So....talk about.....CANCER SUPPORT THREAD !!

[Outpost JWB]

Oh @sumi. I am super sorry you had to go thru that all too. I am beyond worring at this point. I used to lose sleep & worry about every mole that popped up.....and there have been a lot. My dermatologist would tell me which ones I really need to watch, and any new. I had one pop up under my eye. Same place where I had surgery. Dr said to watch it. At 1st I thought it was make up, eyeliner, mascara, but it wouldn't come off. I'll watch it, but I won't fret over it. The dr told me I had the easiest type of skin cancer to treat.....and the most likely to come back.

In the meantime, I am living life. The Serenity Prayer is my prayer.

God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change,
The COURAGE to change the things I can,
And the WISDOM to know the difference.

Google's definition of Serenity:
se·ren·i·ty-
noun
the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

That's what I want to be all the time. Calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

Thanks for sharing your story sumi. I will pray for you. Early detection is key.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

@Outpost JWB
 I was drawn to this thread today for some reason and when I saw your post, I knew why. I found a suspicious mole on my shoulder about 4 years ago and had it checked out by the doctor, who said I can "have it removed if (I) wanted to" He wasn't overly concerned, so of course I chose the easiest path and left it. Fast forward 3 years, last year November the mole got itchy, so I checked it out, for the first time since I spotted it all that time ago. I usually had my DH keep an eye on it for changes. I was horrified to see how much it grew. Thankfully I went to a wonderful doctor this time, who took one look at it and got me an appointment with a dermatologist within days.

Turns out it was a good call… It was a melanoma. Thankfully, in spite of my long, long wait to have it biopsied, it was only Stage 1. I definitely dodged a bullet there! I had to go for follow up surgery, had lymph nodes removed for testing etc. It was a horrible experience, as I think you well know, and it left me with awful scars on my shoulder and neck, but I don't mind.

Tomorrow I have to go for another check-up at the dermatologist. I found 2 more moles on my back that looks exactly like the malignant one they removed, except these are smaller. So I'm trying to worry about it too much tonight, I'll see how things go.

I want to second what you said above. Make sure kids know the dangers of sun damage and wear sun screen!! I never used to and I wish I did now… I turned 36 this month, I have a lifetime of watching and worrying left, because of recklessness when I was young. It's not worth it, wear protection and make sure your kids do too. The sun is NOT your friend.

Also, if you have moles, have them checked out, if you ever burnt in the sun, be extra vigilant. Having biopsies done is a scary experience, but our experiences show that early detection means it can be cured.

It's not wrecklessness things were different then. We've learned a lot over the years. And better education and products have come out.
.....I'll keep you in my prayers

 

[sumi]

Oh @sumi

. I am super sorry you had to go thru that all too. I am beyond worring at this point. I used to lose sleep & worry about every mole that popped up.....and there have been a lot. My dermatologist would tell me which ones I really need to watch, and any new. I had one pop up under my eye. Same place where I had surgery. Dr said to watch it. At 1st I thought it was make up, eyeliner, mascara, but it wouldn't come off. I'll watch it, but I won't fret over it. The dr told me I had the easiest type of skin cancer to treat.....and the most likely to come back.

In the meantime, I am living life. The Serenity Prayer is my prayer.

God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change,
The COURAGE to change the things I can,
And the WISDOM to know the difference.

Google's definition of Serenity:
se·ren·i·ty-
noun
the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

That's what I want to be all the time. Calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

Thanks for sharing your story sumi. I will pray for you. Early detection is key.

Thank you for this

I am working very hard on that now, serenity, peace. The dermatologist wants to biopsy the two moles, as I expected. She didn't say anything alarming, but I am a bit worried. Surgery's next week Thursday. Best get it done with asap, so we'll know...

 

[LittleLakePhil]

Thank you for this   I am working very hard on that now, serenity, peace. The dermatologist wants to biopsy the two moles, as I expected. She didn't say anything alarming, but I am a bit worried. Surgery's next week Thursday. Best get it done with asap, so we'll know...

Unfortunately worry is one of those things that comes with the territory.
My Bone Marrow Transplant was 19 years ago and I still get anxiety every blood test I take.
I'm not gonna tell you not to worry because you will...but try and remember we've all got this far......so no matter what news we get we just have to wake up every day and fight.
People are always around to help with that fight.....Good Luck....I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[sumi]

Quote: Thank you

A few well meaning people have said to me last time already "Don't worry, it will be fine" It's impossible not to worry though. I've seen too many friends and relatives die of cancer. It was scary when it come knocking, but I thankfully know people who have survived this rodeo too, and they encourage me.

