March 2018: We were preparing for the arrival of our second baby when I discovered a little white bump on the mole on my chest. Of course my husband's first response was, "Just pop it!" And while I do sickly enjoy helping him with his blemishes (don't judge me, because you secretly like watching Pimple Popper videos I am sure!), I was hesitant to just waive it off as a pimple when it was right on top of a mole. Lesson 1: LISTEN TO YOUR GUT! ITS YOUR BODY, YOU KNOW WHAT'S WHAT!
Now mind you, I had never seen a dermatologist in my life, even though I have been a Sunshine State Lifer, I didn't have any moles that I had been concerned about and at my age (28) it wasn't a common routinely doctor visit.
So, being pregnant (and not having a primary care provider, eekk I know thats bad!), I of course asked my OBGYN to see if she would send over a referral. Between the time she sent the referral and my 20 week ultrasound appointment, it had been two weeks and I hadn't gotten an appointment yet. Also, in the time, the white dot had grown to almost the size of the mole. I decided to take matters into my own hands and call to make an appointment and I happen to get in the next day. Lesson 2 that I learned: DON'T WAIT FOR YOUR REFERRAL TO CALL, YOU CALL ASAP!
The appointment went as I expected: the white dot wasn't very alarming, no other moles looked suspect, scrape it, send it off, and I was on my way home. Little did I know that that one white bump was the start of the most difficult period of my entire life.
The next week I got a call back with my doctor needing me to come back in asap for a review of the pathology and to discuss next steps. It wasn't until I sat in the office and she began discussing stages and surgery that I realized how serious it was. The pathology showed that I was in Stage II B which means that the tumor was not just surface level (Stage 1) but that it had grown to a depth that raised concerns over it spreading to my lymphatic system (that would be Stage III). She sent an immediate referral to an oncologist and surgeon to schedule all the things. WHAT!?!?!?!?!
Remember, at this point I am 21 weeks pregnant. Apparently, this is where Melanoma gave me a little break (eye roll). I was in my second trimester, and if you were to have to have surgery during your pregnancy, I was at the best point in it for the least risk to myself or my little baby boy. Yay? Yeah, it didn't really make me feel a whole lot better. I got an appointment with my surgeon very quickly and I was in surgery the following week.
I have to stop and just gush on my team of specialist for a second. They are probably the best group of professionals I have every had the pleasure of working with. I don't have a whole lot of medical issues, but they really are the cream of the crop when it comes to patient communication, professional collaboration/communication, and quality of care. I hear a lot of horror stories about people not having doctors that talk to one another, but that is the exact opposite of mine. They truly are the BEST! Lesson 3: FIND YOUR SQUAD, AND STICK WITH THEM!
The day of the surgery I was was pretty numb to be honest. I was trying to process the whole situation, as well as all the influx of information, while also staying calm for my baby, my little girl (4-year-old), and my husband. I had it together for my IV and the ultrasound check on the babe. Then, it was time for the Sentinel Node.
The short version of how this is done:
1. Inject radioactive dye around the mole site images.
2. Wait thirty minutes to marinate
3. Lay down in a large machine to take lots of pictures of the dye lit up inside me.
4. Look like Iron Woman! (Or see where the dye lights up to see what lymphatic pathways the melanoma may have spread through to biopsy lymph nodes).
While I laid on the table marinating, I completely broke down. A huge wave of worry overtook my strong will to be calm and I sobbed on the table, with the poor technician not really knowing what to say or how to proceed. Thank goodness my mom was able to be there with me, because it was just so overwhelming. I was worried about the surgery. I was worried about my boy. I was worried about the results. I was worried about the side effects. I was worried that I was go into preterm labor, or bleed out, or that the anesthesia would have lasting effects on Waylon after he was born. I needed to let it out though. It allowed my to process just a little bit of the situation.
The surgery went without complications. I had a massive scar down my chest as a souvenir, which now received many questions about whether I too had heart surgery. I also had several lymph nodes removed from under both arms, as the sentinel indicated that if it were to have spread, it could both both ways.
As I began recovery, I got amazing results back. The margins around the main area were clear, and my lymph nodes came back NEGATIVE! It hadn't spread and they got all of it! I was over joyed to say the very least. I could finally breath. So just as fast as I caught it, it was gone.
I was able to have a healthy, full term (well two days over due) 8lb 11oz beast of a baby boy, continue to work and enjoy my family and friends, while continuing my 3 month routine dermatology check up, cancer free!!!!
...Until three weeks ago. See Round 2: Melanoma The Mimic
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