The PA called me today with the results from pathology, and gave me the run down. It is superficial, and caught EARLY, which is a very good thing. The only treatment I will need is a surgery, to make sure that all the cancer cells have been removed. Since it was caught before it was invasive, there's a 100% cure rate, which means no chemo or other drug therapy. She said that since I'm young and probably want to have nice looking legs for a while, a plastic surgeon should take care of me. I have a consultation a week from today at 3pm, and hopefully they can schedule the surgery wicked soon because I'm moving in...three weeks (!!).
This is all pretty crazy, and a lot of information has been thrown at me in the last hour and a half. It's a lot to take in. I just think it's kind of ridiculous, because I have pretty much NONE of the risk factors.
Let's break it down:
--More than 50 ordinary moles: NOPE
--One or more severe sunburns as a child: Seriously, I've never had a sunburn.
--Many freckles: NO freckles.
--Fair skin: Um, hello? Mediterranean beauty right here
--Light eyes: I'm so full of shit, my eyes are brown.
--Live in the Southwestern US: Does New England count?
--Frequently spend time in the sun without protection: The best tan I've gotten lately is from the florescent lights at the office
--Exposure to UV radiation: Okay, I admit. I went tanning before some proms in high school. Maybe 10 times, TOPS.
So I guess I'm okay, but it is kind of scary. I'll need to have routine scans every 3-6 months for the rest of my life, which is cool.
And I do wish it were in a more convenient spot. It's on a part of my body that is almost always covered by clothing, rubbing up against fabrics which then graze my other leg while walking.
Call me selfish, but I don't want this to interfere with intimacy, either!
Lots to think about. I'll talk things over with two other people I know who have also had melanoma. Anyone have any opinions/experiences/suggestions?
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