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Skin Cancer Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to skin cancer.
Just to kick off the community...
by ea_poe, Jul 24, 2008 11:20PM
Very happy MedHelp has added this community. I posted this a few months back as a journal, but figured it's be a good way to start the community off.
I was diagnosed with Skin Cancer on my right arm when I was 32. I had skin graft surgery to remove this and have not had another instance since.
I was lucky. I want to write this so maybe one other person out there doesn't need to just be lucky to recover 100%.
I'd had a small mole on my right arm as far back as I could remember. So, of course never thought anything of it. Turns out, since I'd always had it, I didn't notice the very slow changes occurring to it. I didn't notice it getting darker, or changing shape slightly. It just always seemed like it'd been like that. It happens when things move so slow, your mind adjusts to the new reality. So, two years ago, simply sitting in my dentist's chair getting a cleaning, wearing a short sleeve shirt, my dentist mentioned that it looked dark and I should get it looked at. At first I dismissed it, figuring I'd always had it, but I happened to have my annual physical that month and while I was there I asked about it. He assured me it was probably nothing, but let's take a quick test anyway. So, he took a sample (a more or less painless process) and sent it off to the lab. Well, a week later, I had tested positive, and was scrambling to find out more about Melanoma (thanks MedHelp) and to schedule surgery with a Dermatologist to have it removed.
The key was that I caught it early. I'm not a doctor, so bear with me if some of this isn't perfect medically, but Melanoma essentially moves downward into your skin. As long as you catch it while it's in the skin you have a terrific chance of isolating it just to that location and being perfectly fine. Those chances drop significantly if it has time to get down into the blood stream. At that point it can spread easier and needless to say, this isn't good.
The advice I give all my friends, and wanted to put here is simple. If you have a mole or something irregular, in particular if it's dark in color, odd in shape or raised from the skin, have your primary care doctor check it out. It's a simple process. Doesn't involve the hospital or a specialist. Let your doctor determine if you need a test, but just ask.
Catching it early makes a world of difference.
poe
I was diagnosed with Skin Cancer on my right arm when I was 32. I had skin graft surgery to remove this and have not had another instance since.
I was lucky. I want to write this so maybe one other person out there doesn't need to just be lucky to recover 100%.
I'd had a small mole on my right arm as far back as I could remember. So, of course never thought anything of it. Turns out, since I'd always had it, I didn't notice the very slow changes occurring to it. I didn't notice it getting darker, or changing shape slightly. It just always seemed like it'd been like that. It happens when things move so slow, your mind adjusts to the new reality. So, two years ago, simply sitting in my dentist's chair getting a cleaning, wearing a short sleeve shirt, my dentist mentioned that it looked dark and I should get it looked at. At first I dismissed it, figuring I'd always had it, but I happened to have my annual physical that month and while I was there I asked about it. He assured me it was probably nothing, but let's take a quick test anyway. So, he took a sample (a more or less painless process) and sent it off to the lab. Well, a week later, I had tested positive, and was scrambling to find out more about Melanoma (thanks MedHelp) and to schedule surgery with a Dermatologist to have it removed.
The key was that I caught it early. I'm not a doctor, so bear with me if some of this isn't perfect medically, but Melanoma essentially moves downward into your skin. As long as you catch it while it's in the skin you have a terrific chance of isolating it just to that location and being perfectly fine. Those chances drop significantly if it has time to get down into the blood stream. At that point it can spread easier and needless to say, this isn't good.
The advice I give all my friends, and wanted to put here is simple. If you have a mole or something irregular, in particular if it's dark in color, odd in shape or raised from the skin, have your primary care doctor check it out. It's a simple process. Doesn't involve the hospital or a specialist. Let your doctor determine if you need a test, but just ask.
Catching it early makes a world of difference.
poe
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Just wondering, did the doctor give any possible causes? You're pretty young and I thought skin cancer occurred more often in older people. Was it genetic or caused by sun damage?
Yeah, unfortunately now, it can happen really at any time especially if you've had high risk situations like having a bad sunburn, tanning beds, etc. I used to landscape as a teenager and had a few bad sunburns in the process, so I assume that was a big part of me being positive.
poe
Almost forgot to mention! This can also be hereditary (sp?). My father has the same thing as I have, so I have to be extra careful about the sun.
C~