The best thing today

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Fri August 27th, 2010, 11:51 pm

Hope you have a great time Nefret and Princess Garnet.

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 2:11 am

A couple of weeks ago I had a mole removed from my leg that I knew was probably problematic -- I've had enough experience with this over the years to know when a mole is questionable. And my dermatologist told me once years ago that legs are the most common area for melanoma in women.....

Today I went to have the sutures removed and the doctor said that, sure enough, it was a bad one, and she needed to do another, larger excision. But that should be the extent of it -- it's not technically considered a melanoma (although she said if I had had this done somewhere other than California it would be classified as melanoma, so I don't totally understand that). So this should be the end of it; thank goodness I was paying attention and caught it in time.

Nefret · Post by **Nefret** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 3:03 am

It had to be when I FINALLY got through customs.

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 3:19 am

Glad you're ok, Michy!

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 3:52 am

Me, too.

Although I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable right now. All the local anesthesia has finally worn off and, even though I have a very high pain tolerance (no brain, no pain!

) I'm feeling some now. May have to break down and take a pill so I can sleep tonight .....

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 5:56 am

Glad you caught it early, Michy.

My best thing was a delightful performance of Pirates of Penzance, which I went to with my daughter. We left our non-Gilbert & Sullivan-fan hubbies at home and had a blast.

Early on she elbowed me and whispered, "No singing along, Mom!"
I pled not guilty -- it was the lady on the other side of me.

ejays17 · Post by **ejays17** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 11:32 am

Feeling rather happy at the moment. My crafty-ness usually extends to cross-stitch & basic scarf-knitting, but I went to a craft show a few weeks ago & fell in love with some knitted dolls (and their wardrobes...)

So i bought the pattern & have just finished my first doll & a dress & coat for her. I had 2 goes at knitting the body as i knit very "tight" and the knitted body wouldn't fit over the material inner.

And next weekend myself & dh are going to Aussiecon (World SF/Fantasy convention), so 4 days of panels & meetings & general fangirly squeeness

Can't wait!!

LoobyG · Post by **LoobyG** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 3:20 pm

Glad to hear you're alright too Michy, I'm very fair and have always been very conscious of my moles! MLE I love the Pirates of Penzance, it's one of my favourite Gilbert & Sullivan productions. My sister and I had it on video when we were children and had it on constantly

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 6:05 pm

I have a mole on my right leg, always have as far as I can remember. I would hope I would notice if something was not normal with it.

SM

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Sat August 28th, 2010, 11:39 pm

"Normal" moles are generally nothing to worry about; it's the "atypical" ones that need to be watched and probably removed. Very briefly -- some of the characteristics of a mole that could be problematic: it is asymmetrical, it is quite dark, and it is changing (growing larger and/or darker). Also, moles that are flat to the skin tend to be more "dangerous" than raised ones (which are more often just "normal" moles).

I think one of the things that makes melanoma so dangerous is that it doesn't start with big, ugly moles -- it starts with little ones that look kind of like a small splatter of paint on the skin. So if you don't know the risk signs, you look at it and think, "oh, that little thing is nothing...."

This is by no means a comprehensive list of danger signs of melanoma; if you have any concerns or feel that you are at any risk, there is plenty of information on the web. Or, of course, consult a dermatologist.