› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Pregnancy and Melanoma?
- This topic has 30 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 10 months ago by CWeclaw.
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- May 10, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Has anyone developed melanoma while pregnant or shortly after?
I just think it's intresting that two moles on my body changed while I was pregnant with my son and turns out they were both melanoma in situ. I just wonder if there's a link since your body chemistry changes so much while your pregnant.
Has anyone developed melanoma while pregnant or shortly after?
I just think it's intresting that two moles on my body changed while I was pregnant with my son and turns out they were both melanoma in situ. I just wonder if there's a link since your body chemistry changes so much while your pregnant.
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- May 10, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I think it is deffinately corelation between melanoma and pregnancy .
Hormones are the answer.
I had my IVF treatment ,so I injected in my body ''pregnancy '' hormones even in bigger dosage then during ''normal'' pregnancy.
I ended up with melanoma on my breast.
I was told I better not to be pregnant during next 3 years.Because me and my husband already had problems with pregnancy before my diagnosys ,so I cannot see it can happen in 3 years.We are adopitng.
And yes ,I heard a lot of stories , women developed melanoma during pregnancy
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- June 4, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Please find the link to an excellent clinical trial on the issue of Pregnancy and Melanoma by Dr. Natasha Mesnikova at Cleveland Clinic published in obgynnews:
This is a well-designed study , with statistically siginificant results that show a clear increase in mortality, recurrence and metastais in melanoma patients either pregnant or shortly after pregnancy..
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- June 4, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Please find the link to an excellent clinical trial on the issue of Pregnancy and Melanoma by Dr. Natasha Mesnikova at Cleveland Clinic published in obgynnews:
This is a well-designed study , with statistically siginificant results that show a clear increase in mortality, recurrence and metastais in melanoma patients either pregnant or shortly after pregnancy..
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- June 4, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Please find the link to an excellent clinical trial on the issue of Pregnancy and Melanoma by Dr. Natasha Mesnikova at Cleveland Clinic published in obgynnews:
This is a well-designed study , with statistically siginificant results that show a clear increase in mortality, recurrence and metastais in melanoma patients either pregnant or shortly after pregnancy..
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- May 10, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I think it is deffinately corelation between melanoma and pregnancy .
Hormones are the answer.
I had my IVF treatment ,so I injected in my body ''pregnancy '' hormones even in bigger dosage then during ''normal'' pregnancy.
I ended up with melanoma on my breast.
I was told I better not to be pregnant during next 3 years.Because me and my husband already had problems with pregnancy before my diagnosys ,so I cannot see it can happen in 3 years.We are adopitng.
And yes ,I heard a lot of stories , women developed melanoma during pregnancy
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- May 10, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I think it is deffinately corelation between melanoma and pregnancy .
Hormones are the answer.
I had my IVF treatment ,so I injected in my body ''pregnancy '' hormones even in bigger dosage then during ''normal'' pregnancy.
I ended up with melanoma on my breast.
I was told I better not to be pregnant during next 3 years.Because me and my husband already had problems with pregnancy before my diagnosys ,so I cannot see it can happen in 3 years.We are adopitng.
And yes ,I heard a lot of stories , women developed melanoma during pregnancy
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm
3 months after the birth of my first child, I had a mole on my back removed that was melanoma in situ. 5 months after the birth of my second child, a 3 cm tumor was found in my brain.
Although all my doctors do not think they are directly related, it is extremely suspicous in my and my husbands mind. I will not be getting pregnant again!
In addition, I am a strong believer that stress contributes to the susceptibility of a person to develop cancer. The last 3 years have been the most stressful of my life. Add the immune system suppression that pregnancy causes and the high risk factors that I possess for melanoma and it was a perfect storm.
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:51 pm
I find your story very shocking and scary because I've had a few in situs and told I am fine and there is not a capacity for spreading, it is not possible. I am wondering if you had your pathology looked at more than once and if it was done by dermatopathoalogist? I read you were in military and I am sorry to say I am ex military and found the care to be sub-par. I hope you will have many healthy years in front of you. You are living my worst fear because us in situ folks are always told no reason to worry that it cannot spread or that our odds are as good as getting hit by a bus, but there have been quite a few articles posted and stories where it did indeed spread to stage IV.
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:51 pm
I find your story very shocking and scary because I've had a few in situs and told I am fine and there is not a capacity for spreading, it is not possible. I am wondering if you had your pathology looked at more than once and if it was done by dermatopathoalogist? I read you were in military and I am sorry to say I am ex military and found the care to be sub-par. I hope you will have many healthy years in front of you. You are living my worst fear because us in situ folks are always told no reason to worry that it cannot spread or that our odds are as good as getting hit by a bus, but there have been quite a few articles posted and stories where it did indeed spread to stage IV.
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:51 pm
I find your story very shocking and scary because I've had a few in situs and told I am fine and there is not a capacity for spreading, it is not possible. I am wondering if you had your pathology looked at more than once and if it was done by dermatopathoalogist? I read you were in military and I am sorry to say I am ex military and found the care to be sub-par. I hope you will have many healthy years in front of you. You are living my worst fear because us in situ folks are always told no reason to worry that it cannot spread or that our odds are as good as getting hit by a bus, but there have been quite a few articles posted and stories where it did indeed spread to stage IV.
