MELANOMA

Ma · Guru

RE: MELANOMA

JRH · Guru

I can only speak from personal experience and I have found that there are a few very arrogant surgeons around, but most are open to negotiation and can be quite human at times.

Beth54 · Guru

I struck an Asthma Specialist at the RBH who was very abrupt. He basically said if I lost weight, my Asthma wouldn't be so bad. I felt like saying no s.h.i.t sherlock!! furious He was talking as if I didn't know I was overweight. Needless to say, he didn't have an ounce of fat on him!

JRH · Guru

Beth54 wrote:
I struck an Asthma Specialist at the RBH who was very abrupt. He basically said if I lost weight, my Asthma wouldn't be so bad. I felt like saying no s.h.i.t sherlock!! He was talking as if I didn't know I was overweight. Needless to say, he didn't have an ounce of fat on him!

There are definitely a few around. My attitude is there are plenty more fish in the sea and I tell my GP I will not accept a referal to the person in future.

glassies · Guru

Be aware mine too was a melanoma on my tummy ,this form of cancer is the worst because docs dont know
Enough about it, i had mine removed a year ago and i was given the all clear ,went along with my life
Only to be told i now have secondary melanoma ,that is why ive bern cut like a shark attack from my belly
Button down my leg ,i too was told good luck we got it all BUT as they say with melanoma never can they say
100 percent that it shall not return ,my mole was flat like a map and out of the blue it got itchy and i found the
Change so soon they were amazed.

However they were also amazed how soon it had come back to haunt me ,im hoping to be clear forever and i
Can get on with my life and see the rest of this country.

So yes be aware vhevk everywhere btween your toes,under soles in your ears ,everywhere and dont put it off

Beth54 · Guru

A cousin of mine died from a Melanoma which started as just a sore on her big toe. They amputated her toe, but it returned. She had several good years, but she was still in her early fifties when she passed. cry

goinsoon · Guru

Beth54 wrote:
I think I've mentioned before that I'm rather paranoid about my skin. My skin is exactly the same as my Dad's was and he lost half his nose to skin cancer. Sounds a bit like yours Brian, but he didn't go soon enough. They did a skin graft from his forehead, of all places, so it returned many years later. He ended up with quite a bulbous nose from his ops. Over the later years, his GP cut heaps out of his face and forearms, in particular. He was in the Engineers in WW2, so plenty of time outdoors.
So far, I've only had one actual BCC, basal cell carcinoma, on my nose too. But just a little tiny one. I also have a new one growning near the edge of my eye Marj, and have been to see about it. I have to go back in April to have it checked again.
Interesting thing, Dad's GP said they need to be cut out aggressively, not just burnt off. I think he just like hacking into some flesh!

Beth,

I will PM you with a bit of advice which I hope will help.

Brian

goinsoon · Guru

Well just back from the skin specialist to get a cancer cut out of my nose, let's not pretty it up by using fancy names it was CANCER.

What the doctor thought were two minor keretoses were actually one keretosis and one agressive basil cell carcinoma on the end of my nose.

The result is a 1/2 inch square cut out of my nose and a packed dressing put in, back on wednesday for biopsy result, if more to be insised done then, if clear skin graft, if not clear more cut out and skin graft Friday.

This was a tiny tiny tiny bit of flaky skin no bigger than a pin head, if this had gone unattended there was every chance I could have lost most of my nose later down the track.

SO PLEASE PLEASE

WEAR A WIDE BRIM HAT

USE SUNBLOCK

GET REGULAR CHECKUPS

Beth54 · Guru

goinsoon wrote:
Well just back from the skin specialist to get a cancer cut out of my nose, let's not pretty it up by using fancy names it was CANCER.
What the doctor thought were two minor keretoses were actually one keretosis and one agressive basil cell carcinoma on the end of my nose.
The result is a 1/2 inch square cut out of my nose and a packed dressing put in, back on wednesday for biopsy result, if more to be insised done then, if clear skin graft, if not clear more cut out and skin graft Friday.
This was a tiny tiny tiny bit of flaky skin no bigger than a pin head, if this had gone unattended there was every chance I could have lost most of my nose later down the track.
SO PLEASE PLEASE
WEAR A WIDE BRIM HAT
USE SUNBLOCK
GET REGULAR CHECKUPS

Thanks brian, I will ring them today.

