Snb results, what next?

First off, you need perspective.  You see the people who have had their melanoma return here.  You don't see the vast majority who had a clear SNB and moved on.  They have no reason to post or hang out on this site once the shock is over!

Scans will not catch microscopic disease.  If you didn't have any disease in your sentinel node, why do you think you'd have disease elsewhere?  Scans only catch tumors when they've reached a certain size – and that's fairly unlikely for someone with a negative SNB.  (You don't state your stage — either 1 or 2).  Blood work is NOT specific for melanoma.  Again, not really going to tell you anything. 

You are now at the point where you get to learn to live with the history of having cancer but are NED.  It takes some time to get used to that concept.  There really is nothing you can do at this point but be vigilant, not paranoid.  Take a deep breath, but let it go.  Now it's time to appreciate that every day is a gift and LIVE LIFE!

Janner

Stage IB since 1992, 3 MM primaries

First off, you need perspective.  You see the people who have had their melanoma return here.  You don't see the vast majority who had a clear SNB and moved on.  They have no reason to post or hang out on this site once the shock is over!

Scans will not catch microscopic disease.  If you didn't have any disease in your sentinel node, why do you think you'd have disease elsewhere?  Scans only catch tumors when they've reached a certain size – and that's fairly unlikely for someone with a negative SNB.  (You don't state your stage — either 1 or 2).  Blood work is NOT specific for melanoma.  Again, not really going to tell you anything. 

You are now at the point where you get to learn to live with the history of having cancer but are NED.  It takes some time to get used to that concept.  There really is nothing you can do at this point but be vigilant, not paranoid.  Take a deep breath, but let it go.  Now it's time to appreciate that every day is a gift and LIVE LIFE!

Janner

Stage IB since 1992, 3 MM primaries

First off, you need perspective.  You see the people who have had their melanoma return here.  You don't see the vast majority who had a clear SNB and moved on.  They have no reason to post or hang out on this site once the shock is over!

Scans will not catch microscopic disease.  If you didn't have any disease in your sentinel node, why do you think you'd have disease elsewhere?  Scans only catch tumors when they've reached a certain size – and that's fairly unlikely for someone with a negative SNB.  (You don't state your stage — either 1 or 2).  Blood work is NOT specific for melanoma.  Again, not really going to tell you anything. 

You are now at the point where you get to learn to live with the history of having cancer but are NED.  It takes some time to get used to that concept.  There really is nothing you can do at this point but be vigilant, not paranoid.  Take a deep breath, but let it go.  Now it's time to appreciate that every day is a gift and LIVE LIFE!

Janner

Stage IB since 1992, 3 MM primaries

Hi Kerri – Janner, as always, gives you just about the best advice there is.  Congratulations on your most excellent news which is truly reason to celebrate.  I do understand the desire to "do something" at this point.  When I was first (mis)-diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012, I was told they got it all and to live my life.  But I had this nagging feeling that I needed to do something.  After all, my body now knew the "recipe" for cancer, what's to keep it from doing it again?  My situation is radically different than your as it was already melanoma we just didn't know it.  But the thoughts are relevant.  If you want to do something, I would encourage you to take steps to get yourself as overall healthy as possible.  A strong immune system doesn't just help prevent cancer, it'll keep colds and flus at bay and any other number of diseases.  I find it fascinating that the main melanoma-fighting drugs work by boosting your immune system.  It logically follows that having a strong immune system may prevent us from getting cancer in the first place.

Congratulations and best of luck to you!  May you never again have a reason to visit this site!

Maggie

Hi Kerri – Janner, as always, gives you just about the best advice there is.  Congratulations on your most excellent news which is truly reason to celebrate.  I do understand the desire to "do something" at this point.  When I was first (mis)-diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012, I was told they got it all and to live my life.  But I had this nagging feeling that I needed to do something.  After all, my body now knew the "recipe" for cancer, what's to keep it from doing it again?  My situation is radically different than your as it was already melanoma we just didn't know it.  But the thoughts are relevant.  If you want to do something, I would encourage you to take steps to get yourself as overall healthy as possible.  A strong immune system doesn't just help prevent cancer, it'll keep colds and flus at bay and any other number of diseases.  I find it fascinating that the main melanoma-fighting drugs work by boosting your immune system.  It logically follows that having a strong immune system may prevent us from getting cancer in the first place.

Congratulations and best of luck to you!  May you never again have a reason to visit this site!

Maggie

Hi Kerri – Janner, as always, gives you just about the best advice there is.  Congratulations on your most excellent news which is truly reason to celebrate.  I do understand the desire to "do something" at this point.  When I was first (mis)-diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012, I was told they got it all and to live my life.  But I had this nagging feeling that I needed to do something.  After all, my body now knew the "recipe" for cancer, what's to keep it from doing it again?  My situation is radically different than your as it was already melanoma we just didn't know it.  But the thoughts are relevant.  If you want to do something, I would encourage you to take steps to get yourself as overall healthy as possible.  A strong immune system doesn't just help prevent cancer, it'll keep colds and flus at bay and any other number of diseases.  I find it fascinating that the main melanoma-fighting drugs work by boosting your immune system.  It logically follows that having a strong immune system may prevent us from getting cancer in the first place.

Congratulations and best of luck to you!  May you never again have a reason to visit this site!

Maggie

Kerri, I agree with both Maggie and Janner – you should get yourself as healthy as possible, boost your immune system, and at the same time, get yourself into a frame of mind where you can live your life outside the shadow of angst that many of us have felt when we (or our loved ones) first were NED. You can't answer the six-month/six-year question, but you can accommodate that uncertainty and still live a full, happy life. It will take some time, no doubt, but it's worth the effort it will require.

Wishing you the best –

Hazel

Kerri, I agree with both Maggie and Janner – you should get yourself as healthy as possible, boost your immune system, and at the same time, get yourself into a frame of mind where you can live your life outside the shadow of angst that many of us have felt when we (or our loved ones) first were NED. You can't answer the six-month/six-year question, but you can accommodate that uncertainty and still live a full, happy life. It will take some time, no doubt, but it's worth the effort it will require.

Wishing you the best –

Hazel

Kerri, I agree with both Maggie and Janner – you should get yourself as healthy as possible, boost your immune system, and at the same time, get yourself into a frame of mind where you can live your life outside the shadow of angst that many of us have felt when we (or our loved ones) first were NED. You can't answer the six-month/six-year question, but you can accommodate that uncertainty and still live a full, happy life. It will take some time, no doubt, but it's worth the effort it will require.

Wishing you the best –

Hazel