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Just found out today I have spreading malignant melanoma

Sophie1991
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Hey 

I’m totally new to this site, first time I have posted. I’m 28 years old and have just had a baby last year. I have had a birthmark on the side of my neck my whole life and people started to comment on it and it started to get itchy. Went to docs, got a 2 week emergency referel, plastic surgeon thought it was nothing but carried out biopsy 2 weeks later. 3 weeks tomorrow it will be since my biopsy. My results were in for meeting last night so rang today and found out my consultant has went on annual leave for a week, his secretary did tell me I needed further surgery but wouldn’t tell me any more of the result so I asked her to send my result to my GP which they did this afternoon and my doctor contacted me saying it’s spreading malignant melanoma and all five pieces were positive which they took. She can not understand why I have not been giving an appointment for surgery yet so she is chasing everything up tomorrow and wants me in within the next couple of days. She is also going to get a brake down of my report and give me more information tomorrow. 

When I have looked more at melanoma I wish I had asked what stage they have reported it was at which I will do tomorrow but she did seem very concerned on the phone.

I thought I would post to see if anyone else would like to share their experiences as I just don’t no what else to do, I just feel a little lost.

Thank you 

Soohie 

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    Hi there Sophie..  

    So so sorry your going through this diagnosis... but you've come to the right place .. there's lots of threads on here ... look through the posts and there's lots of different journeys ...

    But there's so many on here , kicking cancers butt .. so feel free to chat / vent or put down how your feeling .. your at the worst part right now, waiting for things to start .. it's scary .. and those horrible "what ifs" creep in .. but know it's normal , to feel o.k one minute and cry the next ... it's all part of your brain trying to make sense of what's happening , when there is none ...

    When you feel ready, get a pair of pink vertual boxing gloves and got in the ring ready to kick it's ***... wer all there .. your not alone ... and we know how it feels ... hope you've got some good support around you .. it will get you through .. don't try and be strong for others .. it's o.k to say your scared .. and if you need a shoulder to lean on wer right here ... 

    Sending you a vertual hug.... Chrissie xx

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    hey 

    thank you for you quick reply, I have cried so much today, I think it’s the word cancer that scares you the most. You here so many bad stories so automatically think the worst. I think once I find out what is actually going on I will feel abit better as all I no is that I have spreading malignant melanoma and nothing else. 

    There so many questions I want to ask and the waiting game for appointments and to see you doctor is just the worst. 

     

    sophie x

  • Offline in reply to Sophie1991

    Hi Sophie...

    I know .. we are all the same ... I cryed for two days solid .. took myself away in bedroom would not see anyone .. not even my son .. it was only when I'd cryed it all out ... I felt ready for the fight ... I've had a 5 year old granddaughter... in the pic .. she's my whole world .. the thought of leaving her was the hardest .. 

    I had a grade 3 breast cancer and a total right masectomy in July 2017 ... I preyed for the Sommer holiday to have a few weeks with her .. I came on here like you are now , and a lovely lady chatted to me .. got me through those early days ... I thought it was the end .. as all we hear are the sad stories... but there's loads here joined with me and after me .. those are still here now ..

    Cancer wants us to give in and stay down... to just see things in a crule light .. but you know when you can look it in the eye .. cancer doesn't like that ... I've got a tea shirt that says cancer touched my boobs so I kicked it's *** ... 

    I have a scar now where my breast used to be ... but you know that's fine .. I lost a boob but got something far better ... time ... I got that summer holiday with her .. then last years summer holiday .. now looking forward to having them this comming summer holiday ... so it's not all bad .. and there's lots of us .. kicking *** ... so you get those feelings out , like I did .. then get ready to kick *** ...

    Always here if you want a chat ... hold on ... Chrissie xx

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    Hi Sophie,

    I'm so sorry you are having to find out your results this way as it's only giving you half the information. Hopefully your GP will have more for you today. Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type - 70% of melanoma cases are this type - it means the melanoma spreads on the surface of the skin before it starts to grow down into the layers. It's the growing down that is the important bit - your GP should tell you the depth from the notes and this is what gives you the Stage. At the risk of overloading you with info, please read about staging here www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../stages-types

    No matter what the thickness and stage, the next step will be a wide local excision where they take further tissue from the surrounding area to ensure any stray cancer cells are mopped up. All this will be discussed at your appointment which I hope your GP can get arranged for you as soon as possible. I will send you a friend request so you can ask me any questions you may have by private message. Good luck with your GP today,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

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