› Forums › General Melanoma Community › How many people do you know whose invasive melanoma started as melanoma in situ- or stage 0?
- This topic has 18 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Janner.
- Post
-
- November 16, 2010 at 9:27 pm
I am asking because I recently had a large melanoma in situ removed. I am more than usually concerned because I lost my brother in February to Melanoma. I know the statistics say that the "cure" for melanoma stage 0 is surgical removal, but Im wondering what the odds are of it coming back, with my family history?
I am asking because I recently had a large melanoma in situ removed. I am more than usually concerned because I lost my brother in February to Melanoma. I know the statistics say that the "cure" for melanoma stage 0 is surgical removal, but Im wondering what the odds are of it coming back, with my family history?
- Replies
-
-
- November 16, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Your family history has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not an in situ lesion will come back. The MARGINS on the lesion have everything to do with it. I'm sorry your brother died of melanoma, but that has no impact on your prognosis whatsoever. There are some instances of people who have had in situ melanoma who progress. However, it is not always certain that the in situ lesion is the source. It is possible that their lesion wasn't read right in pathology or they had another primary that went unnoticed. The odds are certainly less than 1%. You caught your lesion early. You know to be aware of your body. Your prognosis is about as good as it can be given a cancer diagnosis. Don't spend time worrying about that in situ lesion…. or you let melanoma win. Just be vigilant, not paranoid. Have a second opinion on your pathology report if that will give you peace of mind.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- November 17, 2010 at 1:12 am
Thank you for responding. I guess Im just going to have to be vigilant about skin checks and hope that the dr got it all- he did feel confident that he did, and he said he cauterized the margins really well so that was (he felt) extra insurance.
I guess Im just wondering if there are very many people who do have recurrences, or other tumors show up after having one that was caught this early? I mean, is this something that's common? It doesnt sound like it, so that brings me some comfort. I can't imagine having my family lose another member to this horrible disease. I try not to be paranoid, or spend unnessecary time worrying. But having seen my brother lose his battle- it's always in the back of my mind. He didnt catch his early though, by the time he went in to have his mole checked, it was already stage 3b.
-
- November 17, 2010 at 2:04 am
In the US, the 10 year survival rate for melanoma in situ is shown at 100%. It's not a guarantee, but it's pretty close. That's why I said <1%. I won't say it couldn't happen, but it would be like winning the lottery. Have you done that lately??? You can ask for a copy of the pathology report to see the margins for yourself. Watch your scar area for any pigment regrowth. If you have any, go to your doc. It doesn't have to be melanoma (I have many freckles in my scars), but it pays to check that out for sure. I have had 3 melanoma – my in situ was removed in 2000. All I have to show for that one is a scar.
Janner
-
- November 17, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Janner-
The majority of links on the melanomaresources do not work. Do you know when this site was last updated?
Thanks!
-
- November 17, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Janner-
The majority of links on the melanomaresources do not work. Do you know when this site was last updated?
Thanks!
-
- November 18, 2010 at 1:53 am
Maybe you will be able to automatize it, following the pattern:
http://www.mpip.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?db=main_bb&post=<ID>
->
http://community.melanoma.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?header=archive&db=main_bb&post=<ID>
For example:
http://www.mpip.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?db=main_bb&post=370989
->
http://community.melanoma.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?header=archive&db=main_bb&post=370989
-
- November 18, 2010 at 1:53 am
Maybe you will be able to automatize it, following the pattern:
http://www.mpip.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?db=main_bb&post=<ID>
->
http://community.melanoma.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?header=archive&db=main_bb&post=<ID>
For example:
http://www.mpip.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?db=main_bb&post=370989
->
http://community.melanoma.org/cgi-bin/mpip/dbforum.pl?header=archive&db=main_bb&post=370989
-
- November 17, 2010 at 2:04 am
In the US, the 10 year survival rate for melanoma in situ is shown at 100%. It's not a guarantee, but it's pretty close. That's why I said <1%. I won't say it couldn't happen, but it would be like winning the lottery. Have you done that lately??? You can ask for a copy of the pathology report to see the margins for yourself. Watch your scar area for any pigment regrowth. If you have any, go to your doc. It doesn't have to be melanoma (I have many freckles in my scars), but it pays to check that out for sure. I have had 3 melanoma – my in situ was removed in 2000. All I have to show for that one is a scar.
Janner
-
- November 17, 2010 at 1:12 am
Thank you for responding. I guess Im just going to have to be vigilant about skin checks and hope that the dr got it all- he did feel confident that he did, and he said he cauterized the margins really well so that was (he felt) extra insurance.
I guess Im just wondering if there are very many people who do have recurrences, or other tumors show up after having one that was caught this early? I mean, is this something that's common? It doesnt sound like it, so that brings me some comfort. I can't imagine having my family lose another member to this horrible disease. I try not to be paranoid, or spend unnessecary time worrying. But having seen my brother lose his battle- it's always in the back of my mind. He didnt catch his early though, by the time he went in to have his mole checked, it was already stage 3b.
-
- November 16, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Your family history has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not an in situ lesion will come back. The MARGINS on the lesion have everything to do with it. I'm sorry your brother died of melanoma, but that has no impact on your prognosis whatsoever. There are some instances of people who have had in situ melanoma who progress. However, it is not always certain that the in situ lesion is the source. It is possible that their lesion wasn't read right in pathology or they had another primary that went unnoticed. The odds are certainly less than 1%. You caught your lesion early. You know to be aware of your body. Your prognosis is about as good as it can be given a cancer diagnosis. Don't spend time worrying about that in situ lesion…. or you let melanoma win. Just be vigilant, not paranoid. Have a second opinion on your pathology report if that will give you peace of mind.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.