› Forums › Pediatric & AYA Melanoma Community › 7 year old with possible melanoma
- This topic has 33 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 9 months ago by
JerryfromFauq.
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:05 pm
I am the mother to two beautiful little girls. My oldest, 7 year old, had a mole on her face that appeared two years ago. I wasn't concerned because both my mother and myself have moles on this same cheek. I just assumed she was going to have one as well. Over the last year I kept noticing it was appearing larger and the last six months it appeared pigmented and bumpy. She complained of it itching her. Her pediatrician didn't think it was anything but sent her to a dermatologist since it was on her face. Within two minutes of our appointment the dermatologist said it needed to come off and be biopsied that it did indeed look like melana. This totally took me back because I still felt it was like the one my mother her and self had. They told me that if it was confirmed melanoma that they would send her to a oncologist and she would have to have surgery to get it completely removed because it was too deep for them to completely get in the office that day.
For the last two months she has battled a sore throat and severely swollen tonsils and after reading on melanoma and how it can spread to lymphnodes I'm wondering if this is all connected. We won't know the result until next Friday but the doctor did tell me it did look very much like melanoma. I beside myself. This is my baby. I've always been adament about using sunscreen.
If they do call back with a melanoma diagnosis what questions should I be ready to ask? What can I start doing to prepare for this fight? I'm so scared. I am a teacher and know not to believe everything you read. I know things are outdated online. I feel like this is a good site to gain knowledge and arm myself with the right tools. I just wish I could contain my nerves. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
thanks,
Melissa
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:25 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html
_______________________________
http://www.melanoma.org/understand-melanoma/resource-library/videos-webinars
_____________________________________Other Good Melanoma sites:
——————
Melanoma International Foundation – BB and Videos of Webinars
https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/mif/account.jsp
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:25 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html
_______________________________
http://www.melanoma.org/understand-melanoma/resource-library/videos-webinars
_____________________________________Other Good Melanoma sites:
——————
Melanoma International Foundation – BB and Videos of Webinars
https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/mif/account.jsp
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:25 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html
_______________________________
http://www.melanoma.org/understand-melanoma/resource-library/videos-webinars
_____________________________________Other Good Melanoma sites:
——————
Melanoma International Foundation – BB and Videos of Webinars
https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/mif/account.jsp
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:30 pm
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:30 pm
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:30 pm
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:36 pm
Second opinion on pathology – regardless of diagnosis. I suggest UCSF. Spitz Nevi (often found in children) can look identical to melanoma under the microscope. Spitz Nevi are totally benign. UCSF has done a lot of research on Spitz vs melanoma and I would send any pathology slides of my children to them for confirmation of the diagnosis.
One step at a time. Pediatric melanoma is extremely rare. Just don't jump the gun and make things worse until you really know what you are dealing with.
Janner
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:36 pm
Second opinion on pathology – regardless of diagnosis. I suggest UCSF. Spitz Nevi (often found in children) can look identical to melanoma under the microscope. Spitz Nevi are totally benign. UCSF has done a lot of research on Spitz vs melanoma and I would send any pathology slides of my children to them for confirmation of the diagnosis.
One step at a time. Pediatric melanoma is extremely rare. Just don't jump the gun and make things worse until you really know what you are dealing with.
Janner
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- February 14, 2014 at 8:36 pm
Second opinion on pathology – regardless of diagnosis. I suggest UCSF. Spitz Nevi (often found in children) can look identical to melanoma under the microscope. Spitz Nevi are totally benign. UCSF has done a lot of research on Spitz vs melanoma and I would send any pathology slides of my children to them for confirmation of the diagnosis.
One step at a time. Pediatric melanoma is extremely rare. Just don't jump the gun and make things worse until you really know what you are dealing with.
Janner
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- February 14, 2014 at 9:48 pm
THANK YOU for your reply. That was one thing that had concerned me was that I haven't found anything about it in a child her age. I appreciate you taking time to reply.
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- February 14, 2014 at 9:48 pm
THANK YOU for your reply. That was one thing that had concerned me was that I haven't found anything about it in a child her age. I appreciate you taking time to reply.
