Any melanoma experts around?

[AnnaS]

Excellent. Good Luck!

 

[DawnCt1]

Excellent news! The dermatologist saw my email and called to fit me in today at 3:45pm. It was the head of the clinic believe it or not!

Interesting... I'll update when I get home.

Wonderful! I hope you will feel better!

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

So glad you got in. Sending prayers and good thoughts your way!

 

[Green Tea]

If you can't get in to see a dermatologist, which is typical for the area we live in. They book up early with "procedures", etc. Call and get an appointment with a general surgeon or a plastic surgeon. He can certainly evaluate it and if it is at all suspicious, can excise it and send it to the lab.

I was going to suggest a general surgeon as well.

 

[HeatherH]

Excellent news! The dermatologist saw my email and called to fit me in today at 3:45pm. It was the head of the clinic believe it or not!

Interesting... I'll update when I get home.

I KNEW if they saw it they would get you in faster. There is ALWAYS a way to make room for an urgent patient, especially for one with a history of irregular biopsies.

Good thoughts to you as you await your biopsy results!

 

[librarygal]

One of the TV stations in the DC area did a test and had people call dermatologists offices for two types of appointments, botox and a suspicious mole. Guess who was able to get an appointent within days?

 

[DawnCt1]

One of the TV stations in the DC area did a test and had people call dermatologists offices for two types of appointments, botox and a suspicious mole. Guess who was able to get an appointent within days?

I am not surprised. There is only one dermatologist in the area that will squeeze anyone in for something "medical".

 

[zakatak]

Appointment result: Dr. looked at it and determined that there were abnormal cells (looked through a fancy dermaglass something or other). Instead of shaving it off for biopsy, they did a full excision and now I have 6 stitches in my hip.

I will know the results of the biopsy within 5-7 days.

He did ask me a couple of times if any of my immediate family had Melanoma (my Grandmother did). He also asked me if I had a complete body check after the last one was removed (in October). I said no, they didn't offer that.

Now, I just wait...

 

[Green Tea]

I am glad he got it off. The full body checks are so important. Melanoma doesn't discriminate on skin we can see and skin we can't. Let us know.

 

[purpletiger]

While the PCP is in no position to effectively biopsy the lesion, a general surgeon or a plastic surgeon certainly is. Many patients prefer plastic surgeons for extensive disection because of their skills. While they may not be able to give a definitive diagnosis by examining a lesion, they can certainly send it to the pathologist. A board certified pathologist can recognize melanoma as well as most cancer cells. That is what they do. General surgeons are the surgeons that operate on patients with melanoma metastasis and hospital pathologists are the ones that more often than not make that diagnosis. Furthermore, she could ask for the surgeon to send the sample to a dermatopathologist. I am not saying that a dermatologist isn't optimal, but waiting 3 weeks with anxiety is far from optimal and I would want an answer sooner.

The only reason I suggested her seeing her derm over seeing another type of doctor is for the dermatopathologist. Every doctor has a waiting list that she could get on and therefor she would not have the anxiety for 3 more weeks.

We have seen patients who have had biopsies (more than one occasion) and the "board certified pathologist" has determined the mole benign. Well in fact the patient's have had recurrences and upon us sending the recurrent mole to a dermatopathologist it was in fact melanoma or some other type of skin cancer. So yes they maybe capable of looking at most biopsies; I have seen first hand when they have made mistakes in reading of the biopsy. But hey, they are only human and everyone makes mistakes (me included-nobody is perfect. I am looking out for the best interest of the OP and want only the very best for her.

OP-your other mole removal was probably a dysplastic nevus which means it could have turned into a melanoma later on in life.

 

[zakatak]

Yes, the original mole on the knee was a Dysplastic Nevus. They cleared the margins and consider that one gone.

This one today they saw abnormal cells right away which does kind of scare me. They said if it comes back benign, then I should be done with this one. If it comes back Melanoma, then I am not "done". I didn't ask for anymore details than that because I tend to like to cross my bridges one at a time (and only when necessary).

I will update this thread once I hear the results. At least I get to spend the next few days waiting at Disney World!

 

[AnnaS]

Good luck with the results and have a great time at Disney World. I like your attitude and again, please keep us posted.

 

[purpletiger]

Yes, the original mole on the knee was a Dysplastic Nevus. They cleared the margins and consider that one gone.

This one today they saw abnormal cells right away which does kind of scare me. They said if it comes back benign, then I should be done with this one. If it comes back Melanoma, then I am not "done". I didn't ask for anymore details than that because I tend to like to cross my bridges one at a time (and only when necessary).

I will update this thread once I hear the results. At least I get to spend the next few days waiting at Disney World!

Keep us informed. Good Luck.

 

[krcit]

Thinking good thoughts for you. I'm so glad that you were able to get in and I want you to know that I am calling my derm. first thing in the morning to schedule my annual full body check. It's been over a year and I'm not going to put it off any longer. Thanks for the push. Have a great trip and please keep us posted.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Good luck! I'm going through the procedure myself.

 

[zakatak]

Good luck, Sandy!

I'll keep you posted! Tonight I'm going to enjoy a glass of wine (even though the suture care sheet said no alcohol ) and hopefully a good night sleep tonight.

I've done my part - whatever happens from here happens.

First ride tomorrow - Spaceship Earth!

 

[HeatherH]

The "no alcohol" is to help prevent bleeding. When I had Mohs surgery on my nose for my basal cell, I couldn't have alcohol for the week prior and the week after surgery, nor could I take ibuprofen...both thin the blood. Which sucked because acetaminophen didn't touch the pain once the numbing wore off.

I'm SO glad they have removed it and the biopsy is underway. I know it's hard not to worry about the "what ifs", but just remember LOTS of people have had melanoma and are completely cured. I know many, many of them. They may have to remove more to be sure it's clean, but you will cross that bridge if/when you come to it.

I hope they did the full body check too! Those always result in a few things being biopsied for me...so far, knock wood, nothing worse than the basal cell and some dysplastic nevi.

Thanks for the update, and hang in there!

 

[pjshaff]

Don't be surprised if they call you sooner if it's melanoma. My DH had melanoma on his back (looked similar to yours but worse). He went to an appt with his sister, the derm took one look at it and said "that's coming off today". She and her asst worked through lunch to remove it. The Dr called my DH the next day and told him that he was having surgery the next week at Emory, that it was already scheduled. He's been clear now for over 10 years.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Good luck, Sandy!

I'll keep you posted! Tonight I'm going to enjoy a glass of wine (even though the suture care sheet said no alcohol ) and hopefully a good night sleep tonight.

I've done my part - whatever happens from here happens.

First ride tomorrow - Spaceship Earth!

Thanks! Have fun tomorrow. Ride Soarin for me.

 

[AnnaS]

Don't be surprised if they call you sooner if it's melanoma. My DH had melanoma on his back (looked similar to yours but worse). He went to an appt with his sister, the derm took one look at it and said "that's coming off today". She and her asst worked through lunch to remove it. The Dr called my DH the next day and told him that he was having surgery the next week at Emory, that it was already scheduled. He's been clear now for over 10 years.

After your dh had his surgery - did he have or did they recommend chemo or radiation for preventive measures - if you don't me asking. TIA.