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XRay, Ultrasound and Blood work for stage 1
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XRay, Ultrasound and Blood work for stage 1

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › XRay, Ultrasound and Blood work for stage 1

  • This topic has 39 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 12 years ago by JC.
  • Post
    • May 31, 2012 at 2:04 pm
    natasha
    Participant

      Hi ! I am stage 1 Breslow 0.2 and exept WLE I was not offered to do Scans ,Xrays or even blood work.

      I read a lot here on this forum and can see people with stage 1 have all this done.

      Does it mean my Doctors don't do everything ehat should be done ???

      Hi ! I am stage 1 Breslow 0.2 and exept WLE I was not offered to do Scans ,Xrays or even blood work.

      I read a lot here on this forum and can see people with stage 1 have all this done.

      Does it mean my Doctors don't do everything ehat should be done ???

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 31, 2012 at 2:27 pm
        JC
        Participant

          I'm in the same boat as you.  I'm stage I and after WLE was not recommended any scans/imaging.  They will do blood work (for instance, LDH, CBC, liver function, Vit D), if I ask. . but I don't believe there is really any effective blood test to monitor this.  Other than skin exams and physicals (feel lymph nodes, etc…), they are not recommending anything else.  I had 99% doctors not recommend scans (rate of false positives high, doesn't show microscopic disease anyway, etc..), and 1 doctor say annual chest x ray.  I've heard of getting  a baseline x ray so at least if you do have one later and something shows up you can compare to baseline and see if it's the same, growing, etc…  But, bottom line, I'm not getting any scans/imaging, as my Dr says by the time a scan showed something you probably would have symptoms anyway.  And, if they do find something on a scan. . let's say on liver. . once they find it they will have to biopsy and it could be a benign thing and now you've had unnecessary surgery, etc…  It just seems like watch/wait & hope you're ok is doing nothing. . makes me feel like I'm doing nothing, but it seems like right now medicine isn't at a place where anything else would be recommended right now for this.  You just hope you're not in the 5% or whatever it is of thin stage I's that spread.

          • May 31, 2012 at 2:27 pm
          JC
          Participant

            I'm in the same boat as you.  I'm stage I and after WLE was not recommended any scans/imaging.  They will do blood work (for instance, LDH, CBC, liver function, Vit D), if I ask. . but I don't believe there is really any effective blood test to monitor this.  Other than skin exams and physicals (feel lymph nodes, etc…), they are not recommending anything else.  I had 99% doctors not recommend scans (rate of false positives high, doesn't show microscopic disease anyway, etc..), and 1 doctor say annual chest x ray.  I've heard of getting  a baseline x ray so at least if you do have one later and something shows up you can compare to baseline and see if it's the same, growing, etc…  But, bottom line, I'm not getting any scans/imaging, as my Dr says by the time a scan showed something you probably would have symptoms anyway.  And, if they do find something on a scan. . let's say on liver. . once they find it they will have to biopsy and it could be a benign thing and now you've had unnecessary surgery, etc…  It just seems like watch/wait & hope you're ok is doing nothing. . makes me feel like I'm doing nothing, but it seems like right now medicine isn't at a place where anything else would be recommended right now for this.  You just hope you're not in the 5% or whatever it is of thin stage I's that spread.

              • May 31, 2012 at 2:30 pm
              natasha
              Participant

                I am going abroad in couple of weeks and I heard they doing scans etc in where for thin melanomas so I will try to make appointment on my holiday and do all this 🙁  But I wonder why a lot of people on this board this stage 1 had all checks done ? Does it depends on country ,clinic ,situation etc???

                • May 31, 2012 at 2:34 pm
                JC
                Participant

                  The other thing is how often do you want to have scans and for how long?  With thin melanomas, I have read, the peak recurrence time is 72 months.  So, will you have scans for the next 5-6 years?  10 years?  I think most doctors. . and I'm not a doctor but I've talked to plenty of them about this. . would say if you had a 0.2mm stage Ia melanoma with no other negative prognostic factors (extensive regression, high mitotic rate, etc…) that they would not recommend doing scans (maybe a baseline scan minimally, but most probably would just not recommend it because of rate of false positives and would not show microscopic disease, etc..)

