› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma in a second site found
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chalknpens.
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- July 12, 2012 at 11:39 pm
I wrote here earlier this month about a large melanoma site on my back. It is healing now, and I've returned to the dermatologist. He looked me over, found several suspicious sites, used cryosurgery on six of them and biopsied two. One came back as melanoma and one as squamous. Both were sites I'd asked him about during that first visit, and for both he said they looked like skin irritations.
I'll be back to the surgeon for slow Moh's on the squamous, and excision on the melanoma. Is it common to find melanoma in two separate sites?
I wrote here earlier this month about a large melanoma site on my back. It is healing now, and I've returned to the dermatologist. He looked me over, found several suspicious sites, used cryosurgery on six of them and biopsied two. One came back as melanoma and one as squamous. Both were sites I'd asked him about during that first visit, and for both he said they looked like skin irritations.
I'll be back to the surgeon for slow Moh's on the squamous, and excision on the melanoma. Is it common to find melanoma in two separate sites?
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- July 13, 2012 at 12:02 am
My friend has had 3 primaries, and you can also read Janner's profile here. It's not common according to Janner, she knows the exact number, it's around 7%.
One good thing about my close friend is that each one has been smaller than the last. She also had many squamous sites due to years of indoor tanning.
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- July 13, 2012 at 12:02 am
My friend has had 3 primaries, and you can also read Janner's profile here. It's not common according to Janner, she knows the exact number, it's around 7%.
One good thing about my close friend is that each one has been smaller than the last. She also had many squamous sites due to years of indoor tanning.
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- July 13, 2012 at 12:43 am
Thanks for answering. I've spent decades avoiding the bright sunlight and its heat – I am heat intolerant due to multiple sclerosis. I guess I have the melanoma due to one sunburn in my teens. We did spend many summer days as young children on the beach, in the 1950's, before SPF sunscreen was invented or even considered.
I'll look for Janner's profile here. No one else in my family has had melanoma. No one else had multiple sclerosis, either.
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- July 14, 2012 at 6:13 am
I am like you, I have been very careful in the sun. I am becoming more convinced that my melanoma came from 10 years of corticosteroids for autoimmune disease, as well as other immunosuppressants like CelCept. Maybe you have also had to take these types of medications for MS?
I hope you are doing well and that is the last found.
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- July 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I did take a nightly injection of the synthetic Copaxone (not an interferon, as the other choices all were.) Interferons would have caused the every other day flu symptoms (as they were injected every other day, not every day.) But like the interferons, its job was to confuse my immune system, acting as a decoy to attract the T-cells and 'quiet' them so they would not attack my central nervous system. I did that for four and a half years, with great misgivings as the scientists themselves admitted they did not know definitely that MS was an autoimmune disorder. Others argued that it is a metabolic disorder. I grew more and more depressed because of my misgivings and disbelief; I finally stopped last fall, immediately felt better, whether psychologically or physically.
The melanoma sites both began to be visible three years ago; both are atypical, and I tried to ignore them until a nurse and good friend in Bethesda's NIH encouraged me to go to a dermatologist.
A higher incidence of melanoma is now connected to the interferons, but not yet to the synthetic alternative. I will let the FDA know of my experience, to add to their statistics.
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- July 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I did take a nightly injection of the synthetic Copaxone (not an interferon, as the other choices all were.) Interferons would have caused the every other day flu symptoms (as they were injected every other day, not every day.) But like the interferons, its job was to confuse my immune system, acting as a decoy to attract the T-cells and 'quiet' them so they would not attack my central nervous system. I did that for four and a half years, with great misgivings as the scientists themselves admitted they did not know definitely that MS was an autoimmune disorder. Others argued that it is a metabolic disorder. I grew more and more depressed because of my misgivings and disbelief; I finally stopped last fall, immediately felt better, whether psychologically or physically.
The melanoma sites both began to be visible three years ago; both are atypical, and I tried to ignore them until a nurse and good friend in Bethesda's NIH encouraged me to go to a dermatologist.
A higher incidence of melanoma is now connected to the interferons, but not yet to the synthetic alternative. I will let the FDA know of my experience, to add to their statistics.
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- July 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I did take a nightly injection of the synthetic Copaxone (not an interferon, as the other choices all were.) Interferons would have caused the every other day flu symptoms (as they were injected every other day, not every day.) But like the interferons, its job was to confuse my immune system, acting as a decoy to attract the T-cells and 'quiet' them so they would not attack my central nervous system. I did that for four and a half years, with great misgivings as the scientists themselves admitted they did not know definitely that MS was an autoimmune disorder. Others argued that it is a metabolic disorder. I grew more and more depressed because of my misgivings and disbelief; I finally stopped last fall, immediately felt better, whether psychologically or physically.
