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Newly diagnosed

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  • Post
    • July 28, 2017 at 9:41 pm
    Detroit97
    Participant

    Hello everyone! My name is Julia, I'm 38 years old and diagnosed yesterday with melanoma. I've had this spot on my back, literally on the skin above my spine, for several years.  Recently I've been really sick but now I'm wondering if this is all related.  I'm also wondering that if it did metastasize, would it go to my spine? I'm still waiting to hear back the specifics from my doctor but I do know the sample size was 4 mm. I saw the sample and it did have some depth to it. Has anyone gone through a similar situation? Thanks for all of your help and support! I'm nervous. sad

     

    Julia  

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      • July 29, 2017 at 2:19 am
      casagrayson
      Participant

      Julia, the waiting is the worst.  No one can tell you much until you get the pathology report.  I would suggest making sure you get the entire report from the doctor — that way you can copy the language here and folks can guide you.  Another thing to check is whether or not the biopsy was read by a dermapathologist.  If not, and the specimen is of any concern, I would suggest getting a second opinion by a dermapathologist.

      I'm assuming that the sample size is not the actual depth of the melanoma.  Did they give you any other specifics, like Breslow depth?

        • July 29, 2017 at 2:12 pm
        Detroit97
        Participant

        Susan,

        Thank you for your reply! I just re-read my doctors notes and it is 4mm X 4mm. I'm just trying to take it easy and relaxing. My husband kind of just blew it off when I told him. He thinks that they can just cut it out and that'll be the end of it. Is that true? Thanks for your help!

        Sincerely,

        Julia

        • July 29, 2017 at 5:08 pm
        casagrayson
        Participant

        Julia, that appears to be the size of the specimen.   You will have to wait for the pathology report to know the depth of the melanoma — if it indeed is melanoma.  I'm not sure how the doctor could have diagnosed it without having the pathology report. 

        • July 30, 2017 at 5:38 am
        Detroit97
        Participant

        The 4×4 mm is what I got from the initial report. He told me that he definitely thought it was melanoma. Still waiting for the lab results. Husband hasn't really been supportive so I feel like I'm on my own here.

        • July 30, 2017 at 4:03 pm
        jennunicorn
        Participant

        I am really very sorry the doctor pre-diagnosed you. That is really bad practice and causes much unnecessary anxiety. He really doesn't know that it is melanoma, no doctor can know for sure without a biopsy. They can have suspicion, but they should keep that to themselves, since waiting for biopsy results is hard enough, let alone feeling like you for sure 100% have melanoma when that can't be said yet. Hang in there, it could still come back negative, many times things like this have happened and it comes back as severely atypical, not melanoma. If it is melanoma, let us know the whole pathology report and we can help break down what it all means for you.

        All the best,

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