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Biopsy results sound complicated
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Biopsy results sound complicated

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Biopsy results sound complicated

  • Post
    • March 21, 2019 at 3:43 pm
    anniemac
    Participant

      Thanks everyone for being so supportive.  

      My doctor office sent biopsy results.  Working through them right now.  Made appointment for Surgeon on April 1. 

      Learning a lot 

      Breslow thickness 2.8mm 

      Clark's III – IV

      Ulceration present 

      Periphereal and Deep margins uninvolved. 

      Mitopic Rate – 6 per mm 

      Statelltosis – Lymphovascular invasion – neurotropism –  Tumor regression all not identified. 

      Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes – Present – not brisk 

      pT3b (aac) 

      Feeling a bit anxious but calm enough to get through the next week or so. It is a great comfort to read through the board.  

      Knowledge is power !!

      Annie

       

       

       

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    • Replies
        • March 21, 2019 at 4:08 pm
        ed williams
        Participant

          Hi Annie, so here we go with what is important at this point. One, pt3b tells you all about the mole they removed and how deep it was and ulceration etc. Now, what comes next, usual and standard approach is to do a SLND (Sentinel lymph node dissection) see following video that explains how that happens. When they do SLND the surgeon will also take margins around where mole was removed, in the video you will see how oncologist make decision on that. If you have any question following watching the video feel free to ask!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_T186r5gIE

            • March 21, 2019 at 5:11 pm
            anniemac
            Participant

              Thanks Ed,

              this is an amazing video.  Gives my a good idea of whats to come.  I appreciate your reply.

              Annie

              • March 23, 2019 at 11:08 am
              Jamie1960
              Participant

                You ar.e your own best advocate, so be aggressive in your follow up; dermatologist every six months and surgical oncologist who performed SLND every six months. If you can arrange it, schedule these visits so that do not overlap, i.e., so that see someone every three months or so. The standard protocol is to do this until you are clear for 5 years. This said, no one knows your body as well as you do, so stay on your ABCDE self-checks, keeping an eye out for the "ugly duckling" which seems different to you than other moles, keep an eye on these, and point them out during your periodic visits. The foregoing may result in biopsies with negative results but, as those on this board will attest, it beats the alternative. Best of success to you !

                • March 23, 2019 at 11:20 am
                anniemac
                Participant

                  thanks for reply.  Very helpful advice. 

                • March 23, 2019 at 9:26 am
                stars
                Participant

                  It's good to be fully informed. The good news is that the melanoma has been completely excised (peripheral and deep margins uninvolved). The not so good news is the depth (deep enough to require a SLNB), ulceration (not seen as a good indicator), mitotic rate (reasonably high, meaning actively growing). Of all these, though, the main thing is Breslow depth. 2.8mm is intermediate thickness so comes with a slight risk of spread to lymph nodes. I wish you all the best in your journey. The main thing is that the little sucker is gone for now and likely for good!

                    • March 23, 2019 at 11:23 am
                    anniemac
                    Participant

                      Thanks for breaking it down for me.  I am planning on telling my 4 adult kids and will use your words to paint a picture for them.  Lots of thanks.  

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