Hello everyone, my name is Helen, I'm 42 and I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on the 2nd November 2023. As soon as you here, you have cancer everything stops!
My journey began when my gorgeous colleague told me to ring my Dr when I told her that a mole I had was sore and itchy back in the summer. I have had the area where the biopsy was taken from removed last Wednesday. It situated on my forearm and is hideous to look at.
For me I can't fathom why I have it, I am an avid fact 50 wearer, I don't like the sun much and I nag my step mum and my my own mother to wear high factor sun creams as they like to 'cook' themselves with oils when they're away! I have asked my consultant and they said it could also be genetics. Supposedly my late Nanna had it, but only told about this when I had my diagnosis.
So, begins the countdown til my 1 year anniversary of my diagnosis and hearing your clear, back and for to see my lovely consultant every 3 months, and to being myself again!! Apologies for the rambles x
Hi Helen D23 and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll both find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I'm sorry to read that you've recently been diagnosed with melanoma. I also had a lesion removed from my arm, which turned out to be melanoma, so can understand how you feel.
The online community is divided into different support forums so I'm going to recommend that you join us over in the melanoma forum where you can ask questions, share experiences and get support.
To join, just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
If you have any problems negotiating the community just reply to me and I'll be pleased to help if I can.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
