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Diagnosed on Christmas Eve
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Diagnosed on Christmas Eve

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Diagnosed on Christmas Eve

  • Post
    • December 25, 2014 at 6:55 pm
    marissav
    Participant

      I went to the doctor yesterday to have the stitches removed from where a biopsy was taken of a suspicious mole.  I was seen by a ARNP at the Dermatologist.   She told me it was melonoma, Stage IV.   I was in complete shock but I had done enough research that I asked, "How could it be Stage IV if you don't know it has spread."   She assured me it was stage IV and set me up an appointment to see a surgeon after the first of the year.

      I have a copy of the pathology report and it says, Clark's Level IV, measuring 1.45mm in thickness, ulceration – absent, pathologic stage – T2a.   From everything I am reading this is Stage II but it's Christmas day and I can't call the doctor.   Can anyone help me understand the pathology report???  I am thinking she has confused the Clark's Level with staging??

      I am scared and worried….

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        • December 25, 2014 at 7:03 pm
        Jeanne321
        Participant

          Sorry you are dealing with this on Christmas. This obviously is level 4 not stage 4. Enjoy your holiday!

            • December 25, 2014 at 8:16 pm
            marissav
            Participant

              Thank you for the reassurance!

              • December 25, 2014 at 8:16 pm
              marissav
              Participant

                Thank you for the reassurance!

                • December 25, 2014 at 8:16 pm
                marissav
                Participant

                  Thank you for the reassurance!

                • December 25, 2014 at 7:03 pm
                Jeanne321
                Participant

                  Sorry you are dealing with this on Christmas. This obviously is level 4 not stage 4. Enjoy your holiday!

                  • December 25, 2014 at 7:03 pm
                  Jeanne321
                  Participant

                    Sorry you are dealing with this on Christmas. This obviously is level 4 not stage 4. Enjoy your holiday!

                    • December 25, 2014 at 11:05 pm
                    SABKLYN
                    Participant

                      Hi

                      Totally agree with you.  This can't be a stage 4 u less these are mets to distant areas from the primary.  If you're not being send by a melanoma specialist, I would recommend it!!  Merry Christmas!!!

                      • December 25, 2014 at 11:05 pm
                      SABKLYN
                      Participant

                        Hi

                        Totally agree with you.  This can't be a stage 4 u less these are mets to distant areas from the primary.  If you're not being send by a melanoma specialist, I would recommend it!!  Merry Christmas!!!

                          • December 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm
                          SABKLYN
                          Participant

                            That should be " not being seen"!  Try not to let it Impact your holiday!!!

                            • December 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm
                            SABKLYN
                            Participant

                              That should be " not being seen"!  Try not to let it Impact your holiday!!!

                              • December 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm
                              SABKLYN
                              Participant

                                That should be " not being seen"!  Try not to let it Impact your holiday!!!

                                • December 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm
                                SABKLYN
                                Participant

                                  That should be " not being seen"!  Try not to let it Impact your holiday!!!

                                  • December 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm
                                  SABKLYN
                                  Participant

                                    That should be " not being seen"!  Try not to let it Impact your holiday!!!

                                    • December 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm
                                    SABKLYN
                                    Participant

                                      That should be " not being seen"!  Try not to let it Impact your holiday!!!

                                    • December 25, 2014 at 11:05 pm
                                    SABKLYN
                                    Participant

                                      Hi

                                      Totally agree with you.  This can't be a stage 4 u less these are mets to distant areas from the primary.  If you're not being send by a melanoma specialist, I would recommend it!!  Merry Christmas!!!

                                      • December 25, 2014 at 11:10 pm
                                      JustMeInCA
                                      Participant

                                        I agree that she was way off base. I would suggest that you file a formal complaint. Besides the fact that she is obviously incompetent and caused you unnecessary worry, this kind of diagnosis is one that should always be given by a doctor. Utter fail all the way round. Please look into changing your dermatolgist as soon as possible. Your story really makes me angry! I hope that you are able to relax enough now to enjoy Christmas. 

                                        • December 25, 2014 at 11:10 pm
                                        JustMeInCA
                                        Participant

                                          I agree that she was way off base. I would suggest that you file a formal complaint. Besides the fact that she is obviously incompetent and caused you unnecessary worry, this kind of diagnosis is one that should always be given by a doctor. Utter fail all the way round. Please look into changing your dermatolgist as soon as possible. Your story really makes me angry! I hope that you are able to relax enough now to enjoy Christmas. 

                                          • December 25, 2014 at 11:10 pm
                                          JustMeInCA
                                          Participant

                                            I agree that she was way off base. I would suggest that you file a formal complaint. Besides the fact that she is obviously incompetent and caused you unnecessary worry, this kind of diagnosis is one that should always be given by a doctor. Utter fail all the way round. Please look into changing your dermatolgist as soon as possible. Your story really makes me angry! I hope that you are able to relax enough now to enjoy Christmas. 

                                            • December 26, 2014 at 1:09 am
                                            ed williams
                                            Participant

                                              Hi Marissav, you have been given good advice so far by the board. I don't know what  ARNP stands for, probably something like ( All Right Next Please). The next tool that they should use to determine your stage is a Sentinal Node Biopsy of the Lymph nodes that drain the region that the Melanoma was found. I am not an expert on pathology reports, but if you look up comments made by (Janner)  in older post you will find a wealth of knowledge.  I am glad that you are doing your own research, I really believe that knowledge is power. I wish you the best of luck with your journey. Ed

                                              • December 26, 2014 at 1:09 am
                                              ed williams
                                              Participant

                                                Hi Marissav, you have been given good advice so far by the board. I don't know what  ARNP stands for, probably something like ( All Right Next Please). The next tool that they should use to determine your stage is a Sentinal Node Biopsy of the Lymph nodes that drain the region that the Melanoma was found. I am not an expert on pathology reports, but if you look up comments made by (Janner)  in older post you will find a wealth of knowledge.  I am glad that you are doing your own research, I really believe that knowledge is power. I wish you the best of luck with your journey. Ed

                                                  • December 27, 2014 at 7:14 pm
                                                  eerye70
                                                  Participant
                                                    Advanced registered nurse practitioner. And while what she did was within her scope of practice, diagnose and discuss biopsy results, i am puzzled by her lack of knowledge. I would expect one in dermatology to have a better understanding of clark level and staging. I am not one to judge based on few details, but i personally would not want to remain at a practice that is so obviously limited on such an umportant detail. You will need oncology care anyway, so move on. But i would encourage you to talk to the office manager about what happened.
                                                    • December 27, 2014 at 7:14 pm
                                                    eerye70
                                                    Participant
                                                      Advanced registered nurse practitioner. And while what she did was within her scope of practice, diagnose and discuss biopsy results, i am puzzled by her lack of knowledge. I would expect one in dermatology to have a better understanding of clark level and staging. I am not one to judge based on few details, but i personally would not want to remain at a practice that is so obviously limited on such an umportant detail. You will need oncology care anyway, so move on. But i would encourage you to talk to the office manager about what happened.
                                                      • December 27, 2014 at 7:14 pm
                                                      eerye70
                                                      Participant
                                                        Advanced registered nurse practitioner. And while what she did was within her scope of practice, diagnose and discuss biopsy results, i am puzzled by her lack of knowledge. I would expect one in dermatology to have a better understanding of clark level and staging. I am not one to judge based on few details, but i personally would not want to remain at a practice that is so obviously limited on such an umportant detail. You will need oncology care anyway, so move on. But i would encourage you to talk to the office manager about what happened.
                                                      • December 26, 2014 at 1:09 am
                                                      ed williams
                                                      Participant

                                                        Hi Marissav, you have been given good advice so far by the board. I don't know what  ARNP stands for, probably something like ( All Right Next Please). The next tool that they should use to determine your stage is a Sentinal Node Biopsy of the Lymph nodes that drain the region that the Melanoma was found. I am not an expert on pathology reports, but if you look up comments made by (Janner)  in older post you will find a wealth of knowledge.  I am glad that you are doing your own research, I really believe that knowledge is power. I wish you the best of luck with your journey. Ed

                                                        • December 26, 2014 at 5:15 pm
                                                        Janner
                                                        Participant

                                                          T2a is actually stage 1b, not stage II.  Ignore the nurse as she is obviously wrong.  A pathology report from a primary biopsy can only make you stage 1 or stage 2, nothing higher.  Stage 3 or 4 are diagnosed from scans or checking the lymph nodes.  Next step is the SNB to check lymph nodes and determine if you could be stage 3.

                                                          • December 26, 2014 at 5:15 pm
                                                          Janner
                                                          Participant

                                                            T2a is actually stage 1b, not stage II.  Ignore the nurse as she is obviously wrong.  A pathology report from a primary biopsy can only make you stage 1 or stage 2, nothing higher.  Stage 3 or 4 are diagnosed from scans or checking the lymph nodes.  Next step is the SNB to check lymph nodes and determine if you could be stage 3.

                                                              • December 26, 2014 at 6:06 pm
                                                              marissav
                                                              Participant

                                                                Thanks everyone.   I really appreciate everyones input and confirming what I was thinking.   I am searching for a melanoma specialist in my area.   Needless to say, I will not be returning to that dermatology office.   I am horried at the incompeteness and what she put my family through with her lack of understanding of the pathology report.

                                                                • December 26, 2014 at 6:06 pm
                                                                marissav
                                                                Participant

                                                                  Thanks everyone.   I really appreciate everyones input and confirming what I was thinking.   I am searching for a melanoma specialist in my area.   Needless to say, I will not be returning to that dermatology office.   I am horried at the incompeteness and what she put my family through with her lack of understanding of the pathology report.

                                                                  • December 26, 2014 at 6:17 pm
                                                                  marissav
                                                                  Participant

                                                                    incompetence

                                                                    • December 26, 2014 at 6:17 pm
                                                                    marissav
                                                                    Participant

                                                                      incompetence

                                                                      • December 26, 2014 at 6:17 pm
                                                                      marissav
                                                                      Participant

                                                                        incompetence

                                                                        • December 26, 2014 at 6:06 pm
                                                                        marissav
                                                                        Participant

                                                                          Thanks everyone.   I really appreciate everyones input and confirming what I was thinking.   I am searching for a melanoma specialist in my area.   Needless to say, I will not be returning to that dermatology office.   I am horried at the incompeteness and what she put my family through with her lack of understanding of the pathology report.

                                                                        • December 26, 2014 at 5:15 pm
                                                                        Janner
                                                                        Participant

                                                                          T2a is actually stage 1b, not stage II.  Ignore the nurse as she is obviously wrong.  A pathology report from a primary biopsy can only make you stage 1 or stage 2, nothing higher.  Stage 3 or 4 are diagnosed from scans or checking the lymph nodes.  Next step is the SNB to check lymph nodes and determine if you could be stage 3.

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