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one year anniversary diagnosis – NED
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one year anniversary diagnosis – NED

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › one year anniversary diagnosis – NED

  • Post
    • November 6, 2011 at 2:33 am
    heg50heg
    Participant

      Today has been 1 year since I have been diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. My Dr. says the first two years are the most serious times that melanoma can return, or at least that is when you are the most at risk for reoccurance. Any feedback on that would be appreciated as the oncologist I am seeing is not a melanoma specialist but a general practicioner of all cancers. So that is what I am wondering if after the first 2 years does my chances of advancing to stage 4 go down or what.

      Today has been 1 year since I have been diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. My Dr. says the first two years are the most serious times that melanoma can return, or at least that is when you are the most at risk for reoccurance. Any feedback on that would be appreciated as the oncologist I am seeing is not a melanoma specialist but a general practicioner of all cancers. So that is what I am wondering if after the first 2 years does my chances of advancing to stage 4 go down or what.

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 6, 2011 at 2:58 am
        AlisonC
        Participant
          Hi Heg,

          If you google, you can find Mel survival curves that show a decreasing curve….the biggest drop is the first 2 years so yes, statistically, once you have passed that first 2 years, you are more likely to be in the population that has no recurrence. The risk is never gone but it does lessen.

          My current supervising oncologist (I work on contract in Asia) is a general onco, but I do still keep up with my Mel specialist, and I think it would be valuable for you to establish a relationship with one. While a general onc is fine for your ongoing monitoring, you want someone who is instantly across all your options if you recur and a general onc won’t be.

          Good luck that you’re NED for many many more years 🙂

          AlisonC
          Stage IIIB
          NED since 2001

            • November 6, 2011 at 5:30 am
            JerryfromFauq
            Participant

              Do like the way those curves tend to level out.   Hoping that they work like that for stayiing stable to!

              • November 6, 2011 at 5:30 am
              JerryfromFauq
              Participant

                Do like the way those curves tend to level out.   Hoping that they work like that for stayiing stable to!

                • November 6, 2011 at 5:30 am
                JerryfromFauq
                Participant

                  Do like the way those curves tend to level out.   Hoping that they work like that for stayiing stable to!

                  • November 6, 2011 at 5:26 pm
                  LynnLuc
                  Participant

                    I had mine removed the first time from my neck and they said it was precancerous…it came back about 4 years laterin the same spot, but instead of a flat freckle it was a purple eraser looking thing- then I had it removed in 2000 with 5 sent. lymp nodes ( all were clear). They told me I had nothing to worry about…they didn't offer any treatment or even suggest follow-up… and it came back as stage 4 in 2009 pressing against my superior vena cava.  We don't have the peace of thinking that if we get outside of 5 years that its not coming back. :o(.  Lynn

                    • November 6, 2011 at 5:26 pm
                    LynnLuc
                    Participant

                      I had mine removed the first time from my neck and they said it was precancerous…it came back about 4 years laterin the same spot, but instead of a flat freckle it was a purple eraser looking thing- then I had it removed in 2000 with 5 sent. lymp nodes ( all were clear). They told me I had nothing to worry about…they didn't offer any treatment or even suggest follow-up… and it came back as stage 4 in 2009 pressing against my superior vena cava.  We don't have the peace of thinking that if we get outside of 5 years that its not coming back. :o(.  Lynn

                      • November 6, 2011 at 5:26 pm
                      LynnLuc
                      Participant

                        I had mine removed the first time from my neck and they said it was precancerous…it came back about 4 years laterin the same spot, but instead of a flat freckle it was a purple eraser looking thing- then I had it removed in 2000 with 5 sent. lymp nodes ( all were clear). They told me I had nothing to worry about…they didn't offer any treatment or even suggest follow-up… and it came back as stage 4 in 2009 pressing against my superior vena cava.  We don't have the peace of thinking that if we get outside of 5 years that its not coming back. :o(.  Lynn

                      • November 6, 2011 at 2:58 am
                      AlisonC
                      Participant
                        Hi Heg,

                        If you google, you can find Mel survival curves that show a decreasing curve….the biggest drop is the first 2 years so yes, statistically, once you have passed that first 2 years, you are more likely to be in the population that has no recurrence. The risk is never gone but it does lessen.

                        My current supervising oncologist (I work on contract in Asia) is a general onco, but I do still keep up with my Mel specialist, and I think it would be valuable for you to establish a relationship with one. While a general onc is fine for your ongoing monitoring, you want someone who is instantly across all your options if you recur and a general onc won’t be.

                        Good luck that you’re NED for many many more years 🙂

                        AlisonC
                        Stage IIIB
                        NED since 2001

                        • November 6, 2011 at 2:58 am
                        AlisonC
                        Participant
                          Hi Heg,

                          If you google, you can find Mel survival curves that show a decreasing curve….the biggest drop is the first 2 years so yes, statistically, once you have passed that first 2 years, you are more likely to be in the population that has no recurrence. The risk is never gone but it does lessen.

                          My current supervising oncologist (I work on contract in Asia) is a general onco, but I do still keep up with my Mel specialist, and I think it would be valuable for you to establish a relationship with one. While a general onc is fine for your ongoing monitoring, you want someone who is instantly across all your options if you recur and a general onc won’t be.

                          Good luck that you’re NED for many many more years 🙂

                          AlisonC
                          Stage IIIB
                          NED since 2001

                      Viewing 2 reply threads
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