I was diagnosed with stage III Melanoma in April, 2001. I had a mole on my right thigh that began to bleed. I went to my primary physician for a biopsy. He then referred me to a plastic surgeon for removal. I went to three total. Each time I went in and stated I was not there for a boob job or tummy tuck, but instead for melanoma I was treated like a leper. After going to the three plastic surgeons, I felt pretty good. Each of them told me that they could remove my mole...no problem. No one mentioned anything else. The problem was that the plastic surgeons were covered by my insurance, but not the hospitals. Actually it wasn't a problem, but in fact saved my life. I ended up going to Loma Linda University Medical Center. They were covered by my insurance but had no appointments until Aug., 2001. I made the appointment in April. I was contacted a few hours later. They asked me to come in the very next day. This surprised me because the other doctors had told me that my mole was "No big deal". I went the next day to see the plastic surgeon. He took one look and told me to wait. He came back with a surgical oncologist. They examined the mole, opened their day planners and scheduled a biopsy of the "lesion" as it was now called and a lymph node biopsy the next week. Whoa I thought to myself. I thought this was no big deal? I drove back to work balling my eyes out. I was scared. I phoned my husband and he reassured me. It will be fine. The following week I was in surgery. They took off the lesion and sent it for biopsy. Two days later a blue dye was injected at the lesion area and two lymphnodes removed. The following week as I sat in my doctor's office he delivers the bad news. Both malignant. I need more surgery. Two weeks later 20 lymph nodes are removed. 10 malignant. News not good. I am referred to a medical oncologist.

Brenda