trying not to freak
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trying not to freak

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › trying not to freak

  • Post
    • September 22, 2012 at 11:02 pm
    Rinn2012
    Participant

    Hello

    I am newely diagnosed.  All I know is that its stage 1 melanoma.

    My question is from those of you that have seen dr's already and done treatments, how likely is the melanoma to come back or increase in stage from a stage 1? 

    thanks

    Hello

    I am newely diagnosed.  All I know is that its stage 1 melanoma.

    My question is from those of you that have seen dr's already and done treatments, how likely is the melanoma to come back or increase in stage from a stage 1? 

    thanks

Viewing 8 reply threads
  • Replies
      • September 22, 2012 at 11:11 pm
      JC
      Participant

      Do you have the details of your pathology report?  The thickness/Breslow, mitotic rate, etc…?

        • September 22, 2012 at 11:16 pm
        Rinn2012
        Participant

        no unfortunatly they havent told me that yet.  I see a Dr. Monday to discuss treatments.  They mentioned sentinal node biopsy and wide margin.

        • September 22, 2012 at 11:16 pm
        Rinn2012
        Participant

        no unfortunatly they havent told me that yet.  I see a Dr. Monday to discuss treatments.  They mentioned sentinal node biopsy and wide margin.

        • September 22, 2012 at 11:16 pm
        Rinn2012
        Participant

        no unfortunatly they havent told me that yet.  I see a Dr. Monday to discuss treatments.  They mentioned sentinal node biopsy and wide margin.

      • September 22, 2012 at 11:11 pm
      JC
      Participant

      Do you have the details of your pathology report?  The thickness/Breslow, mitotic rate, etc…?

      • September 22, 2012 at 11:11 pm
      JC
      Participant

      Do you have the details of your pathology report?  The thickness/Breslow, mitotic rate, etc…?

      • September 22, 2012 at 11:42 pm
      killmel
      Participant

      No one can answer your question. There are some people who do not progress at stage 1 and there are many others at stage 1 who have progressed. It is totally up to your immune system.

      I was dx stage 1 in 2005, progressed to stage 4 in 2011.

        • September 23, 2012 at 12:45 am
        JC
        Participant

        No one can answer for sure, but there are prognostic indicators/factors that can point to more risk or less risk (mitotic rate, Breslow, ulceration, etc…).  A thin lesion with none of the negative prognostic characteristics has a high probability of being ok after your surgery.

        • September 23, 2012 at 12:45 am
        JC
        Participant

        No one can answer for sure, but there are prognostic indicators/factors that can point to more risk or less risk (mitotic rate, Breslow, ulceration, etc…).  A thin lesion with none of the negative prognostic characteristics has a high probability of being ok after your surgery.

        • September 23, 2012 at 12:45 am
        JC
        Participant

        No one can answer for sure, but there are prognostic indicators/factors that can point to more risk or less risk (mitotic rate, Breslow, ulceration, etc…).  A thin lesion with none of the negative prognostic characteristics has a high probability of being ok after your surgery.

      • September 22, 2012 at 11:42 pm
      killmel
      Participant

      No one can answer your question. There are some people who do not progress at stage 1 and there are many others at stage 1 who have progressed. It is totally up to your immune system.

      I was dx stage 1 in 2005, progressed to stage 4 in 2011.

      • September 22, 2012 at 11:42 pm
      killmel
      Participant

      No one can answer your question. There are some people who do not progress at stage 1 and there are many others at stage 1 who have progressed. It is totally up to your immune system.

      I was dx stage 1 in 2005, progressed to stage 4 in 2011.

      • September 23, 2012 at 12:13 am
      Marilynn Eiken
      Participant

      Hi there,

      The first thing I can tell you is to  BREATHE.  Keep trying not to freak.  Okay freak when you need to then get a grip again.  My husband's one and only melanoma lesion was excised with wide margins and sentinal node biopsy.  You will have a scan done to trace the lymph nodes.  They look for hot spots and decide which ones they will take.  The biopsy is usually done in the closest cluster of lymph nodes to the lesion.  The biopsy will help determine if the lesion has sent melanoma cells into the blood circulation.  It is not an absolute answer to the future as my husband and I learned but it is a good indicator in most cases.  The wide margins just means they will take quite a bit of the surrounding tissue to make sure they get all of the lesion.  

      Keep your head up.  Be brave.  Melanoma will be a part of your life now.  You will need to be diligent in your prevention efforts.  Get through the removal process first and then adapt as you learn more.    Keep asking questions.  If you don't understand something ask again.  Your medical team is there to inform you and sometimes you have to hold them up to that end of the deal.

      Good luck

       

      Marilynn

        • October 14, 2012 at 2:59 pm
        amandamini
        Participant

        I am newly diagnosed stage 2 and was wondering how you are doing?  How did your SNB turn out?

         

        And yes I am freaking out as well.

        • October 14, 2012 at 2:59 pm
        amandamini
        Participant

        I am newly diagnosed stage 2 and was wondering how you are doing?  How did your SNB turn out?

         

        And yes I am freaking out as well.

        • October 14, 2012 at 2:59 pm
        amandamini
        Participant

        I am newly diagnosed stage 2 and was wondering how you are doing?  How did your SNB turn out?

         

        And yes I am freaking out as well.

      • September 23, 2012 at 12:13 am
      Marilynn Eiken
      Participant

      Hi there,

      The first thing I can tell you is to  BREATHE.  Keep trying not to freak.  Okay freak when you need to then get a grip again.  My husband's one and only melanoma lesion was excised with wide margins and sentinal node biopsy.  You will have a scan done to trace the lymph nodes.  They look for hot spots and decide which ones they will take.  The biopsy is usually done in the closest cluster of lymph nodes to the lesion.  The biopsy will help determine if the lesion has sent melanoma cells into the blood circulation.  It is not an absolute answer to the future as my husband and I learned but it is a good indicator in most cases.  The wide margins just means they will take quite a bit of the surrounding tissue to make sure they get all of the lesion.  

      Keep your head up.  Be brave.  Melanoma will be a part of your life now.  You will need to be diligent in your prevention efforts.  Get through the removal process first and then adapt as you learn more.    Keep asking questions.  If you don't understand something ask again.  Your medical team is there to inform you and sometimes you have to hold them up to that end of the deal.

      Good luck

       

      Marilynn

      • September 23, 2012 at 12:13 am
      Marilynn Eiken
      Participant

      Hi there,

      The first thing I can tell you is to  BREATHE.  Keep trying not to freak.  Okay freak when you need to then get a grip again.  My husband's one and only melanoma lesion was excised with wide margins and sentinal node biopsy.  You will have a scan done to trace the lymph nodes.  They look for hot spots and decide which ones they will take.  The biopsy is usually done in the closest cluster of lymph nodes to the lesion.  The biopsy will help determine if the lesion has sent melanoma cells into the blood circulation.  It is not an absolute answer to the future as my husband and I learned but it is a good indicator in most cases.  The wide margins just means they will take quite a bit of the surrounding tissue to make sure they get all of the lesion.  

      Keep your head up.  Be brave.  Melanoma will be a part of your life now.  You will need to be diligent in your prevention efforts.  Get through the removal process first and then adapt as you learn more.    Keep asking questions.  If you don't understand something ask again.  Your medical team is there to inform you and sometimes you have to hold them up to that end of the deal.

      Good luck

       

      Marilynn

Viewing 8 reply threads
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