Stage 1B to Liver Mets

How did you find out you have brain and lung mets? If you don't mind my asking.. I'm stage 1A.. wondering what to look for..

I had a seizure at work. Did not see it coming. They found the brain lesions after a CT and and MRI. In hindsight… I should have had a chest x-ray. I was having difficulties riding hills on my bicycle. It was more frustrating than concerning. There was no cough, but I would wheeze like I had asthma or severe allergies when exercising. As far as normal day to day activities… I noticed nothing. But then, I am the type to go from "no problem" to "ER visit" in ten seconds! ha!  ; ) I'm not sure if my doc would have put me on allergy meds, or given me the chest x-ray… but looking back, I should probably have complained louder and pushed for it. I was over 5 years out from the initial skin excision, so the thought of exercise induced breathing issues would NEVER have me thinking melanoma metastasis. I've read here on the forum that for some folks, an annual chest x-ray is routine follow up. By the time my lung metastasis was discovered, I had 3 lesions… one the size of a golf ball… the other two more like marbles. Were they there prior to the brain metastasis? Based on their size… probably. A chest x-ray MAY… maybe… have caught the spread prior to it reaching the brain. 

I had a seizure at work. Did not see it coming. They found the brain lesions after a CT and and MRI. In hindsight… I should have had a chest x-ray. I was having difficulties riding hills on my bicycle. It was more frustrating than concerning. There was no cough, but I would wheeze like I had asthma or severe allergies when exercising. As far as normal day to day activities… I noticed nothing. But then, I am the type to go from "no problem" to "ER visit" in ten seconds! ha!  ; ) I'm not sure if my doc would have put me on allergy meds, or given me the chest x-ray… but looking back, I should probably have complained louder and pushed for it. I was over 5 years out from the initial skin excision, so the thought of exercise induced breathing issues would NEVER have me thinking melanoma metastasis. I've read here on the forum that for some folks, an annual chest x-ray is routine follow up. By the time my lung metastasis was discovered, I had 3 lesions… one the size of a golf ball… the other two more like marbles. Were they there prior to the brain metastasis? Based on their size… probably. A chest x-ray MAY… maybe… have caught the spread prior to it reaching the brain. 

I had a seizure at work. Did not see it coming. They found the brain lesions after a CT and and MRI. In hindsight… I should have had a chest x-ray. I was having difficulties riding hills on my bicycle. It was more frustrating than concerning. There was no cough, but I would wheeze like I had asthma or severe allergies when exercising. As far as normal day to day activities… I noticed nothing. But then, I am the type to go from "no problem" to "ER visit" in ten seconds! ha!  ; ) I'm not sure if my doc would have put me on allergy meds, or given me the chest x-ray… but looking back, I should probably have complained louder and pushed for it. I was over 5 years out from the initial skin excision, so the thought of exercise induced breathing issues would NEVER have me thinking melanoma metastasis. I've read here on the forum that for some folks, an annual chest x-ray is routine follow up. By the time my lung metastasis was discovered, I had 3 lesions… one the size of a golf ball… the other two more like marbles. Were they there prior to the brain metastasis? Based on their size… probably. A chest x-ray MAY… maybe… have caught the spread prior to it reaching the brain. 

How did you find out you have brain and lung mets? If you don't mind my asking.. I'm stage 1A.. wondering what to look for..

How did you find out you have brain and lung mets? If you don't mind my asking.. I'm stage 1A.. wondering what to look for..

Was the groin lump really noticeable?  I'm asking because I am somewhat overweight and I check everything everyday but I'm afraid I'll miss something

Was the groin lump really noticeable?  I'm asking because I am somewhat overweight and I check everything everyday but I'm afraid I'll miss something

Was the groin lump really noticeable?  I'm asking because I am somewhat overweight and I check everything everyday but I'm afraid I'll miss something

Yes, it was superficial and easy to feel.  I have to admit after eight years I had become a little lax about checking the lymph nodes.  I had seen my dermatologist about four months earlier and she had checked them and felt nothing.  Christal 

Sorry one more question. Was it lump under the skin or on top? And you definitely wouldn't have missed it showering?  That's when I try to check everything out. 

It was a lump under the skin. There was no way to miss it if you would run your over that area.  Hope that helps!

It was a lump under the skin. There was no way to miss it if you would run your over that area.  Hope that helps!

It was a lump under the skin. There was no way to miss it if you would run your over that area.  Hope that helps!

Sorry one more question. Was it lump under the skin or on top? And you definitely wouldn't have missed it showering?  That's when I try to check everything out. 

Sorry one more question. Was it lump under the skin or on top? And you definitely wouldn't have missed it showering?  That's when I try to check everything out. 

Yes, it was superficial and easy to feel.  I have to admit after eight years I had become a little lax about checking the lymph nodes.  I had seen my dermatologist about four months earlier and she had checked them and felt nothing.  Christal 

Yes, it was superficial and easy to feel.  I have to admit after eight years I had become a little lax about checking the lymph nodes.  I had seen my dermatologist about four months earlier and she had checked them and felt nothing.  Christal 

My 1A was found right after the birth of my daughter. I think the growth hormone has something to do with it. Are you doing any kind of treatment or just watch n wait?

My 1A was found right after the birth of my daughter. I think the growth hormone has something to do with it. Are you doing any kind of treatment or just watch n wait?

My 1A was found right after the birth of my daughter. I think the growth hormone has something to do with it. Are you doing any kind of treatment or just watch n wait?

