› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Just diagnosed..
- This topic has 9 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 2 months ago by
Doug-Pepper.
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- February 21, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Hi everyone, I found this web page and have been doing some research. I am finding all the info confusing. But one thing I do know is that I am going to be proactive about this.
Hi everyone, I found this web page and have been doing some research. I am finding all the info confusing. But one thing I do know is that I am going to be proactive about this.
I was told 2 days ago that I have Malignant Melanoma. I didn't even get given a copy of my pathology results of the mole that was cut out of my back. I did see a surgeon yesterday and asked him if I could see it. The only info I took in was that it was 1mm and Clark level IV. I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow to cut out 1cm each side of where the mole was. I also wasn't given a 'stage' like I see so many other people have been given.
The surgeon says that is all that should be needed and that I have a 15% chance it could return. Doesn't really sound that great to me, especially when I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old that are the most precious things to me and no way could I stand it if I thought someone else was going to raise them.. No one could love them as much as me and their father couldn't look after them as well as I could lol (I lost my father young and I don't wish that on anyone).
I do remember getting a swollen gland under my armpit recently that took a week or two to go down. Could this be related? My friend recently went to the doctor with swollen glands and a doctor took a mole out from her in case it was related (which it wasn't lucky for her).
What else can I do to be proactive about this. I am starting with diet, lots of fruit and veg and am now officially a non-drinker. Any advice appreciated.
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- February 22, 2012 at 2:33 am
At 1mm thickness and Clarks IV, you probably should be having a sentinel node biopsy (snb) where they use a tracer to find the most likely lymph node to be positive and check it for metastasis. Did your doctor mention this? I would say this is a pretty important issue because the snb must be done along with the wide excision. You might ask about this and also make sure that your surgeon is a melanoma specialist. I actually would sugget a second opinion though time certainly is short. Usually it's best to be treated for melanoma at a melanoma clinic at a major medical center.
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- February 23, 2012 at 2:48 am
Hi, yes I would be asking about a sentinel lymph node biopsy which needs to be done BEFORE the wide local excision (but during the same operation). There are fors and againsts, but generally it is recommended when >1mm thickness. (I had one done at 0.83mm). Best of luck and consider another opinion….the two different surgeons I saw had wildly different opinions about SLNB so had I only seen the one surgeon I would have had a completely different outcome.
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- February 23, 2012 at 2:48 am
Hi, yes I would be asking about a sentinel lymph node biopsy which needs to be done BEFORE the wide local excision (but during the same operation). There are fors and againsts, but generally it is recommended when >1mm thickness. (I had one done at 0.83mm). Best of luck and consider another opinion….the two different surgeons I saw had wildly different opinions about SLNB so had I only seen the one surgeon I would have had a completely different outcome.
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- February 23, 2012 at 2:48 am
Hi, yes I would be asking about a sentinel lymph node biopsy which needs to be done BEFORE the wide local excision (but during the same operation). There are fors and againsts, but generally it is recommended when >1mm thickness. (I had one done at 0.83mm). Best of luck and consider another opinion….the two different surgeons I saw had wildly different opinions about SLNB so had I only seen the one surgeon I would have had a completely different outcome.
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- February 22, 2012 at 2:33 am
At 1mm thickness and Clarks IV, you probably should be having a sentinel node biopsy (snb) where they use a tracer to find the most likely lymph node to be positive and check it for metastasis. Did your doctor mention this? I would say this is a pretty important issue because the snb must be done along with the wide excision. You might ask about this and also make sure that your surgeon is a melanoma specialist. I actually would sugget a second opinion though time certainly is short. Usually it's best to be treated for melanoma at a melanoma clinic at a major medical center.
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- February 22, 2012 at 2:33 am
At 1mm thickness and Clarks IV, you probably should be having a sentinel node biopsy (snb) where they use a tracer to find the most likely lymph node to be positive and check it for metastasis. Did your doctor mention this? I would say this is a pretty important issue because the snb must be done along with the wide excision. You might ask about this and also make sure that your surgeon is a melanoma specialist. I actually would sugget a second opinion though time certainly is short. Usually it's best to be treated for melanoma at a melanoma clinic at a major medical center.
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- February 24, 2012 at 2:12 pm
I would suggest the SNB also. My husband was set up with a plastic surgeon for the wide excision & a general surgeon for the lymph node biopsy on the same day. The mole drained to his right armpit so they took 3 lymph nodes out. 1 came back cancerous. They did surgery a week later to remove more lymph nodes, they were all clear. He was offered interferon treatments, but we decided against them. Many have done well on them. We have drastically changed his diet & added supplements to boost his immune system. Praying for you & your family. Pepper.
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- February 24, 2012 at 2:12 pm
I would suggest the SNB also. My husband was set up with a plastic surgeon for the wide excision & a general surgeon for the lymph node biopsy on the same day. The mole drained to his right armpit so they took 3 lymph nodes out. 1 came back cancerous. They did surgery a week later to remove more lymph nodes, they were all clear. He was offered interferon treatments, but we decided against them. Many have done well on them. We have drastically changed his diet & added supplements to boost his immune system. Praying for you & your family. Pepper.
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- February 24, 2012 at 2:12 pm
I would suggest the SNB also. My husband was set up with a plastic surgeon for the wide excision & a general surgeon for the lymph node biopsy on the same day. The mole drained to his right armpit so they took 3 lymph nodes out. 1 came back cancerous. They did surgery a week later to remove more lymph nodes, they were all clear. He was offered interferon treatments, but we decided against them. Many have done well on them. We have drastically changed his diet & added supplements to boost his immune system. Praying for you & your family. Pepper.
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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