Cali54321
08-06-11, 00:14
Hi all,
I have been happily doing better due to medication but still have my moments. Today unfortunately I had a setback and read some stories about young people with melanoma..I know BAD BAD BAD....
My concern is why don't other cancers scare me like melanoma does? Is it because I have risk factors? I don't know - I have no idea, anyone else dealt with a melanoma fear? My other fear is reading about people in late stages of the disease who say their mole looked fine, etc...I mean did it? Or is that a perception..and if it looked fine then how the heck can that be?
I mean I have a few moles, the last thing I want to worry about is harboring melanoma and not knowing it..I feel like everyone who gets melanoma and it's not caught early could have...I mean logically if you watch your skin and visit a dermatologist how could you be diagnosed with late stage disease...thats the scary part for me!
How can I deal with past mistakes..yes tanning beds and sunburns weren't smart but the damage is done and I don't want to dwell on that but I tend to quite often...
One more question anyone get advice from a dermatologist they can share? I'm especially curious why childhood sunburns matter more than adult sunburns...I've burnt more as an adult..but the risk factors can all be confusing since many say they don't know what causes melanoma, it's not cut and dry like other skin cancers...
Any advice? Reassurance?
I have been happily doing better due to medication but still have my moments. Today unfortunately I had a setback and read some stories about young people with melanoma..I know BAD BAD BAD....
My concern is why don't other cancers scare me like melanoma does? Is it because I have risk factors? I don't know - I have no idea, anyone else dealt with a melanoma fear? My other fear is reading about people in late stages of the disease who say their mole looked fine, etc...I mean did it? Or is that a perception..and if it looked fine then how the heck can that be?
I mean I have a few moles, the last thing I want to worry about is harboring melanoma and not knowing it..I feel like everyone who gets melanoma and it's not caught early could have...I mean logically if you watch your skin and visit a dermatologist how could you be diagnosed with late stage disease...thats the scary part for me!
How can I deal with past mistakes..yes tanning beds and sunburns weren't smart but the damage is done and I don't want to dwell on that but I tend to quite often...
One more question anyone get advice from a dermatologist they can share? I'm especially curious why childhood sunburns matter more than adult sunburns...I've burnt more as an adult..but the risk factors can all be confusing since many say they don't know what causes melanoma, it's not cut and dry like other skin cancers...
Any advice? Reassurance?