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New Diagnosis- Need Help with understanding!

Forums General Melanoma Community New Diagnosis- Need Help with understanding!

  • Post
    vince1962
    Participant

    Final Diagnosis [Microsopic]:  Right axilla, biopsy- A.Metastatic melignant neoplasm involving lymph node, immunohistochemically consistent with metastatic melanoma. An infiltrate of malignant cells that show strong positivity for S100 and SOX-10 is identified.  Can someone please help me with this as far as what stage this might be! I have no clue what all this means.

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  • Replies
      Kmiles
      Participant

      Agree probably 3a.  I am a 3a as well.  I have had my complete lymph node dissection after the SLND was positive on both sides.  My right side showed a 3mm tumor.  The left was 1mm.  My complete showed no additional cancer.  I wish you good luck if you do the complete node dissection and I wish you no additional cancer.  

      Kmiles
      Participant

      Agree probably 3a.  I am a 3a as well.  I have had my complete lymph node dissection after the SLND was positive on both sides.  My right side showed a 3mm tumor.  The left was 1mm.  My complete showed no additional cancer.  I wish you good luck if you do the complete node dissection and I wish you no additional cancer.  

      Kmiles
      Participant

      Agree probably 3a.  I am a 3a as well.  I have had my complete lymph node dissection after the SLND was positive on both sides.  My right side showed a 3mm tumor.  The left was 1mm.  My complete showed no additional cancer.  I wish you good luck if you do the complete node dissection and I wish you no additional cancer.  

        vince1962
        Participant

        This was not a SLND my lymph nodes under my arm are the size of a lemon, and have been for about 18 months! This is not the primary, We believe that the primary is on my back, have a mole that bleeds alot and about six inches from the mole is a nodule about the size of a quarter thats red and itches like crazy, being that the nodes are not the primary won,t that make a differance in the stage?

        Janner
        Participant

        WIth an unknown primary, it is assumed that the primary was "local" to that lymph node basin.   Stage III is assumed.  With a primary on your back and involved lymph nodes under the arm, that is again local to that lymph basin or considered "regional" disease — also stage III.  No assuming where the primary is.  It moves to stage IV when you go beyond the local lymph node basin or it is seen in organs or other areas of the body.

        Janner
        Participant

        WIth an unknown primary, it is assumed that the primary was "local" to that lymph node basin.   Stage III is assumed.  With a primary on your back and involved lymph nodes under the arm, that is again local to that lymph basin or considered "regional" disease — also stage III.  No assuming where the primary is.  It moves to stage IV when you go beyond the local lymph node basin or it is seen in organs or other areas of the body.

        vince1962
        Participant

        Why is it when you type in metastatic malignant melanoma in the search bar on this site its all about stage 4 

        vince1962
        Participant

        Why is it when you type in metastatic malignant melanoma in the search bar on this site its all about stage 4 

        Janner
        Participant

        Probably because there isn't much in the way of treatment options for stage III.  It's metastatic at stage III or stage IV.  Local at stage 0/1/2.

        Janner
        Participant

        Probably because there isn't much in the way of treatment options for stage III.  It's metastatic at stage III or stage IV.  Local at stage 0/1/2.

        vince1962
        Participant

        Oh ok, just want to say thank you all for the comments to the questions I have

        vince1962
        Participant

        Oh ok, just want to say thank you all for the comments to the questions I have

        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, tand not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, tand not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, tand not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        Kristen
        Participant
        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
        vince1962
        Participant

        Oh ok, just want to say thank you all for the comments to the questions I have

        Janner
        Participant

        Probably because there isn't much in the way of treatment options for stage III.  It's metastatic at stage III or stage IV.  Local at stage 0/1/2.

        vince1962
        Participant

        Why is it when you type in metastatic malignant melanoma in the search bar on this site its all about stage 4 

        Janner
        Participant

        WIth an unknown primary, it is assumed that the primary was "local" to that lymph node basin.   Stage III is assumed.  With a primary on your back and involved lymph nodes under the arm, that is again local to that lymph basin or considered "regional" disease — also stage III.  No assuming where the primary is.  It moves to stage IV when you go beyond the local lymph node basin or it is seen in organs or other areas of the body.

        vince1962
        Participant

        This was not a SLND my lymph nodes under my arm are the size of a lemon, and have been for about 18 months! This is not the primary, We believe that the primary is on my back, have a mole that bleeds alot and about six inches from the mole is a nodule about the size of a quarter thats red and itches like crazy, being that the nodes are not the primary won,t that make a differance in the stage?

        vince1962
        Participant

        This was not a SLND my lymph nodes under my arm are the size of a lemon, and have been for about 18 months! This is not the primary, We believe that the primary is on my back, have a mole that bleeds alot and about six inches from the mole is a nodule about the size of a quarter thats red and itches like crazy, being that the nodes are not the primary won,t that make a differance in the stage?

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