Tricia,

in-transit metastasis

Type: Term
 

Definitions:
1. in melanoma, a metastatic deposit occurring in the lymphatic pathway between the primary tumor and its draining lymph nodes.

Warm regards

Jimmy B

Tricia,

in-transit metastasis

Type: Term
 

Definitions:
1. in melanoma, a metastatic deposit occurring in the lymphatic pathway between the primary tumor and its draining lymph nodes.

Warm regards

Jimmy B

Tricia –  find an melanoma specialist who will spend more than 3 minutes with you.  A dr. who won't take the time to examine, explain, and reassure needs to be fired.  do it.

fen

Tricia –  find an melanoma specialist who will spend more than 3 minutes with you.  A dr. who won't take the time to examine, explain, and reassure needs to be fired.  do it.

fen

Tricia,

First of all a 3 minute visit would have me looking for a different oncologist!  If all you had was an in-transit from your primary your staging would be 3B so I don't think it changes. 

I've been dealing with a new lump that developed 4 weeks after the last surgery (I'm stage IV). The scans were clear, so that same day they did a fine needle aspiration.  That came back clear also. My oncologist is still suspicious so it was removed today. The local dermatologist did the surgery and his gut feeling is it's a lipoma, which is benign. I'm not getting my hopes up but just wanted you to realize that until tested they just don't know.

It's your oncologists attitude that concerns me. I understand the PET to see if it shows up and if there is any other spread. I don't know when your last one was. I think the brain MRI is a bit overkill for an intransit. While many might do this he seems to have really frightened you with little talk or explainations. 

My dermatologist did an excisional cut. He ended up getting out 3 nodules and had to go down to the muscle. He didn't even attempt a punch. He did this vs my surgeon who did the fna to get the procedure done quickly since it has interuppted my radiation and they are trying to decide the next step.

Your profile isn't complete so I don't know if your Dr is a mel specialist or where you live. Please find someone who will give you more time!

Linda

stage IV for 5 years, hoping to be NED for 6 weeks

Tricia,

First of all a 3 minute visit would have me looking for a different oncologist!  If all you had was an in-transit from your primary your staging would be 3B so I don't think it changes. 

I've been dealing with a new lump that developed 4 weeks after the last surgery (I'm stage IV). The scans were clear, so that same day they did a fine needle aspiration.  That came back clear also. My oncologist is still suspicious so it was removed today. The local dermatologist did the surgery and his gut feeling is it's a lipoma, which is benign. I'm not getting my hopes up but just wanted you to realize that until tested they just don't know.

It's your oncologists attitude that concerns me. I understand the PET to see if it shows up and if there is any other spread. I don't know when your last one was. I think the brain MRI is a bit overkill for an intransit. While many might do this he seems to have really frightened you with little talk or explainations. 

My dermatologist did an excisional cut. He ended up getting out 3 nodules and had to go down to the muscle. He didn't even attempt a punch. He did this vs my surgeon who did the fna to get the procedure done quickly since it has interuppted my radiation and they are trying to decide the next step.

Your profile isn't complete so I don't know if your Dr is a mel specialist or where you live. Please find someone who will give you more time!

Linda

stage IV for 5 years, hoping to be NED for 6 weeks

Tricia,

Definitely find a doctor who'll give you more time, definitely a mel spec. I'm including this link in case you need help locating one near you:

http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-answers/finding-the-right-doctor.html

If by chance you really do have full confidence in this doctor and really don't want another one, please have a good long talk with him and be clear about your expectations and get your questions answered.

Lord, in Your mercy, please just pave the way for Tricia. Thank You. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Carol

Tricia,

Definitely find a doctor who'll give you more time, definitely a mel spec. I'm including this link in case you need help locating one near you:

http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-answers/finding-the-right-doctor.html

If by chance you really do have full confidence in this doctor and really don't want another one, please have a good long talk with him and be clear about your expectations and get your questions answered.

Lord, in Your mercy, please just pave the way for Tricia. Thank You. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Carol

Tricia,

As I understand an in-transit is a metastasis that is more than 2cm away from the primary tumor.  Someone described mine as being 'trapped' between the primary and the closest lymph node basin. 

It sounds like you know my old onc, who I called Buzzkill for the entire 2 years that I saw him.  I put up with him for about 23 months too long.  He never told me that I would be fine though…lol.  But here I am and I can share a little bit of my experience with you.

