretty careful about these things. I've had about 4 or 5 moles removed from my chest and back on this basis. Even if they just think it doesn't look right or have even the slightest concern it's best to have it removed.
If they are good you won't have much of a scar, and that will be one mole you never have to worry about again.
I recommend going in for regular checks so you don't have to worry if you have missed any changes yourself.
Take care.

VitaminH · 04-28-2006, 08:01 PM

As far as skin cancer goes, Melanoma is the one that tends to be deadly, but even melanoma is relatively curable compared to other cancers when caught early. It appears you've caught something early, melanoma or otherwise.

"Atypical" could mean any number of things, and at this point it seems to be a better safe than sorry thing in removing the surrounidng tissue.

Everyone should always wear sunscreen if they're going to be exposed for any prolonged period of time.

Mister Coaster · 04-29-2006, 06:11 AM

My sister is a melanoma survivor. She had a very advanced tumor removed, one that had a "Breslow depth" of 8mm. 4mm is considered "really bad." She was given a 3 year survival rate of only 10%. In other words, a near death sentence, but she beat it. That was well over 3 years ago.

So no matter what the diagnosis, there is always hope.

04-14-2006, 02:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
PayUp DILLIGAF Location: AZ	Melanoma There is a dermatoligist on my softball team, and he noticed a couple of spots on my back he didn't like. He told me to come in to his office for a better look. Being in Arizona for 20+ years I was a little concerned. I went in yesterday and he removed the spots and sent them off for testing. Now I'm actually pretty nervous about getting the results back. Melanoma can be a deadly skin cancer. Are there any Melanoma survivors here or anybody under going treatment for it? If you have any spots on your skin that you are unsure of get checked!! I didn't realize how serious Melanoma is until I started doing a little research. USE SUNSCREEN THIS SUMMER...LOTS OF IT!!! __________________ Born to Lose.

04-14-2006, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I've had several skin lesions removed from my back. In the past I've burned very easily despite sunscreen and clothing. I do not attempt to get a tan or lay in the sun for long periods. I was foolhardy as a teen and did not bother with more than one application of sunscreen while at a water park one summer day. I burned my back, esp my shoulders, so severely that my back blistered and peeled both 3 times in a row from the same burn. It was painful for a couple weeks and underneath was a bright red raw surface that hurt to be touched with even a slight breeze. Now I have many moles. I check them myself and my Dr checks on them yearly. I recently found a new one and if it gets much larger or begins to look uneven I will have that biopsied as well. A biopsy will turn up as a minor skin lesion unless the Dr cuts deeply enough to remove the whole 'mole' instead of just shaving off the surface. It is considered malignant if it has grown roots and especially if it is connected beneath the skin to any more 'moles' in the same area. Mine had not birthed any lesions of it's own but had begun to grow roots. I do not have skin cancer, I had to undergo no other treatment with medication or anything. BUT I have a walnut sized scar on my back where the lesion was removed completely. I need to keep a watch on things but for now I'm fine. Things to look for: irregular edges mottled coloring or more than one color in the patch a size that is larger than a pencil eraser flat or slightly raised (moles can be quite raised and really be considered skin tags sometimes - they are usually harmless) any significant changes in size, shape or color Irritation (unless it's right where your collar might bother it they should not itch or be sore unless they're a risk any bleeding or oozing I don't think you have a lot to worry about. If you had not noticed a lot of large dark patches in the same area then it's possible it could be just the beginnings as I had. In which case it is fairly easily treated and watched for. Good Luck - don't worry. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

04-19-2006, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
PayUp DILLIGAF Location: AZ	Results came back. 2 Ok. The 3rd sample has been sent to another lab for further testing. Now I'm a little worried. Why the hell would one lab send it to another for further testing???Second opinion?? Does anyone know if this is standard practice to send a sample off to a different lab? __________________ Born to Lose.

04-28-2006, 02:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
PayUp DILLIGAF Location: AZ	UPDATE: The sample that was sent to the second lab came back "atypical" sp? Really don't know what that means but I have been scheduled for surgery to remove the rest of the spot and surrounding tissue. It wasn't Melanoma, but they don't like the looks of it either.They will remove a section about the size of those old school change thingies that you squeeze and they pop open, then stitched back together. They also want to do a full all over body exam to be safe. __________________ Born to Lose.

04-28-2006, 08:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
VitaminH An embarrassment to myself and those around me... Location: Pants	As far as skin cancer goes, Melanoma is the one that tends to be deadly, but even melanoma is relatively curable compared to other cancers when caught early. It appears you've caught something early, melanoma or otherwise. "Atypical" could mean any number of things, and at this point it seems to be a better safe than sorry thing in removing the surrounidng tissue. Everyone should always wear sunscreen if they're going to be exposed for any prolonged period of time. __________________ "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." - Napoleon Bonaparte

04-21-2006, 10:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nimetic Junkie Location: Melbourne, Australia	Well, the thing is - the more sensitive a test is, the more easily the alarm is set off right, and so the more chance there is of a false positive. At least, if it is positive - it can't have been a biggie right?

04-28-2006, 03:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
wallaby72 Insane Location: A long way from home	My dad had a melanoma so I'm pretty careful about these things. I've had about 4 or 5 moles removed from my chest and back on this basis. Even if they just think it doesn't look right or have even the slightest concern it's best to have it removed. If they are good you won't have much of a scar, and that will be one mole you never have to worry about again. I recommend going in for regular checks so you don't have to worry if you have missed any changes yourself. Take care.

04-29-2006, 06:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	My sister is a melanoma survivor. She had a very advanced tumor removed, one that had a "Breslow depth" of 8mm. 4mm is considered "really bad." She was given a 3 year survival rate of only 10%. In other words, a near death sentence, but she beat it. That was well over 3 years ago. So no matter what the diagnosis, there is always hope. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!