Hi there, please do not apologise for your anxiety. I, along with everyone else here on this very kind and caring site, know that receiving a cancer diagnosis of any kind can be totally overwhelming. As you say, you are bombarded with information and leaflets and your brain goes into overdrive trying to make sense of it all. This is perfectly normal and something we have all been through one way or another. The good thing is that they seemed to have caught your melanoma at an early stage and already have a treatment plan in place for you. Although we all do it, my advice would be to stop looking things up on the internet, it is full of old and misleading information. Stick to known cancer sites such as this one or Macmillan, and hopefully others on here will be along with help and advice for you too. Take care  Sue x

Hi Silken,

As Susu has said, stick to authoritative websites such as this one and MacMillans. There are a lot of quacks out there who thrive on our anxieties.There is an awful lot of cr@p on the internet and "survivorship" is a buzzword that many have latched onto. 

Talk to your GP and your oncology team about ways in which to deal with your anxiety - which is a pretty normal reaction given the circumstances. Ask about survival rates and compare the risks of having your treatment and not having it.

Basically you have two choices - I would go for Option 1 which is to have your treatment, get better, then live a long and happy life. 

Best wishes
Dave

Hi Silken

Your situation is every bit as important as any other person with cancer on this forum, there is no "good" cancer to have. Your melanoma is at a very early stage, if removed soon that will be an end to it. They will also take a biopsy and send it away to check the cancer has not spread, this is a precaution, belt and braces if you like. Waiting for the results will be worse than the surgery, hard to believe but true. Mention your severe anxiety to your doctor, there are ways to reduce this. Don't be afraid of the surgery, it will be over very quickly and you will be given pain releiving medicine, before and for afterwards while you heal. Again if you feel very anxious tell the surgical team they may provide you with medicine to overcome this.  You really cannot avoid getting this treated, it is not going to go away, and will just continue growing and becoming more serious. None of us here are any less anxious than you when it comes to surgery, but somehow weve got through it just like you will. All the best Kim
 

Hi Silken,

How are you doing, have you spoke to the nurses or Doctors about how you are feeling and have they been through the options with you clearly?  I had a mole removed 3 weeks ago from the top of my leg and the partial biopsy report came back transition to malignant melonoma, I do not understand what it all means re the 'transition' apect, but have been feeling very low too as I dont have any answers.  I am seeing the specialist on Tuesday and hopefully the full report will be back.  Hear if you wana chat.

Thinking of you

Take care

Vik