Francesca

Damn I guess no point in asking med onc to send to a dermopathologist since its bisected- I will never know true depth which is troublesome. This may be a stupid question but is it remotely possible it’s actually less mm than what was reported? They wouldn’t be able to tell if it’s depth or diameter if it’s cut… Or is this ridiculous Lol
Cheers

Damn I guess no point in asking med onc to send to a dermopathologist since its bisected- I will never know true depth which is troublesome. This may be a stupid question but is it remotely possible it’s actually less mm than what was reported? They wouldn’t be able to tell if it’s depth or diameter if it’s cut… Or is this ridiculous Lol
Cheers

Damn I guess no point in asking med onc to send to a dermopathologist since its bisected- I will never know true depth which is troublesome. This may be a stupid question but is it remotely possible it’s actually less mm than what was reported? They wouldn’t be able to tell if it’s depth or diameter if it’s cut… Or is this ridiculous Lol
Cheers

Can’t express how my all your posts are helping me; I will ask for excisional in the future. I agree Janner there is no crystal ball and have decided instead of being cooped up reading thousands of clinical trials etc in hopes of finding some sort of way to figure out my risk of recurrence/death I am going to focus my efforts elsewhere. I signed up for a melanoma marathon and need to start putting my attention to this commitment. I have a lofty goal $$ set and really want to achieve it! I also will tell everyone I know to check their skin routinely and be aware ( and ask for a biopsy if removal isn’t recommended). I feel selfish for being so preoccupied with my own fears of this cancer. I need to give back to those affected by melanoma to make me feel productive. I truly wish you all happiness and above all else love.

Francesca

Can’t express how my all your posts are helping me; I will ask for excisional in the future. I agree Janner there is no crystal ball and have decided instead of being cooped up reading thousands of clinical trials etc in hopes of finding some sort of way to figure out my risk of recurrence/death I am going to focus my efforts elsewhere. I signed up for a melanoma marathon and need to start putting my attention to this commitment. I have a lofty goal $$ set and really want to achieve it! I also will tell everyone I know to check their skin routinely and be aware ( and ask for a biopsy if removal isn’t recommended). I feel selfish for being so preoccupied with my own fears of this cancer. I need to give back to those affected by melanoma to make me feel productive. I truly wish you all happiness and above all else love.

Francesca

Can’t express how my all your posts are helping me; I will ask for excisional in the future. I agree Janner there is no crystal ball and have decided instead of being cooped up reading thousands of clinical trials etc in hopes of finding some sort of way to figure out my risk of recurrence/death I am going to focus my efforts elsewhere. I signed up for a melanoma marathon and need to start putting my attention to this commitment. I have a lofty goal $$ set and really want to achieve it! I also will tell everyone I know to check their skin routinely and be aware ( and ask for a biopsy if removal isn’t recommended). I feel selfish for being so preoccupied with my own fears of this cancer. I need to give back to those affected by melanoma to make me feel productive. I truly wish you all happiness and above all else love.

Francesca

Thanks Ananymous- I will be seeing a med onc and I want to ask her more about what is known for recurrence rates for stage1b and when does it plateau. Seems there are variety of studies with different rates; and one retrospective study had recurrence rate of 18% for stage 1b patients being followed for a few decades. I read mitosis rate is more associated with size of tumor and that 3 is average for my depth however a lot of studies list ulceration, lymphatic invasion, and high mitosis rate as factors for increasing recurrence rates. Can’t seem to find what high would be my depth? Perhaps 6? If you have a new primary that doesn’t seem to correlate with decreases in survival if caught early however even local recurrence at site of WLE appears to have sig adverse consequences for survival. What exactly do I look for at my scar sight ? Bumps ? With a new scar everything is still settling so not sure if what I’m looking at is result of healing process…thanks for all your continuing help and I wish everyone health and happiness

Thanks Ananymous- I will be seeing a med onc and I want to ask her more about what is known for recurrence rates for stage1b and when does it plateau. Seems there are variety of studies with different rates; and one retrospective study had recurrence rate of 18% for stage 1b patients being followed for a few decades. I read mitosis rate is more associated with size of tumor and that 3 is average for my depth however a lot of studies list ulceration, lymphatic invasion, and high mitosis rate as factors for increasing recurrence rates. Can’t seem to find what high would be my depth? Perhaps 6? If you have a new primary that doesn’t seem to correlate with decreases in survival if caught early however even local recurrence at site of WLE appears to have sig adverse consequences for survival. What exactly do I look for at my scar sight ? Bumps ? With a new scar everything is still settling so not sure if what I’m looking at is result of healing process…thanks for all your continuing help and I wish everyone health and happiness

