Lymph Node Came Back Positive

Jeff, staging is a process of gathering information. Depth of tumor, lymph nodes positive or negative. If positive you jump up to stage 3 and depending on some factors will settle into a letter following #3. I was 3a back in 2012 based on pathology and sentinel lymph node biopsy results. Not great options back then for treatment as there are now for what is called adjuvant treatment. Stage 3 is tough, do you throw the big guns at the cancer, if there is any left in body or wait to see if it comes back and then treat. I progressed to lung and brain tumors by 2013 and was treated with cyberknife SRS radiation for the brain mets and then qualified for checkmate 067 clinical trial where i was lucky to get nivolumab Pd-1 drug before FDA approved. Well, long story, short version, still here and drug treatment worked. Today there are more options for treatments if the cancer was to return than back in 2013-14 timeline. Big decision will be to wait and watch with scans or treat with immunotherapy right off the hop. Ask them to do BRAF+ mutation genetic testing to see if targeted therapy drugs will be an option. Aim at Melanoma has a great information page of what to do after staging as does the MRF have information to help you understand options. https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-KipBhBtEiwAWjgwrBCW6ihYXuPklhQrHcajTheIFJcrG_PrmWZ6t6yqCf0JCxD5zJY5aRoCP9oQAvD_BwE

My husband was dx at age 26 as well, back in January 2002. Primary melanoma on his upper right arm, microscopic spread to the sentinel axillary lymph nodes. He was dx at 3a, which at the time conferred a 50% survival rate, but we now know was more like 80%. At the time, interferon was the only option other than surgery. He declined it, so surgery with a wide excision and to remove all his axillary lymph nodes was the only measures he took. He turns 48 next week. I was very active on these boards back then, and saw many people with similar dx go through recurrences, but many also go back to their lives with longterm NED. I don’t know what the proper course of action is, given all the medical advances over the past 2 decades, but I wanted to give you a hopeful experience at what I remember as a devastating and confusing time.

Hi Jeff!
I was diagnosed stage 1b at 40 and had wide exicision surgery at Moffitt Cancer Center. Followed up every three months for five years and all good. Two years ago, I felt a swollen lymphnode in my groin. They biopsied it that day and I started a trial at Moffitt within two weeks. Everyone has a different take on trials but I get very consistent close care and cutting edge treatment. I was braf+ and did preadjunt treatment (targeted therapy before my lymnohnode dissection. I jusr suggest looking into options rather than standard of care, if possible. I am lucky I live near one of the best cancer centers. Feel free to message me directly with any questions. The waiting is the hardest part, treatment is not a breeze but at least you are “fighting it.” All the best. MM