losborne00

I did have a sentinel node biopsy and it was negative. I was very blessed! After pressing my surgical oncologist prior to surgery he said that he would be surprised if it was negative due to the location, depth and length of time the melanoma had been present. I'm a lucky man!

I did have a sentinel node biopsy and it was negative. I was very blessed! After pressing my surgical oncologist prior to surgery he said that he would be surprised if it was negative due to the location, depth and length of time the melanoma had been present. I'm a lucky man!

I did have a sentinel node biopsy and it was negative. I was very blessed! After pressing my surgical oncologist prior to surgery he said that he would be surprised if it was negative due to the location, depth and length of time the melanoma had been present. I'm a lucky man!

Janner, Thanks for the info on ulceration. The best info I can find about five year survival is around 70-80 percent for stage IIb and drops to 50-60 percent for stage IIc. The survival rate for stage IIc is actually worse than stage IIIa because  ulceration indicates a more aggressive cancer. That's why I was concerned about the correct observation of ulceration on the path reports. I feel less worried now although I guess the fear of recurrence of this damn disease will never go away.I'm finding it hard to trust doctors because my dermatologist completely screwed up. The melanoma appeared as a dark spot under my toe nail and gradually got worse over the course of six years. About three years before I was diagnosed I had a "complete skin exam" because I have at least 100 moles. The dermatologist had me remove only my shirt and after looking at my trunk and head said I was good to go. The melanoma had been present under my toe for about three years at the time of his exam. If he had just looked at my foot it would have been very obvious and we would have caught this thing about three years earlier. You may be wondering why I didn't have it checked out sooner. Since it was under the nail I thought it was some type of fungus or something. I had never heard of a melanoma in that location. When the nail disappeared and it started to bleed three years later I showed it to my family doctor during a routine yearly physical. I knew something was up when he asked the nurse to get a camera. Anyway thanks again for the information and the links!

Janner, Thanks for the info on ulceration. The best info I can find about five year survival is around 70-80 percent for stage IIb and drops to 50-60 percent for stage IIc. The survival rate for stage IIc is actually worse than stage IIIa because  ulceration indicates a more aggressive cancer. That's why I was concerned about the correct observation of ulceration on the path reports. I feel less worried now although I guess the fear of recurrence of this damn disease will never go away.I'm finding it hard to trust doctors because my dermatologist completely screwed up. The melanoma appeared as a dark spot under my toe nail and gradually got worse over the course of six years. About three years before I was diagnosed I had a "complete skin exam" because I have at least 100 moles. The dermatologist had me remove only my shirt and after looking at my trunk and head said I was good to go. The melanoma had been present under my toe for about three years at the time of his exam. If he had just looked at my foot it would have been very obvious and we would have caught this thing about three years earlier. You may be wondering why I didn't have it checked out sooner. Since it was under the nail I thought it was some type of fungus or something. I had never heard of a melanoma in that location. When the nail disappeared and it started to bleed three years later I showed it to my family doctor during a routine yearly physical. I knew something was up when he asked the nurse to get a camera. Anyway thanks again for the information and the links!

Janner, Thanks for the info on ulceration. The best info I can find about five year survival is around 70-80 percent for stage IIb and drops to 50-60 percent for stage IIc. The survival rate for stage IIc is actually worse than stage IIIa because  ulceration indicates a more aggressive cancer. That's why I was concerned about the correct observation of ulceration on the path reports. I feel less worried now although I guess the fear of recurrence of this damn disease will never go away.I'm finding it hard to trust doctors because my dermatologist completely screwed up. The melanoma appeared as a dark spot under my toe nail and gradually got worse over the course of six years. About three years before I was diagnosed I had a "complete skin exam" because I have at least 100 moles. The dermatologist had me remove only my shirt and after looking at my trunk and head said I was good to go. The melanoma had been present under my toe for about three years at the time of his exam. If he had just looked at my foot it would have been very obvious and we would have caught this thing about three years earlier. You may be wondering why I didn't have it checked out sooner. Since it was under the nail I thought it was some type of fungus or something. I had never heard of a melanoma in that location. When the nail disappeared and it started to bleed three years later I showed it to my family doctor during a routine yearly physical. I knew something was up when he asked the nurse to get a camera. Anyway thanks again for the information and the links!