› Forums › General Melanoma Community › I AM NEWLY DIAGNOSED AND SO WORRIED!Please ,reply …
- This topic has 48 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 10 months ago by
natasha.
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- February 10, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Hi ! Thank you all for being here and sharing information .I am glad I found this forum.
I was diagnosed with melanoma Breslow 2 mm and Clark's II , margins clear on my right breast last month. I am worried my doctor said My wide excision and SNB will take plase in march only ( will be 3 months since mole removed!!!!!!) Is it normal or it will spread all around my body during this long time???
Hi ! Thank you all for being here and sharing information .I am glad I found this forum.
I was diagnosed with melanoma Breslow 2 mm and Clark's II , margins clear on my right breast last month. I am worried my doctor said My wide excision and SNB will take plase in march only ( will be 3 months since mole removed!!!!!!) Is it normal or it will spread all around my body during this long time???
And another question – I know Clark is ot so popular ow ,but ayway it does mean something and how is it possible to have such a thick ( 2 mm) melanoma and only Clark's level II ?????
Do I have any chances to survive that??
I am only 31 ,newly married and wanted to have children .
Thank you for all your support and I wish you all the best
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- February 10, 2012 at 5:13 pm
For me, I was first diagnosed on Jan 21, 2011. Surgery was Feb 10. My SNB came back negative so I thought everything was fine. In September, I felt a swollen lymph node below my jaw. Biopsy came back positive for melanoma and after heading to Boston to check out the melanoma experts at Mass General, I had surgery on Oct 14. I am now Stage IIIB.
Hope that helps.
Kelly
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- February 10, 2012 at 5:13 pm
For me, I was first diagnosed on Jan 21, 2011. Surgery was Feb 10. My SNB came back negative so I thought everything was fine. In September, I felt a swollen lymph node below my jaw. Biopsy came back positive for melanoma and after heading to Boston to check out the melanoma experts at Mass General, I had surgery on Oct 14. I am now Stage IIIB.
Hope that helps.
Kelly
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- February 10, 2012 at 8:21 pm
I know it is all so scary but hopefully as long as you are vigilant you will outlive your cancer.All the best to a wonderful future.
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- February 10, 2012 at 8:21 pm
I know it is all so scary but hopefully as long as you are vigilant you will outlive your cancer.All the best to a wonderful future.
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- February 10, 2012 at 8:21 pm
I know it is all so scary but hopefully as long as you are vigilant you will outlive your cancer.All the best to a wonderful future.
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- February 10, 2012 at 5:13 pm
For me, I was first diagnosed on Jan 21, 2011. Surgery was Feb 10. My SNB came back negative so I thought everything was fine. In September, I felt a swollen lymph node below my jaw. Biopsy came back positive for melanoma and after heading to Boston to check out the melanoma experts at Mass General, I had surgery on Oct 14. I am now Stage IIIB.
Hope that helps.
Kelly
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- February 10, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Yes, you have a very good chance to survive this. The odds are in your favor.
As for the Clarks. It certainly does seem very unusual to have Clarks II if the thickness is 2mm. I'm going to give you the same advice I give many. Make sure your docs, including the pathologist, are melanoma specialists. The doctor doing your snb should be a surgeon with lots of melanoma experience. Usually the best melanoma doctors are found at large medical centers. If you aren't sure about your docs, I would find the nearest melanoma center and get a second opinion.
As for the time lapse, I don't think this is a big deal. Basically your melnaoma is gone. But I know you'd like to get his resolved and March seems a long way off.
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- February 10, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Yes, you have a very good chance to survive this. The odds are in your favor.
As for the Clarks. It certainly does seem very unusual to have Clarks II if the thickness is 2mm. I'm going to give you the same advice I give many. Make sure your docs, including the pathologist, are melanoma specialists. The doctor doing your snb should be a surgeon with lots of melanoma experience. Usually the best melanoma doctors are found at large medical centers. If you aren't sure about your docs, I would find the nearest melanoma center and get a second opinion.
As for the time lapse, I don't think this is a big deal. Basically your melnaoma is gone. But I know you'd like to get his resolved and March seems a long way off.
