Hindsight

Feb 12, 2012 Dawn Melanoma No Comments

I’m in a fair amount of pain tonight. Have been for a few hours. It’s funny how now that I know that my nodes are swollen and the cause of my pains how stupid I feel.

It didn’t even occur to me to follow up with my oncologist after my cyst episode in late September.

It didn’t even occur to me that my pain might not be another cyst. When your OBGYN says “Oh, with that pain, you should have come right in here“, it’s silly to think ‘Oh, I better check with my oncologist!’

When the pain moves around to your back and hip and you’re known for sleeping oddly and have a history of lower back pain, it’s silly not to go to the chiropractor.

And when your PCP mentions that there was a notation of potential cancer in the ER notes, but nothing from the OBGYN or anyone else, it’s silly not to think “Well, they said it wasn’t and so did the OBGYN”.

But hindsight? Hindsight is different. Looking back has me thinking:

Why didn’t I insist on follow-up testing from the OBGYN?

Why didn’t I make sure that my cancer team had a copy of my CT scan from the ER and the ultrasound from the ER and my OBGYN?

Why didn’t I go see SOMEONE in the beginning of January when the pain came back so bad that I was near tears on a heating pad when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Why did I insist on seeing the Chiropractor over and over without thinking it was something else?

I have a freaking history of CANCER. I have had lymph nodes removed. Why didn’t I notice that my leg was swelling a little more than usual?

Ah, hindsight. You’re a bitch.

Again? Really?

Feb 10, 2012 Dawn Melanoma No Comments biopsy, CT scan, stupid lymph nodes

Finally got the results of my CT scan I had on Monday.

Enlarged lymph nodes. About 5 of them. Needle biopsy in the next couple of weeks; MRI on my brain next week.

One step at a time.

(more details)

No news is….well, no news

Feb 1, 2012 Dawn Melanoma 1 Comment appointments, CT, Dr. L, fears

I saw Dr. L today – it was supposed to be the usual Hi-how-are-you-notice-anything-odd visit where he checks me out, we chatter about our kids and the weather, and then say See Ya in 6 months!

But when they asked if I had any pain, I said yes.

It changed the whole scope of the visit. I gave him the whole back story (appendix that was ovarian cyst that I just found out the ER was concerned might be cancer, but OBGYN said it wasn’t; continued back, hip and front pain, etc).

He looked me over, requisitioned the records (CT Scan) from the ER visit, pushed where it hurts, seemed noncommital about the back pain being related to the hip or abdominal pain and scheduled me for an “urgent” CT Scan. (Where “urgent”=within 1-2 weeks). I’m going in on Monday.

At the very least, we were going to do a full CT this year at some point since I’m coming up on the 3 year mark of diagnosis, so this just pushes it up a little bit. If nothing shows up, I guess I’ll head over to the OBGYN and see if they can figure something out.

I’m gagging already at the thought of the contrast I’ll have to drink Monday. Don’t suppose there is any chance they made it taste like Coke in the last couple of years….

Concerned

Jan 29, 2012 Dawn Melanoma 1 Comment concerns, worries, WTF

I really don’t know what is wrong with me lately. I’m fairly healthy but the past year and month have been kicking my ass. It really started, I think, with the ovarian cyst at the end of September. (remember, the whole ‘you’ve got appendicitis’ urgent care trip that developed into ‘meh, it’s just a cyst, go home’ at 5 am?)

Well, it turns out the ER doctors made note on my file that that no big deal cyst might be cancer. They never mentioned that to me or I never would have gone home willingly, trust me. When I followed up with my OBGYN a few days later and asked, his response was ‘definitely not’.

But now, I have to wonder, don’t I? Because the pains keep coming back, all on my right side where my melanoma was, and they keep presenting in different ways. The back pain, the cyst-like pain, the right flank pain, the slight nausea, the general malaise.

For once I’m almost looking forward to my Oncologist appointment this week.

{cross-posted at pgoodness)

There’s an App for That!

Jan 26, 2012 Dawn Melanoma No Comments apps, technology

I read in last Sunday’s newspaper that there was an app to help in the detection of melanoma (MelApp was the one referenced). Of course, being the tech-geek I am, I was intrigued to say the least. Upon further research, there are actually quite a few Apps out there. DISCLAIMER: I downloaded the free apps, but not the others.

