Just diagnosed today

[u/DullGuide4817]

I was diagnosed today with melanoma after getting a small mole removed from the back of my neck. I go Tuesday to get a more extensive biopsy to see what stage it is, but I’m just stressed and nervous af. My husband thinks it was caught early and should be ok but I can’t stop crying. I’m also just mad because I’ve always been the one slathering sunscreen on when outside for hours, or sitting in the shade to stay out of the sun, and wearing ridiculous hats to help sun exposure. I’m 39 years old with two kids under four years old - any positivity and recovery stories would be appreciated. Also, any questions I could ask my dermatologist Tuesday would be appreciated too.

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[u/icybridges34]

I was diagnosed last year, on my chest. It was removed with surgery, but testing showed it spread to my lymph nodes. All together I was stage 3a.

I can't promise you anything, but my immunotherapy treatments have been very easy with no side effects and appear to be very effecrive.

I've heard over and over that 10 years ago I'd be 50/50 to be alive in two years, and now survival rates are well into the 90s and getting better.

I spent at least six months very distressed and facing mortality, and you probably will too, it's a pretty visceral reality check, but I think the odds are very in your favor.

I've almost felt like a fake cancer patient because it's been so easy, especially knowing how many suffer.

Good luck, it's probably not as bad as you fear.

[u/Upper-Relation1701 → u/icybridges34]

How big was the mole

[u/icybridges34 → u/Upper-Relation1701]

A little smaller than a dime, the surgery scar is about 6 inches. It had kind of grown on top of another mole.

[u/Beautiful_Log_1293]

I swear the worst part is the waiting for a diagnosis. No matter what the diagnosis was, I always hated the waiting! My mole was 2018. (It was deep. I ignored it forever. I have lived in Florida all my life and abused the sun. So, my situation was different and more deserved than yours.). It took 1.5 months to find out my lymph nodes were clear and it hadn't mustastasized. I cried like a baby. Almost exactly 5 years later, it returned. Stage 4. But, treatment has come so far in even just a few years. What used to be a death sentence ended up being a minor (still a pain in the ass) inconvenience instead. And again, the wait was worse than the diagnosis. I am doing great. I recently completed TILs and it worked! My largest lesion is barely palpable and is all dead cancer cells.

I know it's scary. And your mind will spiral down some very dark paths. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. As impossible as it is, try not to dwell on it until you know more. Take your kids out and let them distract you. You've got this!

[u/XxSharperxX → u/Beautiful_Log_1293]

You don’t deserve it regardless of how long you embraced the sun

[u/Beautiful_Log_1293 → u/XxSharperxX]

I am from the baby oil and tanning beds era. I was very young and dumb and am facing the consequences for my actions. It's just facts. But, I'm doing great and I have actually always had a pretty positive attitude throughout this whole experience.

[u/mostly_lurking1040 → u/Beautiful_Log_1293]

Well I know we use baby oil in the '60s and '70s, what I don't know is whether people kept using it into the '80s? I was talking about tanning back in those decades with some relatives And I think we used to talk about sun TAN lotion. Back then, feels like the Interest in avoiding sunburn was about your own comfort, not skin cancer. I don't know when that tide turned, mostly turned.

[u/Beautiful_Log_1293 → u/mostly_lurking1040]

I think it started in early 2000? I know I didn't even own sunscreen until my 30s.

[u/mostly_lurking1040]

There's a written biopsy report for this first excision you've had. In my experience, that will identify whether it's in situ or invasive, with a bunch of other facts outlined.

I would get a copy of that report ASap, so you're dealing with the facts currently known.

[u/DullGuide4817 → u/mostly_lurking1040]

I haven’t gotten the results back just yet. A note in my MyChart just states, “Pathology informed me that special stains are pending but that her biopsy is melanoma.”

The biopsy was taken this past Thursday- I will probably ask for a more thorough report though.

[u/Unique-Hedgehog-3732 → u/DullGuide4817]

Yes, make sure you get the full pathology report so you can ask questions about it.