The melanoma sites both began to be visible three years ago; both are atypical, and I tried to ignore them until a nurse and good friend in Bethesda's NIH encouraged me to go to a dermatologist.
A higher incidence of melanoma is now connected to the interferons, but not yet to the synthetic alternative. I will let the FDA know of my experience, to add to their statistics.
-
- July 14, 2012 at 6:13 am
I am like you, I have been very careful in the sun. I am becoming more convinced that my melanoma came from 10 years of corticosteroids for autoimmune disease, as well as other immunosuppressants like CelCept. Maybe you have also had to take these types of medications for MS?
I hope you are doing well and that is the last found.
-
- July 14, 2012 at 6:13 am
I am like you, I have been very careful in the sun. I am becoming more convinced that my melanoma came from 10 years of corticosteroids for autoimmune disease, as well as other immunosuppressants like CelCept. Maybe you have also had to take these types of medications for MS?
I hope you are doing well and that is the last found.
-
- July 13, 2012 at 12:43 am
Thanks for answering. I've spent decades avoiding the bright sunlight and its heat – I am heat intolerant due to multiple sclerosis. I guess I have the melanoma due to one sunburn in my teens. We did spend many summer days as young children on the beach, in the 1950's, before SPF sunscreen was invented or even considered.
I'll look for Janner's profile here. No one else in my family has had melanoma. No one else had multiple sclerosis, either.
-
- July 13, 2012 at 12:43 am
Thanks for answering. I've spent decades avoiding the bright sunlight and its heat – I am heat intolerant due to multiple sclerosis. I guess I have the melanoma due to one sunburn in my teens. We did spend many summer days as young children on the beach, in the 1950's, before SPF sunscreen was invented or even considered.
I'll look for Janner's profile here. No one else in my family has had melanoma. No one else had multiple sclerosis, either.
-
- July 13, 2012 at 12:02 am
My friend has had 3 primaries, and you can also read Janner's profile here. It's not common according to Janner, she knows the exact number, it's around 7%.
One good thing about my close friend is that each one has been smaller than the last. She also had many squamous sites due to years of indoor tanning.
-
- July 13, 2012 at 5:41 am
Hi there
This would be a second primary melanoma, and yes it is very possible but the question of it being common or not is unclear in my opinion. A lot of people get multiple primaries where I live, though the research suggests that only around 8% get a second melanoma, and even fewer get a third. I personally don't think the stats are correct. I have had 3 primaries in 3 years, all on completely different parts of my body and all found within a few months of each other (up to a year apart). My doctors don't agree with the stats – they say that in their experience approx 1/3 rd of their melanoma patients get multiple primaries. They looked at me like I was crazy when I asked the question. They basically expect anybody that's already had one to get another one. However, I must state that I'm not in the US like most of the people on these forums – so who knows.
Good luck and keep getting your skin checked on a frequent basis
Angela
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- July 13, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Thank you, Angela. It is reassuring to hear 1/3 rather than 8%. Are your three all stage 1?
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- July 13, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Thank you, Angela. It is reassuring to hear 1/3 rather than 8%. Are your three all stage 1?
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- July 13, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Thank you, Angela. It is reassuring to hear 1/3 rather than 8%. Are your three all stage 1?
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- July 13, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I guess I thought being more common meant being less rare, and so maybe less dangerous. But I'm new at all this, still learning the vocabulary. I don't know all the acronyms for treatment yet, but will look them up as I come across them here.
I'm on a three month schedule, but I pushed this one to six weeks because of my anxiety levels increasing as I waited to hear whether there was more (and there was.) No one has discussed 'mole mapping' with me yet. I'm not sure what 'nevi' means yet, but will look it up.
My first site, on my back, did not involve a mole, but rather a widespread flat light pink rash (about the size of my hand) and was seen by two doctors before the third decided to biopsy it, out of curiosity. All were surprised that it was melanomoa in situ, with 'appendageal involvement' and eventually, through slow Moh surgery over four visits in ten days reached clear margins. The wound was then about the diameter of a coffee cup or baseball, and was sutured closed in a Z pattern that is about six inches long. Very dramatic looking, but they said "just superficial, not to worry."
