I truly APPRECIATE Everyone's insight as to my melanoma concerns. I just learned today that all my margins were clear of melanoma. Therefore, the final prognosis is melanoma was excised. That is certainly great news to me! This is a relief to me, as my last 3 weeks have been highly challenging, and I had been overwhelmed with anxiety! Although I realize that there is no 100% guarantee that melanoma could not develop on or in my body again, I am encouraged, with the odds being heavily in my favor, that it will NOT return. However, I WILL stay vigilant and minimize sun exposure by covering up as using UV protection whenever exposed to sunshine. The dermatologist told me that there is only a 1.5% chance that my melanoma somehow escaped detection and has invaded or potentially could invade a sentinel lymph node. She said it was an option for me to pursue, but even IF it were to test positive for melanoma, it would not change any future prognosis. Since it would entail more surgery under anesthesia this time and the potential risk was low, I have decided to go with the plan to see a dermatologist every 3 months for a year, and every 6 months after a year for a couple of years, and do full monthly bodily self-checks and lymph node self-examinations frequently. The bottom line is, at least as of now, this was GOOD NEWS! Thanks again to everyone who posted! I wish you all future good health and a promising future!
Dave62