Sub-q Description
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Sub-q Description

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Sub-q Description

  • Post
    • February 6, 2013 at 1:01 pm
    MarNYC
    Participant

    Hi Everyone,

    I am looking for a description of sub-qs (hard/soft, pigmented or not etc.). I have looked extensively on the internet for a description and it seems that every time someone asks what a sub-q looks/feels like they never get an answer. I know that these things often present differently in people so if there isn't one description maybe people can tell me what they have know sub-qs to be like. It is hard to know what to look for when there is no description other than lump, which is super vague. Thanks so much for your help!

    MarNYC

    Hi Everyone,

    I am looking for a description of sub-qs (hard/soft, pigmented or not etc.). I have looked extensively on the internet for a description and it seems that every time someone asks what a sub-q looks/feels like they never get an answer. I know that these things often present differently in people so if there isn't one description maybe people can tell me what they have know sub-qs to be like. It is hard to know what to look for when there is no description other than lump, which is super vague. Thanks so much for your help!

    MarNYC

Viewing 14 reply threads
  • Replies
      • February 6, 2013 at 3:59 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      My husbands sub-q's were in the area where he had previously had mel removed.  They were purplish because they had many blood vessels in them and as a matter of fact since they were on his head he bumped on with the comb when doing his hair and it bled.  This is all I know about sub-q's because they were the only ones he had.

      Hope this might help some.

      Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

      • February 6, 2013 at 3:59 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      My husbands sub-q's were in the area where he had previously had mel removed.  They were purplish because they had many blood vessels in them and as a matter of fact since they were on his head he bumped on with the comb when doing his hair and it bled.  This is all I know about sub-q's because they were the only ones he had.

      Hope this might help some.

      Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

      • February 6, 2013 at 3:59 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      My husbands sub-q's were in the area where he had previously had mel removed.  They were purplish because they had many blood vessels in them and as a matter of fact since they were on his head he bumped on with the comb when doing his hair and it bled.  This is all I know about sub-q's because they were the only ones he had.

      Hope this might help some.

      Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

      • February 6, 2013 at 4:10 pm
      vivian
      Participant

      My sub-q was a roundish, hard lump about the size of a blueberry well beneath the surface of my skin.  I only found it because I was somehow sleeping with the seam of my nightgown pressing on it and that hurt.   It was not visible to the eye, although the oncologist said there seemed to be a tiny bit of "bruising" in that area.   Since the removal, the docs always refer to that sub-q as an "in-transit met".   Hope this helps.

      Lear

      • February 6, 2013 at 4:10 pm
      vivian
      Participant

      My sub-q was a roundish, hard lump about the size of a blueberry well beneath the surface of my skin.  I only found it because I was somehow sleeping with the seam of my nightgown pressing on it and that hurt.   It was not visible to the eye, although the oncologist said there seemed to be a tiny bit of "bruising" in that area.   Since the removal, the docs always refer to that sub-q as an "in-transit met".   Hope this helps.

      Lear

      • February 6, 2013 at 4:10 pm
      vivian
      Participant

      My sub-q was a roundish, hard lump about the size of a blueberry well beneath the surface of my skin.  I only found it because I was somehow sleeping with the seam of my nightgown pressing on it and that hurt.   It was not visible to the eye, although the oncologist said there seemed to be a tiny bit of "bruising" in that area.   Since the removal, the docs always refer to that sub-q as an "in-transit met".   Hope this helps.

      Lear

      • February 6, 2013 at 5:12 pm
      MarNYC
      Participant

      Thank you for your responses. Were they rounded or raised flat objects?

      • February 6, 2013 at 5:12 pm
      MarNYC
      Participant

      Thank you for your responses. Were they rounded or raised flat objects?

      • February 6, 2013 at 5:12 pm
      MarNYC
      Participant

      Thank you for your responses. Were they rounded or raised flat objects?

        • February 6, 2013 at 8:43 pm
        Gene_S
        Participant

        My husbands were round and raised about the size of a dime in diameter with one being smaller and the size of a pencil eraser.

