LWE Scalp with Parotid Sentinel Lymph Node

Mark

I'll give you my quick recap. mole on tight earlobe all my life…maybe changed color or was off.

Dx Stage 2 Malignant Melanoma in Aug 2012…WLE and SLB were good marhins and clrear (took node subclavicle and one under chin…all clear).

I retired during that reay…45 yo from the military. I felt off for a year.

felt a lump under original scar in Aug 2013 ( turned out to be directly under old mole in parotid)….needle biopsy shows swollen node with melanoma now Stage 3. 

right side neck Paraotetomy and Dissection Sept 2013

numb pretty much all the time in certain areas…some small facial issues, or swollowing issues etc.

but drop me a line with any time.

             Matt

PS by nov 2013 it hAD spread to bones and brain onto stage 4 blah blah blah               

Mark

I'll give you my quick recap. mole on tight earlobe all my life…maybe changed color or was off.

Dx Stage 2 Malignant Melanoma in Aug 2012…WLE and SLB were good marhins and clrear (took node subclavicle and one under chin…all clear).

I retired during that reay…45 yo from the military. I felt off for a year.

felt a lump under original scar in Aug 2013 ( turned out to be directly under old mole in parotid)….needle biopsy shows swollen node with melanoma now Stage 3. 

right side neck Paraotetomy and Dissection Sept 2013

numb pretty much all the time in certain areas…some small facial issues, or swollowing issues etc.

but drop me a line with any time.

             Matt

PS by nov 2013 it hAD spread to bones and brain onto stage 4 blah blah blah               

Mark

I'll give you my quick recap. mole on tight earlobe all my life…maybe changed color or was off.

Dx Stage 2 Malignant Melanoma in Aug 2012…WLE and SLB were good marhins and clrear (took node subclavicle and one under chin…all clear).

I retired during that reay…45 yo from the military. I felt off for a year.

felt a lump under original scar in Aug 2013 ( turned out to be directly under old mole in parotid)….needle biopsy shows swollen node with melanoma now Stage 3. 

right side neck Paraotetomy and Dissection Sept 2013

numb pretty much all the time in certain areas…some small facial issues, or swollowing issues etc.

but drop me a line with any time.

             Matt

PS by nov 2013 it hAD spread to bones and brain onto stage 4 blah blah blah               

Hi

I'm am absolutely not an expert but here goes…

Is this second melanoma a new primary melanoma, or some kind of recurrence/in transit melanoma? I think the answer to that question will really determine the correct course of treatment.

In Australia, SLNB is indicated for any primary mel >1mm. SLNB gives a clearer prognosis in these cases e.g., to predict the risk of spread. I would think (but don't know for sure) that it's doubly indicated if you have a recurrence/in transit metastasis . I think with intermediate thickness melanomas like yours, a SLNB also provides a probable survival benefit (source:

http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/july/melanoma-guide/

So long story short, I would definitely have a SLNB in your situation – for the clarity of prognosis, and for the survival benefit. You are under the knive anyway for WLE/graft. Has your dr recommended SLNB? I would have thought it was almost a given.

I have some minor nerve damage following a WLE (my forearm, so no big deal) and I was a bit upset about that. I think some feeling is coming back, so perhaps nerves can ever so slowly mend.

I'm sorry you're faced with this after having beat melanoma once before. I had a WLE excision yesterday and my GP was talking about a WLE and skin graft she had just done on someone's scalp under local anaesthetic. Really, she didn't make it sound like a big deal (before I heard her talking I would have assumed it was a major thing).

All the best with your decision making and I hope that it all goes well.

Stars

Hi

I'm am absolutely not an expert but here goes…

Is this second melanoma a new primary melanoma, or some kind of recurrence/in transit melanoma? I think the answer to that question will really determine the correct course of treatment.

In Australia, SLNB is indicated for any primary mel >1mm. SLNB gives a clearer prognosis in these cases e.g., to predict the risk of spread. I would think (but don't know for sure) that it's doubly indicated if you have a recurrence/in transit metastasis . I think with intermediate thickness melanomas like yours, a SLNB also provides a probable survival benefit (source:

http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/july/melanoma-guide/

So long story short, I would definitely have a SLNB in your situation – for the clarity of prognosis, and for the survival benefit. You are under the knive anyway for WLE/graft. Has your dr recommended SLNB? I would have thought it was almost a given.

I have some minor nerve damage following a WLE (my forearm, so no big deal) and I was a bit upset about that. I think some feeling is coming back, so perhaps nerves can ever so slowly mend.

I'm sorry you're faced with this after having beat melanoma once before. I had a WLE excision yesterday and my GP was talking about a WLE and skin graft she had just done on someone's scalp under local anaesthetic. Really, she didn't make it sound like a big deal (before I heard her talking I would have assumed it was a major thing).

All the best with your decision making and I hope that it all goes well.

Stars

Hi

I'm am absolutely not an expert but here goes…

Is this second melanoma a new primary melanoma, or some kind of recurrence/in transit melanoma? I think the answer to that question will really determine the correct course of treatment.

In Australia, SLNB is indicated for any primary mel >1mm. SLNB gives a clearer prognosis in these cases e.g., to predict the risk of spread. I would think (but don't know for sure) that it's doubly indicated if you have a recurrence/in transit metastasis . I think with intermediate thickness melanomas like yours, a SLNB also provides a probable survival benefit (source:

http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/july/melanoma-guide/

So long story short, I would definitely have a SLNB in your situation – for the clarity of prognosis, and for the survival benefit. You are under the knive anyway for WLE/graft. Has your dr recommended SLNB? I would have thought it was almost a given.

I have some minor nerve damage following a WLE (my forearm, so no big deal) and I was a bit upset about that. I think some feeling is coming back, so perhaps nerves can ever so slowly mend.

