MRF-Logo2019-Horizontal-RGB
Mitotic Rate of 15 and Staged 2b
REGISTER
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Mitotic Rate of 15 and Staged 2b

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Mitotic Rate of 15 and Staged 2b

  • Post
    • September 9, 2014 at 5:32 pm
    missourimom2008
    Participant

      My husband was diagnosed a few short months ago with Malignant Melanoma, right before his 25th birthday. He has undergone 1 surgery and his pet scan just came back negative for which we are feeling very blessed. We have however been referred to a specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis due to the fact that he has a mitotic rate of 15….I know his Oncologist said ideally it should be 0, does anyone have any answers, advice, experience or information about having such a high mitotic rate? I have done some research but just am not finding much. Thank you!!

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • September 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm
        missourimom2008
        Participant

          Also, my husband's original tumor was 2.6 mm thick with ulceration. His father has nodular melanoma and has undergone 7 surgeries so far in addition to interferon. My husband has not started any treatment as of now and we will be discussing Clinical Trials while at his dr appt at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis,

          • September 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm
          missourimom2008
          Participant

            Also, my husband's original tumor was 2.6 mm thick with ulceration. His father has nodular melanoma and has undergone 7 surgeries so far in addition to interferon. My husband has not started any treatment as of now and we will be discussing Clinical Trials while at his dr appt at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis,

              • September 9, 2014 at 11:17 pm
              malika
              Participant

                My son was 8 when diagnosed – his mitosis rate was 13, the tumor was nodular and ulcerated, and melanoma was found in the lymph nodes –> Stage 3B.  There are even fewer treatments available for kids than for adults and interferon was the only treatment available for kiddos under 10.  We chose to do interferon and went to five hospitals until we found St Jude’s where my son could be treated.  Another thing to keep in mind is that microscopic melanoma doesn’t appear on scans.  My son had clear PET/CT scans the week before additional melanoma was found in his lymph nodes.  While not everyone agrees with CLND and interferon, we wanted to be aggressive and interferon felt better than "watch and wait" for us; at 10 years old, my son is still NED.  

                • September 10, 2014 at 12:41 pm
                missourimom2008
                Participant

                  That is wonderful news that your son is doing well! Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

                  • September 10, 2014 at 12:41 pm
                  missourimom2008
                  Participant

                    That is wonderful news that your son is doing well! Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

                    • September 10, 2014 at 12:41 pm
                    missourimom2008
                    Participant

                      That is wonderful news that your son is doing well! Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

                      • September 9, 2014 at 11:17 pm
                      malika
                      Participant

                        My son was 8 when diagnosed – his mitosis rate was 13, the tumor was nodular and ulcerated, and melanoma was found in the lymph nodes –> Stage 3B.  There are even fewer treatments available for kids than for adults and interferon was the only treatment available for kiddos under 10.  We chose to do interferon and went to five hospitals until we found St Jude’s where my son could be treated.  Another thing to keep in mind is that microscopic melanoma doesn’t appear on scans.  My son had clear PET/CT scans the week before additional melanoma was found in his lymph nodes.  While not everyone agrees with CLND and interferon, we wanted to be aggressive and interferon felt better than "watch and wait" for us; at 10 years old, my son is still NED.  

                        • September 9, 2014 at 11:17 pm
                        malika
                        Participant

                          My son was 8 when diagnosed – his mitosis rate was 13, the tumor was nodular and ulcerated, and melanoma was found in the lymph nodes –> Stage 3B.  There are even fewer treatments available for kids than for adults and interferon was the only treatment available for kiddos under 10.  We chose to do interferon and went to five hospitals until we found St Jude’s where my son could be treated.  Another thing to keep in mind is that microscopic melanoma doesn’t appear on scans.  My son had clear PET/CT scans the week before additional melanoma was found in his lymph nodes.  While not everyone agrees with CLND and interferon, we wanted to be aggressive and interferon felt better than "watch and wait" for us; at 10 years old, my son is still NED.  

                        • September 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm
                        missourimom2008
                        Participant

                          Also, my husband's original tumor was 2.6 mm thick with ulceration. His father has nodular melanoma and has undergone 7 surgeries so far in addition to interferon. My husband has not started any treatment as of now and we will be discussing Clinical Trials while at his dr appt at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis,

                          • September 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm
                          Tim–MRF
                          Guest

                            As you know, this is a high mitotic rate, and being ulcerated is more challenging as well.  Since he has no trace of cancer right now, the standard of care is observation. Given the high mitotic rate and ulceration looking at a cilinical trial makes a lot of sense. You have probably heard the word "adjuvant", which is used for patients in your husband's situation–having been diagnosed with cancer but now cancer free. The only drug approved for adjuvant treatment is interferon, and the data on that drug are mixed. Some companies with drugs being used for patients with metastatic melanoma are currently conducting trials in the adjuvant setting. This has only been the case in the past couple of years, so some things in trials are available now that would not have been available a short while ago.

