Beverly

Melanoma is probably the most serious form of cancer - so you should be taking
this seriously and doing exactly what your medical experts say. Indeed it is so
serious that I would put aside concerns about cosmetics until later.

However, if caught early, the outlook is very good. Do what they say - get more
skin removed - and as long as they find no more (which is likely unless you have
been ignoring a problem for a long time) - then all you will be asked to do
henceforth is to check your lymph system for lumps.

Remember there are always others worse than you - I have 8 melanomas in the
liver and one in the lung and am battling to survive to the Winter - but golly
am I battling.

Also remember that your body can kill cancers naturally - but you need to be
taking care of it - believe it or not - a good healthy diet and exercise and
low-stress are probably the most important things you can concentrate on for the
new few years (apart from quickly doing what your doctor says).

The psychology is incredible - you have not been 'passed a death sentence' yet -
and may never be - but even if you are there is hope

Love and healing

Ian
----- Original Message -----
From: lonestar_kelly
To: fighttogether@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 3:27 AM
Subject: [fight together] New Member


Hi, my name is Beverly. Two weeks ago I had several moles and skin
tags removed mostly by freezing, the one that was cut off was sent to
the lab. I have to say that when I first saw the hole on my cheek it
grossed me out but didn't think much about, there is still a scab on
it. It wasn't until last night when the Doctor's office called and
said that it was melanoma and that they needed me to come back in so
they could cut it out some more that got me freaked out. She said she
wasn't sure if the Doctor would do it there (I live in a small town,
so its a med clinic), or send me to a specialist, that he would look
at it and decide. She mentioned plastic surgery, and not sure about
scaring. At the time I had this done I had some health insurance thru
a local hospital program, which has since run out of funds until
October, so I am once again without health insurance. So on top of
the cancer fear itself I'm worried about how much all this will cost,
and seeing that it is on my cheek, I don't really want a scar on my
face.

I started looking up about melanomas and was very quickly overwhelmed
by all the info. What I'd like to know is what questions do I need to
ask, and what should I expect? How do they know that it hasn't
spread? I asked my parents if there was anyone in our family that had
skin cancer and both said no, and really didn't say too much when I
told them.

Thanks for letting me vent and any info you could give me would be
helpful. Beverly


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