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- This topic has 20 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 9 months ago by
NicoleinVA.
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- July 19, 2011 at 3:06 am
Hello,
Let me start by saying how thrilled I am to find this community and all your insight. As is says above, I am new to melanoma and very scared. I am a 44 year old female with very few moles, however I did my share (and more) of sunbathing in my youth as well tanning beds for a 'heathly glow'..what was I thinking. I recently me with a surgical oncologist after 3 months, with 3 very different patholgy reports. I had a I I ha
Hello,
Let me start by saying how thrilled I am to find this community and all your insight. As is says above, I am new to melanoma and very scared. I am a 44 year old female with very few moles, however I did my share (and more) of sunbathing in my youth as well tanning beds for a 'heathly glow'..what was I thinking. I recently me with a surgical oncologist after 3 months, with 3 very different patholgy reports. I had a I I ha
d I had a punch biopsey of a re-occuring mole (was removed in 2005 and classified as atypical) in April 2011 and was sent to plastic sugeon for a 2mm excision in May 2011, who sent his biopsey out to pathology.
This is where the nightmare started as there has been such a disparity in pathology reports (3 reports with everything from atypical nevi (Univ of VA), malignant melanoma in situ (Dominion) to malignant melanoma w/signs of early lymphatic involvement (Bon Seours)). I cannot believe that the pathologists are looking at the same slide and can’t agree to the same diagnosis. Is this common? The site as .8 mm, with clear margins, no ulceration and now classified as stage 1a pending next surgery. I've decided, with advice from surgical oncologist, it would be prudent for me to follow an aggressive approach because of all the unknowns.
I will be having a wide excision done by the surgical oncologist; a plastic surgeon will do skin graph on my leg (calf area) and then a sentinel lymph node biopsy will performed by a radiologist during surgery as well. They have scheduled a PET scan, as well as blood work/chest x-ray. Surgery is not set date yet as I have to get on both doctors schedules. I am trying to optimistic that this has not spread or is early, but it is still an emotional rollercoaster. The recovery due to skin graph is scarring me too.
Any and all comments, experiences and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Nicole
- Replies
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- July 19, 2011 at 3:34 am
Hang in there, Nicole! I'm quite familair with the fear that you are going through, but take some deep breaths and try not to obsess on worst case scenarios. Although there's a lot of confusion, it's very encouraging that they've given you an intial stage of 1a. The sentinel node biopsy will tell you if it has spread. If the depth of your lesion was .8mm with no ulceration, the odds are heavily in your favor.
Best regards, Steve
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- July 19, 2011 at 3:34 am
Hang in there, Nicole! I'm quite familair with the fear that you are going through, but take some deep breaths and try not to obsess on worst case scenarios. Although there's a lot of confusion, it's very encouraging that they've given you an intial stage of 1a. The sentinel node biopsy will tell you if it has spread. If the depth of your lesion was .8mm with no ulceration, the odds are heavily in your favor.
Best regards, Steve
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- July 19, 2011 at 3:46 am
Nicole,
I'm sorry you've had to join us. There is often some disparity but I don't understand how they can say possible lymphatic involvement from a biopsy of a mole! I'm hoping it was an overzealous pathologist.
Sounds like your oncologist is aggressive with the SNB and the PET. I hope you get a clear bill of health and can go back to living. Just now that you know what can happen learn to be sunwise and stay out of the tanning beds!
You can't look backwards and beat yourself up.
Linda
Stage IV since 06 NED 6 weeks
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- July 19, 2011 at 11:27 am
I agree about the one path report being overzealous too…
I'm worried about recovery/side effects from the SLNB and wonder if I should even be having that if the PET scan is clear? On the other hand, I worry about not being aggressive when it comes to melanoma.
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- July 19, 2011 at 11:27 am
I agree about the one path report being overzealous too…
I'm worried about recovery/side effects from the SLNB and wonder if I should even be having that if the PET scan is clear? On the other hand, I worry about not being aggressive when it comes to melanoma.
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- July 19, 2011 at 11:27 am
I agree about the one path report being overzealous too…
I'm worried about recovery/side effects from the SLNB and wonder if I should even be having that if the PET scan is clear? On the other hand, I worry about not being aggressive when it comes to melanoma.
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- July 19, 2011 at 11:27 am
I agree about the one path report being overzealous too…
I'm worried about recovery/side effects from the SLNB and wonder if I should even be having that if the PET scan is clear? On the other hand, I worry about not being aggressive when it comes to melanoma.
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- July 19, 2011 at 3:46 am
Nicole,
I'm sorry you've had to join us. There is often some disparity but I don't understand how they can say possible lymphatic involvement from a biopsy of a mole! I'm hoping it was an overzealous pathologist.
