have to get this thing on my back looked at

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Joined: 17 Sep 2014
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18 Feb 2015, 9:10 pm

WARNING: Graphic medical talk

So I'm supposed to call and make an appointment for a colonoscopy. I have been putting this of for awhile. I'm only 44 but my doctor wants to screen me because my father died of colon/prostate/everything cancer at age 63. Meanwhile I've had this pimple like bump over my right back shoulder blade for probably a year now. A couple of weeks ago it ruptured and a clear sticky substance came out. It continued to drain for a couple of weeks and now it is just sore. In fact my right shoulder and arm have become sore. I thought it was a cyst, but now I'm not so sure.
So I'm going to have to go and show it to my doctor.
I'm just scared because my father's cancer started as skin melanoma and it feels like the lump goes quite deep.
Am I over-reacting? I have a tendency to always think the worst.

kraftiekortie
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18 Feb 2015, 9:19 pm

Sounds like a boil to me. I wouldn't take it seriously.

If you want a doctor to look at it, I would have it looked at.

The b***h about a colonoscopy is not the procedure itself. It's the day or two before the procedure.

eric76
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18 Feb 2015, 9:24 pm

androbot01 wrote:

I had something similar about three weeks ago and suspected that it was a staph infection. I went to a doctor and he agreed and said it was a good thing I went in. Ten days of antibiotics and it was gone. He also said that once the infection was taken care of, I needed to have the abscess surgically removed.

It is possible that it was a cyst that got infected rather than an abscess. I'll know more when I get in to have it removed.

androbot01
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18 Feb 2015, 9:25 pm

kraftiekortie wrote:

Sounds like a boil to me.

I looked up boil, web and images, and I don't think it is because there is no infection or redness.

Quote:

The b***h about a colonoscopy is not the procedure itself. It's the day or two before the procedure.

I'm going to skip it. I hate invasive medical procedures.

androbot01
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18 Feb 2015, 9:28 pm

eric76 wrote:

It is possible that it was a cyst that got infected rather than an abscess. I'll know more when I get in to have it removed.

I was thinking it might be a cyst. But there was never any sign of infection, which is why I kinda ignored it.
I hope yours is benign.

YippySkippy
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18 Feb 2015, 9:29 pm

If it's pimple-looking, and not a black/purpleish mole, chances are pretty good it's not a melanoma. It could be one of the other two types of skin cancer, but the good news is that those kinds are usually highly curable. My mom had a sore like that about 30 years ago, and it was skin cancer, but the doctor removed it and she was fine. No chemo or anything. Never had another occurrence.
And it might just be a boil or cyst or something else.
I had an abnormal mole removed last year; now I have to get skin checks every 6 months. Sucks. I have to remind myself it's my duty as a parent to do everything I can to stay healthy, and not hide my head in the sand as I'm tempted to do.

androbot01
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18 Feb 2015, 9:40 pm

YippySkippy wrote:

My mom had a sore like that about 30 years ago, and it was skin cancer, but the doctor removed it and she was fine. No chemo or anything. Never had another occurrence.

That's how it started with my Dad.

YippySkippy wrote:

I have to remind myself it's my duty as a parent to do everything I can to stay healthy, and not hide my head in the sand as I'm tempted to do.

That must be a scary responsibility. I only have my cats and dog ... and my Mom to look out for. I'm not quite under the sand, but it's tempting sometimes.

androbot01
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19 Feb 2015, 10:14 am

So I called the doctor and she's going to see me tomorrow morning. That's good, I'll find out if there's any need for concern.

kraftiekortie
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19 Feb 2015, 10:19 am

I hope all goes well for you.

I think, in all likelihood, that there's nothing to be concerned about.

androbot01
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19 Feb 2015, 10:27 am

kraftiekortie wrote:

I hope all goes well for you.

Thank you.

Quote:

I think, in all likelihood, that there's nothing to be concerned about.

It's my family history that concerns me. My Dad and I were always physically similar. Since he died I have kinda figured eventually the same would happen to me. [No negative thinking there, lol]

kraftiekortie
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19 Feb 2015, 11:00 am

Yeah...things are sometimes inherited. You have to keep on top of things.

Amity
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19 Feb 2015, 11:13 am

androbot01 wrote:

It's my family history that concerns me.

This awareness can be a positive, with regard to early identification.
I experienced something like this last year, I was acutely aware of my family history and during the initial stages of investigation the doctors took this history quite seriously, the result was that I became far more anxious than necessary. It wasn't anything serious. I hope that this process is similar for you, minus the anxiety of course.

androbot01
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19 Feb 2015, 11:37 am

Thanks
It's probably just a cyst. It'll be good to find out though.

eric76
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19 Feb 2015, 12:24 pm

I've never seen a cyst that looked like a melanoma.

androbot01
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19 Feb 2015, 9:36 pm

eric76 wrote:

I've never seen a cyst that looked like a melanoma.

To be honest, I have absolutely no idea what it is. My mind is swaying back and forth with the pendulum of possibilities. But I can say this, browsing tumours in Google images is great way to freak yourself out.

YippySkippy
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19 Feb 2015, 9:43 pm

OMG don't Google anything! :lol:
I have given myself serious anxiety attacks in the past by doing that. I've discovered that ANY symptom, no matter how mundane, can potentially be some deadly illness. And the interweb will tell you all about it.

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