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Stage 3A, now CDKN2A+
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Stage 3A, now CDKN2A+

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Stage 3A, now CDKN2A+

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    • July 4, 2020 at 5:20 pm
    DT1985
    Participant
      Happy 4th folks. Hope you all are enjoying the weekend.

      So quick recap of me. Diagnosed with Stage 3A back in February. Mole was on the back of my calf, 1.5mm breslow, cancer cells on one lymph node in my groin at less than .5mm. Surgery to remove mole & lymph node went well. Saw Dr. Postow after and a few others, all recommended no treatments since the lymph node was removed and had very few cells. Now I’m getting routine Derm/CT/MRI/PETs (all clean so far)

      What’s changed is my genetic test has come back as CDKN2A+. So now aside from melanoma I have pancreatic cancer to worry about. However I’m a fairly healthy and young guy (35, 6’2, 210lbs) and probably won’t have to worry about the pancreatic stuff until later in life.
      But with this new genetic discovery, will I constantly develop melanomas now? Should I avoid the sun like a vampire? Should I completely remove every mole on my body? (I have maybe 20 or so besides freckles, not many)

      With CDKN2A+, did the road to living a cancer free life just get impossible?

      Thank you for help and advice.

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        • July 8, 2020 at 5:03 pm
        tkoss
        Participant
          interesting. I was diagnosed 3c in as much as there were melanoma in 4 lymph nodes. after resection is was prescribed nivo for a year, twice a month. cost insurance around $7000 a session. 6month scan …NED

          and they still insist on finishing out the next 6 months.

          am I missing something here? very few cells maybe?
          I dunno. but 1 year of infusion is no walk in the park. and now with covid, it places me at high risk.

          what does your doc say about being NED and your covid complication risks?mine suggests it would be deadly.

            • July 10, 2020 at 6:46 pm
            DT1985
            Participant
              Being that the lymph node had just begun taking on cancer cells, I am guessing it didn’t have a chance to spread further? Dr. Postow’s exact words were “you’ve only dipped your toe into the waters of Stage 3 Melanoma”.. my following PET and CT were clean so I am guessing that’s why they’re suggesting I do the close monitoring as opposed to treatments. He said there is no data regarding my specific situation so they cannot outweigh the benefits of treatment over risks that come from immunotherapy. But I am wondering if this Gene test changes that equation.
              • July 10, 2020 at 8:01 pm
              ed williams
              Participant
                Dr. Postow is one of my favorite oncologist to watch on video explaining melanoma and all the options and various choices melanoma patients have to make. If he is giving you advice then you are in great hands. I would not stop asking questions however be reassured that you are getting great advice.
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