Amelanotic Melanoma

Hi Jen

My primary tumor/internal,3.5cm/ was a rare albino/white/ on the top of already being rare due to its location.I've had a recurrence ever since that was dark in color  but I was surprised to learn that  they come in whitsh, pinkish colors too   not only black or brown.That's being said they wouldnt know what  is it  until biopsied so do not freak out beforehand.

Take care,

Hi Jen

My primary tumor/internal,3.5cm/ was a rare albino/white/ on the top of already being rare due to its location.I've had a recurrence ever since that was dark in color  but I was surprised to learn that  they come in whitsh, pinkish colors too   not only black or brown.That's being said they wouldnt know what  is it  until biopsied so do not freak out beforehand.

Take care,

The person I was caregiver for, Will, had an amelanotic melanoma.  It was on the back of his head, on the scalp, low.  When it was removed the surgeon did not think it was melanoma (until the biopsy came in).

Lori

The person I was caregiver for, Will, had an amelanotic melanoma.  It was on the back of his head, on the scalp, low.  When it was removed the surgeon did not think it was melanoma (until the biopsy came in).

Lori

First off, it's uncommon to have more than one primary.  Only about 8% every do.  Second, it's uncommon to have a melanoma of a different type than you had before.  Never any absolutes, but still even rarer.

The thing that comes to my mind from your description is a dermatofibroma.  Benign skin tumors that are thought to be caused by bug bites.  I have some that are lightly pigmented and some that are skin colored, some are flat and some are more raised. 

Don't jump to any conclusions because, chances are, it's nothing to worry about!  Since when has googling (and all the nutty behavior) been a recipe for "peace of mind"???

Best wishes,

Janner

First off, it's uncommon to have more than one primary.  Only about 8% every do.  Second, it's uncommon to have a melanoma of a different type than you had before.  Never any absolutes, but still even rarer.

The thing that comes to my mind from your description is a dermatofibroma.  Benign skin tumors that are thought to be caused by bug bites.  I have some that are lightly pigmented and some that are skin colored, some are flat and some are more raised. 

Don't jump to any conclusions because, chances are, it's nothing to worry about!  Since when has googling (and all the nutty behavior) been a recipe for "peace of mind"???

Best wishes,

Janner

It would be highly unlikely to have two types of melanoma, and Amelanotic Melanoma is also rare to have as well, so that would make it double in your favor of this being something else.

A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure, but try to relax in the meantime as in doctor speak it is "highly unlikely" of being melanoma at all.

Let us know the results.

Michael

It would be highly unlikely to have two types of melanoma, and Amelanotic Melanoma is also rare to have as well, so that would make it double in your favor of this being something else.

A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure, but try to relax in the meantime as in doctor speak it is "highly unlikely" of being melanoma at all.

Let us know the results.

Michael

HI Teodora, 

Janner and the rest are correct amelanotic is very rare and having mult primary are also rare so I would try to not freak until you hear back from your doctor but I too know this is easier said than done.  I am one of those strange people (so my derm and melanoma onc says) who has multiple primaries that are all amelanotic.  I have had 3 melanoma primaries and each have been amelanotic which is very very strange. the thing to look for (or at least with mine) is symptoms of itchiness or scaliness.  The first amelanotic melanoma looked like a dome shaped, size of a dime red bump on my hip and I had a positive sentinel node.  this melanoma would bleed and scab over.  the second melanoma I had was stage one 0.59mm and only a clark II but it was an itchy raised pink spot on the back of my right shoulder.  The third melanoma primary was over 2.3 mm and was itchy inflammed and grew quite fast on my lower back.  So i'd say the thing to look for is change and if they are itchy or scaley just from my experience.  I hope everything comes back great for you and try not to worry until you have to:-)

Alicia

HI Teodora, 

Janner and the rest are correct amelanotic is very rare and having mult primary are also rare so I would try to not freak until you hear back from your doctor but I too know this is easier said than done.  I am one of those strange people (so my derm and melanoma onc says) who has multiple primaries that are all amelanotic.  I have had 3 melanoma primaries and each have been amelanotic which is very very strange. the thing to look for (or at least with mine) is symptoms of itchiness or scaliness.  The first amelanotic melanoma looked like a dome shaped, size of a dime red bump on my hip and I had a positive sentinel node.  this melanoma would bleed and scab over.  the second melanoma I had was stage one 0.59mm and only a clark II but it was an itchy raised pink spot on the back of my right shoulder.  The third melanoma primary was over 2.3 mm and was itchy inflammed and grew quite fast on my lower back.  So i'd say the thing to look for is change and if they are itchy or scaley just from my experience.  I hope everything comes back great for you and try not to worry until you have to:-)

Alicia

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt

This was the red mark on the side of my right buttock.  Just got results that it was a Melanoma, but had not spread vertically.  She said it's very good I got it at this early stage.  Going back in next week to have more skin excised and then after that, checkups every 3 months.

Looking online before actual diagnosis can be very misleading as I thought this was a dermatafibroma. It basically had been in the same spot for 3-4 months and hadn't gone away.  That's why I went in to get checked.  So always best to play it safe and get it checked out.

I had no idea about unpigmented melanomas or ones that were pink or red instead of black/brown.  Hope this image helps in some way and hope everyone stays healthy!

Matt