Recurrence? What does it look like?

Denise,

As Michael said looking at a picture is difficult. Recurrances can be so different for each person.  Very recently on my 2nd day of radiation I saw a lump on my arm. Radiologist immediately called my local oncologist. I saw her 2 days later. She was certain it was mel and said it felt just like my tumor last summer.  She then had me go to my mel specialist. This was right before July 4th and I had to wait till the 5th to get scheduled for a PET scan. Pet was clear. Mel specialist was sure it was back – very close to surgery site from 4 weeks before. He had my surgeon who is down the hall do an  FNA that afternoon. Came back clear. Mel specialist wasn't convinced. They had my local derm excise it.  From the outside he was very concerned. Once he cut me he said it just didn't have a mel texture and thought it was a lipoma. He found 3 distinct nodules.  Ends up he was right, a lipoma.  My point is until it's biopsied they just don't know.

Last year my local oncologist and the local surgeon (I have way to many Doctors) thought the lump was nothing, they thought it was a blood clot. The 1st PET showed nothing, it was too small but I had felt it while itching my arm. They did an ultrasound and got a measurement. One month later it had grown by 1mm and they did an FNA. Mel was back. That time they thought benign and it was positive.   I'd call your surgeon. They are usually the ones that do FNA's.

Having to be referred does slow down the process!

Linda

My itch was totally coincedental. I was laying on the bed talking on the phone. Once I found the lump it was so tiny that I had a hard time finding it to show the Dr!  It was deep inside the arm, not on the skin. 

Healing incisions always itch. Also your skin could just be having a reaction. Right now I have a sharp dark point. The derm looked at it and thinks it's a stitch from inside working out. Because of the radiation I've formed a blister around it. He wouldn't touch it because it's in the radiation field. 

I would call the surgeon but in the meanwhile keep your hands off. You don't want to inflame anything incase it's just a skin reaction. People tend to palpitate lumps and bumps and make them worse while you wait.

Let us know!

Linda

My itch was totally coincedental. I was laying on the bed talking on the phone. Once I found the lump it was so tiny that I had a hard time finding it to show the Dr!  It was deep inside the arm, not on the skin. 

Healing incisions always itch. Also your skin could just be having a reaction. Right now I have a sharp dark point. The derm looked at it and thinks it's a stitch from inside working out. Because of the radiation I've formed a blister around it. He wouldn't touch it because it's in the radiation field. 

I would call the surgeon but in the meanwhile keep your hands off. You don't want to inflame anything incase it's just a skin reaction. People tend to palpitate lumps and bumps and make them worse while you wait.

Let us know!

Linda

It could be anything or nothing. But since it is so close to your scar, you should have it looked at.

Michael

It could be anything or nothing. But since it is so close to your scar, you should have it looked at.

Michael

Denise,

As Michael said looking at a picture is difficult. Recurrances can be so different for each person.  Very recently on my 2nd day of radiation I saw a lump on my arm. Radiologist immediately called my local oncologist. I saw her 2 days later. She was certain it was mel and said it felt just like my tumor last summer.  She then had me go to my mel specialist. This was right before July 4th and I had to wait till the 5th to get scheduled for a PET scan. Pet was clear. Mel specialist was sure it was back – very close to surgery site from 4 weeks before. He had my surgeon who is down the hall do an  FNA that afternoon. Came back clear. Mel specialist wasn't convinced. They had my local derm excise it.  From the outside he was very concerned. Once he cut me he said it just didn't have a mel texture and thought it was a lipoma. He found 3 distinct nodules.  Ends up he was right, a lipoma.  My point is until it's biopsied they just don't know.

Last year my local oncologist and the local surgeon (I have way to many Doctors) thought the lump was nothing, they thought it was a blood clot. The 1st PET showed nothing, it was too small but I had felt it while itching my arm. They did an ultrasound and got a measurement. One month later it had grown by 1mm and they did an FNA. Mel was back. That time they thought benign and it was positive.   I'd call your surgeon. They are usually the ones that do FNA's.

Having to be referred does slow down the process!

Linda