KatieB

Hi Cece,

I just heard back from DecisionDx that my slides didn't have enough material for them to run the test also. Like you, I'm really disappointed as I was really hoping for a good result that would help my worry subside a little. I have young kids also. 

I wonder/hope if having not enough tumor available on the slides and/or not enough density is a good sign towards prognosis?  I wonder if anyone has ever studied that.  I would think it would be better to have less material than more, right?  Just looking for the silver lining as I was really hoping to get the test results.

But, at least the result didn't give me a higher likelihood to progress… All in all, there are many blessings.

Anyhow, I know this is an old post but I wanted to follow up since I'm in the same boat and wondered how you are doing a couple of years later.

Katie

Hi Joe and Jess Ann,

Did you ever have any follow up to this?

I was diagnosed with melanoma .3MM or .25MM on different pathology reports. I had it sent in for the castle DecisionDx testing. 

The only thing that I've wondered is that I hadn't mentioned to the dermatologist that I had a bad sunburn 3 days before the biopsy. (I was on a boat with no shade over spring break) and twenty minutes before the biopsy, I ran 5 miles and the mole is directly under my sports bra line so it was probably quite irritated.  The dermatologist took the biopsy because it was red. I should have said something at the time but I never thought it would come back positive.

Anyhow,  the pathology report talks about a "paucity of cells in the dermis" and highly inflamed skin.  Is there any chance this could be a false positive for melanoma since I didn't give the dr. all of the information?

Probably not… but a girl can hope.

Does anyone know – would the DecisionDx be able to confirm that it is definitely a melanoma?

Thank you,

Kate

Hi Rags, I walked 5 miles on Tuesday and I jogged yesterday (7 days out) and it felt good.  To me, I think the key is slowing down and taking much more time to exercise but trying to cover the same distance as I would have.  I do have to get a long run in during the next week if I want to stay on the marathon training path- but maybe I'll do that 14 days out.  

I have all dissolvable stitches inside and out and glue on top of that.  It was really ugly and painful for the first five days but looks a lot better now.

I'm conflicted because I'd really like to run this marathon but I don't want to cause a problem or cause excessive scarring because I couldn't be patient.

I'll watch tv on the treadmill today and give myself a lot of time so that I can get the distance in, hopefully without hurting anything. 🙂

 They definitely gave me the impression not to put too much stock in it. Hopefully, it will be helpful for future patients.

 My doctor is doing castle testing on mine but the way he explained it to me was that it's very, very experimental and will probably not give me much information.   I think he was doing it more to have more samples so that he has more information for his study.    So it may just be that doctors are in a phase of gathering more information on it?  And he didn't expect the results for five or six weeks.

 I am in the exact same boat! I had WLE  on my mid to upper back last week.   I run 6 days a week and haven't taken this much time off in 9 years. It's making me crazy.  I'm planning to walk 5 miles today.   My dr said no running for two weeks but I'd really love to do a slow jog before then if possible.   Perhaps I'll try butterfly Band-Aids around it to see if that helps it feel more stable.   But, I also partly think I should just be patient and wait so that I don't create a bigger scar or problem…  I have been training to run a marathon in June – not sure if I still can but no big deal. 

 I did just order a couple of new sports bras that hopefully will avoid the scar site as my scar runs right under my typical sports bras – I am thinking less pressure on the site will be important for months.   Anyhow, I don't have any answers but I'm in the same boat.     Wishing you all good health and a fast recovery.

Thank you for posting that! Exactly what I needed to hear. I am 1a unless something changes and very much hope to be where you are in 25 years. I'm so happy for you!

Hi Tracy,

I just was was diagnosed with the same as you, .3mm – though I haven't seen my exact results so I don't know exactly mitotic rate,etc. I asked for the node procedure but I've been told that there's no justification for it.  What have you done since diagnosis? Did you have more moles removed? WLE? Anything else?  I haven't been able to get in for a follow up yet so I don't have a plan but I feel very worried. 

I'd love to hear what your dr is recommending.

thanks,

katie