Mucosal Melanoma of the Vulva

Not sure about the leukine part of it, but surgery and radiation seem standard procedure. Surprised it is not C-Kit positive, but not all are mucosal however, as it is my understanding it can be cutaneous rather than mucosal. 

Michael

Not sure about the leukine part of it, but surgery and radiation seem standard procedure. Surprised it is not C-Kit positive, but not all are mucosal however, as it is my understanding it can be cutaneous rather than mucosal. 

Michael

I just would like to give my opinion about this case. It looks like the surgeon who is
recommending resection of the vulva and lymph nodes, followed by leukine could be taking
the right approach. Here is a recent thread about leukine:
http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/ned-stage-iv-and-gm-csf-leukine

Surgery seems to be the better option as it is always best to remove any evidence of
melanoma if possible, as this reduces the tumour burden.

Radiation given after resection can be helpful and might result in a better prognosis. The
following article about surgical treatment and radiotherapy supports this view:
http://journals.lww.com/melanomaresearch/Fulltext/2008/02000/Evidence_and_interdisciplinary_consensus_based.10.aspx

I feel that radiation treatment alone without resection would result in a worse prognosis.

As to what questions to ask the doctor? Has the patient had a PET scan recently? If not,
then is it unreasonable that a PET scan be carried out soon?

Best wishes

Frank from Australia

I just would like to give my opinion about this case. It looks like the surgeon who is
recommending resection of the vulva and lymph nodes, followed by leukine could be taking
the right approach. Here is a recent thread about leukine:
http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/ned-stage-iv-and-gm-csf-leukine

Surgery seems to be the better option as it is always best to remove any evidence of
melanoma if possible, as this reduces the tumour burden.

Radiation given after resection can be helpful and might result in a better prognosis. The
following article about surgical treatment and radiotherapy supports this view:
http://journals.lww.com/melanomaresearch/Fulltext/2008/02000/Evidence_and_interdisciplinary_consensus_based.10.aspx

I feel that radiation treatment alone without resection would result in a worse prognosis.

As to what questions to ask the doctor? Has the patient had a PET scan recently? If not,
then is it unreasonable that a PET scan be carried out soon?

Best wishes

Frank from Australia

There's a thread started on 9th June 2013 called "Melanomas of the vujlva and vagina" here http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/melanomas-vulva-and-vagina which I think anyone diagnosed with melanoma of the vulva or vagina or cervix will find very useful reading. On Facebook there are two very active vulva cancer support and information groups which can be found by putting "vulva cancer" into the Facebook search window.
Cheers – Ed

There's a thread started on 9th June 2013 called "Melanomas of the vujlva and vagina" here http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/melanomas-vulva-and-vagina which I think anyone diagnosed with melanoma of the vulva or vagina or cervix will find very useful reading. On Facebook there are two very active vulva cancer support and information groups which can be found by putting "vulva cancer" into the Facebook search window.
Cheers – Ed

There's a thread started on 9th June 2013 called "Melanomas of the vujlva and vagina" here http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/melanomas-vulva-and-vagina which I think anyone diagnosed with melanoma of the vulva or vagina or cervix will find very useful reading. On Facebook there are two very active vulva cancer support and information groups which can be found by putting "vulva cancer" into the Facebook search window.
Cheers – Ed