Rich B. has been an avid runner his whole life. When suspicious dark spots appeared on his body, he decided to get them checked out. In this conversation, Rich shares what it was about the dark spots that led him to seek medical attention, how the doctor was able to give him the melanoma diagnosis, and shares more about tests and procedures like the shave biopsy.
Rich also addresses the importance of expectation-setting for patients, and how the doctor broke the news of the melanoma. Thank you, Rich, for sharing your story.

In this Series: Our 5-part series with Rich covers his entire Melanoma cancer experience:

1) My Melanoma First Symptoms & Tests → This Video
2) The Surgery & Melanoma Staging →    • Melanoma Stages: Before and After Sur...  
3) Treatment Decisions & Importance of Self-Advocacy →    • Cancer Patient Story: Making Treatmen...  
4) Deciding Whether to Join a Clinical Trial →    • Clinical Trials in Cancer: Patient Sh...  
5) Melanoma Treatment: Immunotherapy →    • Melanoma Patient Story: Immunotherapy...  

Full story & transcript → https://www.thepatientstory.com/cance...

The interview has only been edited for clarity.

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Contents of the Video:
00:00 - Rich Bessel Intro
00:42 -Tell us about yourself
02:04 - What were the first signs of melanoma?
03:43 - How did you decide which dermatologist to do to?
04:15 - How fast was the growth of the suspicious mole?
04:44 - Did cancer ever cross your mind?
05:27 - Describe the shave biopsy and fist steps to diagnosis
06:43 - How long did it take to get the shave biopsy results
07:19 - Questions you wish you had asked
13:16 - Best way for a doctor to break the news of cancer to a patient
14:32 - Describe the 2 biopsies required to give the full diagnosis with staging
16:53 - Did you consider a second opinion?
17:55 - Waiting for details about your cancer stage
19:17 - Different stages of melanoma
20:52 - Take the numbers online with a grain of salt
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