› Forums › General Melanoma Community › I don’t understand my initial biopsy report
- This topic has 24 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 7 months ago by
Janner.
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- July 23, 2015 at 11:30 pm
I just had biopsies done on two moles and the doctor said both came back positive for melanoma. The mole I went in to have checked is very large – all total about an inch-and-a half around/wide and you can actually see some below the skin. The second was a small, but "protruding" mole on my left arm.
The doctor did a scrape biopsy on my arm and a punch biopsy on my leg. My confusion is this. The prelimary pathology report gives details for the scrape biopsy – but NONE for the let. I have the full report. What does this mean?
The doctor did tell me I need to have both melanomas removed (of course) and senitnal node biopsies for both sites as well.
Any informaiton will be appreciated. Thank you!
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- July 24, 2015 at 1:05 am
If the doctor won't provide a,report, call the pathologist. You have a right to have copies of all reports and I certainly wouldn't be happy with my doc saying melanoma but providing no information. Demand more.
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- July 24, 2015 at 4:37 am
I have a copy of the report, but it only gives details (Breslow's, etc.) for one biopsy – the smaller of the two sites. I thought there was a page missing, but it appears there isn't. I meet with the surgical onclogist on Monday, and I know the pathology won't be complete or accurate until they remove both melanomas and do the sentinal node biopsies for both; I just wanted to see the initial report numbers.
Does anyone know if it means anything to find melanoma in two moles (left arm and right calf) in the same doctor's visit? The biopsies were done at the same time, both came back as melanomas, and I can't find any information on whether this might have any impact on staging or prognosis.
Thank you for your help and insights! I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but, as you all already know, it is hard.
Christine
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- July 24, 2015 at 11:26 am
I think Janner has given great advice on pathology. Re finding two primary melanoma at once – I don't think that affects staging – I just had two stage 1 melanoma diagnosed pretty much at same time, they are boh still stage 1 so assuming yours are both primary melanomas they will be staged individually. Are these your first melanomas? It must be a bit of a shock.
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- July 24, 2015 at 11:26 am
I think Janner has given great advice on pathology. Re finding two primary melanoma at once – I don't think that affects staging – I just had two stage 1 melanoma diagnosed pretty much at same time, they are boh still stage 1 so assuming yours are both primary melanomas they will be staged individually. Are these your first melanomas? It must be a bit of a shock.
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- July 24, 2015 at 11:26 am
I think Janner has given great advice on pathology. Re finding two primary melanoma at once – I don't think that affects staging – I just had two stage 1 melanoma diagnosed pretty much at same time, they are boh still stage 1 so assuming yours are both primary melanomas they will be staged individually. Are these your first melanomas? It must be a bit of a shock.
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- July 24, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Pathology should have been complete with each biopsy. Staging isn't complete until you do the rest – even if that includes adding info to flesh out the first biopsy.
I wouldn't let a surgeon touch me until I had info on the second site. And I might even request a second pathology opinion if they can't produce it immediately. No way they would be doing a WLE/SNB on two sites without me deciding if I think that's appropriate and having all the information to make that decision.
Two primaries – sucks, but they are independent of each other and you are the stage of the worst one. A study in Australia actually showed those with multiple primaries had a bit better prognosis than those with single ones. But again, you worry about the worst of the two and deal with both separately. I've had 3 and I'm still stage IB since 1992.
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- July 24, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Thanks to both of you. If I didn't know the other site absolutey has to be removed (it is large, growing, and bleeding. I have to keep it covered/wrapped to protect the area.) I would be asking for a 2nd opinion. I guess the dire and declining condition of the site is why I'm surprised the report did not contain details. I guess I just have to wait to see what happens with the pathology when it is removed.
Christine
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- July 24, 2015 at 6:11 pm
How deep a lesion is determines how big the WLE should be. Again, make sure you have all the pertinent info before the surgery. The biopsy pathology is much more important than the WLE analysis. They can send the slides immediately and you can have a second opinion on the slides even if you don't have one on you surgery/surgeon.
