Melanoma

I have recently undergone ‘local’ surgery at the Waikato Hospital to have a small melanoma on my left arm removed and tested. It tested positive and I was called back to have more surrounding flesh removed.

Yesterday I re-attended the hospital to see the surgeon who performed the operation so that he could observe the scar and do a visible examination of my upper body to see if there was any sign of spread of cancer from the melanoma. The test of the flesh around the melanoma was negative which was good and I was relieved, but to make sure that there was no spread of cancerous infection the surgeon performed a visual check of my upper body and instructed the nurse to remove samples from three additional small spots on my back for further testing. He suspected that they may also be developing melanomas. I will not know the results of these tests for about four weeks.

I was given printed material explaining melanomas and their dangers and given strict instructions to visibly inspect my own body frequently in case there are developments of anything unusual (which could indicate the spread of cancer. – but they didn’t say that).

For anyone reading this who may not understand melanomas, they are often caused by exposure to the sun, and they may be cancerous and if developed long enough can cause cancer to spread throughout the body, and eventually cause death. Some people can die quite quickly after discovery of the melanoma.

You may ask “What is melanoma?” A dictionary definition says a melonaoma is “a skin tumour, especially a malignant one, derived from cells capable of melanin formation.” In my case it was a dark brown spot about ¼ inch or ½ centimetre in size with other colours mixed in which my doctor observed with a special device. Though my melanoma was a flat spot many can be raised above the surrounding skin.

If one has anything which may resemble a melanoma have it diagnosed immediately. Time is vital as the introduced cancer spreads very quickly.

So far I am very fortunate thanks to Jill’s observation and insistence that I have the melanoma checked out by our doctor. By regularly checking my body now I should be free of further problems from this unpleasant disease. But I am writing this as a warning to others. Please seriously take care when in the sun; especially those who live in New Zealand and Australia who are at greatest risk.