"Just Diagnosed With Melanoma…Now What?"

Introduction 

If you are reading this, you have undergone a biopsy (either of a skin lesion or a lymph node) or have had other tests in which the diagnosis of melanoma is suspected or confirmed.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs in the cells that color the skin and make moles (melanocytes).  Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer because it can spread to lymph nodes or a distant site. 

Of all the various skin cancers, melanoma is known to be the most deadly if not caught in its earlies phases.  Approximately 59,940 people will be diagnosed with invasive melanoma and 8,100 will die this year from melanoma. 

So what do you do if you have just been diagnosed with melanoma ?

First – take a breath… and read the attached...

Finally...

This is not an all-inclusive method for determining YOUR stage of melanoma or the ‘right’ treatment. However, this information can be helpful for the newly diagnosed (“now what”) patient. The hope is that by giving the overwhelmed and frightened melanoma patient an approach to finding information about their disease and treatment options, they will become an empowered and active participant in their diagnosis and treatment.

There ain’t no answer.
There ain’t going to be any answer.
There never has been an answer.
That’s the Answer.
- Gertrude Stein