This second one was also seen by three doctors and not considered significant until I had the biopsy this week and they found it was 'early melanoma' and just superficial. I'll know more after the surgery next week, and pray it will be only one cutting instead of three like last time.
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- July 13, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I guess I thought being more common meant being less rare, and so maybe less dangerous. But I'm new at all this, still learning the vocabulary. I don't know all the acronyms for treatment yet, but will look them up as I come across them here.
I'm on a three month schedule, but I pushed this one to six weeks because of my anxiety levels increasing as I waited to hear whether there was more (and there was.) No one has discussed 'mole mapping' with me yet. I'm not sure what 'nevi' means yet, but will look it up.
My first site, on my back, did not involve a mole, but rather a widespread flat light pink rash (about the size of my hand) and was seen by two doctors before the third decided to biopsy it, out of curiosity. All were surprised that it was melanomoa in situ, with 'appendageal involvement' and eventually, through slow Moh surgery over four visits in ten days reached clear margins. The wound was then about the diameter of a coffee cup or baseball, and was sutured closed in a Z pattern that is about six inches long. Very dramatic looking, but they said "just superficial, not to worry."
This second one was also seen by three doctors and not considered significant until I had the biopsy this week and they found it was 'early melanoma' and just superficial. I'll know more after the surgery next week, and pray it will be only one cutting instead of three like last time.
-
- July 13, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I guess I thought being more common meant being less rare, and so maybe less dangerous. But I'm new at all this, still learning the vocabulary. I don't know all the acronyms for treatment yet, but will look them up as I come across them here.
I'm on a three month schedule, but I pushed this one to six weeks because of my anxiety levels increasing as I waited to hear whether there was more (and there was.) No one has discussed 'mole mapping' with me yet. I'm not sure what 'nevi' means yet, but will look it up.
My first site, on my back, did not involve a mole, but rather a widespread flat light pink rash (about the size of my hand) and was seen by two doctors before the third decided to biopsy it, out of curiosity. All were surprised that it was melanomoa in situ, with 'appendageal involvement' and eventually, through slow Moh surgery over four visits in ten days reached clear margins. The wound was then about the diameter of a coffee cup or baseball, and was sutured closed in a Z pattern that is about six inches long. Very dramatic looking, but they said "just superficial, not to worry."
This second one was also seen by three doctors and not considered significant until I had the biopsy this week and they found it was 'early melanoma' and just superficial. I'll know more after the surgery next week, and pray it will be only one cutting instead of three like last time.
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- July 13, 2012 at 1:24 pm
33% and 8% are two totally different realities. I'm not sure where you are located but I've never seen a figure even remotely close to 33%. My institution's (NCI Cancer Center with a specialty in melanoma) has a rate of 8%. I live in a sunny state at high elevation which increases the risk for melanoma. I've seen rates listed up to 11% but most are typically in the 7-10%. People with a strong family history of melanoma (could indicate a genetic defect for melanoma) or people with dysplastic nevus syndrome (high risk for multiple primaries) would have the highest likelihood of being in that <10% category. I've had 3 primaries. I have a genetic defect for melanoma (CKDN2A). Most others I've encountered with multiples have dysplastic nevus syndrome. People with multiple primaries actually have higher survival stats than those with only one, so it's not all bad news.
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- July 13, 2012 at 1:24 pm
33% and 8% are two totally different realities. I'm not sure where you are located but I've never seen a figure even remotely close to 33%. My institution's (NCI Cancer Center with a specialty in melanoma) has a rate of 8%. I live in a sunny state at high elevation which increases the risk for melanoma. I've seen rates listed up to 11% but most are typically in the 7-10%. People with a strong family history of melanoma (could indicate a genetic defect for melanoma) or people with dysplastic nevus syndrome (high risk for multiple primaries) would have the highest likelihood of being in that <10% category. I've had 3 primaries. I have a genetic defect for melanoma (CKDN2A). Most others I've encountered with multiples have dysplastic nevus syndrome. People with multiple primaries actually have higher survival stats than those with only one, so it's not all bad news.
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- July 13, 2012 at 1:24 pm
33% and 8% are two totally different realities. I'm not sure where you are located but I've never seen a figure even remotely close to 33%. My institution's (NCI Cancer Center with a specialty in melanoma) has a rate of 8%. I live in a sunny state at high elevation which increases the risk for melanoma. I've seen rates listed up to 11% but most are typically in the 7-10%. People with a strong family history of melanoma (could indicate a genetic defect for melanoma) or people with dysplastic nevus syndrome (high risk for multiple primaries) would have the highest likelihood of being in that <10% category. I've had 3 primaries. I have a genetic defect for melanoma (CKDN2A). Most others I've encountered with multiples have dysplastic nevus syndrome. People with multiple primaries actually have higher survival stats than those with only one, so it's not all bad news.
