washoegal

Charlie,

I hardly ever reply to posts any more unless I have experience in the area but you hold a special spot in my heart.  You have always been so great with helping everyone and passing on wonderful information.  Keep posting and keep sharing you vivid experiences, you never know…they might help someone else.  In any case they are entertaining. 

I just wanted to let you know how much to mean to all of us.  Hang in there and keep counting those flowers on the wall (or in your case colon twists).

Mary

Charlie,

I hardly ever reply to posts any more unless I have experience in the area but you hold a special spot in my heart.  You have always been so great with helping everyone and passing on wonderful information.  Keep posting and keep sharing you vivid experiences, you never know…they might help someone else.  In any case they are entertaining. 

I just wanted to let you know how much to mean to all of us.  Hang in there and keep counting those flowers on the wall (or in your case colon twists).

Mary

Charlie,

I hardly ever reply to posts any more unless I have experience in the area but you hold a special spot in my heart.  You have always been so great with helping everyone and passing on wonderful information.  Keep posting and keep sharing you vivid experiences, you never know…they might help someone else.  In any case they are entertaining. 

I just wanted to let you know how much to mean to all of us.  Hang in there and keep counting those flowers on the wall (or in your case colon twists).

Mary

Louise,

Hi, sorry you are here and sorry it appears I have taken so long to answer.  This is actually my second answer, my frist somehow went off to never, never land…….  I'll try to answer most of your questions best as I can anyway.

1.  I would suspect it is very good that there are only three cells but wat you want to look for in the pathology report is if it was Micro or Macro.   Micro (tiny) is good.

2.  Melna A is a marker – a group of protiens I believe they use to diagnose Melanoma.

3.  Are you going to be alive in 10 years?  Beats the heck out of me.  We all die sometime.  Is melanoma going to kill you?  I'd bet that it wouldn't.  I'm stage 3a, I have been NED for over 6 years now.  Had a CLND and then wait and watch.

4..How do you fall asleep at night.  You have to believ in something…yourself, your doctors, God, something!

5. Lyphadema.  Not sure whether you are refering to CLND or SLNB.  But if it's a CLND than I sure don't believe that the risk is so low!  However, Lymphadema is manageable.  get fitted for a compression garment immediately, as soon as there is any sign of swelling to to ma massage therapist that specializes in lyphadema. 

Truthfully, the CLND is probably just for your pice of mind if you just had micro matisis, but as they commercial says…..that's priceless.

Good Luck,

Mary

Louise,

Hi, sorry you are here and sorry it appears I have taken so long to answer.  This is actually my second answer, my frist somehow went off to never, never land…….  I'll try to answer most of your questions best as I can anyway.

1.  I would suspect it is very good that there are only three cells but wat you want to look for in the pathology report is if it was Micro or Macro.   Micro (tiny) is good.

2.  Melna A is a marker – a group of protiens I believe they use to diagnose Melanoma.

3.  Are you going to be alive in 10 years?  Beats the heck out of me.  We all die sometime.  Is melanoma going to kill you?  I'd bet that it wouldn't.  I'm stage 3a, I have been NED for over 6 years now.  Had a CLND and then wait and watch.

4..How do you fall asleep at night.  You have to believ in something…yourself, your doctors, God, something!

5. Lyphadema.  Not sure whether you are refering to CLND or SLNB.  But if it's a CLND than I sure don't believe that the risk is so low!  However, Lymphadema is manageable.  get fitted for a compression garment immediately, as soon as there is any sign of swelling to to ma massage therapist that specializes in lyphadema. 

Truthfully, the CLND is probably just for your pice of mind if you just had micro matisis, but as they commercial says…..that's priceless.

Good Luck,

Mary

Louise,

Hi, sorry you are here and sorry it appears I have taken so long to answer.  This is actually my second answer, my frist somehow went off to never, never land…….  I'll try to answer most of your questions best as I can anyway.

1.  I would suspect it is very good that there are only three cells but wat you want to look for in the pathology report is if it was Micro or Macro.   Micro (tiny) is good.

2.  Melna A is a marker – a group of protiens I believe they use to diagnose Melanoma.

3.  Are you going to be alive in 10 years?  Beats the heck out of me.  We all die sometime.  Is melanoma going to kill you?  I'd bet that it wouldn't.  I'm stage 3a, I have been NED for over 6 years now.  Had a CLND and then wait and watch.

4..How do you fall asleep at night.  You have to believ in something…yourself, your doctors, God, something!

5. Lyphadema.  Not sure whether you are refering to CLND or SLNB.  But if it's a CLND than I sure don't believe that the risk is so low!  However, Lymphadema is manageable.  get fitted for a compression garment immediately, as soon as there is any sign of swelling to to ma massage therapist that specializes in lyphadema. 

Truthfully, the CLND is probably just for your pice of mind if you just had micro matisis, but as they commercial says…..that's priceless.

Good Luck,

Mary

I am surprised that at .58 you had a spread to the lymph nodes but boy did you dodge a bullet by getting a SNLB done, most insurances won't pay for that when the melanoma is that thin. 

To answer some of your questions:

1.  Melan-A is simply a set of protiens used to identify Menanoma.

2.  Are you going to be alive in 10 years?  Which one of of knows.  Is Melnoma going to kill you?  I'd bet against it.  I'm stage 3a and I am now 6 years NED, after doing a CLND and then Wait and Watch.