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- February 10, 2012 at 5:48 pm
sorry to 'meet' you here! We've all gon thru these panic moments. My mole was removed Oct 6th 2010 (the same week I resigned from a job). Got called in to the derm Oct 14th to be told the bad news. She was so awesome and made an appointment for me on the 15th to see a surgical onc at UNC-Chapel Hill. Given that I was moving from North Carolina to New Jersey my awesome surg onc fit me in to do the orginal surgery Oct 19th. But he did tell me it was fine to wait to have the surgery done – it wasn't going to change much. He as just afraid that if I put it off I might not do it (with moving to a new state, starting a new job, and changing insurance).
Hang in there! folks here are great resources. I know how scary it is! Positive thoughts and prayers your way.
Erin
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- February 10, 2012 at 5:48 pm
sorry to 'meet' you here! We've all gon thru these panic moments. My mole was removed Oct 6th 2010 (the same week I resigned from a job). Got called in to the derm Oct 14th to be told the bad news. She was so awesome and made an appointment for me on the 15th to see a surgical onc at UNC-Chapel Hill. Given that I was moving from North Carolina to New Jersey my awesome surg onc fit me in to do the orginal surgery Oct 19th. But he did tell me it was fine to wait to have the surgery done – it wasn't going to change much. He as just afraid that if I put it off I might not do it (with moving to a new state, starting a new job, and changing insurance).
Hang in there! folks here are great resources. I know how scary it is! Positive thoughts and prayers your way.
Erin
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- February 10, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Thank you all for your great support!!
My doctor was confused as well by my Breslow/Clark and today I found out they sent my ''mole'' to another lab for second opinion
I hope it will not be even worse than 2 mm :((
I am constantly worring ,lost my sleep and it it still so long way to wait my SNB..
Thank you all for your support ,I am happy I can speak with someone about that
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- February 10, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Thank you all for your great support!!
My doctor was confused as well by my Breslow/Clark and today I found out they sent my ''mole'' to another lab for second opinion
I hope it will not be even worse than 2 mm :((
I am constantly worring ,lost my sleep and it it still so long way to wait my SNB..
Thank you all for your support ,I am happy I can speak with someone about that
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- February 10, 2012 at 7:16 pm
And I forgot to mension – my first pathology report was done abroad , while I was on holiday .
I cannot find a lot of information in this report – no mitotic rate etc, all I have is Clark ,Breslow and thickness UP TO 2MM !!!! ( even no exact measure)
No they will do second histology here in UK
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- February 10, 2012 at 7:16 pm
And I forgot to mension – my first pathology report was done abroad , while I was on holiday .
I cannot find a lot of information in this report – no mitotic rate etc, all I have is Clark ,Breslow and thickness UP TO 2MM !!!! ( even no exact measure)
No they will do second histology here in UK
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- February 10, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Hopefully someone here will be able to expand on this, but I think the lack of information might be due to the type of biopsy you received. Can you explain how it was done (so someone can comment)?
I had something called an excision biopsy on my melanoma, it was cut out in a round circle and was deep and then it was "purse-string" sutured to keep the center open in case I needed another surgery. They were able to get a lot of information about the tumor because it was done like that. I think some of the other biopsies only go so deep – but if you had clear margins, I thought that meant underneath it too, so I would think that it has to be under 2mm.
Maybe yours was sent to a smaller pathology lab that can only gather so much info., and that is why it had to go to a larger lab?
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- February 10, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Hopefully someone here will be able to expand on this, but I think the lack of information might be due to the type of biopsy you received. Can you explain how it was done (so someone can comment)?
I had something called an excision biopsy on my melanoma, it was cut out in a round circle and was deep and then it was "purse-string" sutured to keep the center open in case I needed another surgery. They were able to get a lot of information about the tumor because it was done like that. I think some of the other biopsies only go so deep – but if you had clear margins, I thought that meant underneath it too, so I would think that it has to be under 2mm.
Maybe yours was sent to a smaller pathology lab that can only gather so much info., and that is why it had to go to a larger lab?
-
- February 10, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Hopefully someone here will be able to expand on this, but I think the lack of information might be due to the type of biopsy you received. Can you explain how it was done (so someone can comment)?
