› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Question about my husband, Jim
- This topic has 6 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 6 months ago by
Janner.
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- September 28, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Since his (July 2006) original Melanoma started as Nodular Melanoma on the lower right scalp, local recurrence 2 years later, then waited 1 year got it removed in August 2009. And at time, we knew it had spread to the cervical lymph node on the right. Since that time the cervical lymph node has got very large, and everything remained the same. Then the beginning of September (2010), all of a sudden we have a lumps in right chest area, one lump on the right side of back…..then all of a sudden, lumps on the LEFT SIDE (lower side area) , one on LEFT S
Since his (July 2006) original Melanoma started as Nodular Melanoma on the lower right scalp, local recurrence 2 years later, then waited 1 year got it removed in August 2009. And at time, we knew it had spread to the cervical lymph node on the right. Since that time the cervical lymph node has got very large, and everything remained the same. Then the beginning of September (2010), all of a sudden we have a lumps in right chest area, one lump on the right side of back…..then all of a sudden, lumps on the LEFT SIDE (lower side area) , one on LEFT SHOULDER, and 2 more on LEFT SIDE OF BACK. NOW ANOTHER ONE, IN THE FRONT OF his ear , again (LEFT EAR )..Also another one on his neck (the LEFT SIDE). He also has 2 lumps in his upper thigh area (small ones), can't remember which side. Hard to keep up with them, because they were coming so fast . Are all these lymph node or tumors, or somse of both. MY question is did this spread through the cervical lymph node on the right side, or from the blood stream. Since we have had no WLE, no SNB, no anything, is it likely that the Melanoma is already involved in the organs, possibly.? I am trying to prepare myself for what is to come. I am just trying to understand how it spreads. I thought it mostly stayed on the same side.\This has been really scary since all this has happened within a 3 week span….Now, things appear to have settled down.
Thank you for your responses.
Take Care,
Sherron, wife to Jim
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- September 28, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Hi Sherron,
From your description, it sounds to me like these new bumps are subcutaneous tumors, and the most likely way it spread was through the blood stream (e.g, stage IV disease). I don't think there's any way to predict whether there is MM in the organs, or not. Some people have it set up shop in the organ systems very quickly, while others can have literally hundreds of subcutaneous tumors with clean organ systems. I wish we knew why that happend and could make some good use of it!
I think I remember your story – your husband prefers not to treat in order to maximize quality of life, is that correct? If he's not in significant pain, and if there's no significant organ involvement, it's possible that an appreciable "quantity" of that quality of life still is available for you both. I wish you well…
warmly,
KatyWI
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- September 28, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Yes, Katy, that is Jim….He cares about quality of life. and for the past 4 years 1 month, everything was going well, until about 3 weeks ago….when all this started happening. He has had discomfort in some of the lumps. And he has had some stomach issues. I have been quite worried about the stomach. He has missed about 2 1/2 weeks of work. He feels a little better and is now working again. I know when it gets very painful, he will go to get pain medication. So, you think this is being spread through the blood stream.
Thank you for answering me.
Take Care,
Sherron, wife to Jim
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- September 28, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Yes, Katy, that is Jim….He cares about quality of life. and for the past 4 years 1 month, everything was going well, until about 3 weeks ago….when all this started happening. He has had discomfort in some of the lumps. And he has had some stomach issues. I have been quite worried about the stomach. He has missed about 2 1/2 weeks of work. He feels a little better and is now working again. I know when it gets very painful, he will go to get pain medication. So, you think this is being spread through the blood stream.
Thank you for answering me.
Take Care,
Sherron, wife to Jim
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- September 28, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Hi Sherron,
From your description, it sounds to me like these new bumps are subcutaneous tumors, and the most likely way it spread was through the blood stream (e.g, stage IV disease). I don't think there's any way to predict whether there is MM in the organs, or not. Some people have it set up shop in the organ systems very quickly, while others can have literally hundreds of subcutaneous tumors with clean organ systems. I wish we knew why that happend and could make some good use of it!
I think I remember your story – your husband prefers not to treat in order to maximize quality of life, is that correct? If he's not in significant pain, and if there's no significant organ involvement, it's possible that an appreciable "quantity" of that quality of life still is available for you both. I wish you well…
warmly,
KatyWI
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- September 28, 2010 at 11:09 pm
You could actually have both lymphatic spread and blood stream spread, Sherron. No way to know for sure. But when you talk about areas beyond multiple nodal basins (legs), it's most likely via the bloodstream. As far as preparing yourself, you know what the worst can be. It doesn't take much imagination to go there. Hopefully, that's not the case. As for organ involvement, it's a crap shoot. Could happen, might not. This is a capricous beast and doesn't always do what is expected. Hopefully, Jim will see a doctor soon and you can get a better picture of what's going on so imagination doesn't take over!
Best wishes,
Janner
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- September 28, 2010 at 11:09 pm
You could actually have both lymphatic spread and blood stream spread, Sherron. No way to know for sure. But when you talk about areas beyond multiple nodal basins (legs), it's most likely via the bloodstream. As far as preparing yourself, you know what the worst can be. It doesn't take much imagination to go there. Hopefully, that's not the case. As for organ involvement, it's a crap shoot. Could happen, might not. This is a capricous beast and doesn't always do what is expected. Hopefully, Jim will see a doctor soon and you can get a better picture of what's going on so imagination doesn't take over!
Best wishes,
Janner
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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