EmilyandMike

In Northern California, Dr. David Minor does bi-chemo.  I personally know more than 4 of his patients and they are all stage 4 survivors for many years.  He has his own "recipe" I think..and the program includes maintenance with IL2. 

In Northern California, Dr. David Minor does bi-chemo.  I personally know more than 4 of his patients and they are all stage 4 survivors for many years.  He has his own "recipe" I think..and the program includes maintenance with IL2. 

In Northern California, Dr. David Minor does bi-chemo.  I personally know more than 4 of his patients and they are all stage 4 survivors for many years.  He has his own "recipe" I think..and the program includes maintenance with IL2. 

Hello – as others have said, you need to know your pathology. You will probably have a sentinel node biopsy along with a wide exision which are done at the same time so they can tell what node basin the melanoma is really draining.  If they find cells in the sentinel node, you will have a PET scan and more surgery to remove the rest of the nodes in that area.  You will have drains put in place for the wide exision/node biopsy to help you with healing.   Groin dissections are trickier because of walking and you might have some swelling from the node biopsy (lymphedema). 

My husband had a 1.3 breslow on his back that drained to his axilla – not his groin.  When they found a few cells in the sentinel node, he had a complete node dissection a few weeks later.   He is doing very well 3 years later with no recurrences and no other treatment other than observation.

I know it is scary right now – I would suggest you stop reading stuff on the internet…until you are more settled.  Understand that just because you read it, doesnt mean it will happen to you. 

Take care

Emily

Hello – as others have said, you need to know your pathology. You will probably have a sentinel node biopsy along with a wide exision which are done at the same time so they can tell what node basin the melanoma is really draining.  If they find cells in the sentinel node, you will have a PET scan and more surgery to remove the rest of the nodes in that area.  You will have drains put in place for the wide exision/node biopsy to help you with healing.   Groin dissections are trickier because of walking and you might have some swelling from the node biopsy (lymphedema). 

My husband had a 1.3 breslow on his back that drained to his axilla – not his groin.  When they found a few cells in the sentinel node, he had a complete node dissection a few weeks later.   He is doing very well 3 years later with no recurrences and no other treatment other than observation.

I know it is scary right now – I would suggest you stop reading stuff on the internet…until you are more settled.  Understand that just because you read it, doesnt mean it will happen to you. 

Take care

Emily

Hello – as others have said, you need to know your pathology. You will probably have a sentinel node biopsy along with a wide exision which are done at the same time so they can tell what node basin the melanoma is really draining.  If they find cells in the sentinel node, you will have a PET scan and more surgery to remove the rest of the nodes in that area.  You will have drains put in place for the wide exision/node biopsy to help you with healing.   Groin dissections are trickier because of walking and you might have some swelling from the node biopsy (lymphedema). 

My husband had a 1.3 breslow on his back that drained to his axilla – not his groin.  When they found a few cells in the sentinel node, he had a complete node dissection a few weeks later.   He is doing very well 3 years later with no recurrences and no other treatment other than observation.

I know it is scary right now – I would suggest you stop reading stuff on the internet…until you are more settled.  Understand that just because you read it, doesnt mean it will happen to you. 

Take care

Emily

Hi Roger!  Glad you postedhere – I forgot to tell you about the recommended places in MO – this info is from the Melanoma International Foundation site which is also a great source of info along with the MRF.  You might be able to get a referral to these places – call your insurance or your doc.  http://www.melanomainternational.org/resources/cancercenters.html

Hi Roger!  Glad you postedhere – I forgot to tell you about the recommended places in MO – this info is from the Melanoma International Foundation site which is also a great source of info along with the MRF.  You might be able to get a referral to these places – call your insurance or your doc.  http://www.melanomainternational.org/resources/cancercenters.html

Hi Roger!  Glad you postedhere – I forgot to tell you about the recommended places in MO – this info is from the Melanoma International Foundation site which is also a great source of info along with the MRF.  You might be able to get a referral to these places – call your insurance or your doc.  http://www.melanomainternational.org/resources/cancercenters.html

Hello Bron – I urge you to contact the Melanoma Institute in Australia – Jay Allen's (Stage 3 survivor and a great guy) email address is on this support group page and he can help you with the best place to go in AU – http://www.melanoma.org.au/patients/support-groups.html

You need a doctor who will show her how to monitor her lymph nodes (usually the node basin nearest the melanoma) and look for recurrences in the skin (bumps) near the area where the mole was removed.  My husband's doctor told him how to do this each morning in the shower.  Don't rely on doctors to check her out – she needs to be very proactive in monitoring herself.

Take care

Emily

Hello Bron – I urge you to contact the Melanoma Institute in Australia – Jay Allen's (Stage 3 survivor and a great guy) email address is on this support group page and he can help you with the best place to go in AU – http://www.melanoma.org.au/patients/support-groups.html

You need a doctor who will show her how to monitor her lymph nodes (usually the node basin nearest the melanoma) and look for recurrences in the skin (bumps) near the area where the mole was removed.  My husband's doctor told him how to do this each morning in the shower.  Don't rely on doctors to check her out – she needs to be very proactive in monitoring herself.

Take care

Emily

Hello Bron – I urge you to contact the Melanoma Institute in Australia – Jay Allen's (Stage 3 survivor and a great guy) email address is on this support group page and he can help you with the best place to go in AU – http://www.melanoma.org.au/patients/support-groups.html

You need a doctor who will show her how to monitor her lymph nodes (usually the node basin nearest the melanoma) and look for recurrences in the skin (bumps) near the area where the mole was removed.  My husband's doctor told him how to do this each morning in the shower.  Don't rely on doctors to check her out – she needs to be very proactive in monitoring herself.

Take care

Emily