More Biopsies

Yesterday I had my first followup with my dermatologist since my cancer surgery.  I saw her in July, which is when she ordered the biopsy on the skin that turned out to be cancerous (melanoma).  Because it was melanoma, I have to see her every 3 months for the next 2 years.  Unless they find more cancer, in which case the 2 years gets extended.  I had my first full-body scan yesterday; she was very thorough, even checking my scalp; it was clear she was following a protocol.  Some blotches I thought might be problems weren't, according to her, but two small round spots that were darker than the others looked suspicious to her.  One was on my upper chest, the other on my inner thigh.  So she removed them and sent them to the lab for biopsy.  Is this my new life?  More biopsies every 3 months.  I hope not.

At least now I have a better idea what to look for--different from what I found on the Internet.  The Mayo Clinic website (and I'm sure other sources) refer to ABCDE--asymmetry, border irregularity, color changes, diameter greater than 1/4 inch and evolving--in determining what to look for.  I was fixated on the asymmetry, since I have a bunch of splotches that are irregular, including a big splotchy area on my leg.  And I read somewhere that women often get melanoma on their legs, so I was especially concerned about that.  But the doctor said the splotches on my hand are just part of aging, and the darkish blue splotches on my leg are vein showing through.  The two spots she removed were symmetrical, had regular borders (so much for A and B!), and were small (takes care of D).  C doesn't apply to the two spots either--they were both uniform in color (May Clinic says look for multiple colors or uneven distribution of colors).  As for E (evolving):  since I didn't think those small round spots were a problem, I would not have noticed changes.  Now I know to look for anything that starts to get darker, since she zeroed in on the only two spots that were darker than every other spot or splotch on my body.  Looks to me like the area around my neck and upper chest could be the most vulnerable, since the spots already look a bit darker than those on my arms.  Nothing looks as odd or hideous as the Mayo Clinic photos, so I'm not sure how helpful all this guidance is.  All I can look for now is change.  And not in a good way.