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- This topic has 10 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by
bekahboo82.
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- August 12, 2011 at 1:07 am
Hi there everyone. I have been following the board for a few months and have been impressed with the wealth of information and knowledge. I have been afraid to post anything because I have "in situ" disease and don't feel like it's my place to ask questions when there are so many people here with real problems. But I have mustered the courage to ask a few questions as everyone seems to be so open and willing to help. So here goes.
Hi there everyone. I have been following the board for a few months and have been impressed with the wealth of information and knowledge. I have been afraid to post anything because I have "in situ" disease and don't feel like it's my place to ask questions when there are so many people here with real problems. But I have mustered the courage to ask a few questions as everyone seems to be so open and willing to help. So here goes.
As I stated above, I was diagnosed with Melanoma in situ (Mis) Sept. 2009. The path from the shave biopsy showed the lesion extending to the lateral margin. I was treated with a WLE and the path came back as "scar and fibrosis with no evidence of residual neoplasm." I now see my Derm every 6 months for skin checks. Should I be satisfied with skin checks or should I request a PET/CT scan "just to be sure?" I have also heard talk of "mitotic rate" of which my path report didnt address. It also didn't talk about Breslow depth either. And I am asuming Clark level I since it was in situ. Is there not mitotic rate or Breslow depth with in situ disease? I am sorry if these are dumb questions. I am just trying to get a grip on the whole thing (still 2 years later none-the-less) and I want to do everything I can to catch these early if I am prone to them. I am 29 years old and plan to be dealing with this for a long, long time. Thanks to everyone who can offer any answers/advice!!
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- August 12, 2011 at 1:16 am
There are no wrong questions! I learned the hard way when I didn't ask enough questions during my mothers breast cancer. Now I ask questions all of the time.
If a miotic rate is not mentioned then that means there isn't one. That's good! In-situ means that you are stage 0. In a very rare case or two in-situ can metasticize but I think the chance is less than 1%. We do have someone on the board that it happened to.
They do not scan less then stage 2. Even then many institutions will not scan unless stage 3. Radiation itself can be harmful and they look at benefit vs risk. Most insurance companies would also not pay at stage 0.
As time passes you will feel more comfortable. Most on this board are at advanced stages or are newly diagnosed. We do have a few that are knowledgable and hang around to give others information. Reading here can often cause anxiety for those with low stages.
Make sure to continue appointments with your dermatologist and look for changes in your own body.
Linda
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- August 12, 2011 at 1:25 am
Thank you so much for the insight! I have learned that reading too much can have a tendency to make a person go crazy! I guess I am being overly cautious with the whole PET/CT thing so I wanted everyone's "expert opinion" Thanks again!!
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- August 12, 2011 at 1:25 am
Thank you so much for the insight! I have learned that reading too much can have a tendency to make a person go crazy! I guess I am being overly cautious with the whole PET/CT thing so I wanted everyone's "expert opinion" Thanks again!!
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- August 12, 2011 at 1:16 am
There are no wrong questions! I learned the hard way when I didn't ask enough questions during my mothers breast cancer. Now I ask questions all of the time.
If a miotic rate is not mentioned then that means there isn't one. That's good! In-situ means that you are stage 0. In a very rare case or two in-situ can metasticize but I think the chance is less than 1%. We do have someone on the board that it happened to.
They do not scan less then stage 2. Even then many institutions will not scan unless stage 3. Radiation itself can be harmful and they look at benefit vs risk. Most insurance companies would also not pay at stage 0.
As time passes you will feel more comfortable. Most on this board are at advanced stages or are newly diagnosed. We do have a few that are knowledgable and hang around to give others information. Reading here can often cause anxiety for those with low stages.
Make sure to continue appointments with your dermatologist and look for changes in your own body.
Linda
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- August 12, 2011 at 3:17 am
Hi and congrats for being two years out, and catching this so early too!
In situ means "in place", so it has no Breslow depth, and yes, it is also Clarks Level 1. If a mitosis was not listed, it will be 0.
A PET/CAT does not show any microscopic disease, only macro, so that really does you no good either. Since insitu means "in place" it has not yet traveled through your three layers of skin.
BTW, insitu has virtually 100% 5 and 10 year survival (99.9%), so be happy.
Just keep doing what you are doing, derm visits, skin checks for "change", and enjoy life.
Michael 1B-almost three years out form diagnosis.
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- August 12, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Thank you Michael! I guess the long and short of it is to be vigilent in sun protection (which I am) and do frequent skin checks (which I do). I really appreciate the feedback!
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- August 12, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Thank you Michael! I guess the long and short of it is to be vigilent in sun protection (which I am) and do frequent skin checks (which I do). I really appreciate the feedback!
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- August 12, 2011 at 3:17 am
Hi and congrats for being two years out, and catching this so early too!
In situ means "in place", so it has no Breslow depth, and yes, it is also Clarks Level 1. If a mitosis was not listed, it will be 0.
A PET/CAT does not show any microscopic disease, only macro, so that really does you no good either. Since insitu means "in place" it has not yet traveled through your three layers of skin.
BTW, insitu has virtually 100% 5 and 10 year survival (99.9%), so be happy.
Just keep doing what you are doing, derm visits, skin checks for "change", and enjoy life.
Michael 1B-almost three years out form diagnosis.
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