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- February 14, 2014 at 9:48 pm
THANK YOU for your reply. That was one thing that had concerned me was that I haven't found anything about it in a child her age. I appreciate you taking time to reply.
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- February 15, 2014 at 6:37 am
I agree with the other posters. You should get a second opinion, regardless of what the first report says. If you are in Southern California. See: Dr. Mike Wong at USC or Dr. Peter Bosaberg at The Angeles Clinic.
From experience, we found that we did not have the entire picture on my Mother's diagnosis until we sought a 3rd opinion and that doctor looked at all of her scans. I can't stress the later enough.
On the chance that this is melanoma be sure that you are with a melanoma specialist and a brain scan is done immediately.
Since your daughter is only 7, I hesitate to say this, but if it is melanoma her body will altered by any treatments and she could have issues in the future with fertility. Before treatment, IF this is melanoma, you should talk to someone about how you could preserve her ability to have children without damanging her eggs. – Not something you want to hear I know. But something you should consider for her future.
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- February 15, 2014 at 6:37 am
I agree with the other posters. You should get a second opinion, regardless of what the first report says. If you are in Southern California. See: Dr. Mike Wong at USC or Dr. Peter Bosaberg at The Angeles Clinic.
From experience, we found that we did not have the entire picture on my Mother's diagnosis until we sought a 3rd opinion and that doctor looked at all of her scans. I can't stress the later enough.
On the chance that this is melanoma be sure that you are with a melanoma specialist and a brain scan is done immediately.
Since your daughter is only 7, I hesitate to say this, but if it is melanoma her body will altered by any treatments and she could have issues in the future with fertility. Before treatment, IF this is melanoma, you should talk to someone about how you could preserve her ability to have children without damanging her eggs. – Not something you want to hear I know. But something you should consider for her future.
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- February 15, 2014 at 6:37 am
I agree with the other posters. You should get a second opinion, regardless of what the first report says. If you are in Southern California. See: Dr. Mike Wong at USC or Dr. Peter Bosaberg at The Angeles Clinic.
From experience, we found that we did not have the entire picture on my Mother's diagnosis until we sought a 3rd opinion and that doctor looked at all of her scans. I can't stress the later enough.
On the chance that this is melanoma be sure that you are with a melanoma specialist and a brain scan is done immediately.
Since your daughter is only 7, I hesitate to say this, but if it is melanoma her body will altered by any treatments and she could have issues in the future with fertility. Before treatment, IF this is melanoma, you should talk to someone about how you could preserve her ability to have children without damanging her eggs. – Not something you want to hear I know. But something you should consider for her future.
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- February 14, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Janner gave you great advice. Melanoma in children is extremely rare–something like 10 cases a year in the whole country. The vast majority of the time the lesion is actually a Sptiz nevus; the two are hard to differentiate visually or even under a microscope.
Do contact Dr. Bastian as Janner suggested. You may have to send him the path report and perhaps some unstained slides or a tissue block so he can do some special testing. His contact info is:
Boris C. Bastian, MDUCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute555 Mission Bay Blvd. SouthRoom 252K, Box 3118San Francisco, CA 94158-9001Phone: 415-353-7550If it does turn out to be melanoma (unlikely as that is) you need to be aware that melanoma treatments intended to adults must be used very carefully in children. St. Jude's Children's Hospital had an article on pediatric melanoma last summer. You can read it here: http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3d517e1dc7b8f310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=a411b0cf6626f310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRDI understand how upset you must be right now but don't jump the gun. You have done everything exactly right so far and this is most likely to be a Spitz. Take a deep breath, calm down, and take things one step at a time. Keep us posted here as to how things progress. -
- February 14, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Janner gave you great advice. Melanoma in children is extremely rare–something like 10 cases a year in the whole country. The vast majority of the time the lesion is actually a Sptiz nevus; the two are hard to differentiate visually or even under a microscope.
