Hi sheffield john,

Thank you for posting your story on here and welcome to this great site. I had prostate cancer so I cant help you with questions about melanoma. I notice that you say you feel on your own and I guess like a lot of other people on here, its partly because you may be reluctant to speak openly and freely about your concerns to your family. Many people find it difficult as they are trying so hard not to let their family see their concerns for fear it will make their family worry more. I think nearly every on here with this disease does the same, but on this site you can speak as openly as you want for there will  always be people on here who will understand for they have also been there. I hope more people will contact you shortly and will help to reassure you.

Kind regards Brian

Hello,

Firstly welcome to the site you will never be alone here I'm sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with melonoma I cant give you advice becasue I've never had cancer but I've had family who have but what I will say is that I will always be here for a chat when you feel like you just want someone to talk to and let your feelings out I will be here!

AnnMarie xx

hi, I too have just been diagnosed with melanoma not gone for surgery yet just waiting mine is a thin one (0.6mm) but it is invasive clark level III. so maybe you can help me navigate through what to expect at hospital?

I understand fully how you feel, most people I have told dont seem to understand how devastated you feel when you first get the news as they seem to think that skin cancer is easiy dealt with! I have often thought well what happens when its fully out and lymph nodes are clear ... does that mean I am cured and I can say I HAD cancer? or like some stories I have heard will it come back years down the line? and already I am paranoid about every lump and spot I get, does that get any easier down the line? I hope you can maybe tell me your story? and maybe we can rant to each other lol

Susan x

hiya susan ,

i have justv read your message , i was paranoid at forst always checking skin , my lymph nodes under my arms , neck every pain straight to the doctors . I am now learning to cope with it . What i do is i have labelled my skin cancer in an imaginery box in my head and i keep it there until i go to hospital for my 3 mnothly check . my cancer  which was stage 1a 0 .4mm thick melonoma  was removed with a wide local excision and then i got my results posted which said no residual cancer present . I believ that after 12 months you are clear . I have my last check friday the 31st at 9.30 and if all clear i am discharged from hospital . i will then partyy lol . i hope this has helped . let me kn ow you are getting on ok if you want to have a chat sometime about all this let me know ok x

Hi I have just recived news I have melonoma stage 1B. I am waiting to go to hospital to have a wide local excision and Im worried to hell. Im looking at every mole,spot and mark every day, its making me ill. I feel so alone. Im told they may also do a check for my lymph nodes, any body tell me more about this.

Hi..My melonoma is 1b and Im back at hospital Thursday for check up for a  second procedure, Its realy getting me down. iM SO WORRIED,,,,

Hi John,

i had a melonoma removed 2 years ago. i was quite lucky. i went with mine in the May and the stand in doctor was refusing to send me to consultant as he said i was "moley" in general. i work with the body so i am well versed in anatomy and physiology so i knew that it was rogue. i sat until he rfered me but he said he wouldnt send it urgent.....i had to wait until September and the consultant said straight away it had to be removed.  i was called back to have a wider excersion and the took extra i think to be sure. They said i was lucky as it was superficial. No follow up treatment, just the 3 month appointments. During that time i had another 3 removed as precautions. Please dont worry, you will be fine. The only other advice i would give is just be extra vigilant with any moles that you are worried about. You should be on a fast track system now so you will be seen i think its within 2 weeks.  Stay positive.

Hi everybody, I am waiting for results of my biopsy on a melanotic lesion of the nail bed on my left thumb.

It may be something, it may be nothing.

All I know is that I have never felt so out of control of my life or as isolated as I do right now.

I don't know if there is any way of getting out from under these bad feelings and I feel like I'm working myself up over nothing in some ways.

I've heard loads of cliches since the lesion first appeared and they just make me angry.

Sheffield John, I don't know how to make you feel less alone or more positive but I can tell you that it is perfectly ok and normal to feel the way you do.

I hope you feel better soon. At least we have forums like this to be able to express our feelings. I wish you all the best.

Hi Sorry your feeling low. I feel the same. No one seems to understand, my mates at works atitude is 'Its just a mole youll be fine'.