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Melanoma & Skin Cancer support: Introduce yourself and connect

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Mar 28, 2025

Welcome to the Melanoma & Skin Cancer support group on Mayo Clinic Connect.

This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet others living with skin cancer or caring for someone with skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), Merkel cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma, and their treatments. Let's learn from each other and share stories about living well with cancer, coping with the challenges and offering tips.

Take these steps to participate in the group:

  • Follow the group.
  • Browse topics.
  • Use the group search to find answers to your questions.
  • Introduce yourself.

Pull up a chair and chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? What is your experience, or your loved one’s experience, living with melanoma or skin cancer (i.e., what type, how long since diagnosis, how it’s managed)?

Do you have a question, tip or story to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Melanoma & Skin Cancer Support Group.

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nancyjv | @nancyjv | Dec 29, 2025

My Mayo oncologist told me about this study and the Covid vaccine. I just got my Covid vaccine today. Hope it helps with my uveal melanoma
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/12/covid-mrna-vaccines-cancer-patients-prolong-life

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blc1951 | @blc1951 | Dec 29, 2025
In reply to @blc1951 "@grammato3 Thank you for the information. I do know from the biopsy that this is stage..." + (show)
Profile picture for blc1951 @blc1951

@grammato3 Thank you for the information. I do know from the biopsy that this is stage 2. I will let you know what the plan is after I hear from the dr.

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@blc1951. I spoke with the nurse this morning. She said the slides came in at the end of last week. She will speak with the dr and said I should ear by the end of this week. I guess it is not very concerning?

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blc1951 | @blc1951 | Dec 29, 2025
In reply to @grammato3 "@blc1951 Good point. As of now, there is no applicable code that has been applied for..." + (show)
Profile picture for Susan, Volunteer Mentor @grammato3

@blc1951 Good point. As of now, there is no applicable code that has been applied for this service, which can range in price (from about $150-$500 depending on the provider) and is currently considered I&E (investigational and experimental) and/or not medically necessary as there are other less costly methods of detection - although none that may detect quite as early especially for high-risk individuals who have a prior history of melanoma, skin cancer or atypical moles.

As @jc76 has reported, I also have a significant history of several skin cancers including melanoma and will be having another Moh's surgery for BCC in a few weeks so it is worth it to me to spend the additional money to have the screening. Fortunately, Mayo where I treat in Phoenix (actually the dermatology division at the Scottsdale campus) recently obtained the Vectra 3D imaging system so I hope to get this early next year.

@blc1951, how often do or will you get this screening?

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@grammato3 I get it once every year. Have had it done twice so far.

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Mentor
Susan, Volunteer Mentor | @grammato3 | Dec 30, 2025
In reply to @blc1951 "@blc1951. I spoke with the nurse this morning. She said the slides came in at the..." + (show)
Profile picture for blc1951 @blc1951

@blc1951. I spoke with the nurse this morning. She said the slides came in at the end of last week. She will speak with the dr and said I should ear by the end of this week. I guess it is not very concerning?

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@blc1951: I know you mentioned your doctor was out last week due to the holiday so it sounds like the office is at least keeping you up to date on what's going on "behind the scenes" while you wait to meet in person. I suppose that can be alternately reassuring and frustrating because you still don't know for sure what the plan is!

You did say you'd been informed the biospy showed this to be Stage 2, which means it's confined to the skin, hasn't spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. What I imagine the slides will show are further sub-stages: A, B or C that correlates to thickness and will likely determine the course of treatment your doctor will decide upon.

I can understand it's hard waiting for all for information and thinking ahead to all possibilities. Is that what you mean about this not being very concerning or can you explain more about that?

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Mentor
Susan, Volunteer Mentor | @grammato3 | Dec 30, 2025
In reply to @nancyjv "My Mayo oncologist told me about this study and the Covid vaccine. I just got my..." + (show)
Profile picture for nancyjv @nancyjv

My Mayo oncologist told me about this study and the Covid vaccine. I just got my Covid vaccine today. Hope it helps with my uveal melanoma
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/12/covid-mrna-vaccines-cancer-patients-prolong-life

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@nancyjv This is an interesting observational study. I do see additional studies have been recommended to confirm the findings so tracking the results will be beneficial. Thank you for bringing it up and all the best to you!

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