Mike N's Profile

Artist. Was a nurse while working through art school. That was a great experience and allowed me to catch my melanoma early. Now an artist making not real pictures look real for advertising agencies in the USA. Self employed.

It's about today

November 2000; noticed change in mole on thigh between knee cap and hip. Color changed to hazy or cloudy. Made appt to see General Practitioner at Health Partners HMO in Mpls.

Saw GP in late Dec. 2000 Was given a referral to Dermatologist, box on referral checked to be seen: "when schedule permits".

Was given an appt for Dermatologist Dr. Lori Skibness for Jan 30. Made phone call and changed appt for Jan 2. (yea!)

Dermatology appt and Biopsy taken Jan 2. Called to be seen in office for results on Fri Jan 5. Pathology on biopsy was Clarks level III, 0.85mm Breslow.

WLE Surgery scheduled for Jan 16 along with a SNB. Performed by Dr. Madeline Gartner.

SNB Negative... (Whew!). Pathology on tumor was "no evidence of lymphatic or vascular invasion. The melanoma is widely excised".

Jan 29 Full body check and 5 moles removed 3 returned dysplastic.

Feb. Full body photographed at U of Minnesota for base on current mole locations and size.

Blood work and Chest X rays all negative.

March 2002, have now had five total body checks. I have had about 25 moles removed. Half of those have come back dysplastic. One with "abnormal" cells. Otherwise NED

Feb.2003, Continue to be diligent with body checks. Fewer dysplastic moles. Had one "abnormal cells" last month. Also had one small basal cell carcinoma removed. Have had three CT scans because of two small non calcified nodules on upper right lung. They do not change and do not look like cancer. Using lots of sun block, and protective clothing. Ned at this point.

Jan. 2005

Continue to be NED now for 4 years!

Finding less suspicious moles to harvest at my full body checks.

Stopped seeing Onc. and now see derm twice a year.

So far so good.

I am very pleased with the care I am receiving from Derm. Dr. Lori Skibness and Surgeon Dr. Madaline Gartner.

5 year entry............................................................

Have been NED for 5 years now. Continuing to live the same life that I had before my diagnosis. I continue to ride a motorcycle, (with full protective clothing including helmet with uv protective visor).

I continue to garden and do other outdoor activities but I wear allot of protective clothing. I like to wear an Australian "rash shirt" which is a synthetic knit garment while outside in blazing sun, but I mist it frequently with a garden hose to keep it wet. This works great. When I go sailing with my brother in the Apostle Islands on lake Superior I just stay on the shadow side of the sails when I have my clothes on or off..... he he he.

I feel ever so fortunate that I am able to type in this entry 5 years after my diagnosis. I realize that I am lucky to be alive after having an encounter with such a deadly cancer.

Ned and feeling fine, great full and humbled.

12-8-05 11:45pm

1-1-07

Another year and happy to say I am still NED.

I have my full body check in two days. My derm now is affiliated with a teaching hospital so I have volunteered to see her during the part of the day where she has students. I figure since I am not modest and have a bunch of moles to look at and a history of survival it is good for students to see me.

Continue to be sun safe, but still do activities outdoors like gardening swimming and so on but with the right clothing and chemical protection.

Mike

12-17-07

Diagnosed 6 years ago. My derm appointments now no longer involve having any suspicious moles removed.

Feel ever so fortunate and thankful that I remain NED.

Mike

12-26-08

Seven years

Still doing great and NED.

Feel ever so fortunate. Don't take my health for granted. I am very sun safe, and give talks to various groups that the cancer society sends me to as well as the local school system.

See my same Derm twice a year. Had one mole harvested this year and it was benign.

Mike

1-26-2010

Well, it has been 9 years since my diagnosis and wide level excision. I am happy to report that so far no evidence of disease. I continue sun safe behavior, but do continue to enjoy out door activities like hiking, gardening and motorcycle riding.

It is rare that I have any biopsies now during my twice a year full body checks. Considering that I am now 55, there is an occasional normal aging type of dark mark that appears and so on.

2-4-2012 Fortunate to still be NED. See my Dermatologist twice a year. This year I did have a somewhat concerning skin lesion which was growing and a bit itchy close to where my primary was, but it turned out to be a keratosis. (whew)

Happy to have this outcome and grateful for the MPIP and members in helping me process my experience.

Mike