Posts: 79
3/8/12 7:11 P

That is so true! Honestly, the more I get removed, the more numb I become to the process. I just am so tired of all of the scars. I get hypertrophic scars, so I also have to go back to get cortisone shots. I am going every two months, and it's just aweful! Glad to know somebody knows what I am going through.

SparkPoints: (19,211)
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Posts: 188
3/8/12 5:48 P

I know just how you feel! I had a pink spot removed from my arm in 2008 which turned out to be an amelanotic melanoma, stage 1, level 2. I had check ups every four months for a few years, now only every six months. I have labs once a year, so far all clear. I've had only two other biopsies since then, both benign. The most recent one was last week, I'm sitting here with stitches as we speak. Got word yesterday that it's benign.

The first few years after my diagnosis I OBSESSED about melanoma! I was beside myself with worry. I fretted about my kids growing up without a Mom. As you can imagine, this got pretty old. So I've gotten to a place where I can put the danger out of my mind. I just remind myself that it's all about catching it early. So even if it IS melanoma, it shouldn't be too far along, as long as I'm getting regular checkups, which I always will. So far I've been lucky. But I know how squirrely melanoma is, so I don't take anything for granted. I'm doing my best to make the most of my life, cuz you never know, I could get hit by a meteor tomorrow.


ps-welcome to the team!

current weight: 189.8

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Posts: 79
3/8/12 5:04 P

Hi everybody! I am new to this team, and joined because friends want to, but just don't understand what I am going through. In 2002, I had a pink growth on my stomach. I went to a plastic surgeon who removed it and told me it was a benign tumor. I kind of stopped worrying about it after that, but in 2010, I had two spots, one on my back and one on my shoulder that came back as stage 0 melanoma. They removed them, and blood tests showed that it had not spread. In 2011, a spot returned right next to the old spot on my back which was removed and proved to again be stage 0 melanoma. Again, blood test revealed that it had not spread. However, a couple months later, a precancerous (melanoma) spot showed up on my ear and was removed. Then, on my opposite wrist, a precancerous (sqamous cell carcinoma) spot showed up, again removed. Now, early 2012, the spot on my wrist came back, and I had to have it re-removed and a new spot showed up on my belly button. I am awaiting results. This is now a total of 7 biopsies that I have had, and I have many other spots that are being watched, and most likely will be biopsied. My fiance jokes that they are turning me into swiss cheese. I have pale skin and alot of moles, but I have never sun tanned in my whole life, and I have not had many sun burns. I am just unlucky. How do you all handle all the cutting and removing of these things? It becomes alot to deal with even though it is potentially not so serious.