I'll Take the Second Opinion

Melanoma is not something I take chances with, knowing full well that an incorrect diagnosis would probably be a death sentence. On the other hand, I am reluctant to let anyone cut off even a tiny piece of my body unnecessarily.

I see two doctors who specialize in skin cancer a total of 4 times a year, alternating between Dr. Braun, who pioneered Mohs surgery for the removal of basal cells, and Dr. Peck, who heads up the National Melanoma Center here at the Washington Hospital Center.

This week it was my turn to visit Dr. Braun, whose politics are 180 degrees from mine but who has for many years helped me search out things gone wrong with my skin. He has removed a number of basal cells, 4 melanomas, and a slew of other things that turned out to be benign. On Tuesday he noticed a large mole near my left ankle that he found suspicious because of dark spots in the center. I told him that mole had been there unchanged for years and that he had repeatedly checked it in the past. He reminded me that anything can go bad at any time and recommended that I schedule an appointment for excision.

Then he asked if I was still seeing Dr. Peck and when I said yes suggested that I get his opinion before scheduling the surgery.

I went in today to get that second opinion, fully expecting at least a biopsy to be performed. I feel so strangely calm about these incidents now, as opposed to my first experiences with skin cancer, when I was so terrified that I was going to die.

At Dr. Peck’s office I am always seen first by his current student, who just happened to be a very pleasant young man, Dr. Singh, probably from India or Indonesia. The biggest difference today was that I could remain fully clothed instead of wearing one of those skimpy gowns that leave you cold, ugly, and uncomfortable. I had to remove only my sock for the exam.


Dr. Singh applied his dermatoscope to the dark mole on my ankle and pronounced it benign. He also said it was fortunate because it was in a difficult place for surgery.

Dr. Peck came in soon thereafter and concluded the same thing, describing it as having lacy edges and actually fading in color. I don’t really care about the edges or the color as long as it is not a time bomb waiting to go off.

So I felt relieved that 2 out of 3 doctors told me to put on my sock and go home, reminding me that they would continue to monitor it and the hundreds of other such places that adorn my skin.

Dr. Braun and Dr. Peck are an integral part of my health plan at this point, having so far helped me beat the odds of succumbing to skin cancer. As they both talk about possibly retiring, I am wondering who will take their places. Maybe it will be one of Dr. Braun’s three children, all of whom have become dermatologists and now practice with him. Maybe Dr. Singh, who Dr. Peck told me today would be the perfect replacement for him.

I feel fortunate today for getting a second opinion that says I am healthy and for having doctors who will continue to help me be vigilant.