Warning signs of a recurrance?

When I first recurred, it was a met in the lung with no symptoms at all.  It was picked up in a follow-up CT scan.  My second stage IV recurrence (10 years later) was to the bones and was accompanied with severe pain and movement difficulties.

So there are really no simple answers.  It all depends on the number, size, and location(s) of the tumors.  And of course there can be many less serious causes of pains or other symptoms.  That's what makes having an MM diagnosis such a difficult (and sometimes frightening) thing.

Best wishes,

Harry 

When I first recurred, it was a met in the lung with no symptoms at all.  It was picked up in a follow-up CT scan.  My second stage IV recurrence (10 years later) was to the bones and was accompanied with severe pain and movement difficulties.

So there are really no simple answers.  It all depends on the number, size, and location(s) of the tumors.  And of course there can be many less serious causes of pains or other symptoms.  That's what makes having an MM diagnosis such a difficult (and sometimes frightening) thing.

Best wishes,

Harry 

When I first recurred, it was a met in the lung with no symptoms at all.  It was picked up in a follow-up CT scan.  My second stage IV recurrence (10 years later) was to the bones and was accompanied with severe pain and movement difficulties.

So there are really no simple answers.  It all depends on the number, size, and location(s) of the tumors.  And of course there can be many less serious causes of pains or other symptoms.  That's what makes having an MM diagnosis such a difficult (and sometimes frightening) thing.

Best wishes,

Harry 

Donna,

I agree with Harry, there is no answer.  My first recurrance was 27 years later and discovered it while I was walking into the dermatologist for a regular appointment! I felt the lump under the original scar and had not felt it earlier.  I could feel it just by touching along the scar!  Following recurrances showed with bleeding in the urine (did not show though on ct or PET). One node just lit a little but it took a year before it was enough to be  a concern…. it goes on and on.   When the brain met came I thought I originally had a sinus attack and then a fractured tooth!  The dentist agreed with that!!   Thankfully it was picked up one day later before they did a root canal.

It's a good idea to learn your body (you have to also have a Dr that will respond when you do let them know you discover something!!) , have regular scans (not sure of your staging because you also don't want to over radiatiat  yourself).  And enjoy each day to not just identify yourself as a melanoma patient.

Linda

Donna,

I agree with Harry, there is no answer.  My first recurrance was 27 years later and discovered it while I was walking into the dermatologist for a regular appointment! I felt the lump under the original scar and had not felt it earlier.  I could feel it just by touching along the scar!  Following recurrances showed with bleeding in the urine (did not show though on ct or PET). One node just lit a little but it took a year before it was enough to be  a concern…. it goes on and on.   When the brain met came I thought I originally had a sinus attack and then a fractured tooth!  The dentist agreed with that!!   Thankfully it was picked up one day later before they did a root canal.

It's a good idea to learn your body (you have to also have a Dr that will respond when you do let them know you discover something!!) , have regular scans (not sure of your staging because you also don't want to over radiatiat  yourself).  And enjoy each day to not just identify yourself as a melanoma patient.

Linda

Donna,

I agree with Harry, there is no answer.  My first recurrance was 27 years later and discovered it while I was walking into the dermatologist for a regular appointment! I felt the lump under the original scar and had not felt it earlier.  I could feel it just by touching along the scar!  Following recurrances showed with bleeding in the urine (did not show though on ct or PET). One node just lit a little but it took a year before it was enough to be  a concern…. it goes on and on.   When the brain met came I thought I originally had a sinus attack and then a fractured tooth!  The dentist agreed with that!!   Thankfully it was picked up one day later before they did a root canal.

It's a good idea to learn your body (you have to also have a Dr that will respond when you do let them know you discover something!!) , have regular scans (not sure of your staging because you also don't want to over radiatiat  yourself).  And enjoy each day to not just identify yourself as a melanoma patient.

Linda

I think this is a really important question.  I wish more people would reply.  My recurrence was 10 1/2 yrs after MM #1.  It was near (about 1")  the original scar and was just a knot.  Not very big, maybe the size of a baby lima bean.  My dermatologist did a punch biopsy and it came back clear. ( I know…a punch is not recommended.)

After the punch, it kept filling with fluid.  Yucky pus like stuff.  Very nasty.  It would build up fluid and actually explode as the pressure built up.  My Dr did another punch, much deeper this time.  This one came back as MM.

By the time I was sent to the MM specialist, the bulging tumor was about the size of a quarter and stood about 1/2"  to 3/4"  high. 

I was lucky the dermatologist did not ignore it and wasn't satisfied with the first biopsy.  I am also blessed to be NED.  Beth 3/B

I think this is a really important question.  I wish more people would reply.  My recurrence was 10 1/2 yrs after MM #1.  It was near (about 1")  the original scar and was just a knot.  Not very big, maybe the size of a baby lima bean.  My dermatologist did a punch biopsy and it came back clear. ( I know…a punch is not recommended.)

After the punch, it kept filling with fluid.  Yucky pus like stuff.  Very nasty.  It would build up fluid and actually explode as the pressure built up.  My Dr did another punch, much deeper this time.  This one came back as MM.

By the time I was sent to the MM specialist, the bulging tumor was about the size of a quarter and stood about 1/2"  to 3/4"  high. 

I was lucky the dermatologist did not ignore it and wasn't satisfied with the first biopsy.  I am also blessed to be NED.  Beth 3/B

I think this is a really important question.  I wish more people would reply.  My recurrence was 10 1/2 yrs after MM #1.  It was near (about 1")  the original scar and was just a knot.  Not very big, maybe the size of a baby lima bean.  My dermatologist did a punch biopsy and it came back clear. ( I know…a punch is not recommended.)

After the punch, it kept filling with fluid.  Yucky pus like stuff.  Very nasty.  It would build up fluid and actually explode as the pressure built up.  My Dr did another punch, much deeper this time.  This one came back as MM.

By the time I was sent to the MM specialist, the bulging tumor was about the size of a quarter and stood about 1/2"  to 3/4"  high. 

I was lucky the dermatologist did not ignore it and wasn't satisfied with the first biopsy.  I am also blessed to be NED.  Beth 3/B