Glad someone like Brad, posted to you Dwarla, cause he makes an important point. Lymph nodes can enlarge for many reasons…melanoma being only one of them. Plus, at times areas that once did have melanoma in them can swell due to an influx of t-cells and inflammation to the area triggered by our body's immune response. Because of that enlargement there are many patients who have them removed only to find the lesion filled with debris and dead cells with no viable or minimal melanoma present.
On the other hand, we know that melanoma can rear its ugly head again even after we have responded well to therapy. More folks than we would like experience things like that. "Jubes" on this forum had done very well but then developed an isolated lesion in her lung. She had it surgically removed, did not restart therapy, (If memory serves she had already completed pembro…but you can look it up on the forum.) and is doing very well. Surgery in and of itself can be a great treatment…esp if you continue with your immunotherapy. Of course, sometimes given what is found, the patient's wishes and the doc's advice….a different systemic treatment may be needed. Those are out there as well….should they be required.
However, at this point, I am going to keep fingers and toes crossed that you get good results on your biopsy in April. Sorry you have to join this forum, but it is filled with lots of smart, caring peepsl Ask more quesitons as you need. I wish you my best. Celeste
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