› Forums › General Melanoma Community › how long is too long to wait for surgery on NM
- This topic has 18 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by
mark d.
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:02 pm
I found out 1 Feb I have NM. I posted it a few days a go and got great advice.I had it for at least 4-5 month when they did a shave biopsy. They only got 2.7 mm off when they did the biopsy. Yesterday I saw the oncologist at BAMC. They just asked questions did a quick check on my body and scheduled a surgery appt for march 4.. Considering the fast rate of NM and no other tests were done and the only info is from a shave biopsy, isnt this quite a bit of time to wait? How fast have others had things taken care of? I am in the military and can go else where for treatment .
V çI found out 1 Feb I have NM. I posted it a few days a go and got great advice.I had it for at least 4-5 month when they did a shave biopsy. They only got 2.7 mm off when they did the biopsy. Yesterday I saw the oncologist at BAMC. They just asked questions did a quick check on my body and scheduled a surgery appt for march 4.. Considering the fast rate of NM and no other tests were done and the only info is from a shave biopsy, isnt this quite a bit of time to wait? How fast have others had things taken care of? I am in the military and can go else where for treatment .
V ç
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Are you seeing someone who is familiar with melanoma? I know that the military does have some great specialists, I am just not sure where they are.
But as far as your question goes, when I was diagnosed of the 2 places I had a choice of going to one had a 3 week waiting period the other a 6 week waiting period. So I think the wait is pretty standard unfortunately. Are they planning a Sentinel Node Biopsy also?
Good Luck,
Mary.
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Are you seeing someone who is familiar with melanoma? I know that the military does have some great specialists, I am just not sure where they are.
But as far as your question goes, when I was diagnosed of the 2 places I had a choice of going to one had a 3 week waiting period the other a 6 week waiting period. So I think the wait is pretty standard unfortunately. Are they planning a Sentinel Node Biopsy also?
Good Luck,
Mary.
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Are you seeing someone who is familiar with melanoma? I know that the military does have some great specialists, I am just not sure where they are.
But as far as your question goes, when I was diagnosed of the 2 places I had a choice of going to one had a 3 week waiting period the other a 6 week waiting period. So I think the wait is pretty standard unfortunately. Are they planning a Sentinel Node Biopsy also?
Good Luck,
Mary.
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:37 pm
Did the surgical appointment include a Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) as well as the Wide Local Excision (WLE)? Both of these need to be taken care of and…. you need to have the SNB PRIOR to the WLE. The SNB checks the drainage path from the original lesion to the first lymph node in the chain. If you remove a lot of tissue from that site, the lymph drainage paths may change compromising the SNB results.
In general, the timeline you list is pretty normal and not normally considered an issue. I understand where you are coming from because NM typically grows faster than other types and you didn't have clean margins. You could certainly call around and see if you could get in somewhere else sooner. But you need to make sure you schedule both procedures. They are done at the same setting, but the SNB is always done first. You also want someone who does a lot of SNB's – it can make a difference.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- February 8, 2013 at 11:39 pm
If you are in the Houston area, then MD Anderson is the right answer. They have many melanoma specialists there and will likely get you in and out earlier than your current schedule. You have nothing to lose by trying. Get copies of your path report. They will most likely want the biopsy slides as well to do their own analysis.
My Dad is stage IV and being treated at a VA Hospital but sees melanoma oncologists from the local cancer center. He's had great care at the VA. I don't mean to suggest you won't get the same care at the medical facility you are currently being seen at, but many people come from long distances to be seen at MDA. It's worth an opinion there if it is close and you can arrange it.
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- February 8, 2013 at 11:39 pm
If you are in the Houston area, then MD Anderson is the right answer. They have many melanoma specialists there and will likely get you in and out earlier than your current schedule. You have nothing to lose by trying. Get copies of your path report. They will most likely want the biopsy slides as well to do their own analysis.
My Dad is stage IV and being treated at a VA Hospital but sees melanoma oncologists from the local cancer center. He's had great care at the VA. I don't mean to suggest you won't get the same care at the medical facility you are currently being seen at, but many people come from long distances to be seen at MDA. It's worth an opinion there if it is close and you can arrange it.
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- February 8, 2013 at 11:39 pm
If you are in the Houston area, then MD Anderson is the right answer. They have many melanoma specialists there and will likely get you in and out earlier than your current schedule. You have nothing to lose by trying. Get copies of your path report. They will most likely want the biopsy slides as well to do their own analysis.
My Dad is stage IV and being treated at a VA Hospital but sees melanoma oncologists from the local cancer center. He's had great care at the VA. I don't mean to suggest you won't get the same care at the medical facility you are currently being seen at, but many people come from long distances to be seen at MDA. It's worth an opinion there if it is close and you can arrange it.
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:37 pm
Did the surgical appointment include a Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) as well as the Wide Local Excision (WLE)? Both of these need to be taken care of and…. you need to have the SNB PRIOR to the WLE. The SNB checks the drainage path from the original lesion to the first lymph node in the chain. If you remove a lot of tissue from that site, the lymph drainage paths may change compromising the SNB results.
In general, the timeline you list is pretty normal and not normally considered an issue. I understand where you are coming from because NM typically grows faster than other types and you didn't have clean margins. You could certainly call around and see if you could get in somewhere else sooner. But you need to make sure you schedule both procedures. They are done at the same setting, but the SNB is always done first. You also want someone who does a lot of SNB's – it can make a difference.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:37 pm
Did the surgical appointment include a Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) as well as the Wide Local Excision (WLE)? Both of these need to be taken care of and…. you need to have the SNB PRIOR to the WLE. The SNB checks the drainage path from the original lesion to the first lymph node in the chain. If you remove a lot of tissue from that site, the lymph drainage paths may change compromising the SNB results.
In general, the timeline you list is pretty normal and not normally considered an issue. I understand where you are coming from because NM typically grows faster than other types and you didn't have clean margins. You could certainly call around and see if you could get in somewhere else sooner. But you need to make sure you schedule both procedures. They are done at the same setting, but the SNB is always done first. You also want someone who does a lot of SNB's – it can make a difference.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Again, I want to reiterate what Janner said and ask you to reread JerryfromFauq post on your first post. Talk to your Oncologist again if your are not sure. But it is so very important that you have the Lymph Nodes checked also and not just manually. That close to the brain, I would prefer surgery to ultrasound (which they a trying now). We are all our own advocates, and many of the surgeons are busy and I have found at times you have to be pushy.
Again good luck!
Mary
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Again, I want to reiterate what Janner said and ask you to reread JerryfromFauq post on your first post. Talk to your Oncologist again if your are not sure. But it is so very important that you have the Lymph Nodes checked also and not just manually. That close to the brain, I would prefer surgery to ultrasound (which they a trying now). We are all our own advocates, and many of the surgeons are busy and I have found at times you have to be pushy.
Again good luck!
Mary
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- February 8, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Again, I want to reiterate what Janner said and ask you to reread JerryfromFauq post on your first post. Talk to your Oncologist again if your are not sure. But it is so very important that you have the Lymph Nodes checked also and not just manually. That close to the brain, I would prefer surgery to ultrasound (which they a trying now). We are all our own advocates, and many of the surgeons are busy and I have found at times you have to be pushy.
Again good luck!
Mary
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