Facing the Initial Impact of Skin Cancer
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Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like skin cancer, you are never alone. Countless men, women, and children have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge.
TSC has scoured the Web to gather together links to the very best skin cancer resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional and other challenges you're facing now.
As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this skin cancer guide even more helpful to survivors like you.
JUST FOUND OUT
Survivors Say: Best Resources for Skin Cancer
The Big Picture
Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. If left unchecked, these cancer cells can spread from the skin into other tissues and organs. There are different types of skin cancer: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common, while melanoma is less common but more dangerous. Melanoma primarily develops in the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that adds color to your skin.
Do you know the signs of skin cancer? Here's what to look for:
Once you've been diagnosed with skin cancer you'll want to understand the specifics of your case, including your pathology report:
OncoLink: Understanding Your Melanoma Pathology Report
Your Skin Cancer
The Melanoma Center not only describes all four types of melanoma but shows each on this page: Melanoma Center: Melanoma Basics
Second (or third) opinions about any serious medical condition can be very useful: Cancer Links USA: Getting a Second Opinion
Do you know what to ask your doctor? If not, this useful WebMD.com with give you some guidance: WebMD.com: 10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Melanoma
Your World
A diagnosis of cancer, no matter what kind, can unleash many emotions. Talk with your loved ones and reach out to support centers (online or in person) if you need it now, and visit these sites for more on the emotional side of being newly diagnosed with skin cancer:
If you're having difficulty figuring out what to say to family or friends after being diagnosed with melanoma in particular, this article can help put things into perspective:
Melanoma Foundation: Talking With Your Family About Melanoma [PDF]
Melanoma Myths
Dealing With Skin Cancer
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Information and Recommended Links for Survivors
Living with skin cancer can be difficult; here are some resources to help you cope before, during, and after treatment:
Types of Treatment
The type of treatment you can expect when you have been diagnosed with skin cancer depends on the stage of your cancer. Surgery/excision, radiation, and/or chemotherapy may be part of the options you discuss with your doctor (oncologist). Learn about the different stages of various types of skin cancer and treatment options for each:
Chemotherapy is a form of drug treatment used to stop the spread of cancer cells in the body:
Possible Treatment Side Effects
All drugs (chemotherapy) come with the possibility of side effects and chemotherapy drugs are no exception. You may also be dealing with recovery from surgery or side effects from radiation treatments. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what to expect:
eHow.com: How to Deal with Skin Cancer Side Effects
New Therapies
American Cancer Society: New Treatments on Horizon for Melanoma (2003)
Holistic Treatments
American Cancer Society: Complementary and Alternative Methods for Cancer ManagementCreating a Support Circle
- Set up your TSC survivor profile.
- Join support groups of other survivors or set up your own.
- Interact and provide updates on your TSC profile or in the TSC forums.
Insurance Matters
American Cancer Society: Health Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Cancer PatientHealth-care Providers Who Can Help
Dermatologists and surgeons treat melanoma but you may also see other specialists.
Resources to Find Doctors
You need to find a doctor with whom you are comfortable, in whom you have faith, and a doctor who is up-to-date with the latest findings on melanoma and skin cancer:
The Emotional Rollercoaster
Surviving with skin cancer is a challenge for virtually everyone diagnosed with the disease. Many survivors have trouble dealing with the stress of battling skin cancer. Do your best to live your life as normally as possible, participating in the same daily activities you've always done. Support groups are also important for maintaining a healthy emotional state.
Books Survivors Recommend
Communicating with Your Health-care Providers
- Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointments. Your advocate can provide support and also an extra pair of ears when you don't hear or remember everything your doctor says. Your loved one can take notes and ask questions you might not have thought of, too.
- Don't be afraid to ask any questions you feel you need the answer to, even if you may be scared of the answer.
- Write down any questions ahead of time and bring them to your appointment. Ask for clarification on anything you aren't clear on.
Dealing with Melanoma: Information and Recommended Links for Co-Survivors
How You Can Help
- Offer to help your friend or family member with their day-to-day duties or chores, but try to keep life as normal as possible.
- Stay positive and speak often about other parts of life besides skin cancer and treatment.
- Involve your friend or family member with others; don't assume they'll be too tired or ill to take part in other activities.
What to Say
- "If you need me, I'm here."
- Talk about events in the future your survivor will be a part of.
- Tell your loved one how much you care about them.
What Not to Say
- "I had a relative who died of skin cancer a while back; it was a terrible experience."
- "If you're going to get cancer, skin cancer is the one to get."
- "I know how you feel."
How to Build a Support Network
- Set up your TSC co-survivor profile.
- Create a support group for your friend or family member.
- Interact and provide updates on your loved one's progress.
How to Help a Survivor Deal with Day-to-Day Challenges
After you've recovered from skin cancer, this is a good time assess and share with others how you feel emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Telling your story puts into perspective your thoughts and feelings and can also provide hope to others who are going through a similar journey.
Remission / Recovery / Recurrence
With any type of cancer there is always the possibility of recurrence, and with melanoma -- the more serious type of skin cancer -- this can be more worrisome:
National Cancer Institute: Treatment Options for Recurrent Melanoma
Survivors should be sure to schedule regular check-ups with their doctor and make sure to know all the risk factors for melanoma and skin cancer; this knowledge can help lower your risk for a relapse:
Many, many people survive melanoma and go on to live healthy, full lives. If you need inspiration, the Melanoma Foundation of New England has dozens of inspirational stories from survivors of skin cancer:
Melanoma Foundation of New England: Survivor Stories
Give Back
What helped you while you were dealing with the diagnosis, undergoing treatment, and now that you're recovered? Take a look back at your journey and share with others what helped you and what you wished you would have known or done during your skin cancer experience. You can create a TSC profile, reach out to other survivors, join support circles, or share your story by following the links at The Survivors Club.
If you'd like to offer your support to those doing research on melanoma and skin cancer, consider this charity:
Melanoma Research Foundation
What can you do when you find out treatment has failed? Many patients and families find they are unprepared when the worst case happens. If you find out that your treatment hasn't worked, these resources can help you plan and prepare during this very difficult time.
When You're Facing Death
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