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Wrong lymph node?
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Wrong lymph node?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Wrong lymph node?

  • Post
    • January 30, 2017 at 3:09 am
    miaka618
    Participant

      My last scan in Nov lit up with a new suspicious lymph node near my ear which came up positive after the needle biopsy. I had surgery to remove it just before Christmas. Today I am feeling around my scar and I notice what feels like the same enlarged lymph node. Did he take the wrong one or is this scar tissue I am feeling? Or is it the second lymph node in the area still swelled up from the surgery? Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I am planning on calling the Dr tomorrow, but this has me worried if he indeed took the wrong one. 

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    • Replies
        • January 30, 2017 at 3:08 pm
        _Paul_
        Participant

          You did the right thing by calling your doctor. Waiting is not easy, but it does get easier with time. You are seeing a melanoma specialist correct? It is very important for stage 3 patients. Regular oncologists cannot stay on top of the mountain of new melanoma research and trials that is required to give patients the best care.

          – Paul

            • January 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm
            miaka618
            Participant
              Yes, I am seeing a specialist. This is my third surgery and I was never able to still feel a lump after the swelling went down, but this is the first time I have worked with this particular surgeon. I feel like I will have to redo the whole thing again with another needle biopsy and another surgery for the same area. I’m kind of over it.

              With that, I hope your stuff is going well. You and Josh have not been far from my thoughts.

              April

              • January 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm
              miaka618
              Participant
                Yes, I am seeing a specialist. This is my third surgery and I was never able to still feel a lump after the swelling went down, but this is the first time I have worked with this particular surgeon. I feel like I will have to redo the whole thing again with another needle biopsy and another surgery for the same area. I’m kind of over it.

                With that, I hope your stuff is going well. You and Josh have not been far from my thoughts.

                April

                • January 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm
                miaka618
                Participant
                  Yes, I am seeing a specialist. This is my third surgery and I was never able to still feel a lump after the swelling went down, but this is the first time I have worked with this particular surgeon. I feel like I will have to redo the whole thing again with another needle biopsy and another surgery for the same area. I’m kind of over it.

                  With that, I hope your stuff is going well. You and Josh have not been far from my thoughts.

                  April

                • January 30, 2017 at 3:08 pm
                _Paul_
                Participant

                  You did the right thing by calling your doctor. Waiting is not easy, but it does get easier with time. You are seeing a melanoma specialist correct? It is very important for stage 3 patients. Regular oncologists cannot stay on top of the mountain of new melanoma research and trials that is required to give patients the best care.

                  – Paul

                  • January 30, 2017 at 3:08 pm
                  _Paul_
                  Participant

                    You did the right thing by calling your doctor. Waiting is not easy, but it does get easier with time. You are seeing a melanoma specialist correct? It is very important for stage 3 patients. Regular oncologists cannot stay on top of the mountain of new melanoma research and trials that is required to give patients the best care.

                    – Paul

                    • January 30, 2017 at 6:03 pm
                    Polymath
                    Participant

                      Hi April,

                      You are doing the right thing getting it checked out.  I had something left behind after my CLND of axilla.  It developed into a walnut sized tumor, before we knocked it down with BRAF inhibitors.  It actually never went away entirely and now its a peanut sized lump of necrotic tissue.  It's not like a surgeon removed the wrong one, its just that they can miss something, in an effort to not excessively strip away lymph nodes.

                      Gary

                        • January 31, 2017 at 2:49 am
                        miaka618
                        Participant
                          Thanks Gary. That makes me feel a bit better. I left a message with the nurse. Hopefully he will call me back tomorrow.
                          April
                          • January 31, 2017 at 2:49 am
                          miaka618
                          Participant
                            Thanks Gary. That makes me feel a bit better. I left a message with the nurse. Hopefully he will call me back tomorrow.
                            April
                            • January 31, 2017 at 2:49 am
                            miaka618
                            Participant
                              Thanks Gary. That makes me feel a bit better. I left a message with the nurse. Hopefully he will call me back tomorrow.
                              April
                            • January 30, 2017 at 6:03 pm
                            Polymath
                            Participant

                              Hi April,

                              You are doing the right thing getting it checked out.  I had something left behind after my CLND of axilla.  It developed into a walnut sized tumor, before we knocked it down with BRAF inhibitors.  It actually never went away entirely and now its a peanut sized lump of necrotic tissue.  It's not like a surgeon removed the wrong one, its just that they can miss something, in an effort to not excessively strip away lymph nodes.

                              Gary

                              • January 30, 2017 at 6:03 pm
                              Polymath
                              Participant

                                Hi April,

                                You are doing the right thing getting it checked out.  I had something left behind after my CLND of axilla.  It developed into a walnut sized tumor, before we knocked it down with BRAF inhibitors.  It actually never went away entirely and now its a peanut sized lump of necrotic tissue.  It's not like a surgeon removed the wrong one, its just that they can miss something, in an effort to not excessively strip away lymph nodes.

                                Gary

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