› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Trying to understand Pathology Report
- This topic has 9 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by
WallyE.
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- December 18, 2015 at 6:20 am
Hi all
I recently had a total gastrectomy and apart from finding features of an invasive metastatic malignant melanoma, they also identified tumour emboli in angiolymophatic spaces.
My oncologist was not very clear on this except to say that it had something to do with the presence of tumour cells in my bloodstream raising ther possibilioty with further metastasis and as such further treatment would be required.
To this end she has ordered further evaluation of the removed tumour to establish BRAF mutations for possible enrolement on a clinical trial.
Can anyone out there please tell me what the complications of these tumour emboli are?
Kind regards
Wally
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- December 18, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Yes parts of your tumor broke off and caused an emboli.
Yes you are at risk for metastasis anywhere in your body as a result.
If your primary was mucosal mel. ex. started in your stomach, make sure the tumor is also tested for C-Kit mutations as well since they are the more common mutation with that kind of melanoma. Mucosal mel also has a different response profile to the different drugs availible.
Best of luck, stay vigilant. I am so sorry they had to remove your entire stomach, that is rough!
KK
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- December 18, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Yes parts of your tumor broke off and caused an emboli.
Yes you are at risk for metastasis anywhere in your body as a result.
If your primary was mucosal mel. ex. started in your stomach, make sure the tumor is also tested for C-Kit mutations as well since they are the more common mutation with that kind of melanoma. Mucosal mel also has a different response profile to the different drugs availible.
Best of luck, stay vigilant. I am so sorry they had to remove your entire stomach, that is rough!
KK
-
- December 18, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Yes parts of your tumor broke off and caused an emboli.
Yes you are at risk for metastasis anywhere in your body as a result.
If your primary was mucosal mel. ex. started in your stomach, make sure the tumor is also tested for C-Kit mutations as well since they are the more common mutation with that kind of melanoma. Mucosal mel also has a different response profile to the different drugs availible.
Best of luck, stay vigilant. I am so sorry they had to remove your entire stomach, that is rough!
KK
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- December 18, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Forgot to add…
The emboli may or may not have symptoms. Basically they act like a blood clot if big enough and symptoms are due to the degree and location of that blockage. FYI – while a tumor embolus isn't a blood clot per se, most cancer patients are at greater risk for blood clots leading to stroke or pulmonary embolism. Talk to your oncologist to see if blood thinners are warranted.
I know because after my lung surgery I had an pulmonary embolus and wasn't able to breathe. I knew unless I got some oxygen deep into my lungs I won't last long. Fortunately I am still here and am NED over 5 years later. I only had 2 tumors, one in my lung that was 1 cm diameter, and one the size of a BB pellet in my chest wall muscle. That is all it took for me to still be at risk for clots.
All the precautions were taken, I had the compression stockings on with pumps going, I was up and walking the evening of my surgery (clot happened the next day) etc. I was told "yeah, you cancer patients tend to do that". I am lucky to be alive in so many ways.
The other issue is that wherever your emboli lands, you may develop a metastasis. There is the seed and the soil theory: cancer cells seek out optimal places to land, and the body has really great places for that seed to grow. It takes both working together that leads to a new met. So either nothing will happen, you can develop mets elsewhere, and you are probably at greater risk for blood clots. You need to discuss this with your doc, and if they don't take the time, consider going elsewhere – it is your life!
KK
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- December 19, 2015 at 7:46 am
Hi KK
Thank you so much for your input. Wow, this is really scary. I guess my oncologist played the risk down a bit that is why I thought of using this forum to get a more realistic view. My tumor was 67×55 mm. My primary was a mole on my right ear that was in situ and this metastasized to my right lung 5 years later and now to my stomach 4 years later so as you say, this could metastasize to anywhere in my body at any time at its convenience! I certainly will now discuss this in more depth with my oncologist. Thanks once again. I am so happy that you are NED and may this be so for many years to come. This disease really sucks!
By the way, where did the clots occur? My oncologist never mentioned this as a possibility.