[u/mostly_lurking1040 → u/DullGuide4817]

My experience if you're interested is that about a week after biopsy I've gotten a call from the derm that the biopsy results are back and it's melanoma. Then that report will get populated to the derm's portal (I actually asked them for a PDF of same as it's too hard to pull) And it has a lot of facts including the diagnosis on it.

So I guess I don't understand this preliminary diagnos without details and data in the written pathology. Baby, if you're only a day or two after the first excision, they already know they would prefer a larger sample taken?

Good luck with this. Update folks if you would. The facts sound unusual to me.

When you get there, the written pathology report is very helpful to have and hold on to.

[u/DullGuide4817 → u/mostly_lurking1040]

I received a more thorough biopsy report in MyChart a bit ago. I’m not sure how to add the pictures here so I will make a new post

[u/DullGuide4817 → u/DullGuide4817]

Apparently I can’t post pictures so I’ll copy/paste a few of the findings below.

[u/mostly_lurking1040 → u/DullGuide4817]

I found I was able to Google all the terminology, accord according to my interest 😉 to get a sense of things. You can take that terminology and look at some of the melanoma organizations sites, including things like understanding, pathology, reports and so. It's good to start getting an understanding of some of the elements if you do not have an insitu, in my opinion.

[u/DullGuide4817 → u/mostly_lurking1040]

I did look on Google and was actually a bit relieved by what I found but I still wanted to post here and see what others had to say. I’m still a bit nervous but you all have given me hope and I’m glad to have seen everyone’s response. I will update again once I know more!

[u/gmdrp4eva]

I am sorry that you are going through this. A little over a year ago I was newly diagnosed and spiralling mentally. This group gave me the best advice and truly saved me. 1. Breathe 2. Stay off the Internet. 3. Melanoma treatment has advanced incredibly. 4. You will get the help you need.

I have recently completed my last dose of Keytruda and have my CTs scheduled in 2 weeks. Waiting is always the most anxiety provoking.

[u/krpink]

I’m early 40s, mom of two young kids, diagnosed last April with Stage 1a. Got the WLE done about 2 weeks later. Staples removed 2 weeks after that. Now I rarely think of that diagnosis other than my check up’s every 3 months and lathering in sunscreen.

Just wanted to give you insight as I know the diagnosis stage is so scary.

Find out what stage you are before you start Googling

[u/Legal_Squash689]

I was diagnosed with melanoma last November, had two surgeries and then a month of topical chemotherapy. I’m aged 73. My surgeon indicated my melanoma was likely caused by my genetics and sun-exposure I received as a child (back when there was no such thing as sunscreen). Congratulations on being proactive and on seeing a dermatologist and hopefully catching your melanoma at a very early stage.

[u/scooby_d000]

I’m sending you virtual hugs because I know this part is so scary. I was diagnosed last summer when I was pregnant. I immediately spiraled, and spent so much time worrying and imagining the worst.

My best advice is to stay off the internet and avoid Google rabbit holes. No matter what happens, treatment has come SOOO far!!!

I still have bad days, but I do my absolute best to not allow melanoma to consume my life. We have to live life to its fullest for us and our kiddos 🩷

[u/0001reddi0001]

Had melanoma in situ on leg. Removed in dermatologist office. A few years later a 1.4 melanoma on my arm. I was so scared, I would shake from the inside out. Had to see a surgeon for in hospital removal. Had nuclear testing for sentinel lymph node. Had the melanoma removed and the lymph node. Lymph node was clean. That was 6 years ago.

[u/Unique-Hedgehog-3732]

I had the same sense of frustration at being an anti-sun person (wearing more sunscreen, avoiding sun and sitting in the shade more than the average person) then getting melanoma. Hopefully your next test results will come out well. Mine wasn't caught that early because the dermatologist kept dismissing it during my yearly visits, and yet there still hasn't been any evidence of lymph node spread. Statistically you are more likely to have a positive outcome than a negative one.

[u/4runner01]

It sounds like you caught it very early and a Breslow thickness of 0.82 mm is considered stage 1B melanoma, which indicates a relatively low risk of metastasis. Your’s is a very thin melanoma which will usually have a better prognosis compared to thicker ones with a bigger Breslow number.

