Thoughts – Scans before surgery???

The reason you would want to do scans prior to surgery — if the melanoma has spread elsewhere, then maybe a systemic treatment would be used and surgery is unnecessary.  However, having a lymph node dissection is fairly standard most places in the US and some clinical trials might require it.   If the scans show you have no other disease, then you proceed as you have already planned.   So basically, scans before surgery would indicate whether you are really stage III versus stage IV.  Then you make surgery/treatment plans based on your staging.  Doing scans afterward is certainly done, but then you have no options whether or not to avoid the surgery.  Neither way is right or wrong, it's just what makes YOU the most comfortable.

The reason you would want to do scans prior to surgery — if the melanoma has spread elsewhere, then maybe a systemic treatment would be used and surgery is unnecessary.  However, having a lymph node dissection is fairly standard most places in the US and some clinical trials might require it.   If the scans show you have no other disease, then you proceed as you have already planned.   So basically, scans before surgery would indicate whether you are really stage III versus stage IV.  Then you make surgery/treatment plans based on your staging.  Doing scans afterward is certainly done, but then you have no options whether or not to avoid the surgery.  Neither way is right or wrong, it's just what makes YOU the most comfortable.

The reason you would want to do scans prior to surgery — if the melanoma has spread elsewhere, then maybe a systemic treatment would be used and surgery is unnecessary.  However, having a lymph node dissection is fairly standard most places in the US and some clinical trials might require it.   If the scans show you have no other disease, then you proceed as you have already planned.   So basically, scans before surgery would indicate whether you are really stage III versus stage IV.  Then you make surgery/treatment plans based on your staging.  Doing scans afterward is certainly done, but then you have no options whether or not to avoid the surgery.  Neither way is right or wrong, it's just what makes YOU the most comfortable.

Juan another way to look at the situation is if you do the scans first and they find something ie brain or major organ then they would start treating the whole body. After I had my lymph node removed back in 2012 the Oncologist wanted to wait about one month before starting Interferon to avoid infection risk. If you do scans after node removal, you would probably have to wait for treatment if they find something.One other thing to possible consider would be the European study, about whether it is better or not to do a complete lymph node removal, which was presented at the 2015 ASCO conference in Chicago. Wishing you the best !!! Ed  

Juan another way to look at the situation is if you do the scans first and they find something ie brain or major organ then they would start treating the whole body. After I had my lymph node removed back in 2012 the Oncologist wanted to wait about one month before starting Interferon to avoid infection risk. If you do scans after node removal, you would probably have to wait for treatment if they find something.One other thing to possible consider would be the European study, about whether it is better or not to do a complete lymph node removal, which was presented at the 2015 ASCO conference in Chicago. Wishing you the best !!! Ed  

Juan another way to look at the situation is if you do the scans first and they find something ie brain or major organ then they would start treating the whole body. After I had my lymph node removed back in 2012 the Oncologist wanted to wait about one month before starting Interferon to avoid infection risk. If you do scans after node removal, you would probably have to wait for treatment if they find something.One other thing to possible consider would be the European study, about whether it is better or not to do a complete lymph node removal, which was presented at the 2015 ASCO conference in Chicago. Wishing you the best !!! Ed  

Not sure why the 3 to 4 week delay. In the USA my doc has got a pet and MRI approved by insurance in 2 days and scan on day 3 and he has the results if he wants that day or the day after. So max 5 days. Kind of pushing close to your surgery date but with the right doc and team it can be done. Thought I would mention it can be done.

Artie

Not sure why the 3 to 4 week delay. In the USA my doc has got a pet and MRI approved by insurance in 2 days and scan on day 3 and he has the results if he wants that day or the day after. So max 5 days. Kind of pushing close to your surgery date but with the right doc and team it can be done. Thought I would mention it can be done.

Artie

Not sure why the 3 to 4 week delay. In the USA my doc has got a pet and MRI approved by insurance in 2 days and scan on day 3 and he has the results if he wants that day or the day after. So max 5 days. Kind of pushing close to your surgery date but with the right doc and team it can be done. Thought I would mention it can be done.

Artie

My husband had melanoma under the thumbnail. They did a PET scan before surgery. That did not delay the lymphendectomy . It was done 2 weeks after the SNB to allow time for the thumb to heal after the partial amputation. Scan on July 14'was NED . Last ipi infusion was early march 2014.,yippee!

My husband had melanoma under the thumbnail. They did a PET scan before surgery. That did not delay the lymphendectomy . It was done 2 weeks after the SNB to allow time for the thumb to heal after the partial amputation. Scan on July 14'was NED . Last ipi infusion was early march 2014.,yippee!

My husband had melanoma under the thumbnail. They did a PET scan before surgery. That did not delay the lymphendectomy . It was done 2 weeks after the SNB to allow time for the thumb to heal after the partial amputation. Scan on July 14'was NED . Last ipi infusion was early march 2014.,yippee!