› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Results of Sentinel Node Biopsy
- This topic has 20 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by
shelbug66.
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- August 10, 2011 at 12:23 am
hello….can anyone help me…I have been diagnosed with
melanoma and have had a wide excision and sentinel node biopsy. the
results of the snb came back with nothing present in the lymph
nodes…The depth of mine was 1.02mm but was all taken out with the wide excision. Does anyone know if I have anything to continue to worry about….I know that melanoma can come back anytime but I am still very nervous and my surgery was back in December 2010. I know that there are people that are in a worse condition as I am but am I stressing myself out? Thank you in advance..
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- August 10, 2011 at 1:20 am
Hi, and welcome.
It is good that your SNB and WLE came back clear. Congratulations!
Are you in NJ? (Burlington) and where are you being seen? Has a baseline scan been done? The docs may decide against it since your nodes were clear though. Also, do you know your stage? If you have your pathology report you can pot some additional information such as ulceration and mitotic rate and someone will assist you with staging. You may be either stage 1B or 2A.
Other than that, keep doing what you are doing and watch yourself for change, and keep up the derm visits. If you can, check your nodes monthly in that area as well, but don't rub them too much as they will actually get sore and swell.
Michael
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- August 10, 2011 at 1:20 am
Hi, and welcome.
It is good that your SNB and WLE came back clear. Congratulations!
Are you in NJ? (Burlington) and where are you being seen? Has a baseline scan been done? The docs may decide against it since your nodes were clear though. Also, do you know your stage? If you have your pathology report you can pot some additional information such as ulceration and mitotic rate and someone will assist you with staging. You may be either stage 1B or 2A.
Other than that, keep doing what you are doing and watch yourself for change, and keep up the derm visits. If you can, check your nodes monthly in that area as well, but don't rub them too much as they will actually get sore and swell.
Michael
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- August 11, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Hey Michael,
Thank you for your response and thank you for the congrats. I am currently in NJ and am being seen by a few different doctors. My dermatologist is at the Philadelphia Institute of Dermatology, Dr Maniloff/Dr Carlin, my surgical oncologist is Dr Giorgos Karakousis at Univ of Penn Hospital at the Perelman Center for Advance Medicine and just started seeing Dr Ming at the Pigmented Lesion Group at UPenn as well. I dont remember my doctor staging me but after researching I believe I am stage 1B. My pathology report said no ulceration. I did have another biopsy last monday that came back as a abnormal mole but wasnt melanoma though it was serious enough that I have to see my surgeon again(i believe to have another excision). I know that there are people in a worse condition than I am but Ive heard stories about stage 1 people going to stage 4 after thinking they were all clear and I am stressing that alot. Should I be worried about that happening to me or am I just stressing myself out? Thank you again for responding
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- August 18, 2011 at 2:43 pm
My husband is also one of those unlucky people who went from Stage 1 to Stage 4 with no warning. However, this does not mean it will happen to you.
You should be vigilant and be checked often. I would probably find yourself a melanoma specialist to be your go to person. My husband went to his dermatologist every 6 months like clockwork, but because everything was going on inside and nothing on his skin surface, they didn't catch his progression. That's why I think having a mel specialist involved in your care would be important. It may be what saves you from out of control progression.
That being said, you could also never, ever have another recurrence. There are many, many people on this site that started Stage 1 and still are.
Wishing you the very best of luck and health!
Michelle, wife of Don
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- August 18, 2011 at 2:43 pm
My husband is also one of those unlucky people who went from Stage 1 to Stage 4 with no warning. However, this does not mean it will happen to you.
You should be vigilant and be checked often. I would probably find yourself a melanoma specialist to be your go to person. My husband went to his dermatologist every 6 months like clockwork, but because everything was going on inside and nothing on his skin surface, they didn't catch his progression. That's why I think having a mel specialist involved in your care would be important. It may be what saves you from out of control progression.
That being said, you could also never, ever have another recurrence. There are many, many people on this site that started Stage 1 and still are.
Wishing you the very best of luck and health!