I'm sorry you're faced with this after having beat melanoma once before. I had a WLE excision yesterday and my GP was talking about a WLE and skin graft she had just done on someone's scalp under local anaesthetic. Really, she didn't make it sound like a big deal (before I heard her talking I would have assumed it was a major thing).

All the best with your decision making and I hope that it all goes well.

Stars

My daughter's melanoma was on the right side of her neck.  The WLE and SNB did not cause any damage at all.  The subsequent lymph node dissection with partial removal of parotid gland did.  She has a small loss of movement at the outer part of her lower lip on the right side.  It improved quite a bit over the next 2 years and is not noticeable during normal talking.  It is slightly noticeable with smiling or grimacing.  She had an ENT who specializes in face and neck oncology do the second surgery and apparently there is one branch of the facial nerve that does not like to be touched at all and her result was unavoidable.  However, she is over 2 1/2 years NED so I think it was worth it.

My daughter's melanoma was on the right side of her neck.  The WLE and SNB did not cause any damage at all.  The subsequent lymph node dissection with partial removal of parotid gland did.  She has a small loss of movement at the outer part of her lower lip on the right side.  It improved quite a bit over the next 2 years and is not noticeable during normal talking.  It is slightly noticeable with smiling or grimacing.  She had an ENT who specializes in face and neck oncology do the second surgery and apparently there is one branch of the facial nerve that does not like to be touched at all and her result was unavoidable.  However, she is over 2 1/2 years NED so I think it was worth it.

My daughter's melanoma was on the right side of her neck.  The WLE and SNB did not cause any damage at all.  The subsequent lymph node dissection with partial removal of parotid gland did.  She has a small loss of movement at the outer part of her lower lip on the right side.  It improved quite a bit over the next 2 years and is not noticeable during normal talking.  It is slightly noticeable with smiling or grimacing.  She had an ENT who specializes in face and neck oncology do the second surgery and apparently there is one branch of the facial nerve that does not like to be touched at all and her result was unavoidable.  However, she is over 2 1/2 years NED so I think it was worth it.

Hi Mark,

I think we all would like to avoid any surgery that isn't necessary.  However, given the depth of your latest lesion, I would giv  the SLNB very serious consideration.  I suspect your oncologist would advise the same?

good luck with your decision!

Hi Mark,

I think we all would like to avoid any surgery that isn't necessary.  However, given the depth of your latest lesion, I would giv  the SLNB very serious consideration.  I suspect your oncologist would advise the same?

good luck with your decision!

Hi Mark,

I think we all would like to avoid any surgery that isn't necessary.  However, given the depth of your latest lesion, I would giv  the SLNB very serious consideration.  I suspect your oncologist would advise the same?

good luck with your decision!

I don't have an opinion on this, but remembered this article:

http://www.empr.com/medical-news/slnb-may-not-up-survival-in-melanoma-arising-in-head-neck/article/389276/

I don't have an opinion on this, but remembered this article:

http://www.empr.com/medical-news/slnb-may-not-up-survival-in-melanoma-arising-in-head-neck/article/389276/

I don't have an opinion on this, but remembered this article:

http://www.empr.com/medical-news/slnb-may-not-up-survival-in-melanoma-arising-in-head-neck/article/389276/

Hey Mark:

Sorry to hear about your recurrance.  I had a 1.3mm melanoma removed from my left neck alsong with a sentinal node down around my adam's apple in Oct. 2012.  Margins clear, sntinal node clear so Stage 1B.  8 weeks later a lump suddenly appeared on my neck under my left ear.  2 benign needle biopsies and an ultrasound and then in May 2013 a PET/CT which lit up in that area.  Had a left neck dissection and left full parotidectomy at MSKCC in NYC.  68 lymph nodes removed,  1 with macro plus 2 small in-transit mets.  Had some facial issues for about 6 months but now no issues just no sensation on lower part of ear and lobe plus some loss of sensation along jawline on cheek.  Did a dendritic cell vaccine trial at MSKCC and so far NED for 2 years+.  Next scans teh end of this month.  Good Luck to you!

Hey Mark:

Sorry to hear about your recurrance.  I had a 1.3mm melanoma removed from my left neck alsong with a sentinal node down around my adam's apple in Oct. 2012.  Margins clear, sntinal node clear so Stage 1B.  8 weeks later a lump suddenly appeared on my neck under my left ear.  2 benign needle biopsies and an ultrasound and then in May 2013 a PET/CT which lit up in that area.  Had a left neck dissection and left full parotidectomy at MSKCC in NYC.  68 lymph nodes removed,  1 with macro plus 2 small in-transit mets.  Had some facial issues for about 6 months but now no issues just no sensation on lower part of ear and lobe plus some loss of sensation along jawline on cheek.  Did a dendritic cell vaccine trial at MSKCC and so far NED for 2 years+.  Next scans teh end of this month.  Good Luck to you!

Hey Mark:

Sorry to hear about your recurrance.  I had a 1.3mm melanoma removed from my left neck alsong with a sentinal node down around my adam's apple in Oct. 2012.  Margins clear, sntinal node clear so Stage 1B.  8 weeks later a lump suddenly appeared on my neck under my left ear.  2 benign needle biopsies and an ultrasound and then in May 2013 a PET/CT which lit up in that area.  Had a left neck dissection and left full parotidectomy at MSKCC in NYC.  68 lymph nodes removed,  1 with macro plus 2 small in-transit mets.  Had some facial issues for about 6 months but now no issues just no sensation on lower part of ear and lobe plus some loss of sensation along jawline on cheek.  Did a dendritic cell vaccine trial at MSKCC and so far NED for 2 years+.  Next scans teh end of this month.  Good Luck to you!