New Melanoma Patient w/ a family history…..Quick SNB question.

This topic has 27 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 12 months ago by Janner.

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- May 3, 2013 at 3:07 am
- Quote
nickmo79
Participant
Hi everyone.

I recieved my dx in early Feburary after having a itchy mole removed on my stomach. Long story short, it came back as melanoma. It was .82mm, CL IV, no mitosis, no ucleration, and a non-brisk host response. Having a family history of this disease (my father died after a 13 year battle), I am and have been constantly worried about it.

Hi everyone.

I recieved my dx in early Feburary after having a itchy mole removed on my stomach. Long story short, it came back as melanoma. It was .82mm, CL IV, no mitosis, no ucleration, and a non-brisk host response. Having a family history of this disease (my father died after a 13 year battle), I am and have been constantly worried about it.

Shortly after the dx, I had surgery to ensure clean margins and a SNB. I then went to MD Anderson to have them check me out as well and based on my aformentioned family history I was given a CT and MRI as well. Everything came back good and I am now seeing a derm every three months. Twice a year at MD Anderson and twice locally here in Arkansas.

I have a question for you guys and gals that have had node biopsies. My SNB was on my right groin (in mid Feb.). Over the past two weeks, my left groin has been in a constant state of mild to moderate pain. Is this normal? I went back to my surgeon and she didn't think much of it. She thinks it is probably just nerve damage. While I saw my nuclear scans during all my testing and can absolutely confirm that the mole drained to my right side, I'm not worried out of my mind that this has something moved over to my left side. Has anyone experienced pain in the opposite side of their body from their SNB?

Thanks for any input and my each of you find happiness in your journeys.

–Nick

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Replies

- - May 3, 2013 at 9:36 am
  - Quote
  JC
  Participant
  I don't have an answer to your question, but I am confused about the CT and MRI for a Stage I lesion. I've always been told that is not called for. Should I also be getting that? If they do it at MD Anderson, you'd think it should be done then. Why don't they do that elsewhere?
- - May 3, 2013 at 9:36 am
  - Quote
  JC
  Participant
  I don't have an answer to your question, but I am confused about the CT and MRI for a Stage I lesion. I've always been told that is not called for. Should I also be getting that? If they do it at MD Anderson, you'd think it should be done then. Why don't they do that elsewhere?
- - May 3, 2013 at 9:36 am
  - Quote
  JC
  Participant
  I don't have an answer to your question, but I am confused about the CT and MRI for a Stage I lesion. I've always been told that is not called for. Should I also be getting that? If they do it at MD Anderson, you'd think it should be done then. Why don't they do that elsewhere?
  - May 3, 2013 at 9:39 am
    
    Quote
    buffcody
    Participant
    
    Having a significant family history of melanoma myself, I think that was the reason for the aggressive scanning in this case.
  - May 3, 2013 at 10:32 am
    
    Quote
    JC
    Participant
    
    CT's a lot of radiation exposure. Does the benefit outweigh the risk for a Stage I lesion?
  - May 3, 2013 at 10:32 am
    
    Quote
    JC
    Participant
    
    CT's a lot of radiation exposure. Does the benefit outweigh the risk for a Stage I lesion?
  - May 3, 2013 at 10:32 am
    
    Quote
    JC
    Participant
    
    CT's a lot of radiation exposure. Does the benefit outweigh the risk for a Stage I lesion?
  - May 3, 2013 at 9:39 am
    
    Quote
    buffcody
    Participant
    
    Having a significant family history of melanoma myself, I think that was the reason for the aggressive scanning in this case.
  - May 3, 2013 at 9:39 am
    
