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Average time Melanoma comes back with Stage III?
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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.

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