                  • May 31, 2012 at 2:34 pm
                  JC
                  Participant

                    The other thing is how often do you want to have scans and for how long?  With thin melanomas, I have read, the peak recurrence time is 72 months.  So, will you have scans for the next 5-6 years?  10 years?  I think most doctors. . and I'm not a doctor but I've talked to plenty of them about this. . would say if you had a 0.2mm stage Ia melanoma with no other negative prognostic factors (extensive regression, high mitotic rate, etc…) that they would not recommend doing scans (maybe a baseline scan minimally, but most probably would just not recommend it because of rate of false positives and would not show microscopic disease, etc..)

                    • May 31, 2012 at 2:34 pm
                    JC
                    Participant

                      The other thing is how often do you want to have scans and for how long?  With thin melanomas, I have read, the peak recurrence time is 72 months.  So, will you have scans for the next 5-6 years?  10 years?  I think most doctors. . and I'm not a doctor but I've talked to plenty of them about this. . would say if you had a 0.2mm stage Ia melanoma with no other negative prognostic factors (extensive regression, high mitotic rate, etc…) that they would not recommend doing scans (maybe a baseline scan minimally, but most probably would just not recommend it because of rate of false positives and would not show microscopic disease, etc..)

                      • May 31, 2012 at 2:35 pm
                      natasha
                      Participant

                        I think once a year is o'k to do scas and Xray for let's say 5 years…I do not know…But it seems like I am doing nothing…..

                        • May 31, 2012 at 2:35 pm
                        natasha
                        Participant

                          I think once a year is o'k to do scas and Xray for let's say 5 years…I do not know…But it seems like I am doing nothing…..

                          • May 31, 2012 at 2:38 pm
                          JC
                          Participant

                            I'd be interested to hear what the experts/scientific experts on melanoma. . would say/recommend.  Maybe Janner can weigh in with the current standard clinical practice right now around this question……….

                            • May 31, 2012 at 2:38 pm
                            JC
                            Participant

                              I'd be interested to hear what the experts/scientific experts on melanoma. . would say/recommend.  Maybe Janner can weigh in with the current standard clinical practice right now around this question……….

                              • May 31, 2012 at 2:38 pm
                              JC
                              Participant

                                I'd be interested to hear what the experts/scientific experts on melanoma. . would say/recommend.  Maybe Janner can weigh in with the current standard clinical practice right now around this question……….

                                • May 31, 2012 at 2:35 pm
                                natasha
                                Participant

                                  I think once a year is o'k to do scas and Xray for let's say 5 years…I do not know…But it seems like I am doing nothing…..

                                  • May 31, 2012 at 2:30 pm
                                  natasha
                                  Participant

                                    I am going abroad in couple of weeks and I heard they doing scans etc in where for thin melanomas so I will try to make appointment on my holiday and do all this 🙁  But I wonder why a lot of people on this board this stage 1 had all checks done ? Does it depends on country ,clinic ,situation etc???

                                    • May 31, 2012 at 2:30 pm
                                    natasha
                                    Participant

                                      I am going abroad in couple of weeks and I heard they doing scans etc in where for thin melanomas so I will try to make appointment on my holiday and do all this 🙁  But I wonder why a lot of people on this board this stage 1 had all checks done ? Does it depends on country ,clinic ,situation etc???

                                      • May 31, 2012 at 4:17 pm
                                      Harry in Fair Oaks
                                      Participant

                                        And let's not forget the real dangers of CTs and X rays (they can cause cancer!) far outweigh the benefit for thin melanoma patients who have no other symptoms….

                                        These scans only make sense for Stage 3 and 4 patients. 

                                        Best wishes,

                                        Harry

                                        • May 31, 2012 at 4:17 pm
                                        Harry in Fair Oaks
                                        Participant

                                          And let's not forget the real dangers of CTs and X rays (they can cause cancer!) far outweigh the benefit for thin melanoma patients who have no other symptoms….

