Melanoma & Skin Cancer support: Introduce yourself and connect

thank you. yes. appreciate your helpful and warm feedback and the link. i've been researching this trying to accept and understand the next steps. . I think i am okay and have to be patient and will find out more during the Mohs surgery. thank you!

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect @mfb123: all of us on this forum have had - and continue to have- many questions, experiences and recommendations as we have ongoing skin checks and interventions so please express yourself freely! As for “serious” cancers, I have to say any type of cancer is considered serious when it affects any one of us on a personal level.

I commend you for being so diligent in your skin checks - early detection is often key for the most successful treatment. In the case of SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) this is generally slow growing, although growth is dependent upon a few factors that your medical provider is most proficient in assessing. Your doctor likely took this into consideration when scheduling the Mohs procedure, however, if you have concerns it’s best to discuss this directly with him or her.

Here is some information specifically on SCC: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/squamous-cell-carcinoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20352480

Does this information help to have that conversation with your dermatology team?

Hi. I was diagnosed with superficial invasive squamous carcinoma a 2 weeks ago. I noticed a wart like growth on my chin. It came on very suddenly as a small pimple but then grew into what looked like a wart or cyst and luckily I had my yearly skin check up so I was able to get the biopsy done. I have a history of melanoma in situ on my toe. I do have a Mohs surgery coming up in 3 weeks I am relieved to have it soon. My question is this typical to show up so quickly? Once the tumor is biopsied, can it change much over 6 weeks? My dermatologist says squamous is slow growing but it all happened so quickly. With the melanoma, my mole it was being followed for a few years before it started changing (My mother had melanoma when I was a child and I knew I was at higher risk)
I know others have so much more serious cancers and I feel funny asking these questions but it helps to write this post . Thank you MB

Hi Mike. Wishing you the best of luck and outcomes on October 8. There are many resources - even in a common public library - that offer life planning advice. Through a financial planner I acquired a little system of folders where I filed important documents to begin the process of putting all the important stuff in one place. Keeping a small notebook helped me initially as my thoughts were scattered. When I thought of something 'important,' I jotted it down to be dealt with in due course. I hope you come back to this space and let us know how it's all going. Peace and strength!

@mlb66: Hi Mike. I'm usually more punctual with my welcomes to this board but I was side-tracked with treatment myself yesterday - I've been getting immunotherapy and related interventions at Mayo/Phoenix for a year now due to Stage IV metastatic melanoma following a stage 1B melanoma 5 years earlier. I totally get the scattered thoughts that accompany the diagnosis and as more weigh in here I'm sure you'll find many have shared such feelings.

First things first: It helps to understand your course of immunotherapy. I've found infomation put out by AIM Melanoma Foundation to be particularly helpful in this regard as they have publications for each specicic protocol. For ipo/nivo: https://aimwithimmunotherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IO-Ipi-Nivo-Combo-PAP-2024_082525_mk-1.pdf
This explains how/why it is given, potential side-effects to be aware of and discuss with your medical provider as well as helpful resources.

Another group you may find beneficial is one to which I belong, a monthly Zoom meeting on Tuesdays (late in the day, time depending on where you live) for individuals - whether they are Mayo patients or not - who have had or are actively treating for melanoma, led by a Mayo LCSW: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/event/melanoma-support-group-meeting-2-660c8948/

Mayo's patient portal makes it very easy to stay on top of your records and in touch with your care team. I've found they take an integrative approach to care so whatever interventions you feel you may need to assist with this diagnosis, from massage to mental health support.

Let me know how your first infusion goes after 10/8 - I'll be thinking of you!

Hello, my name is Mike and I was first diagnosed with Stage IIc melanoma in February. After a couple surgeries, I started Keytruda treatment in March, but unfortunately it did not have any effect on prevention. PET scan last month showed that I have Stage IV metastatic melanoma lung nodule. I was referred to Mayo Clinic and will begin immune therapy, Ipi Nivo, on 10/8.

Not sure where to go from here, my thoughts are scattered on what I need to do. Life planning is not something I thought I would need to think about, but here I am. Looking forward to connecting with others on how they are coping with everything this disease brings.

@davepurvis: that's often the suckerpunch with this metastatic melanoma, isn't it? Seems like it's frequently one step forward followed by a half step....or more....back. But sometimes all we need is babysteps in the right direction. And right now it sounds like you're in the midst of those little steps.

I can totally relate to the unknown portion, having spent four days last week inpatient at Mayo with the ultimate diagnosis of Fever of Unknown Origin for which I suspect my immunotherapy may have played a role. There's so much we've come to know about this disease and ways to go about treating it, yet there are those mysterious components that remain so confounding.

One of the reasons I for one am glad we have this forum, so we can share our stories. I remain encouraged by yours and look forward to hearing more about your journey. Keep on trekking!

PS I totally got you were referring to your heart rate (bpm = beats per minute) but appreciate the clarification for all 🙂

Sorry hurray= heart

@grammato3 Hi Susan, Yes, combination immuno’ is being discussed yet again but this time I’d need to fund the treatment ( was originally prescribed by medical team but cancelled by ‘the powers that be’ as I’m classified as immuno’ resistant).

The challenge right now is that I get small single tumours ( liver, brain and possibly lung) that can be treated with radiation. It seems I’m oligometastic! Right now liver tumour in remission, brain tumour likely same using gamma knife and small 3mm lesion in lung might be consequence of COVID. hurray now normal 50 bpm (resting) and medical team advising that we’ve just got to wait and see what the melanoma decides to do?

It’s a situation that’s both good and bad….good not too serious as yet and bad because of the unknowns.

Just gotta hang in and hope.
Dave

@grammato3 and @davepurvis Thank you both for the informative posts! It makes my head spin to read what you all have gone through, having had simple melanoma myself, excised in 2008.
Ginger