Thanks Ananymous- I will be seeing a med onc and I want to ask her more about what is known for recurrence rates for stage1b and when does it plateau. Seems there are variety of studies with different rates; and one retrospective study had recurrence rate of 18% for stage 1b patients being followed for a few decades. I read mitosis rate is more associated with size of tumor and that 3 is average for my depth however a lot of studies list ulceration, lymphatic invasion, and high mitosis rate as factors for increasing recurrence rates. Can’t seem to find what high would be my depth? Perhaps 6? If you have a new primary that doesn’t seem to correlate with decreases in survival if caught early however even local recurrence at site of WLE appears to have sig adverse consequences for survival. What exactly do I look for at my scar sight ? Bumps ? With a new scar everything is still settling so not sure if what I’m looking at is result of healing process…thanks for all your continuing help and I wish everyone health and happiness

Thanks so much Janner- sucks that it’s a shave biopsy and may never know triue breslow. Ive had a hard time trying to assess risk of recurrence ( local, nodal, intransit, distal) with my specific stage and pathology. Is there any way to get a clearer understanding of is it too complex? I understand recurrence can happen at any time, carries poor prognosis, and generally happens within first 2 years. Read a study about lymphatic vessel invasion as a predictor of future metastasis (shields index). Are you aware of this? Are there any calculators to predict recurrence? What typically does a local recurrence look like? I haven’t been able to find pictures online ( have seen in transit pictures). Thanks again for all your help and I will pass it on with good deeds to others.
Cheers,

Francesca

Thanks so much Janner- sucks that it’s a shave biopsy and may never know triue breslow. Ive had a hard time trying to assess risk of recurrence ( local, nodal, intransit, distal) with my specific stage and pathology. Is there any way to get a clearer understanding of is it too complex? I understand recurrence can happen at any time, carries poor prognosis, and generally happens within first 2 years. Read a study about lymphatic vessel invasion as a predictor of future metastasis (shields index). Are you aware of this? Are there any calculators to predict recurrence? What typically does a local recurrence look like? I haven’t been able to find pictures online ( have seen in transit pictures). Thanks again for all your help and I will pass it on with good deeds to others.
Cheers,

Francesca

Thanks so much Janner- sucks that it’s a shave biopsy and may never know triue breslow. Ive had a hard time trying to assess risk of recurrence ( local, nodal, intransit, distal) with my specific stage and pathology. Is there any way to get a clearer understanding of is it too complex? I understand recurrence can happen at any time, carries poor prognosis, and generally happens within first 2 years. Read a study about lymphatic vessel invasion as a predictor of future metastasis (shields index). Are you aware of this? Are there any calculators to predict recurrence? What typically does a local recurrence look like? I haven’t been able to find pictures online ( have seen in transit pictures). Thanks again for all your help and I will pass it on with good deeds to others.
Cheers,

Francesca

Thanks Sandy- I will take your advice and go for a jog ( signed up for a 5 K for melanoma marathon so have to start prepping). I suppose everyone has coping mechanisms when diagnosed and mine has been to literally confine myself to my room and read every piece of medical literature. I have a science background and my childhood friend is a clinical trial coordinator for Roche Zelboraf so needless to say we been crying together. I just got married and my husband is in Europe; my plan was to join him in Switzerland and I got my visa just as I was diagnosed. I pushed hard to have an appt with med onc since that isn’t norm for stage 1b and I think I will ask for a second opinion from an actual dermopathologists at princess Margaret hospital ( our big Canadian melanoma centre) . I am just not comfortable with all the differences b/ w the 2 that originally reported. I tried to get transferred there but because I am deemed low risk they wouldn’t accept. To everyone responding your giving me so much support more than you’ll ever know. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks Sandy- I will take your advice and go for a jog ( signed up for a 5 K for melanoma marathon so have to start prepping). I suppose everyone has coping mechanisms when diagnosed and mine has been to literally confine myself to my room and read every piece of medical literature. I have a science background and my childhood friend is a clinical trial coordinator for Roche Zelboraf so needless to say we been crying together. I just got married and my husband is in Europe; my plan was to join him in Switzerland and I got my visa just as I was diagnosed. I pushed hard to have an appt with med onc since that isn’t norm for stage 1b and I think I will ask for a second opinion from an actual dermopathologists at princess Margaret hospital ( our big Canadian melanoma centre) . I am just not comfortable with all the differences b/ w the 2 that originally reported. I tried to get transferred there but because I am deemed low risk they wouldn’t accept. To everyone responding your giving me so much support more than you’ll ever know. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks Sandy- I will take your advice and go for a jog ( signed up for a 5 K for melanoma marathon so have to start prepping). I suppose everyone has coping mechanisms when diagnosed and mine has been to literally confine myself to my room and read every piece of medical literature. I have a science background and my childhood friend is a clinical trial coordinator for Roche Zelboraf so needless to say we been crying together. I just got married and my husband is in Europe; my plan was to join him in Switzerland and I got my visa just as I was diagnosed. I pushed hard to have an appt with med onc since that isn’t norm for stage 1b and I think I will ask for a second opinion from an actual dermopathologists at princess Margaret hospital ( our big Canadian melanoma centre) . I am just not comfortable with all the differences b/ w the 2 that originally reported. I tried to get transferred there but because I am deemed low risk they wouldn’t accept. To everyone responding your giving me so much support more than you’ll ever know. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.