                                          These scans only make sense for Stage 3 and 4 patients. 

                                          Best wishes,

                                          Harry

                                          • May 31, 2012 at 4:24 pm
                                          natasha
                                          Participant

                                            But even pregnant women have Ultrasounds or even Xrays. I understand you point but sometimes I worry a lot about reccurance.

                                            • May 31, 2012 at 4:24 pm
                                            natasha
                                            Participant

                                              But even pregnant women have Ultrasounds or even Xrays. I understand you point but sometimes I worry a lot about reccurance.

                                              • May 31, 2012 at 4:24 pm
                                              natasha
                                              Participant

                                                But even pregnant women have Ultrasounds or even Xrays. I understand you point but sometimes I worry a lot about reccurance.

                                                • May 31, 2012 at 5:17 pm
                                                Harry in Fair Oaks
                                                Participant

                                                  Ultrasounds are harmless – no ionizing radiation involved.  But I never heard of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for detecting mets.  X rays are ionizing radiation.  They can cause cellular mutations, which can lead to cancer.  And CTs are basically a series of X rays – a chest CT is equivalent to about 200 X rays (or more).  Best to stay away from them if possible.  I'm Stage 4 and on a clinical trial, so can't avoid them.  But I wish I could.

                                                  Best regards,

                                                  Harry

                                                  • May 31, 2012 at 5:17 pm
                                                  Harry in Fair Oaks
                                                  Participant

                                                    Ultrasounds are harmless – no ionizing radiation involved.  But I never heard of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for detecting mets.  X rays are ionizing radiation.  They can cause cellular mutations, which can lead to cancer.  And CTs are basically a series of X rays – a chest CT is equivalent to about 200 X rays (or more).  Best to stay away from them if possible.  I'm Stage 4 and on a clinical trial, so can't avoid them.  But I wish I could.

                                                    Best regards,

                                                    Harry

                                                    • May 31, 2012 at 5:17 pm
                                                    Harry in Fair Oaks
                                                    Participant

                                                      Ultrasounds are harmless – no ionizing radiation involved.  But I never heard of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for detecting mets.  X rays are ionizing radiation.  They can cause cellular mutations, which can lead to cancer.  And CTs are basically a series of X rays – a chest CT is equivalent to about 200 X rays (or more).  Best to stay away from them if possible.  I'm Stage 4 and on a clinical trial, so can't avoid them.  But I wish I could.

                                                      Best regards,

                                                      Harry

                                                      • September 4, 2012 at 6:43 pm
                                                      JC
                                                      Participant

                                                        even one baseline CT and/or CXR cause cancer?

                                                        • September 4, 2012 at 6:43 pm
                                                        JC
                                                        Participant

                                                          even one baseline CT and/or CXR cause cancer?

                                                          • September 4, 2012 at 6:43 pm
                                                          JC
                                                          Participant

                                                            even one baseline CT and/or CXR cause cancer?

                                                            • September 4, 2012 at 6:46 pm
                                                            JC
                                                            Participant

                                                              even one baseline CT/CXR causes cancer?

                                                              • September 4, 2012 at 6:46 pm
                                                              JC
                                                              Participant

                                                                even one baseline CT/CXR causes cancer?

                                                                • September 4, 2012 at 6:46 pm
                                                                JC
                                                                Participant

                                                                  even one baseline CT/CXR causes cancer?

                                                                  • May 31, 2012 at 4:17 pm
                                                                  Harry in Fair Oaks
                                                                  Participant

                                                                    And let's not forget the real dangers of CTs and X rays (they can cause cancer!) far outweigh the benefit for thin melanoma patients who have no other symptoms….

                                                                    These scans only make sense for Stage 3 and 4 patients. 

