CancerCompass message board discussion started by Cooper1 on 12/11/2006 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,8232,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ This September I had a mole removed from my arm and it turned out to be Melanoma. I am only 31 years and of course FREAKED OUT!!!! I was a stage 1B Melanoma. I had a surgery where they removed a wider margin of tissue around where the melanoma mole was plus also had the Sentinal Node Biopsy. The SNL kind of sucked but I'm glad that I did it. After the surgery I was told that thereno evidence of any Melanoma cells in the surrounding tissue nor was it in my lymphnode. YAHOO!!!! Now it's been a month later and yesterday I had my first appointment with an Oncologist.  I talked with him and he wants me to have a PET SCAN to make sure that the Melanoma hasn't spread to any organs in my body. SCARY!!! I started crying like a baby but he told he's 85% sure that he won't find anything and that I have an excellent chance that the Melanoma was cured with surgery. But I'm freaking out about the 15% chance that they will find something. Please help me. Do I need to be so scared? Anyone else have this done????? What were your results? Cooper1 Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT Take a deep breath and calm down. A PET scan doe snot hurt at all to take and is very reassuring for melenoma.  I've been working as my mom's care giver for over 2 years on melenoma at the highest level. Meaning that it is as bad as it gets. So .. you are very lucky at this point. The surgery you had has removed all of the melenoma that can be "found" at this time. The PET scan will confirm that.  Should the PET scan or any other test or evern if another place comes up on your skin - it is just that .. another place that can be addressed. With your stage there is no reason for further treatements, like radiation or other chemo options. The most important thing we have leart is to keep a close watch. Always and forever so that you always catch anything early. So PET SCANS and CAT SCANS and seeing a dermotologist that checks your whole body are all things you should be doing on a regular basis. As your doc how frequently. I'm sure it will start out monthly and work up to 3 months or 6 month intervals. With Mel you never can predict but you can be an active participant in anything it deals out and  even in bad cases you can keep a great outlook on life and good quality of life. So far mom has not stopped doing anything she did before and she is at the most advanced level.  Keep the watch on but don't let the "fear" of what could be stop you from lviing your life today. Lindymo Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT  On 12/11/2006 Lindymo wrote:Take a deep breath and calm down. A PET scan doe snot hurt at all to take and is very reassuring for melenoma.  I've been working as my mom's care giver for over 2 years on melenoma at the highest level. Meaning that it is as bad as it gets. So .. you are very lucky at this point. The surgery you had has removed all of the melenoma that can be "found" at this time. The PET scan will confirm that.  Should the PET scan or any other test or evern if another place comes up on your skin - it is just that .. another place that can be addressed. With your stage there is no reason for further treatements, like radiation or other chemo options. The most important thing we have leart is to keep a close watch. Always and forever so that you always catch anything early. So PET SCANS and CAT SCANS and seeing a dermotologist that checks your whole body are all things you should be doing on a regular basis. As your doc how frequently. I'm sure it will start out monthly and work up to 3 months or 6 month intervals. With Mel you never can predict but you can be an active participant in anything it deals out and  even in bad cases you can keep a great outlook on life and good quality of life. So far mom has not stopped doing anything she did before and she is at the most advanced level.  Keep the watch on but don't let the "fear" of what could be stop you from lviing your life today. Lindymo, Your awesome!!! Thank you so much again for responding. I have been freaking out since I had the PET last Thursday. I have my appt with my oncologist tomorrow morning and have just been worrying about it since Thursday! I'm just so scared that something is going to show up on my scan!!!! I don't want to have any treatment such as Chemo! That scares me sooooo much!What stage is your mom at? What treatments is she undergoing and what are her side affects? (I asked you the same questions in my other post) How did she first find out she had Melanoma? Has it spread? I'm so sorry that your mom is going through this- but am so happy to hear that she is still able to live her life too! Please tell me more. Cooper1 Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT Let me know what your test results are. Just stay focused on living and let the tests give you facts to use to make decisions on your next health steps. Don't lose valuable time fretting on something that you don't know what is. Once you know, we can review options and made decisions. It is much more positive to take action than worry.Keeping you in my thoughts for great test results. Lindymo Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT As a new forum member I just read your comment. Are you comfortable with posting an update? I'd love to hear what the  scan revealed and how you are proceeding. NanaGlo's daughter, amy Nana Glo Sun, 08 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT Thanks for the message. My Pet scan came back all clear. I met with my oncologist and he has me on a schedule where I meet with my dermatologist or him every 3 months. This June I will meet with him again and will have lab work done plus get a chest xray. So as of right now I am melanoma free!!! Free free to ask me me any other questions you might have. I know this forum helped me alot and am willing to do anything I can do to help other people. Cooper1 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Last week i hav undergone a PET scan.. the result showed that my entire body is unremarkable.. but it found two 1.5cm size nodes at paratracheal section which have 8.5 SUV, and 6.2 SUV.... what does it mean... doctors told that they wll conduct a biopsy.. i am a non-smoker, vegetarian... and age of 36..... i am tensed.... giv me hope of life... i hav two children of 7 and 3 months old and most loving wife.... Nagaraj Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT