Dr. Appointment
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Hi everyone! I just wanted to give an update (if you wanted it or not;)) from my appointment with my melanoma specialist after my castle bioscience ranking. I will say he was very encouraging to me and told me I could very well be “ok.” He said they do not use that test bc they don’t know what to do with the data- which makes me think they may not find it validated yet or they would figure out what to do with it. What I am going to do is be checked by my melanoma specialist every 6 months and get a chest x-Ray and blood work for the first 3 years- and then every 12 months for the next 2. Then I will also be seen by my surgeon every 6 months. They will be off-set- so I will see someone every 3 months. This makes me feel like I am really being taken care of! Thanks for all of your encouragement and kind words during my journey. I’m getting to the point where I’m believing I could be “ok” again! 
Your doctor sounds very judicious. Many of these “tests” have cropped up, but their usefulness has been questioned by our scientific board. Until they show you a direction besides watch and wait, they can be an expensive proposition (if not to you, the insurance industry). I think your plan is a good one, although blood work and chest x-rays usually don’t show much in regards to melanoma. What is important is: self exam (see our 2 minute video: http://melanomainternational.org/melanoma-facts/examine-your-skin and know your skin to look for changes. Have your doctor examine your skin and palpate your lymph glands. It is better to have your doctor do that.
Then work on some mindful meditation to help your brain relax and not worry too much. We are always here to support you.
I’m very pleased with him. He is a specialist through University Hospital in Ohio. I’m glad that they will be checking my lymph nodes, and I’ll still go to the dermatologist every 3 months- but I might switch to a dermatologist through UH too. Very thankful for specialists that care about us! I did wonder about the blood work. I had read that it doesn’t show too much unless the cancer has really progressed.
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