I am having one tomorrow and I am a nervous wreck. Has anyone ever had this done? Everything I've read says that they are quite thorough and the dermatologist looks in every nook and cranny.

So how long does it usually take and is it as embarrassing as I am thinking it will be?

By Yjja123 on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 02:20 pm:

My FIL has them yearly (he has had skin cancer 3X).
He says it takes an hour and they look everywhere.

By Colette on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 02:29 pm:

aaahhh!!

By Yjja123 on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 02:59 pm:

Sorry!

By Tink on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 03:28 pm:

Ditto Yvonne, although mine are closer to 30-40 minutes. I have them annually after 3 bouts of skin cancer. My derm. is very professional and goes as quickly as possible but your doctor will look everywhere, including under your hair...everywhere. You'll get through it and it really is important to have them done. {{{Colette}}}

By Pamt on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 03:29 pm:

Okay, so when you mean everywhere...?

By Tink on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 03:40 pm:

Yes, E-V-E-R-Y where. Since none of my skin cancer is sun-related, the derm. has to check all of my external skin, even if it's where "the sun don't shine".

By Colette on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 04:46 pm:

oh God...

By Tonya on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 04:53 pm:

Just think of it like a GYNO visit not something we enjoy but something that must be done for our health and well being.

By Colette on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 05:24 pm:

I know. I think I am just nervous because I've never met this doctor.

By Vicki on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 05:55 pm:

I have never had one done and I am with you on the "oh God" comment.. LOL At least at the gyno, part of you is covered! I don't envy you and now you have me thinking I should really have one too!!

By Tarable on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 06:09 pm:

Okay now that you have all talked about this is there some reason that you should have one? Did your regular dr send you or something? I am just curious because I have been trying to do all those things that I am supposed to do to keep everything in good shape and be preventative.

By Tink on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 06:38 pm:

Ok, I'm hoping to relieve some fears but I *think* I have such an extensive exam because I've already had several problems with non-sun-related skin cancer. They can't just assume that my girly bits and other areas are clear because they aren't exposed to UV rays. My first exam was just a "Change into the gown with nothing underneath" type appointment and when the doctor got there, he asked me to take off the gown and spread my legs, hold my arms out to my sides, spread my fingers and toes, and he looked over everything, including nooks and crannies. He did part the hair on my head in many different places to ensure that there were no abnormal growths on top of my head since that is an area that gets little sun exposure but a lot of exposure. With each cancer incident, my exams have become more and more extensive.

Tara, I have no idea how often they should be done or if there is a specific age when a baseline should be done but talking to your doctor should help you determine your risk factors. I already have nearly every risk factor before ever dealing with skin cancer so I've had these done periodically throughout my adult life.

By Amecmom on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 07:17 pm:

I have had no skin cancer issues and have had a full body skin exam. Mine was not as extensive as what Cory and Yvonne describe. The doc and a female assistant looked me over while I was wearing a gown. I was never really naked, though he did look at all my skin - except those private areas - perhaps because he did not see anything suspicious anywhere else? It only took about 15 minutes and was not really horrible.
Hope you feel better about it.
Lots of hugs,
Ame

By Karen~admin on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 09:22 am:

Cori, I didn't know you had skin cancer before. What type was it?

I mentioned this thread to DH last night because he's had a few spots that I think are *suspicious*, one in particular on his forehead. Well, then we noticed it is GONE! Don't know when or where it disappeared, but the mole that was there, and that *I* thought had changed, is just G-O-N-E! We even went back to cruise portraits that were taken a couple years ago, and sure enough it was there, and now it's just gone. How can that happen? And is that a good thing or a bad thing? It's been there as long as I have know him, and according to him, long before that. If you look closely, it *almost* just looks like a chicken pox scar now. WEIRD!

Since both of us were *devoted sun worshippers* in the past, I really think we need to have this done. But after reading all of the above, that just freaks me out!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 10:24 am:

Do they have you covered with a sheet, and just view a section at a time? I have no idea how this is done.

By Colette on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 10:37 am:

I just got back. It wasn't as bad as I had envisioned and I am all set for a year. I was able to keep my bra and underwear on, he just kind of moved them to check what he wanted to check.

After watching up close and personal on what it is like to die from Melanoma, this was no big deal.

By Colette on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 10:45 am:

Dawn, they have wear a paper two piece gown and he went over me with a big magnifying glass - he talked the whole time, so I didn't really have time to be nervous.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 03:00 pm:

Okay. So, you got to wear something, at least, even if it wasn't very warm! LOL! I always hate when I go to the doctor and I have to take off my warm clothes and put on a gown. I'm always so cold, then.

By Tink on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 07:05 pm:

Karen, I was first diagnosed with melanoma when I was 22. I noticed a mole had grown, itched, and was flaking and peeling. I had surgery to remove it after the biopsy came back positive and they removed a 1" area around it to make sure the borders were clear. That's when I found out I have trouble with hypertrophic scarring. Another tumor was found under my scalp two years later and a final one was found 18 months ago on my hip. Each time they've been able to remove everything but I have to be vigilant about sunscreen and sun exposure. Every family member for my generation and the two previous have been diagnosed with melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma and two of my dks have multiple moles so I've earned my "Sunscreen Nazi" nickname.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 07:24 am:

Wow. You have good reason to be the "sunscreen" nazi! My kids have to do sunscreen, or they would burn! As they've gotten older, they just take charge of the sunscreen and do it themselves.

When I was 25, I decided not to do the sunscreen this one time, and got the worst sunburn of my life. I don't do that anymore.

By Karen~admin on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 08:49 am:

Cori, carry on and be a Nazi! That is terrifying, I would *think* there is a genetic component working there? But what do I know? I wasn't sure if you felt comfortable *sharing* your story, but I appreciate the fact that you did. Honestly, I think you should take advantage of every opportunity to *preach* the use of sunscreen!