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Snet
United States3573 Posts
For as long as I remembered I had a black mole on my left arm right above my elbow. I remember it always being there, but my parents claimed it just showed up recently. It didn't look that weird but it was significantly darker than any of the other moles on my body.
I figured I only have a few more years left of my dad's awesome Navy Health Insurance, so I decided to get the mole cut off and checked by a Dermatologist. I had this procedure done last Monday on the 16th.
It was a simple fifteen minute "surgery" where they injected a small amount of novocaine into my arm and used a scalpel to remove the mole. I opted for this procedure over the one where they use some kind of device to pop the mole out, but that leaves a scar. This one would take three stitches and should leave no sign of anything being done in a few years.
The following Monday I went to the clinic to get my stitches removed, kind of worried that I had not gotten a call with my results. They said it would take two to three days, but I figured sometimes they get really busy.
The doctor wanted to tell me in person, rather than on the phone, that the lab found a positive for Malignant Melanoma in the mole and surrounding tissue. My first thought was the irony of a computer nerd spending most of his childhood inside having skin cancer.
From there instead of freaking out I just asked what needs to be done. The doctor at the clinic referred me to a Dermatologist, who then got into contact with me only thirty minutes of leaving the clinic. I was impressed by the proactiveness of the whole situation.
From there I was scheduled for surgery on the 25th. They planned to cut 5mm deep to test for any signs of Melanoma deeper in the skin. They hope that this was caught early and that it hasn't spread. Me being only 18 I received nothing but positive words and hopefulness from the three Dermatologists working on me that day.
So much for me not wanting to get a scar, they told me a three inch scar will be unavoidable. The procedure itself was very similar to having the mole cut out. They injected quite a bit more novocaine into my arm than last time, and it took about an hour rather than fifteen minutes. However, the entire procedure was completely painless, just the uncomfortable sensation of novocaine being injected into a good portion of my arm.
The nurses assisting were more then happy to take pictures for me. However, they were not familiar with my phone, so when they took the pictures they failed to save them properly. I only managed to get one of the final stage where it was all stitched up.
+ Show Spoiler [Squeamish may not want to view] +
I am still waiting on my results, but everything about this situation has me not the least bit worried of a serious condition. I will just have to be that much more careful during sunny days, and have to go for yearly body checks to a Dermatologist.
I guess I will end this by saying, don't hesitate to get yourself checked at the hospital for anything suspicious. If you have a mole that looks even slightly weird, just get it cut out. It's a harmless procedure and you'll be fully healed in under a week. If you put it off you might find out when you're 30 that it spread to multiple parts of your body or something. And Melanoma can kill, so you really are "better safe than sorry".
 
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gross picture.....NO ONE LOOK AT IT
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On March 27 2009 06:43 Racenilatr wrote:
gross picture.....NO ONE LOOK AT IT
Boo hoo its some stitches.
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
On March 27 2009 06:48 Megalisk wrote:Boo hoo its some stitches.
Yea, it's really not that gross lol. No blood even.
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Ouch, I hope you got some pain killers or something, looks/sounds painful.
Don't worry, scars are badass ;D
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Oh man I thought this was Smix for a while and was so confused as to the gender of the person writing it.
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On March 27 2009 06:43 Racenilatr wrote:
gross picture.....NO ONE LOOK AT IT
what world did you grow up in that, that constitutes gross... It's rather mild
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Calgary25954 Posts
Wow, crazy. Glad to hear you caught it and I hope everything ends well. I really liked reading this story.
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Man these things are no joke to deal with, and I tip my hat to you for going to your doctors right away instead of first consulting team liquid about your course of action to deal with the melonoma. Some other people have obviously chose the latter. There is also the guy who took matters into his own hands (pun intended), but that's another story entirely.
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On March 27 2009 06:51 Snet wrote:Show nested quote +On March 27 2009 06:48 Megalisk wrote:On March 27 2009 06:43 Racenilatr wrote:
gross picture.....NO ONE LOOK AT IT Boo hoo its some stitches. Yea, it's really not that gross lol. No blood even.
MY friends infected knee now that was gross shit. That just not pleasant to look at.
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you did well by being so proactive. I wish you the very best with the results. Goodluck. =) (And again, props for being so brave.)
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wow nice catch man @___@; goodluck buddy hope everything goes well for you!
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i have this big black spot thing on the side of my head thats covered by hair since i was born
hmm :\
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the blog title is funny.... the rest isint good luck
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On March 27 2009 06:58 Lycaeus wrote:what world did you grow up in that, that constitutes gross... It's rather mild
Keep in mind that Race can't even go to a rated R film without a parent.
Snet, I hope that you took care of it, seems like you were very mature about the whole deal and that's good. Let us know if you hear anything else man! Best of luck!
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Pretty shocking story, thanks for sharing it with us. It certainly left an impression on me. I hope everything turns out okay.
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Wow, that's a little scary. Best of luck!
Got any photos of the little bugger before it was cut off?
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Physician
United States4146 Posts
- in a way u have to count ur blessings, u found the darn phucker and the melanoma could have been in a worse spot, like ur nose, ur pecker or near an eye lid.. then ur in for a trip when they have to do that 3 inch marign : (
- good luck on biopsy result.
http://www.melanomacenter.org/staging/tnmstagingsystem.html
- don't freak out if they order a chest x-ray and other tests; it's standard procedure even if they are early stages
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why did you make me read this? WHY? I have like 4 moles one is sorta big on my leg but it always has been there. Now I'm feeling paranoid, won't be going to a doctor though. I'll take it like a man
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United States12607 Posts
Interesting story, with a good message. Stay healthy, everyone!
Snet, have you heard back about whether there is melanoma present elsewhere? I hope everything turns out ok for you.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5237/stitches.jpg)
