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Local recurrence?
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Local recurrence?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Local recurrence?

  • Post
    • June 8, 2014 at 9:29 pm
    kathycmc
    Participant

      My daughter is 25 and was diagnosed with stage IIb nodular melanoma on her right neck in September 2012.  WLE with SNB in October with all clear.  In November noticed an enlarged lymph node just above surgical site.  FNB and CT scan showed melanoma so neck dissection was done in January with 26 nodes removed.  Only the one that was enlarged showed melanoma.  Stage is now IIIb.  Was offered and completed 3 rounds of biochemotherapy at Riverside, CA  Kaiser.  Has been NED since.  This morning she found a raised dark spot just above her right ear in the hairline.  She says it was flat and pink 2 days ago.  She will have it removed and biopsied tomorrow but I am wondering if melanoma can "grow" that fast.  

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    • Replies
        • June 9, 2014 at 2:32 pm
        ed williams
        Participant

          I had lymph nodes in both arms removed (15,17) in March 2012, followed by high dose Interferon in June of 2012. I had three skin samples taken over the next 6 months from different  parts of my back and legs, all were negative. June 2013 they found a tumour in my right lung about 3.5cm, and a new mole on my face. Both turned out to be Melanoma. In Sept. of 2013 they did a brain MRI which was protocal to get into Bristol Myers Squibb phase 3 trial of Nivolumab and Ipilumimab, which found three little guys. They treated the brain mets with Cyber knife brain radiation and it worked great, still no signs of coming back. I am presently on the drug trial since January 2014 and doing great with the lung tumour shrinking on first scan after 12 weeks and then no change on scan at 18 weeks. During the fall of 2012 and spring of 2013 they did CT scans and I had a Pet Scan at x-mas 2012, so when tumours started showing up again in June of 2013 it seems fast to me at the time but it doesn't mean that it will be melanoma. With the new drugs( PD-1 and CTLA-4)  on the market there is a great sense of hope for Melanoma patients. I wish you the best of luck on the biopsy. Ed Williams 

            • June 10, 2014 at 9:37 pm
            kathycmc
            Participant

              Thanks for your reply.  It turned out to be nothing.  Not even a mole just a weird looking blemish.  Freaked her out because it looked just like the mole she had that was nodular melanoma.  You would think being NED would be easy, and it is, until something shows up that is new or different.  

              • November 22, 2015 at 9:52 pm
              gregor913
              Participant
                I’m newly diagnosed 3b. How hard was the biochemotherapy and how long. What combination of drugs was it. I’m young like your daughter also. Thanks greg
                • November 22, 2015 at 9:52 pm
                gregor913
                Participant
                  I’m newly diagnosed 3b. How hard was the biochemotherapy and how long. What combination of drugs was it. I’m young like your daughter also. Thanks greg
                  • November 22, 2015 at 9:52 pm
                  gregor913
                  Participant
                    I’m newly diagnosed 3b. How hard was the biochemotherapy and how long. What combination of drugs was it. I’m young like your daughter also. Thanks greg
                    • June 10, 2014 at 9:37 pm
                    kathycmc
                    Participant

                      Thanks for your reply.  It turned out to be nothing.  Not even a mole just a weird looking blemish.  Freaked her out because it looked just like the mole she had that was nodular melanoma.  You would think being NED would be easy, and it is, until something shows up that is new or different.  

                      • June 10, 2014 at 9:37 pm
                      kathycmc
                      Participant

                        Thanks for your reply.  It turned out to be nothing.  Not even a mole just a weird looking blemish.  Freaked her out because it looked just like the mole she had that was nodular melanoma.  You would think being NED would be easy, and it is, until something shows up that is new or different.  

                      • June 9, 2014 at 2:32 pm
                      ed williams
                      Participant

                        I had lymph nodes in both arms removed (15,17) in March 2012, followed by high dose Interferon in June of 2012. I had three skin samples taken over the next 6 months from different  parts of my back and legs, all were negative. June 2013 they found a tumour in my right lung about 3.5cm, and a new mole on my face. Both turned out to be Melanoma. In Sept. of 2013 they did a brain MRI which was protocal to get into Bristol Myers Squibb phase 3 trial of Nivolumab and Ipilumimab, which found three little guys. They treated the brain mets with Cyber knife brain radiation and it worked great, still no signs of coming back. I am presently on the drug trial since January 2014 and doing great with the lung tumour shrinking on first scan after 12 weeks and then no change on scan at 18 weeks. During the fall of 2012 and spring of 2013 they did CT scans and I had a Pet Scan at x-mas 2012, so when tumours started showing up again in June of 2013 it seems fast to me at the time but it doesn't mean that it will be melanoma. With the new drugs( PD-1 and CTLA-4)  on the market there is a great sense of hope for Melanoma patients. I wish you the best of luck on the biopsy. Ed Williams 

                        • June 9, 2014 at 2:32 pm
                        ed williams
                        Participant

                          I had lymph nodes in both arms removed (15,17) in March 2012, followed by high dose Interferon in June of 2012. I had three skin samples taken over the next 6 months from different  parts of my back and legs, all were negative. June 2013 they found a tumour in my right lung about 3.5cm, and a new mole on my face. Both turned out to be Melanoma. In Sept. of 2013 they did a brain MRI which was protocal to get into Bristol Myers Squibb phase 3 trial of Nivolumab and Ipilumimab, which found three little guys. They treated the brain mets with Cyber knife brain radiation and it worked great, still no signs of coming back. I am presently on the drug trial since January 2014 and doing great with the lung tumour shrinking on first scan after 12 weeks and then no change on scan at 18 weeks. During the fall of 2012 and spring of 2013 they did CT scans and I had a Pet Scan at x-mas 2012, so when tumours started showing up again in June of 2013 it seems fast to me at the time but it doesn't mean that it will be melanoma. With the new drugs( PD-1 and CTLA-4)  on the market there is a great sense of hope for Melanoma patients. I wish you the best of luck on the biopsy. Ed Williams 

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