3.  You need to learn to trust in somethig to stop worring about this.  Yourself, the doctors, God, whatever. 

4.  However,  the 20% chance of lymphadema…if they are speaking about after a CLND, I am not buying that one!  You can control lymphadema though.  Compression garments, massage,etc.  Just don't wait to attack it!

Good Luck!

Mary

I am surprised that at .58 you had a spread to the lymph nodes but boy did you dodge a bullet by getting a SNLB done, most insurances won't pay for that when the melanoma is that thin. 

To answer some of your questions:

1.  Melan-A is simply a set of protiens used to identify Menanoma.

2.  Are you going to be alive in 10 years?  Which one of of knows.  Is Melnoma going to kill you?  I'd bet against it.  I'm stage 3a and I am now 6 years NED, after doing a CLND and then Wait and Watch.

3.  You need to learn to trust in somethig to stop worring about this.  Yourself, the doctors, God, whatever. 

4.  However,  the 20% chance of lymphadema…if they are speaking about after a CLND, I am not buying that one!  You can control lymphadema though.  Compression garments, massage,etc.  Just don't wait to attack it!

Good Luck!

Mary

I am surprised that at .58 you had a spread to the lymph nodes but boy did you dodge a bullet by getting a SNLB done, most insurances won't pay for that when the melanoma is that thin. 

To answer some of your questions:

1.  Melan-A is simply a set of protiens used to identify Menanoma.

2.  Are you going to be alive in 10 years?  Which one of of knows.  Is Melnoma going to kill you?  I'd bet against it.  I'm stage 3a and I am now 6 years NED, after doing a CLND and then Wait and Watch.

3.  You need to learn to trust in somethig to stop worring about this.  Yourself, the doctors, God, whatever. 

4.  However,  the 20% chance of lymphadema…if they are speaking about after a CLND, I am not buying that one!  You can control lymphadema though.  Compression garments, massage,etc.  Just don't wait to attack it!

Good Luck!

Mary

Diane,

I know you are frightened but there are a few things to keep in mind.

1.  The lump has not been confirmed as melanoma.

2.  lymph nodes will enlarge for a variety of reasons.  Could be a reaction fro you SNB, could be an infection, ect.  Thus the watch and wait.

3.  The stage of 3a was so your insurance would pay for scans!

I think the medical Onc is looking at your family history and being as aggressive as he can.  If the lymph node lights up under a scan or grows quickly that's the time to push for a biopsy.

Good luck,

Mary stage 3a

6 year survivor.

Diane,

I know you are frightened but there are a few things to keep in mind.

1.  The lump has not been confirmed as melanoma.

2.  lymph nodes will enlarge for a variety of reasons.  Could be a reaction fro you SNB, could be an infection, ect.  Thus the watch and wait.

3.  The stage of 3a was so your insurance would pay for scans!

I think the medical Onc is looking at your family history and being as aggressive as he can.  If the lymph node lights up under a scan or grows quickly that's the time to push for a biopsy.

Good luck,

Mary stage 3a

6 year survivor.

Diane,

I know you are frightened but there are a few things to keep in mind.

1.  The lump has not been confirmed as melanoma.

2.  lymph nodes will enlarge for a variety of reasons.  Could be a reaction fro you SNB, could be an infection, ect.  Thus the watch and wait.

3.  The stage of 3a was so your insurance would pay for scans!

I think the medical Onc is looking at your family history and being as aggressive as he can.  If the lymph node lights up under a scan or grows quickly that's the time to push for a biopsy.

Good luck,

Mary stage 3a

6 year survivor.

I know the 13th seems like a very long way off.  I hope you don't have a long wait for the scan results.  I had a seroma too from my CLND but obvious not further lumps since no lymph nodes.  It is kind of a pain not having lymph nodes in one arm so if avoidable, it's a good thing.  But for the peace of mind it gave me, I am still glad I did it. 

You have enough family that has been though this that you should know your first year is going to be the hardest.  You probably have an excellent resource for doctors also.  Try not to pay too much attention to those that tell you about going so many year then it pops up again.  It still sits in the back of my mind, but I know that it really is not healthy and does nothing to prevent anything.  Positive attitude is a whole lot better, though it does take some time to get there.

Mary

I know the 13th seems like a very long way off.  I hope you don't have a long wait for the scan results.  I had a seroma too from my CLND but obvious not further lumps since no lymph nodes.  It is kind of a pain not having lymph nodes in one arm so if avoidable, it's a good thing.  But for the peace of mind it gave me, I am still glad I did it. 

You have enough family that has been though this that you should know your first year is going to be the hardest.  You probably have an excellent resource for doctors also.  Try not to pay too much attention to those that tell you about going so many year then it pops up again.  It still sits in the back of my mind, but I know that it really is not healthy and does nothing to prevent anything.  Positive attitude is a whole lot better, though it does take some time to get there.

Mary

I know the 13th seems like a very long way off.  I hope you don't have a long wait for the scan results.  I had a seroma too from my CLND but obvious not further lumps since no lymph nodes.  It is kind of a pain not having lymph nodes in one arm so if avoidable, it's a good thing.  But for the peace of mind it gave me, I am still glad I did it. 

You have enough family that has been though this that you should know your first year is going to be the hardest.  You probably have an excellent resource for doctors also.  Try not to pay too much attention to those that tell you about going so many year then it pops up again.  It still sits in the back of my mind, but I know that it really is not healthy and does nothing to prevent anything.  Positive attitude is a whole lot better, though it does take some time to get there.

Mary