Scary Info

I haven't had a pap smear in a couple of years. Mainly because I moved
100+ miles south of where all my doctors are and I would have to drive
north to have it done. SO, I have slowly been finding new doctors down
here and yesterday I went in for a yearly exam. New doctor, and a
woman...which is new to me. I have always seen male doctors. Anyway,
this young woman was very good, I really think I should have switched
to female doctors years ago. I like her.

The scary information she gave me is that in her short career she has
found melanoma (skin cancer) "down there" during a gynecological
exam!! WHAT??? I thought that melanoma came in places that got exposed
to sunlight. She said no. Her beef was that dermatologist should look
everywhere for skin cancer, not just the exposed areas. She said they
think since undies and a bra cover it, no need to look. I said,
"excuse me, but I don't want my dermatologist taking a looksee "down
there"!!

Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??


Dana
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Dana© wrote:
> I haven't had a pap smear in a couple of years. Mainly because I moved
> 100+ miles south of where all my doctors are and I would have to drive
> north to have it done. SO, I have slowly been finding new doctors down
> here and yesterday I went in for a yearly exam. New doctor, and a
> woman...which is new to me. I have always seen male doctors. Anyway,
> this young woman was very good, I really think I should have switched
> to female doctors years ago. I like her.
>
> The scary information she gave me is that in her short career she has
> found melanoma (skin cancer) "down there" during a gynecological
> exam!! WHAT??? I thought that melanoma came in places that got exposed
> to sunlight. She said no. Her beef was that dermatologist should look
> everywhere for skin cancer, not just the exposed areas. She said they
> think since undies and a bra cover it, no need to look. I said,
> "excuse me, but I don't want my dermatologist taking a looksee "down
> there"!!
>
> Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??


People do sunbathe naked - and that skin is particularly vulnerable to
sunburn, since it's not normally exposed, so why not?

--
Jette Goldie
jette@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)

"Dana©" <AneeBear@ownmail.com> wrote in message
news:6aiea39pl1gcvoc5lcff677re8j50bd971@4ax.com...
>I haven't had a pap smear in a couple of years. Mainly because I moved
> 100+ miles south of where all my doctors are and I would have to drive
> north to have it done. SO, I have slowly been finding new doctors down
> here and yesterday I went in for a yearly exam. New doctor, and a
> woman...which is new to me. I have always seen male doctors. Anyway,
> this young woman was very good, I really think I should have switched
> to female doctors years ago. I like her.
>
> The scary information she gave me is that in her short career she has
> found melanoma (skin cancer) "down there" during a gynecological
> exam!! WHAT??? I thought that melanoma came in places that got exposed
> to sunlight. She said no. Her beef was that dermatologist should look
> everywhere for skin cancer, not just the exposed areas. She said they
> think since undies and a bra cover it, no need to look. I said,
> "excuse me, but I don't want my dermatologist taking a looksee "down
> there"!!
>
> Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??
>
>
>

Yes, I've been told that by dermatologists and researchers of skin disease
(I work for the University of Utah School of Medicine). A melanoma doesn't
have to occur at the site of exposure. They have been found on penises and
testicles, as well as "down there" on women.

I'm sending good thoughts your way.

"Dana©" <AneeBear@ownmail.com> wrote in message
news:6aiea39pl1gcvoc5lcff677re8j50bd971@4ax.com...
>I haven't had a pap smear in a couple of years. Mainly because I moved
> 100+ miles south of where all my doctors are and I would have to drive
> north to have it done. SO, I have slowly been finding new doctors down
> here and yesterday I went in for a yearly exam. New doctor, and a
> woman...which is new to me. I have always seen male doctors. Anyway,
> this young woman was very good, I really think I should have switched
> to female doctors years ago. I like her.
>
> The scary information she gave me is that in her short career she has
> found melanoma (skin cancer) "down there" during a gynecological
> exam!! WHAT??? I thought that melanoma came in places that got exposed
> to sunlight. She said no. Her beef was that dermatologist should look
> everywhere for skin cancer, not just the exposed areas. She said they
> think since undies and a bra cover it, no need to look. I said,
> "excuse me, but I don't want my dermatologist taking a looksee "down
> there"!!
>
> Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??

