PET Scan and results

Where was your primary lesion, how deep was it, and what led to you being termed stage 3a/b?

Where was your primary lesion, how deep was it, and what led to you being termed stage 3a/b?

Where was your primary lesion, how deep was it, and what led to you being termed stage 3a/b?

Hi Sharon,

I am also 3b, diagnosed in 2001. I know being Stage 3 can be a very scary place. I am assuming you had positive grion lymph nodes that brought you to Stage 3. Is it your oncologist who is telling you not to worry about this? I would probably be concerned given the 9 month span with hypermetabolic activity still present. Getting a biopsy of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes can be tricky. Often a Pulmonologist can do a procedure called an EBUS (endo-bronchial ultrasound) depending on the size and location. I know it may be difficult to question your current physician but I have learned, through this board, to never hesitate to get a second opinion. Hopefully it is nothing but it is your right to be concerned and act upon it. I'm sending prayers and positive thoughts your way.

Cynthia

Hi Sharon,

I am also 3b, diagnosed in 2001. I know being Stage 3 can be a very scary place. I am assuming you had positive grion lymph nodes that brought you to Stage 3. Is it your oncologist who is telling you not to worry about this? I would probably be concerned given the 9 month span with hypermetabolic activity still present. Getting a biopsy of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes can be tricky. Often a Pulmonologist can do a procedure called an EBUS (endo-bronchial ultrasound) depending on the size and location. I know it may be difficult to question your current physician but I have learned, through this board, to never hesitate to get a second opinion. Hopefully it is nothing but it is your right to be concerned and act upon it. I'm sending prayers and positive thoughts your way.

Cynthia

Hi Sharon,

I am also 3b, diagnosed in 2001. I know being Stage 3 can be a very scary place. I am assuming you had positive grion lymph nodes that brought you to Stage 3. Is it your oncologist who is telling you not to worry about this? I would probably be concerned given the 9 month span with hypermetabolic activity still present. Getting a biopsy of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes can be tricky. Often a Pulmonologist can do a procedure called an EBUS (endo-bronchial ultrasound) depending on the size and location. I know it may be difficult to question your current physician but I have learned, through this board, to never hesitate to get a second opinion. Hopefully it is nothing but it is your right to be concerned and act upon it. I'm sending prayers and positive thoughts your way.

Cynthia

Well, you didn't answer my questions but I see from your profile that your original lesion was on your leg and it was <1.0mm deep. I assume that you are stage III because they found positive lymph nodes in your groin, probably on the rigth side. Is that correct?

PET scans are very good for quick-and-dirty screening. The problem with them is that they often give false positives, especially for lymph nodes. Lymph nodes can become activated by a lot of things and since the hilum and mediastnum lymph nodes are along the trachea and bronchii, a respiratory infection could well cause them to light up on a PET scan. Since they haven't grown in the last 9 months, that is a good sign, too.

That being said, with a history of stage III melanoma plus the radiologist's opinion, you would be wise to find out for sure what is going on. At the very least, you should probably get a CT scan, which is more detailed and less prone to false positives than are PET scans. Depending on those results, a biopsy may be in order. 

If you are not currently going to a melanoma center of excellence, you should probably do that now. If you need help finding one, ask the people here. But definitely get a second opinion and probably some more diagnostic tests from a melanoma specialty clinic. The alarm bells that went off in your head were a very good thing. It means that you have educated yourself about melanoma and are already being your own best health advocate. 

Good luck and please do keep us posted as to how things go.

Well, you didn't answer my questions but I see from your profile that your original lesion was on your leg and it was <1.0mm deep. I assume that you are stage III because they found positive lymph nodes in your groin, probably on the rigth side. Is that correct?

PET scans are very good for quick-and-dirty screening. The problem with them is that they often give false positives, especially for lymph nodes. Lymph nodes can become activated by a lot of things and since the hilum and mediastnum lymph nodes are along the trachea and bronchii, a respiratory infection could well cause them to light up on a PET scan. Since they haven't grown in the last 9 months, that is a good sign, too.

That being said, with a history of stage III melanoma plus the radiologist's opinion, you would be wise to find out for sure what is going on. At the very least, you should probably get a CT scan, which is more detailed and less prone to false positives than are PET scans. Depending on those results, a biopsy may be in order. 

If you are not currently going to a melanoma center of excellence, you should probably do that now. If you need help finding one, ask the people here. But definitely get a second opinion and probably some more diagnostic tests from a melanoma specialty clinic. The alarm bells that went off in your head were a very good thing. It means that you have educated yourself about melanoma and are already being your own best health advocate. 

Good luck and please do keep us posted as to how things go.

Well, you didn't answer my questions but I see from your profile that your original lesion was on your leg and it was <1.0mm deep. I assume that you are stage III because they found positive lymph nodes in your groin, probably on the rigth side. Is that correct?

PET scans are very good for quick-and-dirty screening. The problem with them is that they often give false positives, especially for lymph nodes. Lymph nodes can become activated by a lot of things and since the hilum and mediastnum lymph nodes are along the trachea and bronchii, a respiratory infection could well cause them to light up on a PET scan. Since they haven't grown in the last 9 months, that is a good sign, too.

That being said, with a history of stage III melanoma plus the radiologist's opinion, you would be wise to find out for sure what is going on. At the very least, you should probably get a CT scan, which is more detailed and less prone to false positives than are PET scans. Depending on those results, a biopsy may be in order. 

If you are not currently going to a melanoma center of excellence, you should probably do that now. If you need help finding one, ask the people here. But definitely get a second opinion and probably some more diagnostic tests from a melanoma specialty clinic. The alarm bells that went off in your head were a very good thing. It means that you have educated yourself about melanoma and are already being your own best health advocate. 

Good luck and please do keep us posted as to how things go.

Have to agree that getting a second opinion or asking for further evalutaion is warranted. Hopefully it is nothing, but if it was me, I would want it evaluted. 

Tina

Have to agree that getting a second opinion or asking for further evalutaion is warranted. Hopefully it is nothing, but if it was me, I would want it evaluted. 

Tina

Have to agree that getting a second opinion or asking for further evalutaion is warranted. Hopefully it is nothing, but if it was me, I would want it evaluted. 

Tina