I had something called an excision biopsy on my melanoma, it was cut out in a round circle and was deep and then it was "purse-string" sutured to keep the center open in case I needed another surgery. They were able to get a lot of information about the tumor because it was done like that. I think some of the other biopsies only go so deep – but if you had clear margins, I thought that meant underneath it too, so I would think that it has to be under 2mm.
Maybe yours was sent to a smaller pathology lab that can only gather so much info., and that is why it had to go to a larger lab?
-
- February 10, 2012 at 7:16 pm
And I forgot to mension – my first pathology report was done abroad , while I was on holiday .
I cannot find a lot of information in this report – no mitotic rate etc, all I have is Clark ,Breslow and thickness UP TO 2MM !!!! ( even no exact measure)
No they will do second histology here in UK
-
- February 10, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Thank you all for your great support!!
My doctor was confused as well by my Breslow/Clark and today I found out they sent my ''mole'' to another lab for second opinion
I hope it will not be even worse than 2 mm :((
I am constantly worring ,lost my sleep and it it still so long way to wait my SNB..
Thank you all for your support ,I am happy I can speak with someone about that
-
- February 10, 2012 at 5:48 pm
sorry to 'meet' you here! We've all gon thru these panic moments. My mole was removed Oct 6th 2010 (the same week I resigned from a job). Got called in to the derm Oct 14th to be told the bad news. She was so awesome and made an appointment for me on the 15th to see a surgical onc at UNC-Chapel Hill. Given that I was moving from North Carolina to New Jersey my awesome surg onc fit me in to do the orginal surgery Oct 19th. But he did tell me it was fine to wait to have the surgery done – it wasn't going to change much. He as just afraid that if I put it off I might not do it (with moving to a new state, starting a new job, and changing insurance).
Hang in there! folks here are great resources. I know how scary it is! Positive thoughts and prayers your way.
Erin
-
- February 10, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Yes, you have a very good chance to survive this. The odds are in your favor.
As for the Clarks. It certainly does seem very unusual to have Clarks II if the thickness is 2mm. I'm going to give you the same advice I give many. Make sure your docs, including the pathologist, are melanoma specialists. The doctor doing your snb should be a surgeon with lots of melanoma experience. Usually the best melanoma doctors are found at large medical centers. If you aren't sure about your docs, I would find the nearest melanoma center and get a second opinion.
As for the time lapse, I don't think this is a big deal. Basically your melnaoma is gone. But I know you'd like to get his resolved and March seems a long way off.
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- February 10, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Hi I think that you may be in the uk, I am too and unfortunately our drs seem to be a little behind on treatment options compared o our friends in the US. I was diagnosed in 2006 with 2.7mm mel clarks level 3. I had WLE that had clear margins and SNB that showed no node involvement. So there is def hope after diagnosis. Make sure your dr is. Melanoma specialist, and ask lots and lots of questions. Never feel like a nuisance. You have come to the right place for advice as everyone here knows what it is to feel out of their depth and scared. We are all with you hoping for positive outcome. If your in the UK I go to the Christies hospital in Manchester.
Laney
X x x -
- February 10, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Hi I think that you may be in the uk, I am too and unfortunately our drs seem to be a little behind on treatment options compared o our friends in the US. I was diagnosed in 2006 with 2.7mm mel clarks level 3. I had WLE that had clear margins and SNB that showed no node involvement. So there is def hope after diagnosis. Make sure your dr is. Melanoma specialist, and ask lots and lots of questions. Never feel like a nuisance. You have come to the right place for advice as everyone here knows what it is to feel out of their depth and scared. We are all with you hoping for positive outcome. If your in the UK I go to the Christies hospital in Manchester.
Laney
X x x-
- February 10, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Thank you for all your replies!!!
My histology was done in the biggest lab in that country I was on holiday. Whole mole and 1 cm around it was removed my plastic surgeon. So I am very frustrated about result:
This is ALL I 've got:
Epithelois skin pigmented melanoma
No ulceration
Clarks invasion level 2
Breslow UP TO 0.2 CM
Margin line clear.
Done by Academic Histology Lab and Pathology center in Riga ,Latvia.
I realised I still do not have enough information to decide about my treatments etc.
I see a lot of people here on this forum do know exact depth of the tumor and a lot more information.
-
- February 10, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Thank you for all your replies!!!