Yes, because I've read of complete (meaning *complete*) exams/check-ups when
looking for skin cancers. IOW - all clothing removed.

Cathy

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:07:58 -0400, Dana© <AneeBear@ownmail.com>
wrote:

>Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??

No, but it's certainly something I'll have added to my yearly gyn
exam. Yikes...

D.

Dana© wrote:
> I haven't had a pap smear in a couple of years. Mainly because I moved
> 100+ miles south of where all my doctors are and I would have to drive
> north to have it done. SO, I have slowly been finding new doctors down
> here and yesterday I went in for a yearly exam. New doctor, and a
> woman...which is new to me. I have always seen male doctors. Anyway,
> this young woman was very good, I really think I should have switched
> to female doctors years ago. I like her.
>
> The scary information she gave me is that in her short career she has
> found melanoma (skin cancer) "down there" during a gynecological
> exam!! WHAT??? I thought that melanoma came in places that got exposed
> to sunlight. She said no. Her beef was that dermatologist should look
> everywhere for skin cancer, not just the exposed areas. She said they
> think since undies and a bra cover it, no need to look. I said,
> "excuse me, but I don't want my dermatologist taking a looksee "down
> there"!!
>
> Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??
>
>
> Dana
> Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
> for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

I have heard of this before. I know a woman that had a melanoma on the
bottom of her foot, and this is never exposed.

I go to a Dermatologist quite often for skin cancer. He found several
spots that I've had removed that came back positive for Basal cell
carcinoma [the better type of cancer to have IF you ever get it - not
saying ANY cancer is better, just saying it's not the worse type of skin
cancer - melanoma is the worse]. Someone mentioned a Dermatologist needs
to check the WHOLE body, from head to toe. This is true, BUT my
Dermatologist did a quick scan while I was wearing a gown with my bra
and underwear on. It's suppose to be a total body scan with everything
off. He's one of the best Derms around and I can't believe he did this
this way. Also the strange thing is he's been expecting me to find the
unusual looking spots - if I'm not sure about the spot, I ask him about
it, show it to him, and he freezes it right there. I thought his job was
the one to be looking for spots as well!

Kath

Years a go I had a pre cancerous spot on my temple. At the time the Base
Clinic had a Dermatologist and he sent me to a surgeon to have it removed. I
was told I had to see a Dermatologist every 4-6 months for two years..well
the Base shipped out their Derm..so I had to go downtown. This Dr told me No
make-up(so I drove to the appt with a bag over my face..LOL) Anyways this Dr
had me remove all of my clothes and he did a thorough check..everywhere. I
like women Drs better than men also..A lot of Male Dr's I have had, see
themselves as God. I have to admit though all of the Male Internists I had
were great. I have also found it is easier to talk to female Dr's.
Jacquie



"Dana©" <AneeBear@ownmail.com> wrote in message
news:6aiea39pl1gcvoc5lcff677re8j50bd971@4ax.com...
>I haven't had a pap smear in a couple of years. Mainly because I moved
> 100+ miles south of where all my doctors are and I would have to drive
> north to have it done. SO, I have slowly been finding new doctors down
> here and yesterday I went in for a yearly exam. New doctor, and a
> woman...which is new to me. I have always seen male doctors. Anyway,
> this young woman was very good, I really think I should have switched
> to female doctors years ago. I like her.
>
> The scary information she gave me is that in her short career she has
> found melanoma (skin cancer) "down there" during a gynecological
> exam!! WHAT??? I thought that melanoma came in places that got exposed
> to sunlight. She said no. Her beef was that dermatologist should look
> everywhere for skin cancer, not just the exposed areas. She said they
> think since undies and a bra cover it, no need to look. I said,
> "excuse me, but I don't want my dermatologist taking a looksee "down
> there"!!
>
> Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??
>
>
> Dana
> Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
> for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

>>
>> The scary information she gave me is that in her short career she has>>
>> found melanoma (skin cancer) "down there" during a gynecological>> exam!!
>> WHAT??? I thought that melanoma came in places that got exposed
>> to sunlight. >>
>> >>

> I'm sending good thoughts your way.