        Judy

        • February 6, 2013 at 8:43 pm
        Gene_S
        Participant

        My husbands were round and raised about the size of a dime in diameter with one being smaller and the size of a pencil eraser.

        Judy

        • February 6, 2013 at 8:43 pm
        Gene_S
        Participant

        My husbands were round and raised about the size of a dime in diameter with one being smaller and the size of a pencil eraser.

        Judy

      • February 6, 2013 at 6:09 pm
      TSchulz
      Participant

      I've had several subcutaneous nodules.  The first 2 were on my neck and were like little bb's or peas underneath my epidermis -slightly mobile.  I was lucky to notice them so small becuse I had to shave over/around them and I knew these things were not there before.  My other sub-q nodules were not so noticable – flank, both left and right back and right thigh.  These were much bigger before we found them and felt similar to a firm grape and growing.  Mine all had no color change as they reside under the skin and didn't get big enough to effect the overlying skin before I had them hacked out.  Hope this helps.  

      My rule has always been.  If I can feel it and it isn't "my normal" then cut it out.  Unless, of course, my treatment course demands otherwise. 

      Best, Troy

      • February 6, 2013 at 6:09 pm
      TSchulz
      Participant

      I've had several subcutaneous nodules.  The first 2 were on my neck and were like little bb's or peas underneath my epidermis -slightly mobile.  I was lucky to notice them so small becuse I had to shave over/around them and I knew these things were not there before.  My other sub-q nodules were not so noticable – flank, both left and right back and right thigh.  These were much bigger before we found them and felt similar to a firm grape and growing.  Mine all had no color change as they reside under the skin and didn't get big enough to effect the overlying skin before I had them hacked out.  Hope this helps.  

      My rule has always been.  If I can feel it and it isn't "my normal" then cut it out.  Unless, of course, my treatment course demands otherwise. 

      Best, Troy

      • February 6, 2013 at 6:09 pm
      TSchulz
      Participant

      I've had several subcutaneous nodules.  The first 2 were on my neck and were like little bb's or peas underneath my epidermis -slightly mobile.  I was lucky to notice them so small becuse I had to shave over/around them and I knew these things were not there before.  My other sub-q nodules were not so noticable – flank, both left and right back and right thigh.  These were much bigger before we found them and felt similar to a firm grape and growing.  Mine all had no color change as they reside under the skin and didn't get big enough to effect the overlying skin before I had them hacked out.  Hope this helps.  

      My rule has always been.  If I can feel it and it isn't "my normal" then cut it out.  Unless, of course, my treatment course demands otherwise. 

      Best, Troy

      • February 7, 2013 at 3:21 pm
      Rebecca and Bob
      Participant

      My husbands subq's were also skin color, some were raised like a bb and hard and one on his side was raised and round skin color and hard about the size of a dime. His were never purple just raised under the skin so it just look like the skin popped up.  I wasn't really sure it was a subq. We thought it was lymph nodes until the doctor told us, that was before he did IL-2.

       

      I hope this descripiton helps some. Good luck.

      Rebecca 

      • February 7, 2013 at 3:21 pm
      Rebecca and Bob
      Participant

      My husbands subq's were also skin color, some were raised like a bb and hard and one on his side was raised and round skin color and hard about the size of a dime. His were never purple just raised under the skin so it just look like the skin popped up.  I wasn't really sure it was a subq. We thought it was lymph nodes until the doctor told us, that was before he did IL-2.

       

      I hope this descripiton helps some. Good luck.

      Rebecca 

      • February 7, 2013 at 3:21 pm
      Rebecca and Bob
      Participant

      My husbands subq's were also skin color, some were raised like a bb and hard and one on his side was raised and round skin color and hard about the size of a dime. His were never purple just raised under the skin so it just look like the skin popped up.  I wasn't really sure it was a subq. We thought it was lymph nodes until the doctor told us, that was before he did IL-2.

       

      I hope this descripiton helps some. Good luck.

      Rebecca 

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