                            Will be interested to see what options the treatment team offers. But in the interim you may want to do some research on adjuvant studies in melanoma.

                            Tim–MRF

                              • September 9, 2014 at 7:36 pm
                              missourimom2008
                              Participant

                                Thank you for replying Tim 🙂 Yes I've done a lot of research on adjuvent therapies and Interferon seems to be the norm for his case, but his Oncologist doesn't have a very high opinion of it and doesn't think it will help in his case I suppose. As of right now it's just waiting for it to come back, which his Onc. thinks will happen……

                                • September 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm
                                liberty04281
                                Participant

                                  I think your husband should go for CT scans every 3 months, because there is a very high possibility it will come back. I do not think there is a clinical trial for stage 2b.

                                  I do not mean to scare you, but that how things look like.

                                  Good Luck!

                                  • September 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm
                                  liberty04281
                                  Participant

                                    I think your husband should go for CT scans every 3 months, because there is a very high possibility it will come back. I do not think there is a clinical trial for stage 2b.

                                    I do not mean to scare you, but that how things look like.

                                    Good Luck!

                                    • September 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm
                                    liberty04281
                                    Participant

                                      I think your husband should go for CT scans every 3 months, because there is a very high possibility it will come back. I do not think there is a clinical trial for stage 2b.

                                      I do not mean to scare you, but that how things look like.

                                      Good Luck!

                                      • September 9, 2014 at 7:36 pm
                                      missourimom2008
                                      Participant

                                        Thank you for replying Tim 🙂 Yes I've done a lot of research on adjuvent therapies and Interferon seems to be the norm for his case, but his Oncologist doesn't have a very high opinion of it and doesn't think it will help in his case I suppose. As of right now it's just waiting for it to come back, which his Onc. thinks will happen……

                                        • September 9, 2014 at 7:36 pm
                                        missourimom2008
                                        Participant

                                          Thank you for replying Tim 🙂 Yes I've done a lot of research on adjuvent therapies and Interferon seems to be the norm for his case, but his Oncologist doesn't have a very high opinion of it and doesn't think it will help in his case I suppose. As of right now it's just waiting for it to come back, which his Onc. thinks will happen……

                                          • September 29, 2014 at 1:16 pm
                                          oldblue
                                          Participant

                                            I'm 3b and am due to start on a trial – COMBI-AD (google it)

                                            Cheers,

                                            Nigel.

                                            • September 29, 2014 at 1:16 pm
                                            oldblue
                                            Participant

                                              I'm 3b and am due to start on a trial – COMBI-AD (google it)

                                              Cheers,

                                              Nigel.

                                              • September 29, 2014 at 1:16 pm
                                              oldblue
                                              Participant

                                                I'm 3b and am due to start on a trial – COMBI-AD (google it)

                                                Cheers,

                                                Nigel.

                                              • September 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm
                                              Tim–MRF
                                              Guest

                                                As you know, this is a high mitotic rate, and being ulcerated is more challenging as well.  Since he has no trace of cancer right now, the standard of care is observation. Given the high mitotic rate and ulceration looking at a cilinical trial makes a lot of sense. You have probably heard the word "adjuvant", which is used for patients in your husband's situation–having been diagnosed with cancer but now cancer free. The only drug approved for adjuvant treatment is interferon, and the data on that drug are mixed. Some companies with drugs being used for patients with metastatic melanoma are currently conducting trials in the adjuvant setting. This has only been the case in the past couple of years, so some things in trials are available now that would not have been available a short while ago.

                                                Will be interested to see what options the treatment team offers. But in the interim you may want to do some research on adjuvant studies in melanoma.

                                                Tim–MRF

                                                • September 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm
                                                Tim–MRF
                                                Guest

                                                  As you know, this is a high mitotic rate, and being ulcerated is more challenging as well.  Since he has no trace of cancer right now, the standard of care is observation. Given the high mitotic rate and ulceration looking at a cilinical trial makes a lot of sense. You have probably heard the word "adjuvant", which is used for patients in your husband's situation–having been diagnosed with cancer but now cancer free. The only drug approved for adjuvant treatment is interferon, and the data on that drug are mixed. Some companies with drugs being used for patients with metastatic melanoma are currently conducting trials in the adjuvant setting. This has only been the case in the past couple of years, so some things in trials are available now that would not have been available a short while ago.

                                                  Will be interested to see what options the treatment team offers. But in the interim you may want to do some research on adjuvant studies in melanoma.

                                                  Tim–MRF

                                              Viewing 5 reply threads
                                              • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                                              About the MRF Patient Forum

                                              The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                                              The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.