Help with Dermatology Exam & Biopsies for Recurrent Melanoma

On May 20, I had an appointment with a world-class dermatologist who has saved my life on multiple occasions, most recently in November 2023 when he detected a suspicious abnormality on my head that was biopsied and diagnosed — per the lab report which reads: "MALIGNANT MELANOMA . . . severely atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation of single cells and nests . . . nests of melanocytes protrude into the papillary dermis".

On December 11, 2023 I went to surgery under local anesthesia, and the excision (see attached photo) showed clear margins, meaning cancer-free. In 2011 and again in 2014, I had surgery under general anesthesia for deeper and wider melanomas. This is a recurrent situation as moles and growths typically appear on my skin, most of which show negative for melanoma. I have also had other superficial melanomas as well as carcinomas removed in surgery, the latter of which have not required further excision.

On May 20, 2014, my older brother and only sibling Jack died of melanoma. He was diagnosed in July 2012 as Stage IV in his brain (he thought he was having a stroke) and throughout his body. He died a slow and painful death. There are no guarantees but catching it early before it spreads via the circulatory or lymphatic system is crucial to survival.

UPDATE: Two biopsies were taken from my face, one on my front torso and one on my back, and one on my left calf. Melanoma was found on the face and calf. Surgery was on June 20 under general anesthesia because of the face. Specimens showed clear margins.