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm
3 months after the birth of my first child, I had a mole on my back removed that was melanoma in situ. 5 months after the birth of my second child, a 3 cm tumor was found in my brain.
Although all my doctors do not think they are directly related, it is extremely suspicous in my and my husbands mind. I will not be getting pregnant again!
In addition, I am a strong believer that stress contributes to the susceptibility of a person to develop cancer. The last 3 years have been the most stressful of my life. Add the immune system suppression that pregnancy causes and the high risk factors that I possess for melanoma and it was a perfect storm.
-
- May 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm
3 months after the birth of my first child, I had a mole on my back removed that was melanoma in situ. 5 months after the birth of my second child, a 3 cm tumor was found in my brain.
Although all my doctors do not think they are directly related, it is extremely suspicous in my and my husbands mind. I will not be getting pregnant again!
In addition, I am a strong believer that stress contributes to the susceptibility of a person to develop cancer. The last 3 years have been the most stressful of my life. Add the immune system suppression that pregnancy causes and the high risk factors that I possess for melanoma and it was a perfect storm.
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- May 13, 2012 at 2:18 am
Ive been researching this practically religiously since i was diagnosed while pregnant with my son, i had had this mole for as long as i remember and it did not change until i became pregnant. Some doctors say they have a direct correlation with each other and other doctors say there is no connection. I dont understand how they say they cant be connected. When your pregnant your body tells everything to grow, so why not cancer cells? Maybe the cells were already in our bodies? I dont know but its confusing! I agree with the other reply too. I am 25 and my husband and I have one son and i want to get my tubes tied for this exact reason. I dont want another pregnancy to spark another lesion and i dont want to take the risk of the melanoma passing to the baby. -
- May 13, 2012 at 2:18 am
Ive been researching this practically religiously since i was diagnosed while pregnant with my son, i had had this mole for as long as i remember and it did not change until i became pregnant. Some doctors say they have a direct correlation with each other and other doctors say there is no connection. I dont understand how they say they cant be connected. When your pregnant your body tells everything to grow, so why not cancer cells? Maybe the cells were already in our bodies? I dont know but its confusing! I agree with the other reply too. I am 25 and my husband and I have one son and i want to get my tubes tied for this exact reason. I dont want another pregnancy to spark another lesion and i dont want to take the risk of the melanoma passing to the baby. -
- May 13, 2012 at 2:18 am
Ive been researching this practically religiously since i was diagnosed while pregnant with my son, i had had this mole for as long as i remember and it did not change until i became pregnant. Some doctors say they have a direct correlation with each other and other doctors say there is no connection. I dont understand how they say they cant be connected. When your pregnant your body tells everything to grow, so why not cancer cells? Maybe the cells were already in our bodies? I dont know but its confusing! I agree with the other reply too. I am 25 and my husband and I have one son and i want to get my tubes tied for this exact reason. I dont want another pregnancy to spark another lesion and i dont want to take the risk of the melanoma passing to the baby. -
- May 16, 2012 at 6:00 am
My doctor's tell me there's a definite link, even though the research suggests that the link remains unclear.
I had a melanoma in situ 3 months before falling pregnant with my son, then a stage 1a melanoma in the third trimester which was removed shortly after the birth, then a stage 1b melanoma 5 months later. My oncologist warned me that the second and third melanomas were pregnancy related. My dermatologist also warned me that she has seen many women present with thick melanomas during pregnancy that grow much faster than usual, and that it is still unclear whether pregnancy activates micrometastatic disease. Also, the body's immune system is such as that the fetus does not get rejected during pregnancy – much like cancer.
I was told never to have another pregnancy, and to be sterilised just in case.
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- May 16, 2012 at 6:00 am
My doctor's tell me there's a definite link, even though the research suggests that the link remains unclear.
I had a melanoma in situ 3 months before falling pregnant with my son, then a stage 1a melanoma in the third trimester which was removed shortly after the birth, then a stage 1b melanoma 5 months later. My oncologist warned me that the second and third melanomas were pregnancy related. My dermatologist also warned me that she has seen many women present with thick melanomas during pregnancy that grow much faster than usual, and that it is still unclear whether pregnancy activates micrometastatic disease. Also, the body's immune system is such as that the fetus does not get rejected during pregnancy – much like cancer.
I was told never to have another pregnancy, and to be sterilised just in case.
-
- May 16, 2012 at 6:00 am
My doctor's tell me there's a definite link, even though the research suggests that the link remains unclear.
I had a melanoma in situ 3 months before falling pregnant with my son, then a stage 1a melanoma in the third trimester which was removed shortly after the birth, then a stage 1b melanoma 5 months later. My oncologist warned me that the second and third melanomas were pregnancy related. My dermatologist also warned me that she has seen many women present with thick melanomas during pregnancy that grow much faster than usual, and that it is still unclear whether pregnancy activates micrometastatic disease. Also, the body's immune system is such as that the fetus does not get rejected during pregnancy – much like cancer.
