Forum Discussion
4th Melanoma found after skin check
Hi everyone, so pre my bc journey I have had 3 melanoma. I had my first melanoma at 38, 2nd one at 39 and 3rd at 49. These were caught reasonably early so no further treatment but pretty big scars. I also have had about 30 odd other skin biopsies. I have both parents who have had melanoma as well as other skin cancers like SCCs and BCCs so I just got their Irish skin. It probably didn't help that I grew up in Queensland and in the 1960s there wasn't awareness of sun damage.
I had breast cancer at just before turning 58 and finished active treatment for this last year. I am currently taking tamoxifen.
Unfortunately my recent skin check (I go every 6 months) required 4 biopsies. I got a call today to advise i need surgery next week to remove another melanoma. I may need a bit more taken out of one of the other biopsies but I find out Monday.
I also have 2 cysts on my head which seem to have grown a bit, particularly one on the crown of my head and it is causing a bald patch so these cysts will be removed next week too.
I am ok and I am sure all will be fine once they remove the melanoma cancer. They found it early and i have this skin check every 6 months.
My message to everyone is to get your skin checked and slip, slop, slap.
I had breast cancer at just before turning 58 and finished active treatment for this last year. I am currently taking tamoxifen.
Unfortunately my recent skin check (I go every 6 months) required 4 biopsies. I got a call today to advise i need surgery next week to remove another melanoma. I may need a bit more taken out of one of the other biopsies but I find out Monday.
I also have 2 cysts on my head which seem to have grown a bit, particularly one on the crown of my head and it is causing a bald patch so these cysts will be removed next week too.
I am ok and I am sure all will be fine once they remove the melanoma cancer. They found it early and i have this skin check every 6 months.
My message to everyone is to get your skin checked and slip, slop, slap.
30 Replies
- Thanks @Chevvy
I will let you know about oncologist and PET but starting to think given melanoma is insitu maybe it would be unnecessary. We will see on 14th December. - Good to hear your feeling better about things...all the best for your oncologist appt, will def be interested to hear their thoughts on PET.. đ€
- Hi @Chevvy,
Wow 180 is bloody terrible. I think my dad has had some enormous amount too. Skin wise i have had about 40 excisions of which 4 melanoma. I just breathe deeply and I am grateful the melanoma was found early enough.
This is the first melanoma post bc (last year). I was wondering about a PET scan too. I see the oncologist on 14th December and will ask about that as a possibility.
I think while the whole idea of going looking is scary, I would like to not be left wondering. I guess there are always the possibility of a rouge cell so maybe that's why a PET scan after each melanoma, especially given bc too.
I do feel better about things, now the results were made clear. Take care. - Sorry to hear another little journey ahead of you... but so good that you are onto it and keeping up those skin checks... any form of cancer is so bloomin shit sucky.. I really hope the wait for your next excision isn't too stressful for you, and that they get it all in the next hit.
Hubby and I stopped counting my skin cancer treatments at 180, got boring after that, lol... then got the bc diagnosis just for something a bit different, did treatment , on tamoxifen and have had 3 melanomas since... think someone "upstairs" is screwing with me đ€Ș..but where I'm going with this is.. has your oncologist/dr suggested a PET scan... mines doing one literally after each melanoma... not only do I have enough scars on my body from all the surgeries that you could literally play join the dots, but I think I am glowing green from all the scans... wondering if oncologist is being over cautious (if there could be such a thing)... but interested to know where others stand in similar situations and if so many PETS are that necessary...
Take care, and hope your feeling a bit better about things now. đ€ - My breast surgeon is my lump man! Heâs removed four in a decade (all benign), mainly because they will grow, get knocked and possibly infected. Another aspect of the ageing process!! I feel much more confident with his analysis and treatment than my very good GP, who after all is not a cancer specialist.
- @Cath62, I think for peace of mind at least six monthly checkups & then anything is picked up early. The GP who picked up my first melanoma was a particularly good one I think & once you are seeing a dermatologist you can get in early with any further concerns.
@arpie, I hadnât heard of that rare melanoma either. I knew about Angiosarcoma & asked radiation oncologist about it before treatment & she said she hadnât seen a case in 20 years but you donât usually follow up with them years later. It usually occurs after 5 to 7 years. Dermatologist said I was also at risk of angiosarcoma because of lymphodema in that area. Something to look forward tođ - GOOD RESULT!! SO pleased to hear it is benign, @Glemmis - but that scanxiety just never goes away, does it? That's bad they didn't get onto you straight after receiving the results tho! :( They have NO IDEA the angst they cause ....
Thanks for telling us about the 'radiation melanomas'!!! Hadn't heard of that one before!!
take care xx - @arpie I think I will put my concern in writing. The dr are very good at this specialist centre but obviously there needs training regarding communication with cancer patients.
@Fraser totally agree of prompt accurate information reducing anxiety. Sorry you had to go through that uncertainty for a period of time.
@Glemmis sorry you went through that terrible experience. That dr should not have said they were concerned unless that actually knew the result was not good. How dare they raise concerns when they don't even know. I am glad you are ok. I would never see a GP about skin issues. While the nurse really got things wrong, my dermatologist is so skilled in diagnosis of skin cancer I would not see anyone else. I have seen this dermatologist for 25 years. I always go every 6 months but next week I will be checking if he wants me that every 3 or 4 months. I was on a 3 month regime when I had my first melanoma 20 odd yrs ago. - I had a melanoma in 2011 removed by GP & then further surgery 3 weeks later and have a yearly check up at Melanoma Centre. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and had surgery, chemo & radiation & Letrozole. I had a very small lesion removed from my leg in Jan which was benign. I fractured my arm in 4 places in July & was in a sling for 6 weeks & wasnât able to lift my arm until a month or so ago where I noticed a red lesion in the radiation field. My first thought was an Angiosarcoma so Melanoma Centre saw me in 3 days & dermatologist said she was âvery worriedâ it was an Angiosarcoma or a rare melanoma from radiation so either way wasnât looking good. Results today a benign vascular lesion. I have been very anxious for 2 weeks waiting for results & really annoyed she said she was really worried. I also think results have been there for a few days because I had to ring them for it. It is just unnecessary but also a warning to look for suspicious lesions if you have had radiation. They are rare and GPs donât know much about them so you need a dermatologist. I am back on 6 monthly checks now!
- Oh dear - WHY can't the Nurse GET IT FXXKING RIGHT?? All that angst - for nothing! Yep, quality, accurate communication is essential.
All the best for you appt next week and donât hold back re the lack of communication - write it all down and give him a copay so it is not just âhe says/she saysâ! ...
It is obvious that person had NO IDEA what her misinformation does to the state of mind of vulnerable patients xxx Let us know how you go xxx
take care xx
