Hello and welcome to me.

This may be the start of something big and it may be nothing.  I'm hoping for nothing.  Last Monday my dermatologist called and said the biopsy on the mole on my scalp was melanoma.  That set of a flurry of referrals and faxes and re-referrals with the specialists.  After some arm twisting I finally got an appointment with UT Southwestern's Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Care Center.  Let me tell you it takes your breath away when they answer the phone that way.  Your brain doesn't want to process the fact that you have "CANCER".  That's such an ugly word.  Very scary.  

Of course, I've Googled "melanoma" and "melanoma of the scalp" and all the information is terrifying.  I don't recommend you Google it.  Armed with this information I have been imagining two scenarios. 

Scenario 1-The Dr. just whacks off the ugly spot. Tells me to wear lots of sun screen and hats and come back every 6 months for check-ups.

Scenario 2-The Dr. determines the ugly spot is very advanced and starts scheduling scans and tests and ultimately a disfiguring surgery.  Lots of chemo/radiation and follow up.  

There is a scenario 3 but I can't let myself even write out what that is.  

I'm thinking the truth of tomorrow will be somewhere between 1 and 2.  I hope the Dr. will want to make absolutely certain the ugly spot hasn't spread it's evil to any other place in my body. I'm thinking that will involve the usual blood work and maybe some kind cat scan or x-rays.  Then they will schedule the removal of the ugly spot and maybe some lymph nodes. 

I'll see if I'm right.