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:05 pm
I don't think a conclusion has been drawn, but it's been a while since I looked. The study was from Australia. Most who have multiples tend to have subsequent thinner ones than their first but that doesn't change anything about their first primary and the chance of mets from that. I don't think followup is necessarily the key because there are certainly many with only one primary who have rigorous followup.
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:05 pm
I don't think a conclusion has been drawn, but it's been a while since I looked. The study was from Australia. Most who have multiples tend to have subsequent thinner ones than their first but that doesn't change anything about their first primary and the chance of mets from that. I don't think followup is necessarily the key because there are certainly many with only one primary who have rigorous followup.
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:05 pm
I don't think a conclusion has been drawn, but it's been a while since I looked. The study was from Australia. Most who have multiples tend to have subsequent thinner ones than their first but that doesn't change anything about their first primary and the chance of mets from that. I don't think followup is necessarily the key because there are certainly many with only one primary who have rigorous followup.
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Maybe it's kinda like getting the first one almost is like a sort of "vaccine" that if you get subsequent ones your body's immune system recognizes it faster to start fighting it and once it's detected and removed it may not be as thick or aggressive then?
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Maybe it's kinda like getting the first one almost is like a sort of "vaccine" that if you get subsequent ones your body's immune system recognizes it faster to start fighting it and once it's detected and removed it may not be as thick or aggressive then?
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Maybe it's kinda like getting the first one almost is like a sort of "vaccine" that if you get subsequent ones your body's immune system recognizes it faster to start fighting it and once it's detected and removed it may not be as thick or aggressive then?
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:33 pm
That's a clever way to look at it – like the first one is a live vaccine. I remember years ago hearing of other cancers being spread by having a surgery that didn't 'get it all.' Myth or truth, I don't know.
I just heard from the surgeon's office that my appointment with him is in two weeks.
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- July 13, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Janner, thank you for sharing the link – that is very helpful information!
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- July 13, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Janner, thank you for sharing the link – that is very helpful information!
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- July 13, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Janner, thank you for sharing the link – that is very helpful information!
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- July 13, 2012 at 2:33 pm
That's a clever way to look at it – like the first one is a live vaccine. I remember years ago hearing of other cancers being spread by having a surgery that didn't 'get it all.' Myth or truth, I don't know.
I just heard from the surgeon's office that my appointment with him is in two weeks.
-
- July 13, 2012 at 2:33 pm
That's a clever way to look at it – like the first one is a live vaccine. I remember years ago hearing of other cancers being spread by having a surgery that didn't 'get it all.' Myth or truth, I don't know.
I just heard from the surgeon's office that my appointment with him is in two weeks.
-
- July 13, 2012 at 5:41 am
Hi there
This would be a second primary melanoma, and yes it is very possible but the question of it being common or not is unclear in my opinion. A lot of people get multiple primaries where I live, though the research suggests that only around 8% get a second melanoma, and even fewer get a third. I personally don't think the stats are correct. I have had 3 primaries in 3 years, all on completely different parts of my body and all found within a few months of each other (up to a year apart). My doctors don't agree with the stats – they say that in their experience approx 1/3 rd of their melanoma patients get multiple primaries. They looked at me like I was crazy when I asked the question. They basically expect anybody that's already had one to get another one. However, I must state that I'm not in the US like most of the people on these forums – so who knows.
Good luck and keep getting your skin checked on a frequent basis
Angela
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- July 13, 2012 at 5:41 am
Hi there
This would be a second primary melanoma, and yes it is very possible but the question of it being common or not is unclear in my opinion. A lot of people get multiple primaries where I live, though the research suggests that only around 8% get a second melanoma, and even fewer get a third. I personally don't think the stats are correct. I have had 3 primaries in 3 years, all on completely different parts of my body and all found within a few months of each other (up to a year apart). My doctors don't agree with the stats – they say that in their experience approx 1/3 rd of their melanoma patients get multiple primaries. They looked at me like I was crazy when I asked the question. They basically expect anybody that's already had one to get another one. However, I must state that I'm not in the US like most of the people on these forums – so who knows.
Good luck and keep getting your skin checked on a frequent basis
Angela
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