Melanoma

[StagLefty]

No big surprise after all my early years in the sun construction,outdoor activities, etc. We were not aware of the exposure problems back then. Surprised it took 72 years to show up though.
I wasn't too alarmed by the diagnosis, all wheels are in motion. Had a biopsy last week and seeing a surgeon next week. Anyone on here with any experiences they'd care to share ?

[Great-Kazoo]

It's one of the reasons i need to make sure my outdoor precautions are followed.

Unfortunately most people, even those who do not work outdoors, consider thew risk of sun exposure can do to them.


Best wishes and positive outcome for you.

[Gman]

This reminds me that I need to find a dermatologist. I had some severe sunburns across the shoulders in my youth. I now get my vitamin D in a capsule.

Hope everything works out well for you! Father-in-law had it, and has been cancer free for years. I seem to recall that once you've had melanoma, they up the intensity for other cancer screening, like colonoscopies.

[cstone]

You are old enough to remember the use of baby oil for that extra crispy tan everyone seemed to want.

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My father has had several spots and patches removed. He doesn’t mind too much but it is inconvenient. I hope your medical team is able to take care of yours and they stay well ahead of any new patches.

[Fentonite]

Best of luck! My dad has been clear of melanoma for about 10 years now. Weird - he was in the sun all his life, never wore sunscreen but almost always wore a T-shirt. Head/neck/arms are like tanned leather, but the melanoma popped up on his belly, which had usually been covered. Time for me to quit procrastinating and get my skins checked. Thanks for posting, I hope you’ll keep us updated.

[Mazin]

My grandfather had several bouts with melanoma from the years on the railroad. He would go in get some stuff hacked off and move on. Prayer's sent for a quick speedy full recovery [Beer]

[Bailey Guns]

I seem to recall that once you've had melanoma, they up the intensity for other cancer screening, like colonoscopies.

I'm never going outside in the sun again.

Best wishes for a positive outcome, Stag. Other than positive thoughts, I have no information to offer.

[wctriumph]

My boss gets it and every few months his doctor removes them. He does not spend much time outdoors uncovered, seems to hereditary trait.

I get a physical every year and there is always a screening for any cancer as my uncle, father and brother all had some form of cancer and my uncle died from colon cancer. I have been free for any form of it so I count every day as a blessing.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I seem to recall that once you've had melanoma, they up the intensity for other cancer screening, like colonoscopies.

Pretty much any cancer. I haven't had melanoma, but I had lymphoma. I'm only in my early 40s, but I had a gopro up my ass already.

Oh yeah, I also wear long sleeve baselayers in the sun, usually, and a fully boonie hat. Especially if I'm out fishing or whatever. My skin has been fawked since cancer.

[Irving]

This thread is making me nervous.

Hope everything goes well Lefty.

[rondog]

Being a soul-less ginger, I've always avoided the sun if possible, since I burn like friggin' flash paper.

[hobowh]

They usually just cut it out and move on as long as it was caught early. Hopefully that is all you need. Best wishes for a quick and easy recovery

[CoGirl303]

They usually just cut it out and move on as long as it was caught early. Hopefully that is all you need. Best wishes for a quick and easy recovery

sorry to hear the news. [emoji20]

best of luck with treatment.


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[Grant H.]

This thread is making me nervous.

Hope everything goes well Lefty.

No kidding.

I'm blonde haired, fair skinned, sun burn easily, and work outside, play outside, and pretty much routinely have a sunburnt nose.

[hatidua]

A close friend of mine had a melanoma removed on his lower leg, just above the ankle. The 'margins' required with melanoma surgery are significantly larger than the margins for other skin cancers...he's missing a fairly good chunk of meat on that leg and it limits his ability to stand for great lengths of time or hike any significant distance.

The vast majority of dermatologists that I've encountered seem to be primarily chasing the cosmetic dollars from the lunching-ladies crowd (cool sculpting, botox, etc.). If a person is susceptible to skin cancer, it's worth the effort to search out someone who really knows skin cancer, how to identify it early on, and does their own Mohs surgery. The local board-certified wrinkle specialist that caters to the soccer moms is not the same as someone who did their residency in Australia confronting melanoma every day.

I get at least one basal cell skin cancer removed every 6-8 months. Suffice it to say, the earlier they are detected, the less stitches are involved. I've lost count at this point of how many I've had removed but it's not something I'll ever "be done with".

That tan I had in the 80's that I worked so hard on wasn't worth this. I wish you the best of luck.

[BlasterBob]

Had three basil cell type removed which were no big deal. Had one squamous cell type which required Mohs surgery on my nose.
Mohs surgery is kinda neat as the Derm Doc will carve it out and they have you stand by in the waiting room for the results, that is, if he got it all. If it was deeper than anticipated and another slice must be removed on the same visit, they will do that immediately so shouldn't have to make another visit. Cancer has visited me frequently. Soft tissue sarcoma (cancer of the nerves, muscle or tendons) 36years ago. Then starting in 2010, had prostate cancer, cancer of kidney which required a kidney to be plucked out and finally bladder cancer. This shit is getting old. I’ll probably croak of something other than cancer. Have found that as we get older, our chances increase of getting this shitty disease but there are a lot of us old farts that have gone through required treatments and are still here and enjoying life and I’ll be hitting 82 later this year. Guys, please get yourselves checked out if you feel anything out of the ordinary. As cancer diagnosis is NOT a death sentence.

