7 year old with melanoma

Hi,

Yes, I noticed an unusual mole on her back in February when she was getting out of the bath.  It was a small dark brown/black portion of a mole in the middle of her upper back.  It was about 2 months from me first noticing it until the scrape biopsy.

Pathology report showed a superficial spreding, .47 mm, mitotic rate of 1, brisk tumor infiltrating lymphocyte present, Clark level of III, uninvolved margins,  radial and vertical growth phase present.  

We live in Utah and have the Huntsman Cancer institute nearby. They are a good cancer center, though not pediactric specialists.   I do have confidence in the melanoma surgeon we have.  He is highly regarded in the field, and just a really nice and comforting guy, which helps a lot.

She had a CT scan when she was a baby (6 months old).  Although most (but not all) studies show no connection, I truly believe this triggered the change.  In little ones it often isn't sun exposure related, and especially so in her.  It was in a spot that virtually never saw the sun, and because she is fair skinned I always had her in uv shirts in the summer, etc. 

re: CT scans and Melanoma.  CT scans definitely increase cancer risk, but it is usually brain, blood, and other cancers that are increaesd.  Most studies find no specific connection to melanoma, but again, almost all the studies are on adults.  There was a large australian study that did find an increase incidence of melanoma specifically from CT scans.  http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f2360

Because my daughter was so very young (6 months) when she got the CT the risk of cancer is significantly higher than for adults who receive CT scans.

re: CT scans and Melanoma.  CT scans definitely increase cancer risk, but it is usually brain, blood, and other cancers that are increaesd.  Most studies find no specific connection to melanoma, but again, almost all the studies are on adults.  There was a large australian study that did find an increase incidence of melanoma specifically from CT scans.  http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f2360

Because my daughter was so very young (6 months) when she got the CT the risk of cancer is significantly higher than for adults who receive CT scans.

Adding this:  It is just a news article, but concisely describes the research: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/scans-of-teens-children-raise-cancer-risk-20130522-2jzrz.html

Adding this:  It is just a news article, but concisely describes the research: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/scans-of-teens-children-raise-cancer-risk-20130522-2jzrz.html

Adding this:  It is just a news article, but concisely describes the research: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/scans-of-teens-children-raise-cancer-risk-20130522-2jzrz.html

re: CT scans and Melanoma.  CT scans definitely increase cancer risk, but it is usually brain, blood, and other cancers that are increaesd.  Most studies find no specific connection to melanoma, but again, almost all the studies are on adults.  There was a large australian study that did find an increase incidence of melanoma specifically from CT scans.  http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f2360

Because my daughter was so very young (6 months) when she got the CT the risk of cancer is significantly higher than for adults who receive CT scans.

It was much smaller than a pencil eraser. The tumor itself was 3 mm according to the path report (with .47 breslow depth).  I estimate the mole was about 3.5 mm. 

It was much smaller than a pencil eraser. The tumor itself was 3 mm according to the path report (with .47 breslow depth).  I estimate the mole was about 3.5 mm. 

It was much smaller than a pencil eraser. The tumor itself was 3 mm according to the path report (with .47 breslow depth).  I estimate the mole was about 3.5 mm. 

It was just a normal brown mole like all her others, at first. Then I noticed (it felt like suddenly) that it had developed a very dark brown/black section.  I don't think most would have noticed it, but I am an overly paranoid mother.  Ordinarily my anxiety and paranoia has served my poorly in life, but I think this time it actually may have saved my daughter's life.  

Both my daughter and I are very pale, so skin cancer in general was always on my radar.  I also have a close friend who lost one of her friends to melanoma last year, so I was triggered to think that way.  

I am incredibly grateful that I trusted my gut to take her in.  Most people probably would have thought I was nuts to suspect skin cancer in a kid (and honestly so did I.  I was convinced the biopsy would come back negative).

Because of the presence of the tumor infiltrating lymphocyte, I also wonder if maybe her body would have succesfully fought it off on her own and we would never have known about it until something else came up later.  I'm glad we found it, obviously, and that we have taken the steps we did to get everythig "cleaned out", but I am also very pleased to know her little body was fighting the good fight on its own.

