Initial biopsy results vs. WLE path results
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Initial biopsy results vs. WLE path results

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Initial biopsy results vs. WLE path results

  • Post
    • July 9, 2016 at 9:21 pm
    Alce123
    Participant
    Hi all!

    I had a mole on my leg biopsied 1.5 weeks ago. The path report came back as stage 1a, 0.44cm deep, no ulceration, mitotic rate of 0.

    A few days ago I met with the surgeon who will be removing the mole. He said that he won’t know the exact stage until the entire mole is removed which is standard as far as I can tell.

    Any chance anyone out there knows how often these measurements change drastically? Should I put any stock in the initial results?

    Thanks,

    32 and a little scared out of my mind

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • July 9, 2016 at 10:56 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      You can make no assumptions from the biopsy because, as I recall, your deep margin was not clear.  It was a very shallow shave biopsy.  I don't think you should be worrying unnecessarily, but none of us can give you any help on this.  Most times, biopsies remove enough depth for initial staging even if they don't always get all the width needed.  But in your case, that didn't happen.  So you have to wait until the WLE to know if it was about that depth or deeper.  Hang in there.

      • July 9, 2016 at 10:56 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      You can make no assumptions from the biopsy because, as I recall, your deep margin was not clear.  It was a very shallow shave biopsy.  I don't think you should be worrying unnecessarily, but none of us can give you any help on this.  Most times, biopsies remove enough depth for initial staging even if they don't always get all the width needed.  But in your case, that didn't happen.  So you have to wait until the WLE to know if it was about that depth or deeper.  Hang in there.

      • July 9, 2016 at 10:56 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      You can make no assumptions from the biopsy because, as I recall, your deep margin was not clear.  It was a very shallow shave biopsy.  I don't think you should be worrying unnecessarily, but none of us can give you any help on this.  Most times, biopsies remove enough depth for initial staging even if they don't always get all the width needed.  But in your case, that didn't happen.  So you have to wait until the WLE to know if it was about that depth or deeper.  Hang in there.

        • July 10, 2016 at 1:03 am
        gigembritt
        Participant

        I am in the exact same boat! Mine is .44 as well. 

        • July 10, 2016 at 1:03 am
        gigembritt
        Participant

        I am in the exact same boat! Mine is .44 as well. 

        • July 10, 2016 at 1:03 am
        gigembritt
        Participant

        I am in the exact same boat! Mine is .44 as well. 

        • July 11, 2016 at 7:08 pm
        Alce123
        Participant
        Have you had it excised yet?
        • July 11, 2016 at 7:08 pm
        Alce123
        Participant
        Have you had it excised yet?
        • July 11, 2016 at 7:08 pm
        Alce123
        Participant
        Have you had it excised yet?
        • July 11, 2016 at 8:46 pm
        gigembritt
        Participant

        Nope. I go to MD Anderson Tomorrow but it is just a consult. Mine was not clean margins.

        • July 11, 2016 at 8:46 pm
        gigembritt
        Participant

        Nope. I go to MD Anderson Tomorrow but it is just a consult. Mine was not clean margins.

        • July 11, 2016 at 8:46 pm
        gigembritt
        Participant

        Nope. I go to MD Anderson Tomorrow but it is just a consult. Mine was not clean margins.

      • July 10, 2016 at 2:24 am
      Janner
      Participant

      So I might have confused the original poster for the other poster on this thread.  If your original biopsy had clean deep margins, then the WLE would most likely be anti-climactic.  If the deep margin wasn't clear, then my original reply is correct.

      • July 10, 2016 at 2:24 am
      Janner
      Participant

      So I might have confused the original poster for the other poster on this thread.  If your original biopsy had clean deep margins, then the WLE would most likely be anti-climactic.  If the deep margin wasn't clear, then my original reply is correct.

      • July 10, 2016 at 2:24 am
      Janner
      Participant

      So I might have confused the original poster for the other poster on this thread.  If your original biopsy had clean deep margins, then the WLE would most likely be anti-climactic.  If the deep margin wasn't clear, then my original reply is correct.

        • July 11, 2016 at 7:07 pm
        Alce123
        Participant
        It had clean deep margins but my surgeon said that (since they didnt get the entire width of it) there could be a “lake” or area where the mole is deeper than what was biopsied.

        Trying to stay positive. Unfortunately/fortunately the mole was found in the middle of an ivf cycle. We had to freeze all of our embryos and they don’t want us to try for a year. They areally worried the increased hormones my have exacerbated the melanoma. Since the biopsy it does seem a little swollen and is a little painful but I assume that’s relatively normal?

        Thanks for responding!

        • July 11, 2016 at 7:07 pm
        Alce123
        Participant
        It had clean deep margins but my surgeon said that (since they didnt get the entire width of it) there could be a “lake” or area where the mole is deeper than what was biopsied.

        Trying to stay positive. Unfortunately/fortunately the mole was found in the middle of an ivf cycle. We had to freeze all of our embryos and they don’t want us to try for a year. They areally worried the increased hormones my have exacerbated the melanoma. Since the biopsy it does seem a little swollen and is a little painful but I assume that’s relatively normal?

        Thanks for responding!

        • July 11, 2016 at 7:07 pm
        Alce123
        Participant
        It had clean deep margins but my surgeon said that (since they didnt get the entire width of it) there could be a “lake” or area where the mole is deeper than what was biopsied.

        Trying to stay positive. Unfortunately/fortunately the mole was found in the middle of an ivf cycle. We had to freeze all of our embryos and they don’t want us to try for a year. They areally worried the increased hormones my have exacerbated the melanoma. Since the biopsy it does seem a little swollen and is a little painful but I assume that’s relatively normal?

        Thanks for responding!

        • July 11, 2016 at 8:33 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        There could be, but honestly I have rarely heard of that happening except when the biopsy was only a partial biopsy of a very large lesion.  

        Swollen, tight, annoying are fine and normal.  Red and hot could mean infection so call your doc if you gave those symptoms.

        • July 11, 2016 at 8:33 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        There could be, but honestly I have rarely heard of that happening except when the biopsy was only a partial biopsy of a very large lesion.  

        Swollen, tight, annoying are fine and normal.  Red and hot could mean infection so call your doc if you gave those symptoms.

        • July 11, 2016 at 8:33 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        There could be, but honestly I have rarely heard of that happening except when the biopsy was only a partial biopsy of a very large lesion.  

        Swollen, tight, annoying are fine and normal.  Red and hot could mean infection so call your doc if you gave those symptoms.

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