My progression did not follow a pregnancy. I was 44 when the metastasis was found… my son was 22. : )  Oddly enough, I did have a nasty bicycle wreck 5 months prior to finding the metastasis. The jury is still out on the theory that my immune system was doing all that it could to hold back the melanoma, until it had to work on repairing the rest of me. A pregnancy is very hard on the body. I would wonder between the hormones and the post birth repairs…….. But it with an early stage diagnosis, it certainly wouldn't have stopped me from starting my family. Careful monitoring and moving on with life.  : )

My progression did not follow a pregnancy. I was 44 when the metastasis was found… my son was 22. : )  Oddly enough, I did have a nasty bicycle wreck 5 months prior to finding the metastasis. The jury is still out on the theory that my immune system was doing all that it could to hold back the melanoma, until it had to work on repairing the rest of me. A pregnancy is very hard on the body. I would wonder between the hormones and the post birth repairs…….. But it with an early stage diagnosis, it certainly wouldn't have stopped me from starting my family. Careful monitoring and moving on with life.  : )

My progression did not follow a pregnancy. I was 44 when the metastasis was found… my son was 22. : )  Oddly enough, I did have a nasty bicycle wreck 5 months prior to finding the metastasis. The jury is still out on the theory that my immune system was doing all that it could to hold back the melanoma, until it had to work on repairing the rest of me. A pregnancy is very hard on the body. I would wonder between the hormones and the post birth repairs…….. But it with an early stage diagnosis, it certainly wouldn't have stopped me from starting my family. Careful monitoring and moving on with life.  : )

so that theory is once diagnosed it's always there, just being held in check?  until the immune system is overtaxed?

so that theory is once diagnosed it's always there, just being held in check?  until the immune system is overtaxed?

Not necessarily always there. Many many people have a skin lesion removed and never have a further issue. A friend of mine sent me a research article shortly after my stage IV diagnosis, which touched on the idea that physical trauma may lead to the spread IF there is micrometastasis already in the body. I can't find the original article that he sent me, but did find this one in a quick search: https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2407-5-94 It is an old study (2005) and the patient was a lung cancer patient, not melanoma. I wish I could find the article from 2013. If I come across the email, I'll send the somewhat more updated information.

My original stage 1a lesion was not completely removed with the first excision. The punch biopsy had not shown melanoma, so the surgeon was under the impression that this was to be a "preventative" measure. However, to the surprise of us all, the lab report from that surgery showed melanoma… and the margins were NOT cleared. Sooooo… before the stitches from the initial surgery were healed, I was back in for a wide margin excision. Those lab reports came back clear, but I sometimes question whether the damage had already been done, when the initial excision cut through the melanoma… potentially spreading the micrometastasis via the blood. I never had any lymph nodes checked, so docs can't point to the exact cause of my leap from stage 1a to stage IV 6 years later. My bicycle wreck preceded my stage IV diagnosis by 5 months. It was a nasty wreck, with a good deal of physical trauma for my immune system to tackle. It's just a thought/theory that some docs bounce around, but I don't believe much has ever concretely been made of it. 

Not necessarily always there. Many many people have a skin lesion removed and never have a further issue. A friend of mine sent me a research article shortly after my stage IV diagnosis, which touched on the idea that physical trauma may lead to the spread IF there is micrometastasis already in the body. I can't find the original article that he sent me, but did find this one in a quick search: https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2407-5-94 It is an old study (2005) and the patient was a lung cancer patient, not melanoma. I wish I could find the article from 2013. If I come across the email, I'll send the somewhat more updated information.

My original stage 1a lesion was not completely removed with the first excision. The punch biopsy had not shown melanoma, so the surgeon was under the impression that this was to be a "preventative" measure. However, to the surprise of us all, the lab report from that surgery showed melanoma… and the margins were NOT cleared. Sooooo… before the stitches from the initial surgery were healed, I was back in for a wide margin excision. Those lab reports came back clear, but I sometimes question whether the damage had already been done, when the initial excision cut through the melanoma… potentially spreading the micrometastasis via the blood. I never had any lymph nodes checked, so docs can't point to the exact cause of my leap from stage 1a to stage IV 6 years later. My bicycle wreck preceded my stage IV diagnosis by 5 months. It was a nasty wreck, with a good deal of physical trauma for my immune system to tackle. It's just a thought/theory that some docs bounce around, but I don't believe much has ever concretely been made of it. 

Interesting.  Nearly impossible to avoid injury/surgery, though. . forever

Interesting.  Nearly impossible to avoid injury/surgery, though. . forever

Interesting.  Nearly impossible to avoid injury/surgery, though. . forever

Not necessarily always there. Many many people have a skin lesion removed and never have a further issue. A friend of mine sent me a research article shortly after my stage IV diagnosis, which touched on the idea that physical trauma may lead to the spread IF there is micrometastasis already in the body. I can't find the original article that he sent me, but did find this one in a quick search: https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2407-5-94 It is an old study (2005) and the patient was a lung cancer patient, not melanoma. I wish I could find the article from 2013. If I come across the email, I'll send the somewhat more updated information.

My original stage 1a lesion was not completely removed with the first excision. The punch biopsy had not shown melanoma, so the surgeon was under the impression that this was to be a "preventative" measure. However, to the surprise of us all, the lab report from that surgery showed melanoma… and the margins were NOT cleared. Sooooo… before the stitches from the initial surgery were healed, I was back in for a wide margin excision. Those lab reports came back clear, but I sometimes question whether the damage had already been done, when the initial excision cut through the melanoma… potentially spreading the micrometastasis via the blood. I never had any lymph nodes checked, so docs can't point to the exact cause of my leap from stage 1a to stage IV 6 years later. My bicycle wreck preceded my stage IV diagnosis by 5 months. It was a nasty wreck, with a good deal of physical trauma for my immune system to tackle. It's just a thought/theory that some docs bounce around, but I don't believe much has ever concretely been made of it. 

so that theory is once diagnosed it's always there, just being held in check?  until the immune system is overtaxed?