CancerCompass message board discussion started by gary8718 on 6/24/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25371,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma back in October of 2006. They originally thought I was in stage 4 that turned out not to be the case. The depth of my melanoma on the breslow scale was 4 but the stage of the cancer was only 2 so this gave me about an 80% survival rate. I went though 10 hours of surgery to remove the tumor that was on the left side of my for head they also removed 19 lymphnodes on the left side of neck just to make sure that the cancer had not spread. I was very lucky all of my pathology reports came back negative. And this point in time I have to go back every 6 months to see my oncologist. My doctors said I was very lucky they wanted to give me interferon but they decided at this time that it was not necessary. So for all of out there have been diagnosed with Melanoma stay aware stay out of the sun and together we can beat this deadly form of skin cancer. gary8718 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Gary, What a great blessing to have caught your Melanoma in the early stages.  My husband was dx in 2007 and was stage 2 as well.   We are still at the every three month check up stage!  He also goes to the dermatologist in beween his onc. visits.  Early detection is the key to survival. Your are in my prayers for your continued success against Melanoma!   Runabout Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT I agree with you---but don't be misled by thinking melanoma is only caused by too much sun exposure.   I have had 3 melanomas and thyroid cancer---and I am not your typical victim of this disease.  I have olive skin, dark hair and dark eyes (Italian) and not many moles at all.  Also, my melanomas were not changing moles.  Also, my doctor and the doctors at MD Anderson have said they have seen more melanomas on the body "where the sun don't shine."  It can start internally in any pigmented organ (as I understood from them).   I wish everyone well---it seems to be a life-long battle!  Tara YaYaTara Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT