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First Post and Awaiting Sentil Lymph Node Biopsy Results
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First Post and Awaiting Sentil Lymph Node Biopsy Results

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › First Post and Awaiting Sentil Lymph Node Biopsy Results

  • Post
    • November 30, 2018 at 7:29 pm
    kb9718
    Participant

      Hello whoever reads this, 

      My name is Keira and I am 22 years old and was diagnosed with malignant melanoma this past October. I had a mole that was growing larger in size on my back removed at the end of September and Im so frustarted with myself for not getting it looked at sooner although my doctor told me it was nothing to worry about. 3 weeks later it was and I was told I had malignant melanoma . The information i have now is that it was 3 mm deep and it was in the intermediate to thick stage. I was sent to a plastic surgeon after that and met with him a month later. I really do not know much else I had a sentil lymph node biospy and wide local excision performed on Nov 21, before the surgery he told me there is a 40 percent chance that the cancer has spread. They put a radioactive dye in me the day before surgery and traced it to both the lymph nodes in my arm pit. Im really worried that its spread but not to the lymph nodes or that it has spread already and i waited to long to do anything about it. I dont get my results for another two weeks and im very worried. im also worried about it coming back and me not knowing about it. I dont like to stress out my friends and talk about it but im really scared and its hard because there is nothing I can really do in this stadge. Also not sure if this sounds silly but anytime i feel pain anywhere i have concivnced myself its the cancer spreading haha. Has anyone had any experience with recovering from a sentil lymph node biopsy i am about a week out and still having pain both arm pits and shooting pain down my back at random points is this normal?

      sorry for all the questions hahaha

      Thanks for anyone who read this!

    Viewing 6 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 30, 2018 at 8:00 pm
        BrianP
        Participant

          Hey Keira,

          Sorry you are having to deal with this especially at 22.  No two ways about it, It sucks!  Probably everyone on this board who has melanoma can relate to your hyper-sensitivity to every ache and pain.  I certainly can.  One thing I will say is that in every occurance I've had none of the disease caused any pain.  I remember on one occurence when I had swelling in my armpit what really concerned the doc was the fact the swelling was not painful.  Of course this is a generalization and there are always exceptions but it may help ease your mind in some situations.  Many of your aches and pains could be related to stress.  It's a tough path to walk because you want to be vigilant and in tune with your body without driving yourself nuts with worry.  Try your best to focus on the 60% chance you don't have any disease spread.  

          I'm very hopeful you will only have one more post on this board telling us you got good news, but if you don't get good news keep in mind there is so much more hope today than even just a few years ago.

          Best of luck,

          Brian

          • November 30, 2018 at 9:40 pm
          kathycmc
          Participant

            Hi Kiera.  My daughter was 24 when she was diagnosed.  For her it was nodular melanoma on her neck and she ended up staged at 3b  Your Dr. should not have said that to you.  He is not even a melanoma specialist.  When we asked my daughters melanoma specialist about percentages and such he told us flat out that our daughter is not a number.  You just cannot know who will have progression of disease and who will not.  It is not unusual to have pain after surgery so I wouldnt be troubled by that.  By the way, my daughter has not had any progression after her surgery and is now 5 years NED.  Try not to worry.

            • December 1, 2018 at 2:25 am
            Wicked Witch
            Participant

              Keira, I hear you with the "pains"! I have had pain everywhere since my diagnosis (3C), and I've been to the gynecologist (not cancer) my PCP (not cancer) and my previous abdominal surgeon (no, it's not cancer). I 100% agree, it feels like everything hurts and you "can feel it spreading". However, I've driven a whole team of doctors and my medical oncologist crazy, and no . . it's not the cancer. It's hard to say "Just calm down" because you won't calm down and you don't have to just "calm down". Call the docs, make them look at what hurts, make them test it. They understand, and they will do this for you and for your piece of mind. It's their job. 

              Don't feel silly, don't feel crazy. Don't sit there and think "Omg could it be . . " Call, make an appointment, and let the experts tell you. 

              • December 1, 2018 at 6:49 pm
              MMH
              Participant

                Hang in there Keira. I think we can all relate to your emotions right now. Please don’t be hard on yourself, instead be glad that you are taking care of this now and moving in the right direction. I will be thinking of you, and keep us posted please. 

                • December 2, 2018 at 3:26 pm
                WithinMySkin
                Participant

                  Hi Keira! One of the hardest things about cancer is the mental battle. The guilt, anxiety, and fear are hard to deal with and even harder to talk about when none of your friends can relate (I was diagnosed at 31 so I get it). There's a great group for young adults diagnosed with cancer called Stupid Cancer http://stupidcancer.org/ They provide all kinds of good support groups and have a CancerCon meetup once a year. Hope this helps you and keep us updated on the results!

                  Lauren

                   

                  • December 4, 2018 at 12:31 am
                  lkb
                  Participant

                    Two weeks for path results? Brutal! If there's a non-scientific reason, maybe agitate to get results sooner? Keep us posted.

                    • December 6, 2018 at 5:18 pm
                    kb9718
                    Participant

                      Thank you very much for the overwhelming support from everyone its really great to read! I get my results decemeber 13 so I will be sure to write in what happens! A week today so thats something to look forward to!

                      Thanks again everyone

                      Keira

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