Do contact Dr. Bastian as Janner suggested. You may have to send him the path report and perhaps some unstained slides or a tissue block so he can do some special testing. His contact info is:
Boris C. Bastian, MDUCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute555 Mission Bay Blvd. SouthRoom 252K, Box 3118San Francisco, CA 94158-9001Phone: 415-353-7550If it does turn out to be melanoma (unlikely as that is) you need to be aware that melanoma treatments intended to adults must be used very carefully in children. St. Jude's Children's Hospital had an article on pediatric melanoma last summer. You can read it here: http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3d517e1dc7b8f310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=a411b0cf6626f310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRDI understand how upset you must be right now but don't jump the gun. You have done everything exactly right so far and this is most likely to be a Spitz. Take a deep breath, calm down, and take things one step at a time. Keep us posted here as to how things progress. -
- February 14, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Janner gave you great advice. Melanoma in children is extremely rare–something like 10 cases a year in the whole country. The vast majority of the time the lesion is actually a Sptiz nevus; the two are hard to differentiate visually or even under a microscope.
Do contact Dr. Bastian as Janner suggested. You may have to send him the path report and perhaps some unstained slides or a tissue block so he can do some special testing. His contact info is:
Boris C. Bastian, MDUCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute555 Mission Bay Blvd. SouthRoom 252K, Box 3118San Francisco, CA 94158-9001Phone: 415-353-7550If it does turn out to be melanoma (unlikely as that is) you need to be aware that melanoma treatments intended to adults must be used very carefully in children. St. Jude's Children's Hospital had an article on pediatric melanoma last summer. You can read it here: http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3d517e1dc7b8f310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=a411b0cf6626f310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRDI understand how upset you must be right now but don't jump the gun. You have done everything exactly right so far and this is most likely to be a Spitz. Take a deep breath, calm down, and take things one step at a time. Keep us posted here as to how things progress. -
- February 16, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Thank so much for all your replies. I greatly appreciate all your help and input.
I am in northeast Tennessee.
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- February 16, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Thank so much for all your replies. I greatly appreciate all your help and input.
I am in northeast Tennessee.
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- February 16, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Thank so much for all your replies. I greatly appreciate all your help and input.
I am in northeast Tennessee.
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- February 20, 2014 at 11:26 am
Thought I would update you that my daughters pathology can back compound Nevus – no cancer! Praise The Lord!
thank you all for your help, your replies, support, and sharing your knowledge. You helped me get prepared. I will continue to pray for each of you.
One thing for sure I've learned so much about this horrible disease. My life will never be the same.
Thanks again!!!
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- February 20, 2014 at 11:26 am
Thought I would update you that my daughters pathology can back compound Nevus – no cancer! Praise The Lord!
thank you all for your help, your replies, support, and sharing your knowledge. You helped me get prepared. I will continue to pray for each of you.
One thing for sure I've learned so much about this horrible disease. My life will never be the same.
Thanks again!!!
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- February 20, 2014 at 11:26 am
Thought I would update you that my daughters pathology can back compound Nevus – no cancer! Praise The Lord!
thank you all for your help, your replies, support, and sharing your knowledge. You helped me get prepared. I will continue to pray for each of you.
One thing for sure I've learned so much about this horrible disease. My life will never be the same.
Thanks again!!!
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- February 26, 2014 at 5:32 am
Very HAPPY for You both! I am glad you took time to learn. While it is fairly rare, it is on the rise. I am not scared of the sun, but worry about my wife who can get a sunburn when in the sun for 15 minutes. BE vigilant, prevent sunburns. Live and enjoy life!
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- February 26, 2014 at 5:32 am
Very HAPPY for You both! I am glad you took time to learn. While it is fairly rare, it is on the rise. I am not scared of the sun, but worry about my wife who can get a sunburn when in the sun for 15 minutes. BE vigilant, prevent sunburns. Live and enjoy life!
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- February 26, 2014 at 5:32 am
Very HAPPY for You both! I am glad you took time to learn. While it is fairly rare, it is on the rise. I am not scared of the sun, but worry about my wife who can get a sunburn when in the sun for 15 minutes. BE vigilant, prevent sunburns. Live and enjoy life!
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma, pediatric melanoma
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