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Nodular Melanoma

Forums General Melanoma Community Nodular Melanoma

  • Post
    Lisa13
    Participant

      Yesterday I received my pathology report from the surgery I had a month ago.  I have a nodular melanoma 22MM deep, ulcerated with 1 lymph node out of 19 positive for melanoma. That being said, I'm relieved that only 1 lymph node was involved, but now, I'm VERY concerned with how deep it is.  My mitotic value is surprisingly low (1) which is rare for a deep tumour.  I'm also currently NED as per PET scan results.

      Yesterday I received my pathology report from the surgery I had a month ago.  I have a nodular melanoma 22MM deep, ulcerated with 1 lymph node out of 19 positive for melanoma. That being said, I'm relieved that only 1 lymph node was involved, but now, I'm VERY concerned with how deep it is.  My mitotic value is surprisingly low (1) which is rare for a deep tumour.  I'm also currently NED as per PET scan results.

      Anyway, is there anyone out there whose had a deep tumour or nodular melanoma with similar characteristics?  Everything I read about this melanoma is BAD and I know the prognosis is BAD, so I'm really hoping there is someone out there who has beaten the statistics.   I'm also wondering if it's do deep, does it even matter how many lymph nodes are involved. 

      I'm now deciding between Interferon or hoping this Ipilumumab gets approved so I can get get myself over to the U.S. for treatment.  Any advice, any help?  I've got a 16 month old daughter, so my goal is to keep this away for as long as possible.

      P.S  I must thank my dermatologist who LAST September told me it was a sebaceous cyst!

       

      Thanks!

      Lisa

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        lhaley
        Participant

          Lisa,

          When I last talked to my mel specialist about Ipi he led me to believe that when approved, at least at first it would only be for unresected melanoma (I think he said stage IV also but not positive about that).  You might want to check on my facts but I didn't want you planning on something that might not be possible.  I'm wondering if maybe they will keep the stage 3 resected  trials.

          Your primary was very deep! However, I think once it's gone past that stage into the lymph nodes the depth no longer is the concern since it has spread.  That's horrible that you were told it was a sebaceous cyst! There are way to many posts on here of misdiagnosis!!

          Stay NED!

          Linda

          Stage IV since 06  Stable

          lhaley
          Participant

            Lisa,

            When I last talked to my mel specialist about Ipi he led me to believe that when approved, at least at first it would only be for unresected melanoma (I think he said stage IV also but not positive about that).  You might want to check on my facts but I didn't want you planning on something that might not be possible.  I'm wondering if maybe they will keep the stage 3 resected  trials.

            Your primary was very deep! However, I think once it's gone past that stage into the lymph nodes the depth no longer is the concern since it has spread.  That's horrible that you were told it was a sebaceous cyst! There are way to many posts on here of misdiagnosis!!

            Stay NED!

            Linda

            Stage IV since 06  Stable

            jim Breitfeller
            Participant

              Lisa,

              I had nodular Melanoma 4.5 mm deep with 9 nodes+.  You live just north of me across the Lake.

              If you want to talk, conact me on facebook or Melanoma Missionary.

              Melanoma and the Magic Bullet (Monclonal antibodies)

              http://www.box.net/shared/kjgr6dkztj

              Warm Regards,

               

              Jimmy B

               

              jim Breitfeller
              Participant

                Lisa,

                I had nodular Melanoma 4.5 mm deep with 9 nodes+.  You live just north of me across the Lake.

                If you want to talk, conact me on facebook or Melanoma Missionary.

                Melanoma and the Magic Bullet (Monclonal antibodies)

                http://www.box.net/shared/kjgr6dkztj

                Warm Regards,

                 

                Jimmy B

                 

                Carver
                Participant

                  Hi Lisa,

                  I also had nodular melanoma. Mine was 6.9 mm and another 2.8 mm was removed during wide excision. I also had one positive node. I decided not to do any treatment after my lymph node dissection but my daughter was 20. If she had been younger or I'd known about options besides interferon, I probably would have considered treatment. I wasn't impressed with interferon in terms of improving chances and also because of side effects without much benefit but that's an individual choice and many on this site have done interferon.  I have gone 6 years now without a recurrence. In your situation, I would definitely be looking into Ipilumumab trials, although I don't know if there are any currently enrolling. There are others who post here (or used to ) with very deep primaries who haven't had any further spread of melanoma. I'll keep everything crossed that you will be one of them.

                  Best of luck, Carver

                  Carver
                  Participant

                    Hi Lisa,

                    I also had nodular melanoma. Mine was 6.9 mm and another 2.8 mm was removed during wide excision. I also had one positive node. I decided not to do any treatment after my lymph node dissection but my daughter was 20. If she had been younger or I'd known about options besides interferon, I probably would have considered treatment. I wasn't impressed with interferon in terms of improving chances and also because of side effects without much benefit but that's an individual choice and many on this site have done interferon.  I have gone 6 years now without a recurrence. In your situation, I would definitely be looking into Ipilumumab trials, although I don't know if there are any currently enrolling. There are others who post here (or used to ) with very deep primaries who haven't had any further spread of melanoma. I'll keep everything crossed that you will be one of them.

