› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Latest FNA results
- This topic has 14 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by
debbieVA.
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- September 15, 2010 at 9:25 pm
A few weeks ago I had a fine needle biopsy on my arm – melanoma. Went and spoke to Dr. White in Charlotte. Another PET before surgery and sure enough 2 more spots lit up. One was the thyroid which was diagnosed 4 years ago as Hashimoto's disease but it had doubled in size in the last few months. The other was a node behind the collar bone that had shown up on previous scans but was determined to be not showing change. This time it was showing change.
A few weeks ago I had a fine needle biopsy on my arm – melanoma. Went and spoke to Dr. White in Charlotte. Another PET before surgery and sure enough 2 more spots lit up. One was the thyroid which was diagnosed 4 years ago as Hashimoto's disease but it had doubled in size in the last few months. The other was a node behind the collar bone that had shown up on previous scans but was determined to be not showing change. This time it was showing change.
Thyroid remains fine but the node is mel. Waiting to hear what the tumor board has to say. So now I'm a little over 4 years at stage IV. Almost made 1 year NED. Will take the night off and show my emotions and tomorrow will put back my positive attitude and find out what's next.
I have to give credit to the radiologist in Charlotte. It took him 70 min to painstakingly work around the collarbone and veins that were in the way but he perservered and was able to get a large enough sample.
Linda
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- September 16, 2010 at 1:31 am
I am so sorry to hear that. I sent an e-mail.
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- September 16, 2010 at 1:31 am
I am so sorry to hear that. I sent an e-mail.
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- September 16, 2010 at 4:07 am
Dear Linda,
I know you have recently moved and I have been wondering about you now that you are closer to family? I am very sorry about this latest setback for you… the more people who respond to my posts the more I am slowly getting to know each of you. It's like adopting an extended family… Take care of yourself and absorb all the love your family and friends can give you.
Deb, caretaker
lovingwife to Bob, stage 3c
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- September 16, 2010 at 4:07 am
Dear Linda,
I know you have recently moved and I have been wondering about you now that you are closer to family? I am very sorry about this latest setback for you… the more people who respond to my posts the more I am slowly getting to know each of you. It's like adopting an extended family… Take care of yourself and absorb all the love your family and friends can give you.
Deb, caretaker
lovingwife to Bob, stage 3c
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- September 18, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Linda,
Thanks for your response the other day unfortunately I deleteded your email and lost your address, so this was the only place I knew how to reach you.
You had asked me if Bob had decided on his future? He was looking for a doctor to treat him for the long haul, someone who would help him no matter what his decision would be. Lots of calls asking who was the best in our area and one name always popped up so that interview with that particular doctor/onocologist happened this week. Bob feels pretty comfortable with him as far as doctors go. This doctor also runs the cancer vaccine trial but Bob has decided NOT to go that way. He has also decided NOT to do the Interferon.
We have spent lots of hours reading about this disease and feel we are doing what is best for his body for now. Bob is stage 3c. His tumor was self contained although large (almost 3 inches) no other lymph nodes were involved and his surgeon removed all surrounding upper and lower. He is finally healing from that after two surgeries. He is finally feeling better and wants to get his body in better shape and his health in better control. He primary melanoma was never found. Bob and his doctor feel it just "may" be possible Bob's body, his own defense system took care of destroying the primary but some of the melanoma cells escaped and the tumor developed in his leg/groin. We are also taking the chance that some cells didn't escape later and set up housekeeping and won't be found later in a year or two…
Unless Bob is in stage 4 his options for treatment aren't as varied as seen on this discussion board and refuses to ravage his body and makes things worse by destroying his defenses. This is his choice and as his wife I support him. This does not mean he will not be monitored. Every 3 months he will have scans or be thoroughly checked out by his doctor through tests.
I will keep writing and living with the "monster under the bed".
Thank you for asking, and I will be thinking about you. Please send me another email, I promise not to delete again…
Deb,
lovingwife to Bob
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- September 18, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Linda,
Thanks for your response the other day unfortunately I deleteded your email and lost your address, so this was the only place I knew how to reach you.
You had asked me if Bob had decided on his future? He was looking for a doctor to treat him for the long haul, someone who would help him no matter what his decision would be. Lots of calls asking who was the best in our area and one name always popped up so that interview with that particular doctor/onocologist happened this week. Bob feels pretty comfortable with him as far as doctors go. This doctor also runs the cancer vaccine trial but Bob has decided NOT to go that way. He has also decided NOT to do the Interferon.
We have spent lots of hours reading about this disease and feel we are doing what is best for his body for now. Bob is stage 3c. His tumor was self contained although large (almost 3 inches) no other lymph nodes were involved and his surgeon removed all surrounding upper and lower. He is finally healing from that after two surgeries. He is finally feeling better and wants to get his body in better shape and his health in better control. He primary melanoma was never found. Bob and his doctor feel it just "may" be possible Bob's body, his own defense system took care of destroying the primary but some of the melanoma cells escaped and the tumor developed in his leg/groin. We are also taking the chance that some cells didn't escape later and set up housekeeping and won't be found later in a year or two…
Unless Bob is in stage 4 his options for treatment aren't as varied as seen on this discussion board and refuses to ravage his body and makes things worse by destroying his defenses. This is his choice and as his wife I support him. This does not mean he will not be monitored. Every 3 months he will have scans or be thoroughly checked out by his doctor through tests.
I will keep writing and living with the "monster under the bed".
Thank you for asking, and I will be thinking about you. Please send me another email, I promise not to delete again…
Deb,
lovingwife to Bob
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- September 20, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Linda,
I missed this post last week! it was my 'shot day' so I must have just..somehow not seen it. I'm sorry to hear you've got another spot when you've been doing so well lately.
I'll keep you in my thoughts. You are like me, the energizer bunny when it comes to this shit, I have faith you'll knock this out of the park this time too.
good luck!
dian
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- September 20, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Linda,
I missed this post last week! it was my 'shot day' so I must have just..somehow not seen it. I'm sorry to hear you've got another spot when you've been doing so well lately.
I'll keep you in my thoughts. You are like me, the energizer bunny when it comes to this shit, I have faith you'll knock this out of the park this time too.
good luck!
dian
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- September 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm
CRAP! You know I'd like to use another word to describe my feelings….OK…regroup…Bad news lymph node….good news Thyroid is clear! Linda you have been through so much…this friggin' roller coaster ride we are on….So if I say…lymph node better than major organ….I know it doesn't really help….but pray to God it's manageable.
For those of you who haven't met Linda, she is a very sweet and gentle lady. ….. and brave. I'm bumping you up on my prayer list….
Love and hugs…
Debbie Stage 4 NED
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- September 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm
CRAP! You know I'd like to use another word to describe my feelings….OK…regroup…Bad news lymph node….good news Thyroid is clear! Linda you have been through so much…this friggin' roller coaster ride we are on….So if I say…lymph node better than major organ….I know it doesn't really help….but pray to God it's manageable.
For those of you who haven't met Linda, she is a very sweet and gentle lady. ….. and brave. I'm bumping you up on my prayer list….
Love and hugs…
Debbie Stage 4 NED
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