I havent been online much, so I missed this when you first posted but I want to say how sorry I am that you need to go thru this! The other ladies have given you so much good advice, I really have nothing to add except you are in our thoughts and prayers....TG it was caught early and dealt with right away. Please NEVER feel the need to apologize about your feelings- you are with very caring, concerned friends here who wish you the very best of luck.....

Of course it's absolutely normal to panic and feel anxious! This is how anyone would feel! No need to apologize for reacting like this. I am thinking good thoughts for you.

Just want you to know that I have been thinking about you these past few days and sending up lots of prayers! The worst part (I think) is the waiting - I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this! Sending you hugs!

I am sorry to hear about your health report. I think you are handling this news very well. I will be praying for a good report and please keep us posted. God Bless You.

Katie, I'll definitely be thinking of you, and based on everything you have said I am very optimistic that you are totally fine and caught everything very, very early.

To answer your question about whether other people have felt the same way you did when they first found out: I have never had any suspicious moles or growths, but I do have a friend who did, and was told it could be melanoma. She definitely went into a panic, and actually ended up seeing a therapist and going on some basic anti-anxiety medication because the prospect of having a malignant melanoma was so scary to her. Like you, she has two young children, and she said that hearing that she might have something potentially deadly was terrifying to her. It turned out that she was totally fine, the growth was easily removed, and she has had no further issues. She does go for skin checks every six months, just to be extra safe, and I know that makes her feel a lot better. She is a completely normal, rational, and very intelligent person, and I think her reaction was completely understandable, as is yours. There is absolutely no reason to apologize for how you are feeling.

I am so sorry you are having to go through this. I am sending you prayers and hugs.

Hi Katie, to answer your questions : I was pretty young the first time a "suspicious" mole was taken off my face. I was 8 years old. So I really didn't get it. The second time, it was melanoma and I was in my mid twenties and I didn't have children. I think that adds to the stress. I just kept thinking that I was in the best place possible for treatment and that it was out of my hands. Though I TOTALLY freaked out the day I heard that I had a herniated disc protruding into my spinal cord ( I am ok from that too).

All I can say is don't put pressure on yourself or judge yourself about reacting a certain way. Each of us deals with it our own way, so every way is ok. The worst reaction ( and I am NOT kidding ) that I have ever had was when I went to see a migraine specialist and he said no more chocolate or pepperoni/sausages.

Please let us know how things turn out.

I haven't been online much so I hadn't seen this before - I've got all my fingers and toes crossed for you, and am sending big hugs your way! I hope you're keeping busy until it's time for the results.

This is pretty scary stuff, but you're getting onto it early which is the most giant *hugely* important factor in getting through this.

I'm taking your advice and getting my skin checked next time I'm visiting my GP.