Hi Tim,
Sorry you are having to face one more thing! It is hard to say what anything means in melanoma world without a biopsy.
The important points I would be trying to figure out/talk to my oncologist about follows:
Where are these lymph nodes?
What did they look like/measure on the last scan?
“No other tumors found” is excellent news! What other areas of your body was scanned? Given the finding of the lymph nodes do other areas need to be scanned?
Does your doc think you need a biopsy?
If it becomes clear this is due to melanoma, what does your doc consider your treatment options?
If the melanoma is truly isolated to limited nodes – is intralesional therapy (Drugs injected directly into the tumor) an option?
Is neoadjuvant (where you leave tumors in place and follow them as you have treatment and check how they respond) systemic treatment an option – with either more immunotherapy or targeted therapy?
Do you know your BRAF status? To use targeted therapy you must be BRAF positive, and I can’t remember if yours was done (should have been) or what it was.
Is surgical removal with no other therapy a viable option in your doc’s opinion? (There are studies that show, for some, after treatment and with isolated lesions, this can work well. “Jubes” of this forum developed a lung lesion after being treated with immunotherapy – had it removed with no additional treatment – and did very well.)
Bottom line – you have to find out as much information as you can, then choose the path that you feel is best for you. Not easy. As I always say, Melanoma sucks great big green stinky hairy wizard balls!!
Take more care. Ask more questions as you have the need. Celeste
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