It was just a normal brown mole like all her others, at first. Then I noticed (it felt like suddenly) that it had developed a very dark brown/black section.  I don't think most would have noticed it, but I am an overly paranoid mother.  Ordinarily my anxiety and paranoia has served my poorly in life, but I think this time it actually may have saved my daughter's life.  

Both my daughter and I are very pale, so skin cancer in general was always on my radar.  I also have a close friend who lost one of her friends to melanoma last year, so I was triggered to think that way.  

I am incredibly grateful that I trusted my gut to take her in.  Most people probably would have thought I was nuts to suspect skin cancer in a kid (and honestly so did I.  I was convinced the biopsy would come back negative).

Because of the presence of the tumor infiltrating lymphocyte, I also wonder if maybe her body would have succesfully fought it off on her own and we would never have known about it until something else came up later.  I'm glad we found it, obviously, and that we have taken the steps we did to get everythig "cleaned out", but I am also very pleased to know her little body was fighting the good fight on its own.

It was just a normal brown mole like all her others, at first. Then I noticed (it felt like suddenly) that it had developed a very dark brown/black section.  I don't think most would have noticed it, but I am an overly paranoid mother.  Ordinarily my anxiety and paranoia has served my poorly in life, but I think this time it actually may have saved my daughter's life.  

Both my daughter and I are very pale, so skin cancer in general was always on my radar.  I also have a close friend who lost one of her friends to melanoma last year, so I was triggered to think that way.  

I am incredibly grateful that I trusted my gut to take her in.  Most people probably would have thought I was nuts to suspect skin cancer in a kid (and honestly so did I.  I was convinced the biopsy would come back negative).

Because of the presence of the tumor infiltrating lymphocyte, I also wonder if maybe her body would have succesfully fought it off on her own and we would never have known about it until something else came up later.  I'm glad we found it, obviously, and that we have taken the steps we did to get everythig "cleaned out", but I am also very pleased to know her little body was fighting the good fight on its own.

Hi,

Yes, I noticed an unusual mole on her back in February when she was getting out of the bath.  It was a small dark brown/black portion of a mole in the middle of her upper back.  It was about 2 months from me first noticing it until the scrape biopsy.

Pathology report showed a superficial spreding, .47 mm, mitotic rate of 1, brisk tumor infiltrating lymphocyte present, Clark level of III, uninvolved margins,  radial and vertical growth phase present.  

We live in Utah and have the Huntsman Cancer institute nearby. They are a good cancer center, though not pediactric specialists.   I do have confidence in the melanoma surgeon we have.  He is highly regarded in the field, and just a really nice and comforting guy, which helps a lot.

She had a CT scan when she was a baby (6 months old).  Although most (but not all) studies show no connection, I truly believe this triggered the change.  In little ones it often isn't sun exposure related, and especially so in her.  It was in a spot that virtually never saw the sun, and because she is fair skinned I always had her in uv shirts in the summer, etc. 

Hi,

Yes, I noticed an unusual mole on her back in February when she was getting out of the bath.  It was a small dark brown/black portion of a mole in the middle of her upper back.  It was about 2 months from me first noticing it until the scrape biopsy.

Pathology report showed a superficial spreding, .47 mm, mitotic rate of 1, brisk tumor infiltrating lymphocyte present, Clark level of III, uninvolved margins,  radial and vertical growth phase present.  

We live in Utah and have the Huntsman Cancer institute nearby. They are a good cancer center, though not pediactric specialists.   I do have confidence in the melanoma surgeon we have.  He is highly regarded in the field, and just a really nice and comforting guy, which helps a lot.

She had a CT scan when she was a baby (6 months old).  Although most (but not all) studies show no connection, I truly believe this triggered the change.  In little ones it often isn't sun exposure related, and especially so in her.  It was in a spot that virtually never saw the sun, and because she is fair skinned I always had her in uv shirts in the summer, etc. 

Done!  Thank you so much!

Done!  Thank you so much!

Done!  Thank you so much!