I was told never to have another pregnancy, and to be sterilised just in case.
-
- May 16, 2012 at 6:00 am
My doctor's tell me there's a definite link, even though the research suggests that the link remains unclear.
I had a melanoma in situ 3 months before falling pregnant with my son, then a stage 1a melanoma in the third trimester which was removed shortly after the birth, then a stage 1b melanoma 5 months later. My oncologist warned me that the second and third melanomas were pregnancy related. My dermatologist also warned me that she has seen many women present with thick melanomas during pregnancy that grow much faster than usual, and that it is still unclear whether pregnancy activates micrometastatic disease. Also, the body's immune system is such as that the fetus does not get rejected during pregnancy – much like cancer.
I was told never to have another pregnancy, and to be sterilised just in case.
-
- May 16, 2012 at 6:00 am
My doctor's tell me there's a definite link, even though the research suggests that the link remains unclear.
I had a melanoma in situ 3 months before falling pregnant with my son, then a stage 1a melanoma in the third trimester which was removed shortly after the birth, then a stage 1b melanoma 5 months later. My oncologist warned me that the second and third melanomas were pregnancy related. My dermatologist also warned me that she has seen many women present with thick melanomas during pregnancy that grow much faster than usual, and that it is still unclear whether pregnancy activates micrometastatic disease. Also, the body's immune system is such as that the fetus does not get rejected during pregnancy – much like cancer.
I was told never to have another pregnancy, and to be sterilised just in case.
-
- May 16, 2012 at 6:00 am
My doctor's tell me there's a definite link, even though the research suggests that the link remains unclear.
I had a melanoma in situ 3 months before falling pregnant with my son, then a stage 1a melanoma in the third trimester which was removed shortly after the birth, then a stage 1b melanoma 5 months later. My oncologist warned me that the second and third melanomas were pregnancy related. My dermatologist also warned me that she has seen many women present with thick melanomas during pregnancy that grow much faster than usual, and that it is still unclear whether pregnancy activates micrometastatic disease. Also, the body's immune system is such as that the fetus does not get rejected during pregnancy – much like cancer.
I was told never to have another pregnancy, and to be sterilised just in case.
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- May 18, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Hi, I have had a similar experience, I had a fairly large mole on my mid back that was there for a long time as best I can remember, while I was pregnant with my son during 2010, my husband remarked that he thought it was growing. I didn’t think much of it to start with, but then I touched it and it felt a bit sore. 6 months after giving birth I finally got around to having it removed, unfortunately it was Clark III and 1.1mm thick, and just over a year later, I have significant lymph node involvement and tiny spots in the lungs.
While I have never investigated just whether being pregnant did set the whole thing off (I was never going to have another baby anyway), I do have a strong feeling that it had something to do with it. Kicking myself for waiting those 6+ months to do anything about it! -
- May 18, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Hi, I have had a similar experience, I had a fairly large mole on my mid back that was there for a long time as best I can remember, while I was pregnant with my son during 2010, my husband remarked that he thought it was growing. I didn’t think much of it to start with, but then I touched it and it felt a bit sore. 6 months after giving birth I finally got around to having it removed, unfortunately it was Clark III and 1.1mm thick, and just over a year later, I have significant lymph node involvement and tiny spots in the lungs.
While I have never investigated just whether being pregnant did set the whole thing off (I was never going to have another baby anyway), I do have a strong feeling that it had something to do with it. Kicking myself for waiting those 6+ months to do anything about it! -
- May 18, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Hi, I have had a similar experience, I had a fairly large mole on my mid back that was there for a long time as best I can remember, while I was pregnant with my son during 2010, my husband remarked that he thought it was growing. I didn’t think much of it to start with, but then I touched it and it felt a bit sore. 6 months after giving birth I finally got around to having it removed, unfortunately it was Clark III and 1.1mm thick, and just over a year later, I have significant lymph node involvement and tiny spots in the lungs.
While I have never investigated just whether being pregnant did set the whole thing off (I was never going to have another baby anyway), I do have a strong feeling that it had something to do with it. Kicking myself for waiting those 6+ months to do anything about it! -
- August 23, 2012 at 3:40 pm
I was diagnosed with melanoma when I was 30 weeks pregnant. My doctors are telling me that I should not get pregnant again because there is not enough research to show whether there is a link between pregnancy. They think the link could have something to do with the immune system (not the hormones). Does anyone know of any doctors who are specifically looking/researching this potential link?
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- August 23, 2012 at 3:40 pm
I was diagnosed with melanoma when I was 30 weeks pregnant. My doctors are telling me that I should not get pregnant again because there is not enough research to show whether there is a link between pregnancy. They think the link could have something to do with the immune system (not the hormones). Does anyone know of any doctors who are specifically looking/researching this potential link?
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- August 23, 2012 at 3:40 pm
I was diagnosed with melanoma when I was 30 weeks pregnant. My doctors are telling me that I should not get pregnant again because there is not enough research to show whether there is a link between pregnancy. They think the link could have something to do with the immune system (not the hormones). Does anyone know of any doctors who are specifically looking/researching this potential link?
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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