I'm working on getting into that "whatever happens, I'll be o.k." place now. One day at a time...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you A few well meaning people have said to me last time already "Don't worry, it will be fine" It's impossible not to worry though. I've seen too many friends and relatives die of cancer. It was scary when it come knocking, but I thankfully know people who have survived this rodeo too, and they encourage me.

I'm working on getting into that "whatever happens, I'll be o.k." place now. One day at a time...

That's my husband's favorite line, "everything will be fine" he always says. So far he's been mostly right.

I wish you tons of luck for a good outcome on your biopsy. You will be in my thoughts.

 

[sumi]

Quote: Thank you

 

[Outpost JWB]

sumi.[/quote]
Thank you   A few well meaning people have said to me last time already "Don't worry, it will be fine" It's impossible not to worry though. I've seen too many friends and relatives die of cancer. It was scary when it come knocking, but I thankfully know people who have survived this rodeo too, and they encourage me. 

I'm working on getting into that "whatever happens, I'll be o.k." place now. One day at a time...
[/quote]

I know what you mean about well meaning people .. My favorite is "Well, at least you JUST HAVE SKIN CANCER". Not trying to minimize any other types of cancer, or maximize skin cancer, but it's just bad news any way you look at it. And lots of people said (and still do), "At least it can't kill you." I don't correct them anymore. I don't waste my breath.

Thursday it is. I will pray for you & please update us as soon as you feel up to it.

 

[sumi]

.

Thank you

A few well meaning people have said to me last time already "Don't worry, it will be fine" It's impossible not to worry though. I've seen too many friends and relatives die of cancer. It was scary when it come knocking, but I thankfully know people who have survived this rodeo too, and they encourage me.

I'm working on getting into that "whatever happens, I'll be o.k." place now. One day at a time...
[/quote]

I know what you mean about well meaning people

.. My favorite is "Well, at least you JUST HAVE SKIN CANCER". Not trying to minimize any other types of cancer, or maximize skin cancer, but it's just bad news any way you look at it. And lots of people said (and still do), "At least it can't kill you." I don't correct them anymore. I don't waste my breath.

Thursday it is. I will pray for you & please update us as soon as you feel up to it.[/QUOTE]
Yep, and the ones I didn't mention, that dismisses it or make out like you are overreacting, because you're scared… Reactions like that ended up making me not want to talk about my experience until I went for my second surgery and the nurse said to me, I need to talk about it, because I'm "going to pack up". I just looked at her and shook my head… And wow, people's reactions when you say the "c-word"!

I read up about melanoma cancer, it's a very aggressive type that kills 1000's of people annually. I'm not familiar with the one you had, but any type of cancer is bad news and deadly if not taken care of... It doesn't matter where on your body it shows up. I use my experience to educate others now, as and when it comes up. When I see someone sunburned, that I know, I warn them. If people ask me about it, I'll tell them what I know, what I learned. I also encourage everyone with abnormal moles to have it checked out. Early detection can be a life saver.

I'll keep you posted on my next round, as I think about it. Thank you for the prayers, it's much appreciated

 

[Outpost JWB]

Wth basal cell, if untreated, it can spread to the muscles, nerves, bones, brain and (although rare) lead to death. By the chart below (copied off the net), I was at stage 2. I had seen my family doctor and asked him a few times about the moles. He had looked at them, and said they were fine. It wasn't until years later when I went to a dermatologist to see about another mole.


Stage 0 basal cell carcinoma: Also called carcinoma in situ, cancer discovered in this stage is only present in the epidermis (upper layer of the skin) and has not spread deeper to the dermis.
Stage I basal cell carcinoma: The cancer is less than 2 centimeters, about 4/5 of an inch across, has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs, and has one or fewer high-risk features.
Stage II basal cell carcinoma: The cancer is larger than 2 centimeters across, and has not spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes, or a tumor of any size with 2 or more high-risk features.
Stage III basal cell carcinoma: The cancer has spread into facial bones or 1 nearby lymph node, but not to other organs.
Stage IV basal cell carcinoma: The cancer can be any size and has spread (metastasized) to 1 or more lymph nodes which are larger than 3 cm and may have spread to bones or other organs in the body.

Anyways, melanoma is definitely more prevelient and serious. And thankfully people like you can educate our future generations