Melanoma History and Pregnancy

This topic has 14 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 10 months ago by LRS88.

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- April 19, 2019 at 1:24 pm
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jjk17
Participant
Hello All!!

I have been MIA for a while, but I have still been getting on and keeping up with everyone’s post as much as I can! I was reaching out to get some guidance/opinions!

I am still cancer free!! Scans have been clear since December 2017. Still going to Derm and Oncologist every 3 to 4 months for scans ect. My husband and I are throwing around the idea of adding to our family…But honestly I am scared to death. We have consulted with OB and Oncologist…Both have different opinions, but think it should be fine, but of course cant say one way or another…

Real quick run down on my history: Diagnosed in September 2017 Stage IIIC, ulcerated spot on upper inner thigh. Surgery and removal of two nodes. Biopsy report showed cancer cells in one of the nodes. Started immunotherapy in January 2018, Nivo. Stopped once for high liver functions. Restarted until September 2018, stopped end of September, kidney was failing due to Nivo. No immunotherapy since then and still clean scans.

Did pregnancy bring out melanoma…??? Million dollar question everyone wants to know! So here we are…do we try and something comes up during or after pregnancy,could it be worse or dare not to risk. I want to be around for my family…..

That’s where we sit….What to do…

Viewing 5 reply threads

Replies

- - April 20, 2019 at 2:48 am
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  AshleyS
  Participant
  Hi JJ,
  
  I don’t respond much on this board anymore, except when I see “Pregnancy” in a post’s subject.
  
  I get mixed answers from the experts on this topic. My doc at MDA believes there is a correlation, so I opted to have a tubal ligation.
  
  It’s tough to figure out – sort of a chicken or egg deal – but I, like you, want to be here for my family.
  
  Peace,
  
  Ashley
  - April 20, 2019 at 5:22 am
    
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    SOLE
    Participant
    
    Which begs the question: is melanoma not related in some way to hormonal balance? Estrogen tends to get too high in men over time with aging. For women, a pregnancy brings high levels. I am no physician and I hate conspiracy theories. But I can’t help think that if we pay very close attention and bring ALL of our hormones back in homeostasis for our age groups, wouldn’t that help out, amongst many other things, to keep melanoma away (in the first place or from coming back)? I’m on my case anyway…
    
    My very small two cents.
  - April 20, 2019 at 1:37 pm
    
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    jjk17
    Participant
    
    SOLE….thank you for replying. Hormones are the big factor here. It sure makes you think and hard not to wonder if these two things are not related….
  - April 20, 2019 at 1:35 pm
    
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    jjk17
    Participant
    
    Thanks Ashley for responding. I appreciate it very much. It sure does make you wonder is there something related with the two……
- - April 20, 2019 at 3:17 pm
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  Thisisnottheend
  Participant
  Hi there. I’m similar to you…stage 3C with one of two lymph nodes that came back positive. I’m currently on opdivo as adjuvant therapy. My melanoma popped up 6 months after having a baby so I strongly feel the two were connected.
  
  For my hubby and I, we have decided to most likely not have any more bio kids. Just too big of a risk. But once melanoma is a bit more in the rear view mirror for us we hope to adopt as we feel our family isn’t complete yet. Best of luck to you. It’s a tough decision.
  - April 20, 2019 at 9:34 pm
    
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    jjk17
    Participant
    
    Thank you for responding…
    
    I absolutely feel the same way as well. It’s hard to think they can even be related. One doctor tells you absolutely no more while the other says wait about 2-3 yrs. Horrible thing to think, but I feel as if I am on a time limit. I am 35 will be 36 soon and my husband will be turning 37. I cant say that these are the cards I want to play.
    
    We have thought about adoption as well.
- - April 22, 2019 at 9:00 pm
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  TP35
  Participant
  I will just paste my previous post :
  
  There is a small amount of data about pregnancy after stage 3 diagnosis. Here is review paper. It seems that pregnancy after melanoma diagnosis is not linked to worse prognosis.
  
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5419023l
- - April 23, 2019 at 11:52 am
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  Jordan89
  Participant
  Hi ladies,
  
  I have been recently diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma when my baby was 6 weeks old.
  
  When I was 35 weeks pregnant I found a swollen lymph node in my groin which was removed after I delivered and tested positive for melanoma. Throughout my pregnancy a lesion on my leg grew rapidly which I had removed before I found the lymph node, however it was never test and after removal of the surrounding tissue showed clear I will never know if that was the primary. Doctors are still yet to find the primary lesion.
  
  Since my diagnosis I have heard so many stories about people who were diagnosed during or soon after pregnancy. I do believe the hormonal shift must trigger something.
  
  i am currently having immunotherapy, and would love to have another baby after I have finished treatment next year, however I am so scared something will come back.
  - April 24, 2019 at 6:56 pm
    
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    jjk17
    Participant
    
    It is very scary. We are contemplating the same issue. Do you dare take the chance? Do you risk it? I do believe hormones have something to do with it. We have been told so many things it’s hard to know what path to take….
    
    I know in my heart its probably not worth the chance.
  - April 24, 2019 at 7:19 pm
    
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    jjk17
    Participant
    
    It is very scary. We are contemplating the same issue. Do you dare take the chance? Do you risk it? I do believe hormones have something to do with it. We have been told so many things it’s hard to know what path to take….
    
    I know in my heart its probably not worth the chance.
- - April 23, 2019 at 1:18 pm
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  Bubbles
  Participant
  For what it's worth: https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/02/women-and-melanoma-risk.html
  
  celeste
  - April 25, 2019 at 2:20 am
    
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    jjk17
    Participant
    
    Thanks celeste
- - February 5, 2020 at 3:40 am
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  Bria12lane
  Participant
  I know this post is a bit older but in case anyone else comes across it…
  
  The Oncologist I saw at Cleveland Clinic (Dr. Tarhini- head of melanoma and skin onc) and both oncologists I have at The James in Columbus have told me that new research points to the fact that melanoma in pregnancy is not related to anything hormonal. It seems that the correlation is actually related to the immune system. The immune system is suppressed during pregnancy so the suppression of the immune system allows the melanoma cells that are are already there, rather new or left over from a previous occurence, to grow and/or spread.
  
  This complicated things for me and I just thought was interesting to share. It is definitely newer research so I see that many doctors aren’t fully up to date on that!
  - February 12, 2020 at 7:22 pm
    
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    LRS88
    Participant
    
    Hi Bri,
    I am not sure how I stumbled upon this post but I just saw your update and thought it was interesting because I was just having a similar conversation with my PCP (who is a wonderful Cleveland Clinic Dr!) Anyways.. to make a long story short, I had Stage 1A melanoma in March of 2019, only treatment was a WLE. Since then I have had 2 other skin biopsies (1 came back as a moderately atypical mole and the other I actually JUST had removed this morning and am praying for benign results). I have 2 young children and would really love to have another baby. It is a difficult decision though due to the fact that I noticed my initial melanoma shortly after my son was born in May 2018. My PCP mentioned a discussion she had with a melanoma oncologist at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Funchain that falls in line with what you stated, that hormones in pregnancy are NOT related to melanoma. What did you doctors recommend to you related to future pregnancies?