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DT1985

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      DT1985
      Participant
        Again thank you for replying, I looked through your previous posts and see that you were 2A, now stage 4. Very sorry to hear this. Did you not have a SLNB? What was the breslow depth of your primary if I may ask?
        DT1985
        Participant
          Thank you for replying. May I ask what your situation was? I was look at the link now, thank you for posting it. Merry Christmas, hope all is well.
          DT1985
          Participant
            Being that the lymph node had just begun taking on cancer cells, I am guessing it didn’t have a chance to spread further? Dr. Postow’s exact words were “you’ve only dipped your toe into the waters of Stage 3 Melanoma”.. my following PET and CT were clean so I am guessing that’s why they’re suggesting I do the close monitoring as opposed to treatments. He said there is no data regarding my specific situation so they cannot outweigh the benefits of treatment over risks that come from immunotherapy. But I am wondering if this Gene test changes that equation.
            DT1985
            Participant
              Thank you for sharing
              DT1985
              Participant
                Thank you very much for sharing. I really appreciate it
                DT1985
                Participant
                  Hey Heidi, could we possible connect? I’d love to ask you more about your experience. I believe you can connect with me through my profile. I tried looking for your information but your profile isn’t filled out.

                  If this allows me to post it, my email is

                  David
                  Tracy
                  85
                  At Gmail

                  DT1985
                  Participant
                    Wow that is crazy. Very sorry to hear your wife has had to go through that, but glad she is doing well now. So I guess from what you guys have experienced, the melanoma can bypass the lymph nodes and create metastases elsewhere in the body? 4 mm is quite thick, so I am surprised to hear that the lymph nodes were clear. However at 1.5 mm if my lymph nodes should be clear, should I still go for a scan? Thank you for sharing by the way
                    DT1985
                    Participant
                      Thank you for replying. Path report made no mention of ulceration unfortunately. The general surgeon also said “I dont think I saw any”…hence why I’ve brought my case to the actual melanoma docs.
                      DT1985
                      Participant
                        Thank you very much. Hope all is well with you
                        DT1985
                        Participant
                          I appreciate that.
                          DT1985
                          Participant
                            One that covers blood and urine test results but that’s it. Very antiquated system
                            DT1985
                            Participant
                              I understand. Thank you for the insight
                              DT1985
                              Participant
                                Thank you for that. Gives me something to hope for and look forward to.

                                The doctor did say on the the phone that he was surprised it came back as a melanoma and that several pathologists looked at it. Do think this is typical for several to look at it? My hope is that one or two couldn’t quite determine, maybe it was faint evidence they were trying to confirm?

                                DT1985
                                Participant
                                  I didn’t mean to sound like was pointing fingers. It is ultimately my body trying to kill me, not someone else. I was just raising the fact that the VA doesn’t exactly have a great track record for staffing great doctors and also has a history of screwing up veterans information/paperwork/diagnosis’, etc. I know from experience. However with that said the VA hospital I go to is ok. I do understand I could have had the same results by seeing any private doctor.
                                  DT1985
                                  Participant
                                    Read and watched everything in those links. Thank you for sending those. They do clear up some things about the melanoma I had not previously known before. However I have another question. Does nodular melanoma describe the growth above or below the dermis? As in the does the height of the mole that I can visually see define if it as nodular or not? Or is nodular defined by the growth below what can be seen? When I googled nodular melanomas the results looked like what I had shaved off, but I’m thinking nodular doesn’t mean the appearance on the outside.

                                    Also, can ulcerated be seen with the viewing tool the dermatologist uses or is that only determined under microscopes? My mole was not bleeding, itching, cracked, or anything.

                                    Thanks again for all of your help.

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