                    Best of luck, Carver

                    LynnLuc
                    Participant

                      I am also NED and I had a 6.8 cent. melanoma in my right paratrachial lymph node…I have been NED for 1 year as of March 26…I just finished two trial rounds of 12 weeks each with MDX 1106 and 6 peptides down here at Moffitt in Tampa. I now will get a booster  IV of MDX 1106 every 3 months for two years…I requested Dr Weber as my onc and I really think he is awesome.  He had the only trial for NED and surgically resected melanoma at the time and I do not regret it for one minute…

                      you can also read about me and the trial  at http://www.gentlewinds.org…..I believe it is still open….I think if I didn't do something I would not be NED now…Lynn

                      LynnLuc
                      Participant

                        I am also NED and I had a 6.8 cent. melanoma in my right paratrachial lymph node…I have been NED for 1 year as of March 26…I just finished two trial rounds of 12 weeks each with MDX 1106 and 6 peptides down here at Moffitt in Tampa. I now will get a booster  IV of MDX 1106 every 3 months for two years…I requested Dr Weber as my onc and I really think he is awesome.  He had the only trial for NED and surgically resected melanoma at the time and I do not regret it for one minute…

                        you can also read about me and the trial  at http://www.gentlewinds.org…..I believe it is still open….I think if I didn't do something I would not be NED now…Lynn

                        ShariC
                        Participant

                             Lisa – I'm Stage III and I also had a deep, nodular melanoma (9 mm) and I opted for BioChemotherapy (a regiment of chemo drugs and immune enhancing drugs like IL2 and Interferon).  Please read my profile for details.  I'm glad I did it.  I had a small tumor that seemed to respond very well to the treatment.  I don't know if it will make a long-term difference, but I'm hoping. 

                          A word of caution:  My very large lymph node that was filled with mel had "extra capillary" extensions (basiclly the mel had grown past the edge of the lymph node).  Because of this, I had a tumor re-appear in my axillary region – even after surgery and radiation.  Check your pathology report for this and make sure you're looking for something like that.  Let me know if you have questions! – Shari

                          ShariC
                          Participant

                               Lisa – I'm Stage III and I also had a deep, nodular melanoma (9 mm) and I opted for BioChemotherapy (a regiment of chemo drugs and immune enhancing drugs like IL2 and Interferon).  Please read my profile for details.  I'm glad I did it.  I had a small tumor that seemed to respond very well to the treatment.  I don't know if it will make a long-term difference, but I'm hoping. 

                            A word of caution:  My very large lymph node that was filled with mel had "extra capillary" extensions (basiclly the mel had grown past the edge of the lymph node).  Because of this, I had a tumor re-appear in my axillary region – even after surgery and radiation.  Check your pathology report for this and make sure you're looking for something like that.  Let me know if you have questions! – Shari

                            FormerCaregiver
                            Participant

                              My late wife had a nodular melanoma that sounds very similar to yours. She
                              was diagnosed in early 2007 and treatment options were very limited at the
                              time. We decided against interferon therapy because of its questionable
                              benefits and significant side effects.

                              There have been some big advances in melanoma research over the last few
                              years. The new treatments that are becoming available through clinical
                              trials are allowing some people in this forum the ability to have long
                              periods of stable disease or NED (no evidence of disease).

                              I share your concerns about the depth of the tumor, so it is important to
                              find suitable clinical trials that will give you the chance to have access
                              to the latest therapies. Here is a link to the trials that are available:
                              http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/refine?term=melanoma

                              Hope this helps.

                              Frank

                                Debbieamccoy
                                Participant

                                  I was diagnose last week with a clark IV and Brelows depth of 7 .00 mm

                                  deep and pheripheral margins not involved

                                  Lymphatic/ perineural/angi invasion not identified

                                  Miotoic rate 5-10

                                  Associated Melanocyctic nevi not identified 

                                  TIL not brisk

                                  Ulceration preset

                                  I see my oncologist and surgeon next week and trying to be optomistic, my family MD questions the Breslows depth.

                                  Scared but not ready to buy the shovel

                                  Debbieamccoy
                                  Participant

                                    I was diagnose last week with a clark IV and Brelows depth of 7 .00 mm

                                    deep and pheripheral margins not involved

                                    Lymphatic/ perineural/angi invasion not identified

                                    Miotoic rate 5-10

                                    Associated Melanocyctic nevi not identified 

                                    TIL not brisk

                                    Ulceration preset

                                    I see my oncologist and surgeon next week and trying to be optomistic, my family MD questions the Breslows depth.

                                    Scared but not ready to buy the shovel

                                    Debbieamccoy
                                    Participant

                                      I was diagnose last week with a clark IV and Brelows depth of 7 .00 mm

                                      deep and pheripheral margins not involved

                                      Lymphatic/ perineural/angi invasion not identified

                                      Miotoic rate 5-10

                                      Associated Melanocyctic nevi not identified 

                                      TIL not brisk

                                      Ulceration preset

                                      I see my oncologist and surgeon next week and trying to be optomistic, my family MD questions the Breslows depth.

                                      Scared but not ready to buy the shovel

                                    FormerCaregiver
                                    Participant

                                      My late wife had a nodular melanoma that sounds very similar to yours. She
                                      was diagnosed in early 2007 and treatment options were very limited at the
                                      time. We decided against interferon therapy because of its questionable
                                      benefits and significant side effects.

                                      There have been some big advances in melanoma research over the last few
                                      years. The new treatments that are becoming available through clinical
                                      trials are allowing some people in this forum the ability to have long
                                      periods of stable disease or NED (no evidence of disease).

                                      I share your concerns about the depth of the tumor, so it is important to
                                      find suitable clinical trials that will give you the chance to have access
                                      to the latest therapies. Here is a link to the trials that are available:
                                      http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/refine?term=melanoma

                                      Hope this helps.

                                      Frank

                                  Viewing 11 reply threads
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