Melanoma surgical update ...
It really feels pretty self-absorbed to be posting this, but I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of good wishes and requests for updates I received since I first mentioned my diagnosis. After all of that, it would have seemed like kind of a dick move not to do this. So ... here we go: I had my surgery this afternoon, and while the melanoma was not in situ, it was only .5 mm deep, so that makes it a Stage 1. The doc took a chunk out of my back big enough to throw on the grill, but he seems relatively certain that by taking so much tissue the margins will come back clear, and that will be the end of it. He puts my survivability at 98% for 2 years, and 93% for 5 years. HELL, compared to other situations I've found myself in over the years, that almost qualifies as a sure thing!
Again, I know it sounds trite, but this place really is like a second family; and I am deeply appreciative for the support of my DU "relatives".
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I am really pleased to hear it!
A chunk big enough to GRILL??? 
They always want clear margins, and when they get them, all is well!
Long, healthy life to you!
5" by 2" looks fairly large when it's coming out of your back! (And I was yapping the whole time ... "Get it all, doc, we don't need to do this again!"
A relative just had a pretty-good chunk taken out of them, and now, three months later, the surgeon is giving a qualified thumbs-up. I'm hoping the same for you. 
Stage I !!! 
And good margins are a *very* good thing. 
Just keep your appointments to stay on top of this thing, ya hear!
that is great news!!! 
I figure that alone will be enough to make the miserable fucking thing just shrivel up and die!
AND I AM FIERCELY LOYAL TO MY FRIENDS!!! 
best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery!
Hoping for more good news with the biopsy results. Please keep us posted.
Bravo, as it were. 
So happy for you. Happy healing.
I'm happy for you that it turned out so well. 
But they didn't check the margins while you were on the table? When I had basal cell on my forehead, they did MOHS surgery. They cut a patch, then run it to the lab, freeze it, check the margins, and if they're not clear they come back and cut some more until the margins ARE clear. All while I was still on the table.
They also took a skin graft from my thigh to cover the surgical wound, so I had two sites that hurt like hell just from the warmth of sunlight for about 9 months. (It was a lovely fuckin' war. ).
I got a feelin' you're gonna be around for a while...
You can probably look up that procedure on the fuck'n google. What do I know? I was just a grunt.
I turned 21 in VN, and I got a lotta fuck'n sun there. Humping the boonies in the heat all day, and sitting on cold ambush nights in your sweated, wet jungle fatigues.
It was a lovely fuck'n war, wasn't it?
He isn't ready for you yet. Now you can stop and smell the roses. 
to decades of remission!
I've had several suspicious moles removed requiring 20+ stitches, so I can imagine what this surgery required. Thank you for the update and make sure you make every check up appointment as required .
Thanks for updating us. I'll keep sending positive vibes your way.
So glad it was caught early!!
We need you here!
There was a young friend of the family who had a dime-sized melanoma removed from his back, and I tell you the size of the chunk that was removed with it was scary-impressive. The surgeons leave nothing to chance! The "young friend" is now over 50 and doing well. You do the same, okay?
Cheers,
Hekate
circumstances. Get well.
could get a bit prickly if you didn't!!
"a chunk out of my back big enough to throw on the grill" 
I'm glad the news is so good!
That you will not need any other treatment so far, is a sign you're in good shape today. It is always encouraging to hear when others share their concerns, fears, around such a scary proposition of dealing with the big C, helps everyone in my opinion and experience. Thank you for sharing what's happening with you! Best of everything and a great recovery!
thanks for letting us know.
--imm 
Thanks for giving us a follow-up. Good news, indeed!
Best wishes. Show those cancer cells who's boss!
Wonderful prognosis! Best wishes to you and yours. Pop a bottle of champagne and CELEBRATE until you do this:
That is fantastic news! Great odds and I'm actually glad to hear it was on your back.
One of my friends has had three surgeries for melanoma on her face. The last one left a scar three or four inches across her cheek. She looks as tough as she is.
That said, better to have a big ass scar on your back. I'm happy to hear your good news. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for the update. Know there are a lot of us here thinkin' of you.
You know us well! You knew we'd be worried. Glad to hear that the statistics are favorable for you! That way we'll have you in our DU family for a long time to come!
: 
I hope your back heals up quickly!
Those sound like pretty good odds to boot! I'm thrilled for you.
I've been worried since I read your earlier post, so thank you for sharing your positive news with your DU family...
I'm really glad to hear this.
and more 
Thanks for the update; sounds like good news to me also!!
Peace.
Heal quickly . . .
i am so happy for you as scary as the C word is, my experience with it was similar to yours. i've actually been sicker from the flu than i was from cancer. 