I don't know how anyone can be so sure that you have a recurrence without first doing an excision and getting the pathology.  At least that is the way mine was handled.  (on my birthday as a matter of fact)  It came back as a pin point of melanoma cells encapsulated in a little ball of fat.  I had scans after that and then a wide excision.  Both were negative for any further metastasis.  I have had a couple of oncs tell me that mine was probably an incomplete resection of the primary tumor; it was on my finger which is an awkward location.

That was a little more than 5 years ago.  I am stage 3b.

Best of luck to you…sending the very best thoughts your way.

k.

Tricia,

As I understand an in-transit is a metastasis that is more than 2cm away from the primary tumor.  Someone described mine as being 'trapped' between the primary and the closest lymph node basin. 

It sounds like you know my old onc, who I called Buzzkill for the entire 2 years that I saw him.  I put up with him for about 23 months too long.  He never told me that I would be fine though…lol.  But here I am and I can share a little bit of my experience with you.

I don't know how anyone can be so sure that you have a recurrence without first doing an excision and getting the pathology.  At least that is the way mine was handled.  (on my birthday as a matter of fact)  It came back as a pin point of melanoma cells encapsulated in a little ball of fat.  I had scans after that and then a wide excision.  Both were negative for any further metastasis.  I have had a couple of oncs tell me that mine was probably an incomplete resection of the primary tumor; it was on my finger which is an awkward location.

That was a little more than 5 years ago.  I am stage 3b.

Best of luck to you…sending the very best thoughts your way.

k.

Hi Tricia,

Stage IIIB

One of the following applies:

T1b toT4b,N1a or N2a,M0:The melanoma can be of any thickness and is ulcerated.It had spread o 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area, but the nodes are not enlarged and the melanoma is found only when they are viewd under microscope.There is no distant spread.

T1a  toT4a,Nb1 or N2b,M0:The melanoma can be of any thickness, but it is not ulcerated.It has spread to 1 to 3 lypph nodes near the affected skin area.The nodes are enlarged because of the melanoma.There is no distant spread.

T1a to T4a, N2c,M0:The melanoma can be of any thickness,but it is not ulcerated.It has spread to small areas of nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor,but the nodes do not contain melanoma.There is no distant spread.

Stage IIIC

One of the following applies:

T1b to T4b,N1b orN2b,M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and is ulcerated.It had spread o 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area, the nodes are not enlarged  because of the melanoma.There is no distant spread.

T1b to T4b,N2c,M0: The melanoma can be of any thichness and it is ulcerated.It has spread to small areas of nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor but the nodes do not contain melanoma.There is no distant spread.

Any T,N3,M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and may be or may not be ulcerated.It had spread to 4 or more nearby lymph nodes or to nearby lymph nodes that are clumped together, or it has spread to nearby skin or lymphatic channels around te original tumor and to nearby lymph nodes.The nodes are enlarged because of the melanoma.There is no distant spread.

Since you didn't create profile/no information on primary/lymph nodes involvement, you can make an approximate  assessment  where you stand stage wise.Stage IV  is anything with distant spread involved so It is very important to do PET/CAT scans to determine your exact staging.

Best wishes,

Teodora

Hi Tricia,

Stage IIIB

One of the following applies:

T1b toT4b,N1a or N2a,M0:The melanoma can be of any thickness and is ulcerated.It had spread o 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area, but the nodes are not enlarged and the melanoma is found only when they are viewd under microscope.There is no distant spread.

T1a  toT4a,Nb1 or N2b,M0:The melanoma can be of any thickness, but it is not ulcerated.It has spread to 1 to 3 lypph nodes near the affected skin area.The nodes are enlarged because of the melanoma.There is no distant spread.

T1a to T4a, N2c,M0:The melanoma can be of any thickness,but it is not ulcerated.It has spread to small areas of nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor,but the nodes do not contain melanoma.There is no distant spread.

Stage IIIC

One of the following applies:

T1b to T4b,N1b orN2b,M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and is ulcerated.It had spread o 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area, the nodes are not enlarged  because of the melanoma.There is no distant spread.

T1b to T4b,N2c,M0: The melanoma can be of any thichness and it is ulcerated.It has spread to small areas of nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor but the nodes do not contain melanoma.There is no distant spread.

Any T,N3,M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and may be or may not be ulcerated.It had spread to 4 or more nearby lymph nodes or to nearby lymph nodes that are clumped together, or it has spread to nearby skin or lymphatic channels around te original tumor and to nearby lymph nodes.The nodes are enlarged because of the melanoma.There is no distant spread.

Since you didn't create profile/no information on primary/lymph nodes involvement, you can make an approximate  assessment  where you stand stage wise.Stage IV  is anything with distant spread involved so It is very important to do PET/CAT scans to determine your exact staging.

Best wishes,

Teodora