Sounds like your oncologist is aggressive with the SNB and the PET. I hope you get a clear bill of health and can go back to living. Just now that you know what can happen learn to be sunwise and stay out of the tanning beds!
You can't look backwards and beat yourself up.
Linda
Stage IV since 06 NED 6 weeks
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- July 19, 2011 at 11:58 am
Hi Nicole —Welcome and here’s hoping you will not need advice too often…
The one benefit of an SNLB over the PET is that a PET is not sensitive to growths under 5mm. If there is early node involvement in the SNL alone, the PET scan may miss it.
Good luck!
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- July 19, 2011 at 11:58 am
Hi Nicole —Welcome and here’s hoping you will not need advice too often…
The one benefit of an SNLB over the PET is that a PET is not sensitive to growths under 5mm. If there is early node involvement in the SNL alone, the PET scan may miss it.
Good luck!
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- July 19, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Hi Nicole and welcome,
Are any of your doctors melanoma specialists? I don't see that mentioned. If I were you, if they are not, I would get my records and get referred to one before making further plans for anything, especially given all the confusion you're facing.
While the course of action is sound, it will be far better for you if you're in the hands of a specialist.
Lord, in Your mercy, open doors for Nicole to get the answers and treatment she needs to beat the beast in her life. Thank You. Amen and Amen.
Grace and peace,
Carol
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- July 19, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Hi Nicole and welcome,
Are any of your doctors melanoma specialists? I don't see that mentioned. If I were you, if they are not, I would get my records and get referred to one before making further plans for anything, especially given all the confusion you're facing.
While the course of action is sound, it will be far better for you if you're in the hands of a specialist.
Lord, in Your mercy, open doors for Nicole to get the answers and treatment she needs to beat the beast in her life. Thank You. Amen and Amen.
Grace and peace,
Carol
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- July 19, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Hi Nicole,
I'm also a fellow Virginia girl! So sorry you had to join us… I have a few opinions, but I know more people will be able to give you better advice.
1) Definitely be in support of the SNB. Yes, the recovery will not be a fantastic experience; however, because the amount of melanoma in my lymph nodes was so small, a PET Scan would have never shown it. (I'm 24, initially diganosed in January, stage III A.) I had a 90% chance of it not being in my lymph nodes, but sure enough, it was…in 3 separate areas. Not trying to scare you, but I am trying to explain to you how important it is to be aggressive. No one wants to have surgery, but I am a firm believer that if there is cancer in us, we should get it out.
2) I am not sure where in VA you are, but try to find a melanoma specialist. UVA has a pretty great program, but they are still behind in some of their trial options. Do your research. If you have not Knowledge is power! 🙂 (At the same time, know when to step away from the computer. It can be very overwhelming.)
and 3) The people you meet on this forum (and others) are blessings. Talk to them, ask the questions you need to ask. There is a lot of comfort to be found here.
Best wishes to you!
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- July 19, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for all the responses…it's brought me alot of clarity. I thought PET scans showed everything, so yes I will be in favor of the SNB.
I hear so many stories about bad reactions after skin graphs and SLNB, but obvioulsy living with melanoma and not knowing it outweight those complications.
Again, thanks for responses, it really brings me alot of comfort.
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- July 19, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for all the responses…it's brought me alot of clarity. I thought PET scans showed everything, so yes I will be in favor of the SNB.
I hear so many stories about bad reactions after skin graphs and SLNB, but obvioulsy living with melanoma and not knowing it outweight those complications.
Again, thanks for responses, it really brings me alot of comfort.
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- July 19, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Hi Nicole,
I'm also a fellow Virginia girl! So sorry you had to join us… I have a few opinions, but I know more people will be able to give you better advice.
1) Definitely be in support of the SNB. Yes, the recovery will not be a fantastic experience; however, because the amount of melanoma in my lymph nodes was so small, a PET Scan would have never shown it. (I'm 24, initially diganosed in January, stage III A.) I had a 90% chance of it not being in my lymph nodes, but sure enough, it was…in 3 separate areas. Not trying to scare you, but I am trying to explain to you how important it is to be aggressive. No one wants to have surgery, but I am a firm believer that if there is cancer in us, we should get it out.
2) I am not sure where in VA you are, but try to find a melanoma specialist. UVA has a pretty great program, but they are still behind in some of their trial options. Do your research. If you have not Knowledge is power! 🙂 (At the same time, know when to step away from the computer. It can be very overwhelming.)
and 3) The people you meet on this forum (and others) are blessings. Talk to them, ask the questions you need to ask. There is a lot of comfort to be found here.
Best wishes to you!
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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