Happywanderer · The Master

Done, have appointment with my dr on Friday.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I've had my skin checked every year for several years. All bulk-billed so far. Broome, Cairns Skin Clinic and Paralowie Medical Centre, Adelaide.
If you require surgery and it's urgent, you will get seen to through the public system. If you sit around and wait to be called, you could be a lot older and a lot sicker, and still waiting.
On several occasions I was led to believe I was on the waiting list. So I phoned the relevant hospital to find out an approximate time-frame for my appointment and surgery. I was told I wasn't on the list yet, as I hadn't seen the surgeon yet. So I asked what it would take to get an appointment with the surgeon so I can have my surgery.
I had an appointment in Perth in one case, and in Brisbane on another occasion, within a month, and surgery scheduled within 2 months. The Brisbane op was deferred for a week, when they rescheduled another day in theatre, and I had the op 1 week before Christmas.
To get to the city from a remote location there is transport and accommodation to be arranged by the local hospital's travel "agent".
Sometimes we have to push a few buttons to express our desire to have it over and done with asap. If we speak up we get the attention. Those who are "happy" to sit home and whinge and wait, will be left to sit at home, whinging and waiting.
Once again, it pays to speak up and ask a few questions. You may like the answer.

goinsoon · Guru

CG I was fortunate, the skin spec. I went to did the check, biopsy and operation (day surgery) and it was all bulk billed including the skin graft I am having wednesday

Vic · Guru

Good luck with that Brian, I had half my nose removed (due to skin cancer) and rebuilt from a skin graft (including a false nostril bit) by a top surgeon, all paid for by the health system.

I'm very wary in the sun now, due to this and some others I've had.

goinsoon · Guru

Vic wrote:
Good luck with that Brian, I had half my nose removed (due to skin cancer) and rebuilt from a skin graft (including a false nostril bit) by a top surgeon, all paid for by the health system.
I'm very wary in the sun now, due to this and some others I've had.

Thanks mate, I will be very careful in future

goinsoon · Guru

I hate to harp, but I have had a bugger of a week, cancer cut out monday and skin graft today, took a couple of hours and I feel like sh1t.

I am not looking for sympathy, but rather I just want all of my fellow members here (friends & foe alike) to get a skin check, it is not bloody worth it believe me.

I sit here in pain with 15 stitches on my nose and all the result of a tiny bit of loose flaky skin not much bigger than the head of a pin on my nose.

Please get a skin check

please wear a suitable hat

please use sunscreen.

PLEASE

-- Edited by goinsoon on Wednesday 1st of February 2012 05:29:55 PM

-- Edited by goinsoon on Wednesday 1st of February 2012 05:30:33 PM

JRH · Guru

goinsoon wrote:
I hate to harp, but I have had a bugger of a week, cancer cut out monday and skin graft today, took a couple of hours and I feel like sh1t.
I am not looking for sympathy, but rather I just want all of my fellow members here (friends & foe alike) to get a skin check, it is not bloody worth it believe me.
I sit here in pain with 15 stitches on my nose and all the result of a tiny bit of loose flaky skin not much bigger than the head of a pin on my nose.
Please get a skin check
please wear a suitable hat
please use sunscreen.

PLEASE

-- Edited by goinsoon on Wednesday 1st of February 2012 05:29:55 PM

-- Edited by goinsoon on Wednesday 1st of February 2012 05:30:33 PM

GS I reckon your case has been an eye opener for a lot of people, so from me and mine a hearty thankyou for posting.