    Quote
    buffcody
    Participant
    
    Having a significant family history of melanoma myself, I think that was the reason for the aggressive scanning in this case.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:31 pm
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    CT/MRI are not warranted for a stage I lesion unless there are symptoms. This is not standard procedure at all and I suspect was done more for calming purposes than any real clinical worry. Scans do not show microscopic disease and the likelihood of a new low risk lesion having anything meaningful show up on a scan is very unlikely…. Most often, if anything shows up, it is a false positive and you have to have more tests to rule out melanoma and it is just more anxiety, money, and trouble for nothing.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:31 pm
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    CT/MRI are not warranted for a stage I lesion unless there are symptoms. This is not standard procedure at all and I suspect was done more for calming purposes than any real clinical worry. Scans do not show microscopic disease and the likelihood of a new low risk lesion having anything meaningful show up on a scan is very unlikely…. Most often, if anything shows up, it is a false positive and you have to have more tests to rule out melanoma and it is just more anxiety, money, and trouble for nothing.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:31 pm
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    CT/MRI are not warranted for a stage I lesion unless there are symptoms. This is not standard procedure at all and I suspect was done more for calming purposes than any real clinical worry. Scans do not show microscopic disease and the likelihood of a new low risk lesion having anything meaningful show up on a scan is very unlikely…. Most often, if anything shows up, it is a false positive and you have to have more tests to rule out melanoma and it is just more anxiety, money, and trouble for nothing.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:36 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    I asked for and recieved the scans due to my strong family history of melanoma. I believe my exact phrasing was, "I'm 33 years old, I'm too young to go out like this, I don't care what it costs, just do it."
    
    Peace of mind is priceless IMO.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:36 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    I asked for and recieved the scans due to my strong family history of melanoma. I believe my exact phrasing was, "I'm 33 years old, I'm too young to go out like this, I don't care what it costs, just do it."
    
    Peace of mind is priceless IMO.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:40 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    Also, the doctors at MD Anderson wanted to have a base line of me with no signs of disease so that they could have something to go off should the disease pop back up later.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:40 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    Also, the doctors at MD Anderson wanted to have a base line of me with no signs of disease so that they could have something to go off should the disease pop back up later.
  - May 3, 2013 at 5:58 pm
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    Highly unlikely with your low risk lesion. Even for those with a family history, baseline scans are rarely done for someone with a low risk lesion like yours.
  - May 3, 2013 at 5:58 pm
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    Highly unlikely with your low risk lesion. Even for those with a family history, baseline scans are rarely done for someone with a low risk lesion like yours.
  - May 3, 2013 at 5:58 pm
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    Highly unlikely with your low risk lesion. Even for those with a family history, baseline scans are rarely done for someone with a low risk lesion like yours.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:40 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    Also, the doctors at MD Anderson wanted to have a base line of me with no signs of disease so that they could have something to go off should the disease pop back up later.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:36 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    I asked for and recieved the scans due to my strong family history of melanoma. I believe my exact phrasing was, "I'm 33 years old, I'm too young to go out like this, I don't care what it costs, just do it."
    
    Peace of mind is priceless IMO.
- - May 3, 2013 at 10:21 am
  - Quote
  akls
  Participant
  Nick,
  
  I had my dissection under my arm, however, I have node pain in my groin occasionally. I can always pinpoint MY node pain to a bladder infection. Just thought I'd let you know that other things can cause the nodes in the groin to hurt. Good Luck.
  
  Amy S. in Michigan
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:38 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    Thanks for the information.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:38 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    Thanks for the information.
  - May 3, 2013 at 4:38 pm
    
    Quote
    nickmo79
    Participant
    
    Thanks for the information.
- - May 3, 2013 at 10:21 am
  - Quote
  akls
  Participant
  Nick,
  
  I had my dissection under my arm, however, I have node pain in my groin occasionally. I can always pinpoint MY node pain to a bladder infection. Just thought I'd let you know that other things can cause the nodes in the groin to hurt. Good Luck.
  
  Amy S. in Michigan
- - May 3, 2013 at 10:21 am
  - Quote
  akls
  Participant
  Nick,
  
  I had my dissection under my arm, however, I have node pain in my groin occasionally. I can always pinpoint MY node pain to a bladder infection. Just thought I'd let you know that other things can cause the nodes in the groin to hurt. Good Luck.
  
  Amy S. in Michigan