› Forums › General Melanoma Community › New Moles ? Second Mel or spread?
- This topic has 6 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 5 months ago by
Lucassi.
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- June 14, 2012 at 9:33 pm
My husband Mike has stage V melanoma. (acral lent. with spread to lung) He is scheduled for his fourth Yervoy infusion on Tuesday. Has been tolerating the treatment well with no side effects other than fatigue. However, he does have several (at least 4) new mole-like bumps on his upper right leg about the size of a pencil eraser.. (same leg as primary tumor on rt. great toe). The oncologist agreed that it is most likely melanoma but said that if the moles did not bother him he does not need to remove them at this time.
My husband Mike has stage V melanoma. (acral lent. with spread to lung) He is scheduled for his fourth Yervoy infusion on Tuesday. Has been tolerating the treatment well with no side effects other than fatigue. However, he does have several (at least 4) new mole-like bumps on his upper right leg about the size of a pencil eraser.. (same leg as primary tumor on rt. great toe). The oncologist agreed that it is most likely melanoma but said that if the moles did not bother him he does not need to remove them at this time. Thinks they can be used as a marker to measure if the Yervoy is working. I have been thinking about the situation and I believe it would be better to remove the moles. Could it not be possible that these moles are a second primary? What if the Yervoy does not work. That would mean that these moles will just get bigger and become more invasive. Although I am not a doctor, these moles look like nodular melanoma to me. Has anyone else have a similar experience. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Sigrid
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- June 14, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I'm hoping you meant your husband is stage IV. (I guess I always think of stage V as passing on since staging only goes up to 4).
I think the "moles" you are referring to are actually "sub-q's". Subcutaneous melanoma metastases. Some people remove them, some don't. But since he has systemic disease (lung), it isn't likely to change anything unless those are the only places where disease is evident. Leaving something near the skin surface to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment isn't uncommon. They are unlikely to be new primaries – and even if they were, the systemic disease of stage IV is much more important than another primary. Some people remove them only to have more show up. You can cut them out, but the lungs and spread to other organs are actually the primary worry at this point.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- June 15, 2012 at 2:11 am
Janner, thank you for replying. Yes, my husband is stage IV, my error. Your explanation makes sense. We made an appointment with the plastic surgeon that performed my husband's first surgery to have him look at the "new moles". It is so difficult to "wait and see" if the Yervoy is working. The oncologist has ordered a CT for mid August, 2 months after the 4th infusion.
Best wishes and thanks again for your reply.
Sigrid
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- June 15, 2012 at 2:11 am
Janner, thank you for replying. Yes, my husband is stage IV, my error. Your explanation makes sense. We made an appointment with the plastic surgeon that performed my husband's first surgery to have him look at the "new moles". It is so difficult to "wait and see" if the Yervoy is working. The oncologist has ordered a CT for mid August, 2 months after the 4th infusion.
Best wishes and thanks again for your reply.
Sigrid
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- June 15, 2012 at 2:11 am
Janner, thank you for replying. Yes, my husband is stage IV, my error. Your explanation makes sense. We made an appointment with the plastic surgeon that performed my husband's first surgery to have him look at the "new moles". It is so difficult to "wait and see" if the Yervoy is working. The oncologist has ordered a CT for mid August, 2 months after the 4th infusion.
Best wishes and thanks again for your reply.
Sigrid
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- June 14, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I'm hoping you meant your husband is stage IV. (I guess I always think of stage V as passing on since staging only goes up to 4).
I think the "moles" you are referring to are actually "sub-q's". Subcutaneous melanoma metastases. Some people remove them, some don't. But since he has systemic disease (lung), it isn't likely to change anything unless those are the only places where disease is evident. Leaving something near the skin surface to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment isn't uncommon. They are unlikely to be new primaries – and even if they were, the systemic disease of stage IV is much more important than another primary. Some people remove them only to have more show up. You can cut them out, but the lungs and spread to other organs are actually the primary worry at this point.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- June 14, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I'm hoping you meant your husband is stage IV. (I guess I always think of stage V as passing on since staging only goes up to 4).
I think the "moles" you are referring to are actually "sub-q's". Subcutaneous melanoma metastases. Some people remove them, some don't. But since he has systemic disease (lung), it isn't likely to change anything unless those are the only places where disease is evident. Leaving something near the skin surface to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment isn't uncommon. They are unlikely to be new primaries – and even if they were, the systemic disease of stage IV is much more important than another primary. Some people remove them only to have more show up. You can cut them out, but the lungs and spread to other organs are actually the primary worry at this point.
Best wishes,
Janner
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Tagged: acral, cutaneous melanoma
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