                                                                    Best wishes,

                                                                    Harry

                                                                  • May 31, 2012 at 2:27 pm
                                                                  JC
                                                                  Participant

                                                                    I'm in the same boat as you.  I'm stage I and after WLE was not recommended any scans/imaging.  They will do blood work (for instance, LDH, CBC, liver function, Vit D), if I ask. . but I don't believe there is really any effective blood test to monitor this.  Other than skin exams and physicals (feel lymph nodes, etc…), they are not recommending anything else.  I had 99% doctors not recommend scans (rate of false positives high, doesn't show microscopic disease anyway, etc..), and 1 doctor say annual chest x ray.  I've heard of getting  a baseline x ray so at least if you do have one later and something shows up you can compare to baseline and see if it's the same, growing, etc…  But, bottom line, I'm not getting any scans/imaging, as my Dr says by the time a scan showed something you probably would have symptoms anyway.  And, if they do find something on a scan. . let's say on liver. . once they find it they will have to biopsy and it could be a benign thing and now you've had unnecessary surgery, etc…  It just seems like watch/wait & hope you're ok is doing nothing. . makes me feel like I'm doing nothing, but it seems like right now medicine isn't at a place where anything else would be recommended right now for this.  You just hope you're not in the 5% or whatever it is of thin stage I's that spread.

                                                                    • May 31, 2012 at 2:40 pm
                                                                    MichaelFL
                                                                    Participant

                                                                      None of them will show anything. Blood work is not accurate, scans only show macro disease, not micro, and x-rays will not show anything either.

                                                                      You are low risk, go live life.

                                                                      • May 31, 2012 at 2:40 pm
                                                                      MichaelFL
                                                                      Participant

                                                                        None of them will show anything. Blood work is not accurate, scans only show macro disease, not micro, and x-rays will not show anything either.

                                                                        You are low risk, go live life.

                                                                        • May 31, 2012 at 2:40 pm
                                                                        MichaelFL
                                                                        Participant

                                                                          None of them will show anything. Blood work is not accurate, scans only show macro disease, not micro, and x-rays will not show anything either.

                                                                          You are low risk, go live life.

                                                                            • May 31, 2012 at 2:50 pm
                                                                            natasha
                                                                            Participant

                                                                              Thank you !! I think you are right and probably this tests will not show anything

                                                                              • May 31, 2012 at 2:50 pm
                                                                              natasha
                                                                              Participant

                                                                                Thank you !! I think you are right and probably this tests will not show anything

                                                                                • May 31, 2012 at 5:02 pm
                                                                                Phil S
                                                                                Participant
                                                                                  I just have to weigh in, because I frequently read that people get chest Xrays as a way to monitor if their melanoma has spread. My husband has numerous lungs mets, and most all his chest X-rays (that he only gets for Picc line check), have looked fine. They only detect his lung mets on his CAT scans, since most of his mets are under 1 cm. So please, just live your life, there is no easy way to live with melanoma, but at Stage 1 the odds are in your favor. Take care! Valerie (Phil’s wife)
                                                                                  • May 31, 2012 at 5:02 pm
                                                                                  Phil S
                                                                                  Participant
                                                                                    I just have to weigh in, because I frequently read that people get chest Xrays as a way to monitor if their melanoma has spread. My husband has numerous lungs mets, and most all his chest X-rays (that he only gets for Picc line check), have looked fine. They only detect his lung mets on his CAT scans, since most of his mets are under 1 cm. So please, just live your life, there is no easy way to live with melanoma, but at Stage 1 the odds are in your favor. Take care! Valerie (Phil’s wife)
                                                                                    • May 31, 2012 at 5:02 pm
                                                                                    Phil S
                                                                                    Participant
                                                                                      I just have to weigh in, because I frequently read that people get chest Xrays as a way to monitor if their melanoma has spread. My husband has numerous lungs mets, and most all his chest X-rays (that he only gets for Picc line check), have looked fine. They only detect his lung mets on his CAT scans, since most of his mets are under 1 cm. So please, just live your life, there is no easy way to live with melanoma, but at Stage 1 the odds are in your favor. Take care! Valerie (Phil’s wife)
                                                                                      • May 31, 2012 at 2:50 pm
                                                                                      natasha
                                                                                      Participant

                                                                                        Thank you !! I think you are right and probably this tests will not show anything

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