My histology was done in the biggest lab in that country I was on holiday. Whole mole and 1 cm around it was removed my plastic surgeon. So I am very frustrated about result:
This is ALL I 've got:
Epithelois skin pigmented melanoma
No ulceration
Clarks invasion level 2
Breslow UP TO 0.2 CM
Margin line clear.
Done by Academic Histology Lab and Pathology center in Riga ,Latvia.
I realised I still do not have enough information to decide about my treatments etc.
I see a lot of people here on this forum do know exact depth of the tumor and a lot more information.
-
- February 10, 2012 at 11:54 pm
It would be very frustrating to only have that much information, but it does sound positive. The tumor is gone, and your margins are clear, so keep reminding yourself that the cancer is gone, you just need to have additional surgery for further investigation.
I know how awful it feels to be where you are at now, it gets better a little at a time {{hugs}}
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- February 10, 2012 at 11:54 pm
It would be very frustrating to only have that much information, but it does sound positive. The tumor is gone, and your margins are clear, so keep reminding yourself that the cancer is gone, you just need to have additional surgery for further investigation.
I know how awful it feels to be where you are at now, it gets better a little at a time {{hugs}}
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- February 10, 2012 at 11:54 pm
It would be very frustrating to only have that much information, but it does sound positive. The tumor is gone, and your margins are clear, so keep reminding yourself that the cancer is gone, you just need to have additional surgery for further investigation.
I know how awful it feels to be where you are at now, it gets better a little at a time {{hugs}}
-
- February 10, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Thank you for all your replies!!!
My histology was done in the biggest lab in that country I was on holiday. Whole mole and 1 cm around it was removed my plastic surgeon. So I am very frustrated about result:
This is ALL I 've got:
Epithelois skin pigmented melanoma
No ulceration
Clarks invasion level 2
Breslow UP TO 0.2 CM
Margin line clear.
Done by Academic Histology Lab and Pathology center in Riga ,Latvia.
I realised I still do not have enough information to decide about my treatments etc.
I see a lot of people here on this forum do know exact depth of the tumor and a lot more information.
-
- February 10, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Hi I think that you may be in the uk, I am too and unfortunately our drs seem to be a little behind on treatment options compared o our friends in the US. I was diagnosed in 2006 with 2.7mm mel clarks level 3. I had WLE that had clear margins and SNB that showed no node involvement. So there is def hope after diagnosis. Make sure your dr is. Melanoma specialist, and ask lots and lots of questions. Never feel like a nuisance. You have come to the right place for advice as everyone here knows what it is to feel out of their depth and scared. We are all with you hoping for positive outcome. If your in the UK I go to the Christies hospital in Manchester.
Laney
X x x -
- February 11, 2012 at 9:27 am
when the melanoma came back and they finally decided to do something (in 2000) mine was "Malignant Melanoma. Clark's Level 3. Tumor Thickness 1.45mm" they took it off and 5 sentinal lymph nodes (they were all clear)…it didn't come back until 2009 and it was inside by my heart…..I am stage 4 NED
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- February 11, 2012 at 9:27 am
when the melanoma came back and they finally decided to do something (in 2000) mine was "Malignant Melanoma. Clark's Level 3. Tumor Thickness 1.45mm" they took it off and 5 sentinal lymph nodes (they were all clear)…it didn't come back until 2009 and it was inside by my heart…..I am stage 4 NED
-
- February 11, 2012 at 9:27 am
when the melanoma came back and they finally decided to do something (in 2000) mine was "Malignant Melanoma. Clark's Level 3. Tumor Thickness 1.45mm" they took it off and 5 sentinal lymph nodes (they were all clear)…it didn't come back until 2009 and it was inside by my heart…..I am stage 4 NED
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- February 11, 2012 at 1:35 pm
What did this mole look like? A 2 mm melanoma would look pretty ominous in most cases. I'm also confused by your pathology report. Clarks II and 2 mm seem to contradict each other. I'm wondering if your melanoma was actually .02mm clarks II. That would be a very low risk lesion.
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- February 11, 2012 at 1:35 pm
What did this mole look like? A 2 mm melanoma would look pretty ominous in most cases. I'm also confused by your pathology report. Clarks II and 2 mm seem to contradict each other. I'm wondering if your melanoma was actually .02mm clarks II. That would be a very low risk lesion.
