Melanoma - I need some positive stories

[Freaking0ut]

I have recently had a large mole/cluster of moles removed from my back. They had been there for at least 18 months but probably longer and had grown in size and spread. The consultant told me that it is more likely than not a melanoma. I have to wait around two weeks for the results and to find out how bad it is.

I am slowly going out of my mind imagining all the worst case scenarios and am feeling very scared. Does anyone have any positive stories regarding melanomas and their removal and treatment please? I really need to hear some positive perspectives on this.

Please don’t panic op!
I had a very similar story tomyou 18 months ago - molemon my back, doingnits thing for at least 2 years. Saw gp, mole removed within 2 weeks, melanoma. Had to go back and get a wider margin of skin removed, but even after 2 years of menignoring it, it’s still only stage 1.
(That’s not to say, for those with dodgy moles, to ignore them, but mine was ok).
Only thing is, I’m left with a lovely scar (tell kids it’s a sharks bite lol) and I can’t go out in the sun without heaps of suncream

I've had two malignant melanomas removed and am 100% healthy and fine.
One was deeper than the other and has left a significant scar on my lower neck, but to be honest I couldn't care less. I'm just so grateful it was caught in time. If you could see the mole they removed you'd be amazed. It didn't look evenly slightly suspicious. Looked like a small innocent freckle to me, but it in fact was a very bad one. I am a big advocate for getting annual checks.

I have no long-lasting effects at all. Good luck OP!

My dad went with my mum to her GP appt. Dr happened to spot the mole on his head, said it looked really off so referred him straight away.

Turned out he had two melanomas, one at stage 4. We were all extremely worried and upset, especially with specialists giving him less than half chance of surviving.

They were cut out and they managed to get it all. He’s still going strong 5 years later!!

He had put off his skin check for over a year, never again!!!

I know it’s hard but try to stay positive and keep away from Dr Google!!!

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I know that it won’t change my own personal situation but it helps to hear positive outcomes. I’ve had a somewhat up and down couple of days. I can’t believe the utter stress someone is plunged into in these situations. I guess it reflects badly on me but I just hadn’t fully appreciated it before. I have an appointment next week for the results so will see what happens.

My Dad had melonoma on his stomach when he was 60. He had it removed and a quick follow up appointment - it never returned and he's now 87!

FIL had it all over his head - had loads cut out plus radiotherapy. He's 88 and feels great - looks younger too as he got a free face lift!!

xx

One of my best friends had a midwife notice a mole on her thigh when she was having a routine check up during pregnancy. She is strawberry blonde and covered in freckles. The mole was malignant and she had to have it removed (whilst pg). The baby she was expecting is now nearly 24 and friend is fine with no reoccurrence of skin cancer, and had another baby (now 20).

My ex Husband had 2 on his back which had been there years, had them removed, (left scars) but 12 years on and nothing else. He just has to put plenty of suncream on when he's abroad.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to update here as I have had the results of my biopsy. It showed that I did indeed have a melanoma and it was at stage 1. This means that hopefully it will be dealt with through surgery alone and no need for further treatment or investigation. I cannot believe how unbelievably stressful the last month has been. I count myself as incredibly lucky that it was caught in the early stages (even though it had been there for so long). Thank you so much to everyone who replied to my thread and offered words if support.

Now, how do you thank a person who has effectively saved your life?

That is such a relief it was caught so early.

Glad it was caught early. You may want to check your house insurance... A frienf of mine had a melanoma caught early and her mortgage got paid off as a result. Felt a bit weird but some good came of all the stress.

That's interesting. 18m & only stage 1! Worth remembering.

Glad it was caught early!!! I hope you and your family can rest much easier now.

lljkk I know, it’s interesting how slow it must have been growing given how long it had been there. I dread to think what could have happened if I’d left it another year.

lowlife Thankyou, good tip! I will check it out!

Uggywuggy thank you, the relief has been instant. It means more surgery and 5 years of close monitoring but that’s absolutely fine by me.

And it’s a lesson to others, get yourself checked! Sometimes I think as mums we are so busy worrying about others that our own health gets neglected. I’d been meaning to go to the GP for a while. Thank goodness it was picked up when it was.