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- July 24, 2015 at 6:11 pm
How deep a lesion is determines how big the WLE should be. Again, make sure you have all the pertinent info before the surgery. The biopsy pathology is much more important than the WLE analysis. They can send the slides immediately and you can have a second opinion on the slides even if you don't have one on you surgery/surgeon.
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- July 24, 2015 at 6:11 pm
How deep a lesion is determines how big the WLE should be. Again, make sure you have all the pertinent info before the surgery. The biopsy pathology is much more important than the WLE analysis. They can send the slides immediately and you can have a second opinion on the slides even if you don't have one on you surgery/surgeon.
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- July 24, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Thanks to both of you. If I didn't know the other site absolutey has to be removed (it is large, growing, and bleeding. I have to keep it covered/wrapped to protect the area.) I would be asking for a 2nd opinion. I guess the dire and declining condition of the site is why I'm surprised the report did not contain details. I guess I just have to wait to see what happens with the pathology when it is removed.
Christine
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- July 24, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Thanks to both of you. If I didn't know the other site absolutey has to be removed (it is large, growing, and bleeding. I have to keep it covered/wrapped to protect the area.) I would be asking for a 2nd opinion. I guess the dire and declining condition of the site is why I'm surprised the report did not contain details. I guess I just have to wait to see what happens with the pathology when it is removed.
Christine
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- July 24, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Pathology should have been complete with each biopsy. Staging isn't complete until you do the rest – even if that includes adding info to flesh out the first biopsy.
I wouldn't let a surgeon touch me until I had info on the second site. And I might even request a second pathology opinion if they can't produce it immediately. No way they would be doing a WLE/SNB on two sites without me deciding if I think that's appropriate and having all the information to make that decision.
Two primaries – sucks, but they are independent of each other and you are the stage of the worst one. A study in Australia actually showed those with multiple primaries had a bit better prognosis than those with single ones. But again, you worry about the worst of the two and deal with both separately. I've had 3 and I'm still stage IB since 1992.
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- July 24, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Pathology should have been complete with each biopsy. Staging isn't complete until you do the rest – even if that includes adding info to flesh out the first biopsy.
I wouldn't let a surgeon touch me until I had info on the second site. And I might even request a second pathology opinion if they can't produce it immediately. No way they would be doing a WLE/SNB on two sites without me deciding if I think that's appropriate and having all the information to make that decision.
Two primaries – sucks, but they are independent of each other and you are the stage of the worst one. A study in Australia actually showed those with multiple primaries had a bit better prognosis than those with single ones. But again, you worry about the worst of the two and deal with both separately. I've had 3 and I'm still stage IB since 1992.
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- July 24, 2015 at 4:37 am
I have a copy of the report, but it only gives details (Breslow's, etc.) for one biopsy – the smaller of the two sites. I thought there was a page missing, but it appears there isn't. I meet with the surgical onclogist on Monday, and I know the pathology won't be complete or accurate until they remove both melanomas and do the sentinal node biopsies for both; I just wanted to see the initial report numbers.
Does anyone know if it means anything to find melanoma in two moles (left arm and right calf) in the same doctor's visit? The biopsies were done at the same time, both came back as melanomas, and I can't find any information on whether this might have any impact on staging or prognosis.
Thank you for your help and insights! I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but, as you all already know, it is hard.
Christine
-
- July 24, 2015 at 4:37 am
I have a copy of the report, but it only gives details (Breslow's, etc.) for one biopsy – the smaller of the two sites. I thought there was a page missing, but it appears there isn't. I meet with the surgical onclogist on Monday, and I know the pathology won't be complete or accurate until they remove both melanomas and do the sentinal node biopsies for both; I just wanted to see the initial report numbers.
Does anyone know if it means anything to find melanoma in two moles (left arm and right calf) in the same doctor's visit? The biopsies were done at the same time, both came back as melanomas, and I can't find any information on whether this might have any impact on staging or prognosis.
Thank you for your help and insights! I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but, as you all already know, it is hard.
Christine
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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