Skin of Mine (free)

Description from iTunes

Be treated by a dermatologist or dermatology nurse practitioner online licensed in your state. Consultations starting at $20.
***ONLINE CONSULTATIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN: CA, CT, DC, LA, MA, MD, MO, NE, NJ, NY, PA, VA, NV, OR, TX, UT, and WA *** Upload a photo of your skin and submit for consultation, or do an automated analysis of your wrinkles or moles.

This app requires an account to do anything with. As loathe as I am to create yet another online account, I did it so I could see what it’s all about. Once putting in your name, password, email, country and zip code, you have to agree to the terms and conditions: bottom line? Informational purposes only, not medical advice.

First you are greeted with a naked body drawing and you choose your gender. You can zoom in and then hold down to mark the spot. You’re then prompted to take a photo or insert a photo of the actual spot. Once you take the photo, you can have it analyzed by drawing a little circle around it. The app takes into account Asymmetry, Border Scallop, Border Fade and Color Irregularity. Here are some screen shots. What I like most about this app is that it is completely usable even without an online consultation. You can take photos and keep them to compare to future photos, thereby keeping track visually if there have been changes. And the instant analysis was fairly spot on for this particular mole of mine.

Skin Scan ($4.99)

Description from website: Skin Scan is a medical application created for you to easily scan and monitor your moles over time in order to prevent skin cancer. With a clean and simple interface Skin Scan can be your pocket scan technology anywhere

I did not buy this app. It looks ok from the screen shots, but I can’t really say how well it works. Since I see my dermatologist every 6 months and my oncologist every 6 months, I couldn’t really see spending the money. If you’ve used it, please leave a comment!

MelApp ($1.99)

Description from website: Whether sunning on the beach, cheering at the kids’ outdoor sporting events or hitting the slopes, chances are you’re being affected by damaging UV rays. MelApp for iPhone is an image-based risk assessment mobile app that assists in the early detection of melanoma.

I was going to download this one, but every single review was horrible. There is a developer note that as of Jan 22 they are working on a Version 2, so I think I’ll wait to see what happens. It certainly looks like it has potential. Here’s the developer website so you can check it out.

Spot Check (free to use, $4.99 to submit)

Description from App Website: Using SpotCheck is easy: Take a photo of your mole, answer two questions about it, and send the image off for a response with a simple in-app purchase. Within 24 hours a certified dermatologist will look at your photo and tell you whether it appears normal. You can also find nearby dermatologists for an in-person skin examination, and learn more about moles and melanoma.

This is a very simple app to use, but you can only send your photo in for analysis if you live in California, New York and New Jersey. It’s a matter of taking a picture and answering two questions, which are really common sense for those of us who know, but decent for those who don’t. It’s definitely a good start, but certainly not a replacement for something more advanced or a dermatologist.

Mollie’s Fund (free)

Description from iTunes

The Have You Checked Your Skin Lately? app from the Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation is a useful and potentially life-saving guide to keeping safe from the sun.

Learn how to give yourself a monthly skin exam and how to tell if your moles are the kind that you should tell a dermatologist about.

Keep track of your self-exams with the Monthly Skin Check Log and follow the essential tips to ensure that you are always practicing sun safety!

Mollie’s Fund is a nice app that helps with the basics of checking your skin, provides a calendar to mark your skin checks to make sure you’re doing them regularly, as well as giving additional skin cancer resources. Very pretty app that reflects the beauty of the app’s namesake. Definite download, if no other reason to prove to your dermatologist that you’re doing your monthly skin checks and to be reminded to do so.

This & That

Oct 13, 2011 Dawn Melanoma No Comments

Phew! Nice to be back! My site has been down for a bit and now it’s back. Yay!

No new doctor visits or anything, although I did discover that I have a new spot above my eye. Is this what it is going to be like from now on? Every time I look in the mirror, I’ll see something new? Oy.

Obviously, I’ll keep an eye on it (or under it, as the case may be!), but I’m sure it’s another in what has been and will be a long line of me thinking “Hey! Where did that come from? Do I need to worry?” moments.

Anyway, I’m back. I’m playing around with the site (as I’m sure you noticed). I’m not sold on this theme, so don’t be surprised if it is different next time you come back!

« 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 »

[Defying Melanoma]

kicking cancer's ass one day at a time