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- December 19, 2015 at 7:46 am
Hi KK
Thank you so much for your input. Wow, this is really scary. I guess my oncologist played the risk down a bit that is why I thought of using this forum to get a more realistic view. My tumor was 67×55 mm. My primary was a mole on my right ear that was in situ and this metastasized to my right lung 5 years later and now to my stomach 4 years later so as you say, this could metastasize to anywhere in my body at any time at its convenience! I certainly will now discuss this in more depth with my oncologist. Thanks once again. I am so happy that you are NED and may this be so for many years to come. This disease really sucks!
By the way, where did the clots occur? My oncologist never mentioned this as a possibility.
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- December 19, 2015 at 7:46 am
Hi KK
Thank you so much for your input. Wow, this is really scary. I guess my oncologist played the risk down a bit that is why I thought of using this forum to get a more realistic view. My tumor was 67×55 mm. My primary was a mole on my right ear that was in situ and this metastasized to my right lung 5 years later and now to my stomach 4 years later so as you say, this could metastasize to anywhere in my body at any time at its convenience! I certainly will now discuss this in more depth with my oncologist. Thanks once again. I am so happy that you are NED and may this be so for many years to come. This disease really sucks!
By the way, where did the clots occur? My oncologist never mentioned this as a possibility.
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- December 18, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Forgot to add…
The emboli may or may not have symptoms. Basically they act like a blood clot if big enough and symptoms are due to the degree and location of that blockage. FYI – while a tumor embolus isn't a blood clot per se, most cancer patients are at greater risk for blood clots leading to stroke or pulmonary embolism. Talk to your oncologist to see if blood thinners are warranted.
I know because after my lung surgery I had an pulmonary embolus and wasn't able to breathe. I knew unless I got some oxygen deep into my lungs I won't last long. Fortunately I am still here and am NED over 5 years later. I only had 2 tumors, one in my lung that was 1 cm diameter, and one the size of a BB pellet in my chest wall muscle. That is all it took for me to still be at risk for clots.
All the precautions were taken, I had the compression stockings on with pumps going, I was up and walking the evening of my surgery (clot happened the next day) etc. I was told "yeah, you cancer patients tend to do that". I am lucky to be alive in so many ways.
The other issue is that wherever your emboli lands, you may develop a metastasis. There is the seed and the soil theory: cancer cells seek out optimal places to land, and the body has really great places for that seed to grow. It takes both working together that leads to a new met. So either nothing will happen, you can develop mets elsewhere, and you are probably at greater risk for blood clots. You need to discuss this with your doc, and if they don't take the time, consider going elsewhere – it is your life!
KK
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- December 18, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Forgot to add…
The emboli may or may not have symptoms. Basically they act like a blood clot if big enough and symptoms are due to the degree and location of that blockage. FYI – while a tumor embolus isn't a blood clot per se, most cancer patients are at greater risk for blood clots leading to stroke or pulmonary embolism. Talk to your oncologist to see if blood thinners are warranted.
I know because after my lung surgery I had an pulmonary embolus and wasn't able to breathe. I knew unless I got some oxygen deep into my lungs I won't last long. Fortunately I am still here and am NED over 5 years later. I only had 2 tumors, one in my lung that was 1 cm diameter, and one the size of a BB pellet in my chest wall muscle. That is all it took for me to still be at risk for clots.
All the precautions were taken, I had the compression stockings on with pumps going, I was up and walking the evening of my surgery (clot happened the next day) etc. I was told "yeah, you cancer patients tend to do that". I am lucky to be alive in so many ways.
The other issue is that wherever your emboli lands, you may develop a metastasis. There is the seed and the soil theory: cancer cells seek out optimal places to land, and the body has really great places for that seed to grow. It takes both working together that leads to a new met. So either nothing will happen, you can develop mets elsewhere, and you are probably at greater risk for blood clots. You need to discuss this with your doc, and if they don't take the time, consider going elsewhere – it is your life!
KK
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