Life after results

Hi OneCatMe 

That's great that you had good results and no sign of spread.

I'm pretty sure that everyone in the group will recognise your worry ahead of your check-up. The advice that someone once gave me was, that no amount of worry will change the outcome but it will ruin the present. I try to live by that now. You'll probably find that as time goes by you'll worry less about upcoming check-ups and I wish you all the best with this one.

Hi 

I totally know what you mean I had 2.3 melanoma had wider excision to left of my chin and 1 lymph node removed my results also showed no spread it is wonderful but it’s like one day you have and next you don’t my partner said he thought I would be totally over the moon and I am but your head plays with you and family think right all ok back to baby sitting duties and all hunky Dory but I cant just do that I have been through 8 months of stress and worry you can’t just be ok it’s probably a gradual thing it makes me sound ungrateful but I am not I also see the scars which are quite large on my face I have to say though the surgeon was amazing and all done to try fit in with my laughter lines which is new for me  and my jaw line from chin to ear I think OneCatme has the perfect answer let’s see if we both can adapt that attitude going forward 

Take care 

CMK

I have my first check up in just over a week and fully understand what you mean. I am constantly worried about new melanoma, or that the cancer has spread unseen. It was such a relief when I got my biopsy results after the WLE and lymph node removal, but now feeling as on edge as I was before my results. Hoping that with time and continued health checks the worry will diminish, but I am going to ask about the options on getting scans privately for my own piece of mind.

Hiya,

I had ALM with spread into 2 SNs. I finished treament in Feb this year have just had had my second set of "monitoring" scans and results. In the past all of the results have come back at the same time (Head and Body CT's with and without contrast), this time I had the Head Scan come back but had to wait a further 2 weeks for the Body Scan. That sent the old brain into overdrive that something was wrong. Of course it wasn't, it just depends on how busy each department is ie the Head Scan is looked at by one and the Body Scan looked at by another! Boy did I feel silly with myself for worrying. As Latchbrook says, try to live for the present, the result will be the result (much easier said than done, we can all a test to that). 

Good luck with your test results and I don't think you ever get used to going through the cycle of testing, however I wonder how much more worried I'd be, if I didn't have that safety net, at least for the next few years.

Best Wishes x

My first check was ok, nothing identified.

Still worrying but I'm hoping it gets easier, next check in December.

Take care and look after yourself. I think this is a very long journey x

I’m exactly the same. Diagnosed in March with a 1B melonoma but clear SLNB but I still think about it everyday and am paranoid about the sun. I’m not one for counselling and didn’t really believe in it but it did help a bit and made me focus on what’s important. At the time I couldn’t look forward but am now back comfortable booking holidays well in advance of now so it must have done some good. I do think with melonoma that it’s a misunderstood cancer and people don’t always appreciate the seriousness of it.

Hi 

I absolutely agree with everything you said I was a 2.3 melanoma and with no presence of cancer at the moment because as you said people just don’t think it serious someone actually said to me if your going to get a cancer that’s the one you want they don’t think people die from it tbh I don’t want any I too was paranoid and what a year to have it the hottest on record I stayed away from the sun and have been put on course of Vit D tablets 

I am much better now with regards the sun I sunscreen every day and even had a holiday abroad in the sun I just adjusted to take care and wear a hat and sunscreen ironically im not even a sun bather or sun bedder so I was just unlucky 

I just know the little beggar can come back but push to back of mind and try think positive and enjoy life after cancer 

sounds like you are now thinking the right way I feel that for me too long may we go on 

Take care

Totally agree. Take care x