Michelle, wife of Don
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- August 11, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Hey Michael,
Thank you for your response and thank you for the congrats. I am currently in NJ and am being seen by a few different doctors. My dermatologist is at the Philadelphia Institute of Dermatology, Dr Maniloff/Dr Carlin, my surgical oncologist is Dr Giorgos Karakousis at Univ of Penn Hospital at the Perelman Center for Advance Medicine and just started seeing Dr Ming at the Pigmented Lesion Group at UPenn as well. I dont remember my doctor staging me but after researching I believe I am stage 1B. My pathology report said no ulceration. I did have another biopsy last monday that came back as a abnormal mole but wasnt melanoma though it was serious enough that I have to see my surgeon again(i believe to have another excision). I know that there are people in a worse condition than I am but Ive heard stories about stage 1 people going to stage 4 after thinking they were all clear and I am stressing that alot. Should I be worried about that happening to me or am I just stressing myself out? Thank you again for responding
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- August 18, 2011 at 8:36 am
Hi there,
I'm new here, and don't want to add to anyone's stress, but I will share my experience.
2 1/2 years ago my wife had almost the same story; melanoma in a mole on her back, wide excision (I forget the depth) sentinel mapping that came back clear. We were basically told we should be good to go, just see the dermatologist for skin checks, which we did, with no visible return.
Long story short, last week my wife was diagnosed Stage 4 with lesions around her lung, bowels, and on her spine and hip. We haven't started any treatment yet, but will probably do the Ontak trial.
I guess the answer is keep on top of it, more than we did.
Marty
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- September 20, 2011 at 1:14 am
This is my fear – I'm only supposed to see the dermatologist every 6 months, along with doing my self-checks at home. There's just no way of knowing what is going on "under the skin". I was diagnosed with a 1.21mm nodular melanoma, and no sign of spread with the WLE & SNB. (Stage 1b) I wasn't referred to an oncologist, my surgeon felt it wasn't necessary. I live in Idaho, and we don't exactly have an adundance of melanoma specialists to see! I worry that it will show up somewhere else all of the sudden, but I tell myself every day that it'll be okay. I keep all of the brave people I read about on this site in my prayers every day, and feel so fortunate that I'm still only Stage 1b. But it is really hard not to worry about what might come.
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- September 21, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Hi
Glad to hear that the WLE and SNB came back negative, but sorry to hear about how you are agonizing over the unknown. As you point out and others have commented on, you will need to be vigilant.
My original melanoma was on my left cheek in 1998. At the time, my Dermatologist was adamant about getting yearly blood work and chest x-rays in addition to skin exams. It was a chest x-ray in 2009 that found the mets on my lung.
If you are unable to hook up with a melanoma specialist, try to find a competent oncologist to assist with a follow-up program.
Best of luck and hope you have no other reason to seek advice here.
Dick
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- September 21, 2011 at 5:14 pm
I've decided I'm going to voice my concerns at my next followup, and if my dermatologist is hesitant to suggest an oncologist, I'm going to consult one on my own. I think it will make me feel more secure, and that I am doing all I can at this point.
I wish none of us had a need for advice, but I'm so grateful this site is here for everyone going through this. And all the best to you in your fight against the beast.
Shelley
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- September 21, 2011 at 5:14 pm
I've decided I'm going to voice my concerns at my next followup, and if my dermatologist is hesitant to suggest an oncologist, I'm going to consult one on my own. I think it will make me feel more secure, and that I am doing all I can at this point.
I wish none of us had a need for advice, but I'm so grateful this site is here for everyone going through this. And all the best to you in your fight against the beast.
Shelley
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- September 21, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Hi
Glad to hear that the WLE and SNB came back negative, but sorry to hear about how you are agonizing over the unknown. As you point out and others have commented on, you will need to be vigilant.
My original melanoma was on my left cheek in 1998. At the time, my Dermatologist was adamant about getting yearly blood work and chest x-rays in addition to skin exams. It was a chest x-ray in 2009 that found the mets on my lung.
If you are unable to hook up with a melanoma specialist, try to find a competent oncologist to assist with a follow-up program.
Best of luck and hope you have no other reason to seek advice here.