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- February 11, 2012 at 2:19 pm
This mole started to grow from very small ( 0.1mm ) one and ended up with 0.5 mm diameter mole ,but it was 2 coloured by the end ( brown and light brown). It did look like melanoma ,but small in diameter.
It was not ulcerated ,it did not sore or so.
Report says up to 0.2 cm depth (so it is 2 mm ), it says invasion of the pappilary dermis.
I am so confused ,I still don't know anything about my melanoma ,just all this confusing information
Thank you for giving me more information and support
My next appointment will be on 22dn of FEB. My SNB will be in March,so long time to wait….
I am very happy I can share my store with you.
Thank you for being here , wish you health and God bless.you.
-
- February 11, 2012 at 2:19 pm
This mole started to grow from very small ( 0.1mm ) one and ended up with 0.5 mm diameter mole ,but it was 2 coloured by the end ( brown and light brown). It did look like melanoma ,but small in diameter.
It was not ulcerated ,it did not sore or so.
Report says up to 0.2 cm depth (so it is 2 mm ), it says invasion of the pappilary dermis.
I am so confused ,I still don't know anything about my melanoma ,just all this confusing information
Thank you for giving me more information and support
My next appointment will be on 22dn of FEB. My SNB will be in March,so long time to wait….
I am very happy I can share my store with you.
Thank you for being here , wish you health and God bless.you.
-
- February 11, 2012 at 3:20 pm
You know, my hope is that there could have been a simple mistake in the reporting of your depth in the term of centimeters as opposed to millimeters. It would be good if that were the case. Most often melanoma depths are described in mm not cm, (at least here in the states).
All the best in your ability to get this figured out quickly.
Mike N
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- February 11, 2012 at 3:20 pm
You know, my hope is that there could have been a simple mistake in the reporting of your depth in the term of centimeters as opposed to millimeters. It would be good if that were the case. Most often melanoma depths are described in mm not cm, (at least here in the states).
All the best in your ability to get this figured out quickly.
Mike N
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- February 11, 2012 at 3:20 pm
You know, my hope is that there could have been a simple mistake in the reporting of your depth in the term of centimeters as opposed to millimeters. It would be good if that were the case. Most often melanoma depths are described in mm not cm, (at least here in the states).
All the best in your ability to get this figured out quickly.
Mike N
-
- February 11, 2012 at 2:19 pm
This mole started to grow from very small ( 0.1mm ) one and ended up with 0.5 mm diameter mole ,but it was 2 coloured by the end ( brown and light brown). It did look like melanoma ,but small in diameter.
It was not ulcerated ,it did not sore or so.
Report says up to 0.2 cm depth (so it is 2 mm ), it says invasion of the pappilary dermis.
I am so confused ,I still don't know anything about my melanoma ,just all this confusing information
Thank you for giving me more information and support
My next appointment will be on 22dn of FEB. My SNB will be in March,so long time to wait….
I am very happy I can share my store with you.
Thank you for being here , wish you health and God bless.you.
-
- February 11, 2012 at 1:35 pm
What did this mole look like? A 2 mm melanoma would look pretty ominous in most cases. I'm also confused by your pathology report. Clarks II and 2 mm seem to contradict each other. I'm wondering if your melanoma was actually .02mm clarks II. That would be a very low risk lesion.
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- February 11, 2012 at 10:12 pm
I am willing to BET they meant 0.2 mm NOT CM. I've NEVER seen pathology reported in cm – that combined with the fact that it only invaded the papillary dermis – it makes more sense that you have a very low risk lesion and will not even need an SNB.
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- February 11, 2012 at 10:12 pm
I am willing to BET they meant 0.2 mm NOT CM. I've NEVER seen pathology reported in cm – that combined with the fact that it only invaded the papillary dermis – it makes more sense that you have a very low risk lesion and will not even need an SNB.
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- February 11, 2012 at 10:12 pm
I am willing to BET they meant 0.2 mm NOT CM. I've NEVER seen pathology reported in cm – that combined with the fact that it only invaded the papillary dermis – it makes more sense that you have a very low risk lesion and will not even need an SNB.
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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