› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma 1a – confused and scared
- This topic has 18 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by
jenny22.
- Post
-
- April 14, 2016 at 9:54 pm
My husband was recently diagnosed with SSM 1a. We had another pathologist to read his path (second opinion).
First report: Breslow 0.6 Clark IV no regression 0 mitosis no ulceration
Second report: Breslow 0.84 Clark IV partial regression present 0 mitosis no ulceration
He had wide excision, but did not have SLNB!!
I am panicking! That is all I can think all day and all night… I can't focus on anything else…
What should we do?
Can he have SLNB now? Will it be accurate?
Any experts on this?
- Replies
-
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:13 am
His lesion doesn't warrant a SNB – with either report. They have guidelines for a reason and your husband's lesion, Stage 1a, doesn't fit the criteria. Doing the SNB now is not helpful. Once the wide local excision has been done, the SNB would no longer be conclusive. The WLE removes enough tissue that drainage paths may be altered, and the SNB relies upon drainage paths being undisturbed.
Maybe you should see some type of counselor. Yes, he has had cancer but his prognosis is excellent. How is your husband doing? How does he feel about this? Survival rates for stage 1a is in the high 90's. That's about as good as it gets with any type of cancer. There is never any 100% guarantee, that is the uncertainty of living with a cancer diagnosis. But by letting melanoma steal your focus on you life, you are letting it win NOW whether or not it ever comes back. Don't let melanoma take away life NOW!
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:13 am
His lesion doesn't warrant a SNB – with either report. They have guidelines for a reason and your husband's lesion, Stage 1a, doesn't fit the criteria. Doing the SNB now is not helpful. Once the wide local excision has been done, the SNB would no longer be conclusive. The WLE removes enough tissue that drainage paths may be altered, and the SNB relies upon drainage paths being undisturbed.
Maybe you should see some type of counselor. Yes, he has had cancer but his prognosis is excellent. How is your husband doing? How does he feel about this? Survival rates for stage 1a is in the high 90's. That's about as good as it gets with any type of cancer. There is never any 100% guarantee, that is the uncertainty of living with a cancer diagnosis. But by letting melanoma steal your focus on you life, you are letting it win NOW whether or not it ever comes back. Don't let melanoma take away life NOW!
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:27 am
Janner, thank you for your support! He is trying to stay positive. I feel like I negatively affect him(
I just don't know how to handle it. It feels like no joy in life anymore. I feel scared and uncertain…
I keep reading articles…. and more I read, more scared I get..
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:36 am
I will tell you what I tell every newbie early stager. STAY OFF THE INTERNET. This is not the place for you. What you don't see when you look at stories is the vast majority of people, like yourself, who were diagnosed, asked questions and moved on. Or maybe didn't even ask questions on the internet. I have literally talked to thousands of early stagers over the 15 years I've been on this site and they're not still here posting. They are living life. Researching melanoma is NOT the right thing to do at the moment. His has been excised, he is done. IF and that is a giant IF, he ever has to deal with melanoma again, there will be plenty of time to learn what you need to know then. The field is changing so fast that it is impossible to keep up on things and it makes absolutely no sense for someone stage 1a to try and do that. LEAVE THIS SITE – you will be better off for doing it. This site is for the "exceptions", the 3%. Not the 97% of stage 1a people who never deal with melanoma again.
GOODBYE and we all with you the best.
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:36 am
I will tell you what I tell every newbie early stager. STAY OFF THE INTERNET. This is not the place for you. What you don't see when you look at stories is the vast majority of people, like yourself, who were diagnosed, asked questions and moved on. Or maybe didn't even ask questions on the internet. I have literally talked to thousands of early stagers over the 15 years I've been on this site and they're not still here posting. They are living life. Researching melanoma is NOT the right thing to do at the moment. His has been excised, he is done. IF and that is a giant IF, he ever has to deal with melanoma again, there will be plenty of time to learn what you need to know then. The field is changing so fast that it is impossible to keep up on things and it makes absolutely no sense for someone stage 1a to try and do that. LEAVE THIS SITE – you will be better off for doing it. This site is for the "exceptions", the 3%. Not the 97% of stage 1a people who never deal with melanoma again.
GOODBYE and we all with you the best.
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:36 am
I will tell you what I tell every newbie early stager. STAY OFF THE INTERNET. This is not the place for you. What you don't see when you look at stories is the vast majority of people, like yourself, who were diagnosed, asked questions and moved on. Or maybe didn't even ask questions on the internet. I have literally talked to thousands of early stagers over the 15 years I've been on this site and they're not still here posting. They are living life. Researching melanoma is NOT the right thing to do at the moment. His has been excised, he is done. IF and that is a giant IF, he ever has to deal with melanoma again, there will be plenty of time to learn what you need to know then. The field is changing so fast that it is impossible to keep up on things and it makes absolutely no sense for someone stage 1a to try and do that. LEAVE THIS SITE – you will be better off for doing it. This site is for the "exceptions", the 3%. Not the 97% of stage 1a people who never deal with melanoma again.
GOODBYE and we all with you the best.
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:27 am
Janner, thank you for your support! He is trying to stay positive. I feel like I negatively affect him(
I just don't know how to handle it. It feels like no joy in life anymore. I feel scared and uncertain…
I keep reading articles…. and more I read, more scared I get..
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:27 am
Janner, thank you for your support! He is trying to stay positive. I feel like I negatively affect him(
I just don't know how to handle it. It feels like no joy in life anymore. I feel scared and uncertain…
I keep reading articles…. and more I read, more scared I get..
-
- April 15, 2016 at 12:13 am
His lesion doesn't warrant a SNB – with either report. They have guidelines for a reason and your husband's lesion, Stage 1a, doesn't fit the criteria. Doing the SNB now is not helpful. Once the wide local excision has been done, the SNB would no longer be conclusive. The WLE removes enough tissue that drainage paths may be altered, and the SNB relies upon drainage paths being undisturbed.
Maybe you should see some type of counselor. Yes, he has had cancer but his prognosis is excellent. How is your husband doing? How does he feel about this? Survival rates for stage 1a is in the high 90's. That's about as good as it gets with any type of cancer. There is never any 100% guarantee, that is the uncertainty of living with a cancer diagnosis. But by letting melanoma steal your focus on you life, you are letting it win NOW whether or not it ever comes back. Don't let melanoma take away life NOW!
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.