About to have nervous breakdown/Scared of Melanoma!:( - Anxiety Message Board

panthers78 · 11-24-2005, 04:14 PM

I am a 27 year old male who is deeply concerned about my risk of contracting melanoma. I have had exposure to the sun through the community pool when I was younger, and I have used tanning beds intermitently in the past. I probably have been to them for 50 or fewer sessions. I was primarily using them to combat seasonal affective disorder, I get down in the winter months

Now that I have read more about melanoma, the more concerned I am becoming. I feel so stupid for doing such a thing. I was young and dumb, and I don't go out into the sun anymore and the thought of using a tanning bed makes me want to puke. It's hard for me to deal with though since I feel like there is no point to better myself because I am doomed

All of the the damage may be done. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am guaranteed to catch it now!

chigs489 · 11-25-2005, 09:39 AM

I worried a lot about melanoma, until I found out that 90%+ of people who contract it are cured. The reputation of the disease is worse than the reality.

It is the rarest form of skin cancer (less than 10% of cases). If anything, you could one day end up with basal cell carcinoma, which is a low-level skin cancer, that is pretty harmless. It doesn't spread. You just get it removed and that's the end of it.

there are lots of scary things out there to worry about. You have no skin problems currently, so live your life!

mishkaaa · 11-25-2005, 03:14 PM

i sometimes go tanning too, and from time to time, this is my main worry. however after a few days i calm myself down about it. you'll be fine though, as the poster above me said, it's very rare and your chances of contracting it are rare as well!