John & Irona

Happywanderer · The Master

GS Did they do all that at the doctors surgery or in a hospital?

I have my app for Friday, my scaly bit sounds a lot worse than yours was, a bit concerned now.

goinsoon · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
GS Did they do all that at the doctors surgery or in a hospital?

I have my app for Friday, my scaly bit sounds a lot worse than yours was, a bit concerned now.

Marj. it was all done at the surgery under a nasal blocker and local, the doctor is a cancer specialist, but prefers to work in the suburbs instead of a flash city office.

Logan Village is a little semi rural town 40 km from the city

It was all 100% bulk billed and was 3 weeks from inital consultation to surgery.

Happywanderer · The Master

If its not something she can burn off I suppose she will refer me to a skin specialist.

goinsoon · Guru

I was lucky Matj, it was all done inhouse

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Brian - hope it all goes well for yu from now on. Went through Logan Village today - never been there before - good looking pub there, eh?
Take care mate.

Beth54 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Brian - hope it all goes well for yu from now on. Went through Logan Village today - never been there before - good looking pub there, eh?
Take care mate.

They do a good lunch there Jules. At least they did a few years ago, when I used to take Dad there regularly.

Delta18 · Guru

It is becoming very commonplace now it seems, the surgery.

I went to the doc today after making an appt with him 2 weeks ago to look at a lump on my wrist that was itchy & sore if I bumped it. I expected him to tell me to make another appt to do something about it if required...he had one look, mentioned the c word and said "hope you have nothing planned for an hour or so" and herded me to his surgery & took it off there & then.

I forgot to ask exactly what it was but I guess I'll find out when I go back in 2 weeks for another removal, obviously this one doesn't look too serious.

Cheers Neil

goinsoon · Guru

I am sorry I looked in the mirror this morning, have to go back to get dressings changed this morning, what do you think of the shiner.

goinsoon · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Brian - hope it all goes well for yu from now on. Went through Logan Village today - never been there before - good looking pub there, eh?
Take care mate.

Thanks Jules, hope you can make it monday, I shouldn't look as scary by then

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

goinsoon wrote:
I am sorry I looked in the mirror this morning, have to go back to get dressings changed this morning, what do you think of the shiner.

I had a good idea you were ugly, now I know. biggrin

that does look sore, hope it all clears up soon and you are feeling better.

JRH · Guru

goinsoon wrote:
I am sorry I looked in the mirror this morning, have to go back to get dressings changed this morning, what do you think of the shiner.

That'll teach you to stick your nose where it's not wanted.

Hope it all gets better very soon, it looks real painful.

Beth54 · Guru

Ouch! Yep, looks just like my Dad's did so long ago.

See you on Monday Brian.

Beth54 · Guru

I've made my appointment too. Thanks for the info Brian.

legal lizzie · Newbie

JRH wrote:
goinsoon wrote:
JRH wrote:
goinsoon wrote:
Melanomas or to make it more scary Skin cancers
Some may rememb er that I recently had a biopsy on my nose, I just got a call from the specialist, it is positive but not serious but I have to go in on monday to get a chunk cut out of my nose.
So I make this plea to all my friends here, get your self checked all over regularly (at least once a year) and if any suspicions have it attended to immediately.
The specialist told me that if I had left it until next year there would be a good chance of major surgery to my nose, getting in this soon means I will be just a little bit more ruggedly handsome.

GO GET YOURSELF CHECKED - "WELL GO ON" OFF YOU GO
Our thoughts and prayers are with you pal, keep positive.
Thanks for that, but it is nothing serious, just a shallow melanoma and it wont need any bodgieing up afterwards, will just leave a little dent on one side of my nose.
Might make me look sorta cute for the girls dont you think
It is great to read that bit of good news. I suppose any change to the appearance is beneficial. LOLOLOLOL
Snot to be laughed at.

-- Edited by legal lizzie on Thursday 2nd of February 2012 09:04:51 PM