Dick
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- September 20, 2011 at 1:14 am
This is my fear – I'm only supposed to see the dermatologist every 6 months, along with doing my self-checks at home. There's just no way of knowing what is going on "under the skin". I was diagnosed with a 1.21mm nodular melanoma, and no sign of spread with the WLE & SNB. (Stage 1b) I wasn't referred to an oncologist, my surgeon felt it wasn't necessary. I live in Idaho, and we don't exactly have an adundance of melanoma specialists to see! I worry that it will show up somewhere else all of the sudden, but I tell myself every day that it'll be okay. I keep all of the brave people I read about on this site in my prayers every day, and feel so fortunate that I'm still only Stage 1b. But it is really hard not to worry about what might come.
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- September 20, 2011 at 1:15 am
This is my fear – I'm only supposed to see the dermatologist every 6 months, along with doing my self-checks at home. There's just no way of knowing what is going on "under the skin". I was diagnosed with a 1.21mm nodular melanoma, and no sign of spread with the WLE & SNB. (Stage 1b) I wasn't referred to an oncologist, my surgeon felt it wasn't necessary. I live in Idaho, and we don't exactly have an adundance of melanoma specialists to see! I worry that it will show up somewhere else all of the sudden, but I tell myself every day that it'll be okay. I keep all of the brave people I read about on this site in my prayers every day, and feel so fortunate that I'm still only Stage 1b. But it is really hard not to worry about what might come.
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- September 20, 2011 at 3:18 am
Welcome to our forum. Thanks for completing your profile. I see that you have had a nodular melanoma removed in June, and therefore think that you will need to be vigilant.
I feel that a melanoma specialist, or at least a competent oncologist should be consulted if you have any concerns.
Melanoma is unlike other skin cancers and self-checks should not replace standard scans and other tests that may be required. Unfortunately, surgeons and dermatologists may not realise this as they might not have been fully trained in caring for melanoma patients.
Hope this helps.
Frank from Australia
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- September 20, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Thank you so much for your response. We just don't have a lot of options in our area, and though my dermatologist is very good, I know he's not a melanoma expert. I'm not wanting to be paranoid about a recurrence, but just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to stay on top of this thing. I believe I will discuss my concerns with him at my next followup and see if he can recommend an oncologist, just to be safe.
Frank, thanks again for responding, I'm so glad I found this board!!
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- September 20, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Thank you so much for your response. We just don't have a lot of options in our area, and though my dermatologist is very good, I know he's not a melanoma expert. I'm not wanting to be paranoid about a recurrence, but just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to stay on top of this thing. I believe I will discuss my concerns with him at my next followup and see if he can recommend an oncologist, just to be safe.
Frank, thanks again for responding, I'm so glad I found this board!!
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- September 20, 2011 at 3:18 am
Welcome to our forum. Thanks for completing your profile. I see that you have had a nodular melanoma removed in June, and therefore think that you will need to be vigilant.
I feel that a melanoma specialist, or at least a competent oncologist should be consulted if you have any concerns.
Melanoma is unlike other skin cancers and self-checks should not replace standard scans and other tests that may be required. Unfortunately, surgeons and dermatologists may not realise this as they might not have been fully trained in caring for melanoma patients.
Hope this helps.
Frank from Australia
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- September 20, 2011 at 1:15 am
This is my fear – I'm only supposed to see the dermatologist every 6 months, along with doing my self-checks at home. There's just no way of knowing what is going on "under the skin". I was diagnosed with a 1.21mm nodular melanoma, and no sign of spread with the WLE & SNB. (Stage 1b) I wasn't referred to an oncologist, my surgeon felt it wasn't necessary. I live in Idaho, and we don't exactly have an adundance of melanoma specialists to see! I worry that it will show up somewhere else all of the sudden, but I tell myself every day that it'll be okay. I keep all of the brave people I read about on this site in my prayers every day, and feel so fortunate that I'm still only Stage 1b. But it is really hard not to worry about what might come.
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- August 18, 2011 at 8:36 am
Hi there,
I'm new here, and don't want to add to anyone's stress, but I will share my experience.
2 1/2 years ago my wife had almost the same story; melanoma in a mole on her back, wide excision (I forget the depth) sentinel mapping that came back clear. We were basically told we should be good to go, just see the dermatologist for skin checks, which we did, with no visible return.
Long story short, last week my wife was diagnosed Stage 4 with lesions around her lung, bowels, and on her spine and hip. We haven't started any treatment yet, but will probably do the Ontak trial.
I guess the answer is keep on top of it, more than we did.
Marty
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