Dana, I mis-read your message the first time I saw it )thank God). I
thought you said she found a melanoma down there. Well, glad she didn't
and you can still keep the good thoughts.

"Dana Taramina" <dana@spamicide.gryffyn.com> wrote in message
news:no1fa3p892k460odiegftqjihqig83ku8l@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:07:58 -0400, Dana© <AneeBear@ownmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Anyway, have you ever heard of melanoma found "down there"??
>
> No, but it's certainly something I'll have added to my yearly gyn
> exam. Yikes..

Grab a mirror and familiarize yourself with what the vulva and perineal area
looks like.Watch for moles and new growths, document the locations so you
can remember down the road. Moles and such start anywhere and I also thought
it strange that a melanoma can pop up in places that haven't seen the light
of day. I think the basal & squamous cell carcinomas start where there's
direct exposure to sunlight but melanoma is something where there is damage
to the genetic material of the DNA and therefore can start anywhere.

Women's genitals are still described as "down there" whereas men have a lot
more pride in their private parts and have no qualms about calling a penis,a
penis or willie or whatever affectionate word.

Roseanne

Here's a couple of links on the subject of vulvar melanomas. Apparently
it's rather rare.

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3296.htm

http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/uz/vulvarcancer.htm

And one on hidden melanomas
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/sk...melanomas.html ,
which coincidentally mentions the nail bed. One of our professors was
diagnosed with this last spring. He'd asked about a spot under his right
thumb a couple of years earlier and was told it was probably nail fungus.
It never went away, so he asked his doctor to check again. He had to have
his thumb amputated.

"foggydoggy" <foggydoggy@cogeco.ca> wrote in
news:3CPpi.1742$gn1.891@read1.cgocable.net:

> Women's genitals are still described as "down there" whereas men have
> a lot more pride in their private parts and have no qualms about
> calling a penis,a penis or willie or whatever affectionate word.
>

But you notice they only talk about the penis, not the scrotal sac, the
testicles, the vas deferens and all that. It's a bit like a woman saying
'vagina' when in fact she really means her whole 'crotchtal area' as
Archie Bunker said. :-)

Chak

--
Ninety-Ninety Law: The first 90% of the code accounts for the first 90%
of the development time. The remaining 10% of the code accounts for the
other 90% of the development time.

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:53:20 -0400, "foggydoggy"
<foggydoggy@cogeco.ca> wrote:

>Women's genitals are still described as "down there"


I used that term because that's the term she used when she told me.
And actually, it was a generalization taking in the entire genital
area. I think that's what she meant.

Dana
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:50:41 -0600, "Peahen"
<Peahen1955remove@gmail.com> wrote:

>Dana, I mis-read your message the first time I saw it )thank God). I
>thought you said she found a melanoma down there. Well, glad she didn't
>and you can still keep the good thoughts.

Whoa....I don't want that!!

But I will keep the good thoughts 'cause I haven't got the results
from the pap smear back yet. :0


Dana

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

In article <f87nve$86e$1@vegh.ks.cc.utah.edu>,
"Peahen" <Peahen1955@gmail.com> wrote:

> Yes, I've been told that by dermatologists and researchers of skin disease
> (I work for the University of Utah School of Medicine). A melanoma doesn't
> have to occur at the site of exposure. They have been found on penises and
> testicles, as well as "down there" on women.

Huh. My grandfather, who died when I was 8, had cancer of the penis,
acc. to my mother. I wonder if it was skin cancer. It was his heart
that killed him. Well, really his smoking and drinking and so on....

Priscilla