Average time Melanoma comes back with Stage III?
REGISTER
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Average time Melanoma comes back with Stage III?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Average time Melanoma comes back with Stage III?

  • Post
    • October 24, 2017 at 1:53 pm
    Newmanbell
    Participant

    Hi all,

    Curious for all you Stage III folks as to how soon was it that Melanoma returned or went to Stage IV?  Anyone know the stats?  Thank you….

    Donna

     

Viewing 6 reply threads
  • Replies
      • October 24, 2017 at 4:06 pm
      Nashvillian
      Participant

      Be impossible to answer unless someone has their own personal experience. I have read anywhere from weeks to never.

       

        • October 25, 2017 at 1:28 am
        Toby0987
        Participant

        2013 initial diagnosis 3b-took out all the nodes in my armpit and that was all I did-no chemo, no immuno, no radiation and I'm cancer free since then.

        • October 25, 2017 at 12:33 pm
        Newmanbell
        Participant

        I think I like your story best….:).  Thank you…

      • October 24, 2017 at 4:39 pm
      BrianP
      Participant

      Take a look at this study:

      http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/jco.2009.26.2063

      It looks like the majority of those that do progress do so in the first 24 months then it levels out some. 

       

        • October 25, 2017 at 1:40 am
        BrianP
        Participant

        BTW, I was diagnosed stage IIIB in Sep 11,  Progressed to Stage IV April 13.  

      • October 25, 2017 at 12:20 am
      jennunicorn
      Participant

      The link Brian shared is good. Majority of personal story answers you'll get here are going to heir on the side of progression since those of us that did progress tend to stick around and those that have stayed stage 3 NED for many years don't come around too often.

      My story: Stage 3B November 2015. After routine scan September 2016 I was moved to stage 4. So, almost a year after initial diagnosis for me. My primary was ulcerated, mitotic rate of 3, and 1.9mm depth. These are things that can factor into likelihood of progression.. someone with similar depth but no ulceration and mitotic rate of 1 or less have a higher chance of never progressing past stage 3. 

        • October 25, 2017 at 1:24 am
        Newmanbell
        Participant
        Wow, I just read your entire bio, what an incredible job you have done keeping up with this. Sometimes it helps others to see the steps one must take to move onto the next treatment. You are on a roll getting healed!
        • October 25, 2017 at 1:59 am
        jennunicorn
        Participant

        I try to document everything that I think would be useful to someone new coming into this because I know how helpful that would have been for me. I am looking forward to having less to document though! 🙂

      • October 25, 2017 at 12:27 am
      Dhva
      Participant

      Hi Donna , My son was diagnosed stage 3b and had recurrence and disease progression to stage 4 in about 10 months. 

        • October 25, 2017 at 12:29 am
        Dhva
        Participant

        His primary was also ulcerated, and he progressed while on ipi.

      • October 25, 2017 at 6:09 pm
      Raeofsonshine
      Participant

      Hi Donna,

      3a for me about 15 months ago.  Nodular, 18 mitotic rate, 5.5 mm.  Two weeks ago found a lump a few inches from the scar and luckily my surgeon didn't hesitate to biopsy.  He thought it was a lipoma, came back as melanoma.  Have an appointment next week for the next battle.  Hang tough! 

       

      • October 25, 2017 at 11:29 pm
      Bubbles
      Participant

      Hi Donna, 

      I understand the reasons for your question…however, I doubt any known data, nor reports here, will be very helpful for you, as the answers are so disparate.  The answer is always something between NO recurrence and X.  However, if you would like my case study:  Stage III in 2003.  Second primary in 2007.  Stage IV 2010.  But, perhaps most importantly:  NED from 2010 until NOW!!!  I wish you well.  Celeste

        • October 27, 2017 at 4:43 pm
        Newmanbell
        Participant
        Bubbles, I read your links every day, sometimes 2 times! You are am Angel to all of us.

        Donna

      • October 31, 2017 at 8:05 pm
      melanomafighter
      Participant

      I am Stage IIIB and mine has never came back since it was found.  Good luck to you…7 years NED.

Viewing 6 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
About the MRF Patient Forum

The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.