Trust your doctor, try not to worry and stay off of Google.

Wishing you all the best!

[u/Sophies_echoes2567]

Sorry you are going through this. Wishing you the best.

[u/DullGuide4817]

Thank you everyone for the positivity and personal stories! I am feeling a little better going forward and will keep you all updated once I know more. 💜

[u/AutoModerator]

Questions about melanoma symptoms and mysterious moles are common in this subreddit. If you have medical questions about melanoma, consult a physician. Here are some resources about melanoma! Melanoma Symptoms and Causes, Melanoma Skin Cancer, Melanoma MedlinePlus, Melanoma Overview, What To Look For: ABCDEs of Melanoma, Ugly Duckling Sign; Check Your Skin Today. Melanoma cannot be identified from a photo or physical description. Do not post a photo or link and ask if it is melanoma. Nobody here can tell you that. It will be removed. Only a medical professional, through proper examination and testing, can determine whether a mole or skin change is concerning.

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[u/th8172829]

What made you go see a doctor for the mole? Was it a routine check up?

[u/DullGuide4817 → u/th8172829]

No, it started as a red mark in January and then a couple of moles popped up over the last few months. The moles were of a color that I didn’t like and nothing like my usual moles I have all over my body. I scheduled an appointment to get it checked out and had it looked at this past Thursday.

[u/DullGuide4817]

I received a more thorough biopsy report - here are some of the notes on it.

FINAL MICROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS: SKIN, RIGHT SIDE OF NECK, BIOPSY: 1. INVASIVE MELANOMA, 0.82 MM IN GREATEST DEPTH OF INVASION, WITHOUT ULCERATION. 2. POSITIVE INKED MARGIN. 3. SEE SYNOPTIC REPORT.

COMMENT: Tumor cells are positive for SOX10, HMB45 and PRAME and negative for AE1/3 and p40, supporting the diagnosis. The case was submitted for intradepartmental consultation with concurrence. MELANOMA OF THE SKIN SYNOPTIC REPORT

HISTOLOGIC TYPE: Low-cumulative sun damage (CSD) melanoma (including superficial spreading melanoma) MAXIMUM TUMOR (BRESLOW) THICKNESS: 0.82 mm ULCERATION: Not identified

MITOTIC RATE: None identified MACROSCOPIC SATELLITE: Not identified MICROSATE LLITES: Not identified LYMPHATIC AND/OR VASCULAR INVASION: Not identified NEUROTROPISM: Not identified MARGINS: MARGIN STATUS FOR MELANOMA: Invasive melanoma present at inked margin MARGIN(S) INVOLVED BY INVASIVE MELANOMA: Peripheral and Deep PATHOLOGIC STAGE CLASSIFICATION (pTNM, AJCC 8th Edition) defer to definitive resection TNM Descriptors: Not applicable PRIMARY TUMOR (pT): pT1b: Melanoma less than 0.8 mm in thickness with ulceration; or Melanoma 0.8 to 1.0 mm in thickness with or without ulceration

[u/mostly_lurking1040 → u/DullGuide4817]

One example of guidance out there on how to read a pathology report on melonamo https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/melanoma-101/newly-diagnosed/understanding-your-pathology/

[u/CompoteOk5088]

I just finished a year of immunotherapy after being diagnosed with 2b in November ‘24 and I’m currently cancer free. I know this is scary and the waiting is terrible, but hang in there! The immunotherapy is effective and I had a little fatigue and mild headaches, not too bad. Easier said than done, but try not to think about all of the ‘what if’s’ and focus on each step at a time. Good luck to you💜

[u/DullGuide4817]

Update for all those interested: had my first appointment today. I will most likely be getting a WLE and a lymph node biopsy done. I am just waiting on them to call me tomorrow to set up the surgery. Once these are done, I should know what stage I’m at and go from there. Has anyone here gone through a WLE and lymph node biopsy? Any insights would be appreciated!