[ChadAmberg]

I've been sliced 4, maybe 5 times. First started getting things cut off in my 30s. I've also had 4 rounds of the blue light therapy. I've lost count of how many times I've had things frozen or electrified off of me. Hell, I've even had to have one surgery scar from a removal be surgically removed again.

I always encourage people to hit the skin doc just even for a look over every year at least.

Side funny note: Every time someone says how great the healthcare is up in Canada, remind them that they do colonoscopies using only a local, because it's cheaper. Imagine that one...

[Irving]

Had three basis cell type removed which were no big deal. Had one squamous cell type which required Mohs surgery on my nose.
Mohs surgery is kinda neat as the Derm Doc will carve it out and they have you stand by in the waiting room for the results, that is, if he got it all. If it was deeper than anticipated and another slice must be removed on the same visit, they will do that immediately so shouldn't have to make another visit. Cancer has visited me frequently. Soft tissue sarcoma (cancer of the nerves, muscle or tendons) 36years ago. Then starting in 2010, had prostate cancer, cancer of kidney which required a kidney to be plucked out and finally bladder cancer. This shit is getting old. I’ll probably croak of something other than cancer. Have found that as we get older, our chances increase of getting this shitty disease but there are a lot of us old farts that have gone through required treatments and are still here and enjoying life and I’ll be hitting 82 later this year. Guys, please get yourselves checked out if you feel anything out of the ordinary. As cancer diagnosis is NOT a death sentence.

You sound like my neighbor. He's told me he has cancer so many times, and in so many different places, that I barely even register it anymore. I'm not sure if he exaggerates, is the toughest man alive, or both.

[BlasterBob]

You sound like my neighbor. He's told me he has cancer so many times, and in so many different places, that I barely even register it anymore. I'm not sure of he exaggerates, is the toughest man alive, or both.

Now when the Doctor indicates I have still another cancer, it doesn’t shake me up much anymore. I have survived all of them and no recurrence of any of them YET...... One thing about bladder cancer, we get a LOT of catherizations and Cystoscopy's and they will ruin your “point of aim” when taking a leak.

[StagLefty]

they will ruin your “point of aim” when taking a leak.

I thought by 82 you got a pass on aiming !!! [Beer]

[Gman]

Side funny note: Every time someone says how great the healthcare is up in Canada, remind them that they do colonoscopies using only a local, because it's cheaper. Imagine that one...
On a not so funny note: If you have cancer and they think you're old enough, they'll just wait-list you until you're dead.

[TheGrey]

You sound like my neighbor. He's told me he has cancer so many times, and in so many different places, that I barely even register it anymore. I'm not sure if he exaggerates, is the toughest man alive, or both.

My Dad is the toughest man alive. Cancer has been trying to take him for years.

May it continue to fail.

[StagLefty]

Update: Had 1 suspiscious growth removed from my back a week ago by primary doctor. Plastic surgeon removed top half of left ear this morning,have to wait on pathology report to see if he got it all. No pain or discomfort YET !!! Primary recommended a full body check by a dermatologist after this part is over.

[zteknik]

Here's hoping for the best.


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[Aloha_Shooter]

Wow, good luck! I am thankful that I picked grandparents who never had a problem with melanoma despite being in the sun all day unprotected for years.

[Gman]

Plastic surgeon removed top half of left ear this morning,have to wait on pathology report to see if he got it all.
Wow. That hurts to even read. Prayers and positive thoughts going out for you.

Do you happen to wear glasses, or is it too soon to ask?



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[StagLefty]

Wow. That hurts to even read. Prayers and positive thoughts going out for you.

Do you happen to wear glasses, or is it too soon to ask?






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It just started to hurt in the last hour or so but I expected that. I do wear glasses and had a hell of a time keeping them on due to the dressing covering the ear,but I found a pair of those things you slip over the temples and cinch up in the back and that worked real good. I'll see if I still have the ear part the temples rest in tomorrow.I have an ace bandage wrapped around my head because I guess ears bleed like hell and he wanted to keep pressure on until tomorrow. I go back Friday for the follow up and see about reconstruction.

[Gman]

OK, well I wish you the best. I hope they had good margins on the tissue they removed.

[StagLefty]

Update: Patholgy came back clear and I was amazed at the plastic surgeon's work. He used the lower part of the ear to reconstruct (in 1 hour) the top part he had removed,get (a bunch ) of stitches out next Thursday and I think I'm done except for a full body inspection by a dermatologist.
I kept thinking I was going to see what a 3d printer could do,he said that was only for a complete replacement.

[Gman]

Excellent!

[Fentonite]

Great news!!

[StagLefty]

Damnit !!! Went to a dermatologist on Monday for a complete skin check. She found a place on my chest that's been there for a long time and took a specimen and of course it came back from pathology as melanoma. Back to the surgeon on Monday for his evaluation of the area.
Wear that sunblock and wide brim hats folks !!!

[TheGrey]

Here's hoping that they're able to take care of it painlessly and then that will be the end of it. Geeze, I'm sorry you're going through this.

I've got an arsenal of SPF 100+ and lots of hats this summer.

[Gman]

Still pulling for ya! The idea of ear surgery still gives me the shivers. You seem like a tough guy and you're taking care of business. I'm pretty sure you'll do fine.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Times whatever we are up to. Good luck with it!